System and method for remotely updating data for computer devices included in an aircraft

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2022327867-A1
Application number	US-202017641881-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 25, 2020
Priority date	Oct 4, 2019
Publication date	Oct 13, 2022
Grant date	—

Abstract

A system for updating data for computer devices included in an aircraft, the computer devices being, when the data is updated, liable to affect or not the safety of an operator performing maintenance, the system is included in the aircraft and includes a data loading device, a communication device, a data router and a module for detecting at least one maintenance operation on the aircraft. The system includes: means, included in the communication device, for receiving a command for updating a computer device; means, included in the communication device, for controlling the data loading device and the data router in order to transfer the updating data to the computer device; and means, controlled by the module for detecting at least one maintenance operation on the aircraft, for blocking the updating if at least one signal indicating that a maintenance operation is being performed on the aircraft is received.

First claim

1 . A data updating system for computer devices included in an aircraft, the computer devices being, when the data of the computer device are updated, liable or not to affect the safety of an operator carrying out maintenance, wherein the system is included in the aircraft and comprises a data loading device, a communication device, a data router and a module for detecting at least one maintenance operation on the aircraft, the data router being connected to the data loading device, the communication device being configured for receiving commands from a device located outside the aircraft, the system comprises circuitry causing the system to perform:
receiving, by the communication device, a command for updating a computer device, controlling, by the communication device, the data loading device for transferring data for updating the computer device to the data router if the command for updating the computer device is received, controlling, by the communication device, the data router for transferring the updating data to the computer device if the command for updating the computer device is received, blocking, by the module for detecting at least one maintenance operation on the aircraft, the data for updating the computer device or for blocking at least one command for transferring the updating data if at least one signal indicating that a maintenance operation is being performed on the aircraft is received by the module for detecting at least one maintenance operation.

2 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein the module for detecting at least one maintenance operation on the aircraft is included in the communication device and the blocking blocks the commands of the data loading device and the commands of the data router.

3 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein the module for detecting at least one maintenance operation on the aircraft is included in the data loading device and the blocking blocks the transfer of the data for updating the computer device to the data router.

4 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein the module for detecting at least one maintenance operation on the aircraft is included in the data router and the blocking blocks the transfer of the updating data to the computer device.

5 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein the module for detecting at least one maintenance operation on the aircraft is included between the communication device and the data router and the blocking blocks the commands of the data router.

6 . The system according to claim 1 , further comprising a device for detecting weight on at least one wheel of the aircraft and the device for detecting weight device blocks the data for updating the computer device or blocks at least one command for transferring the updating data.

7 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein the module for detecting at least one maintenance operation on the aircraft comprises circuitry causing the module for detecting at least one maintenance operation on the aircraft to detect a command generated by a maintenance operator.

8 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein the module for detecting at least one maintenance operation on the aircraft comprises circuitry causing the module for detecting at least one maintenance operation on the aircraft to detect a condition that the aircraft is not in a maintenance phase, and the updating operation is not enabled.

9 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein the updating data are received by means of a link with a data device for transferring updating data located outside the aircraft.

10 . A method for updating data for computer devices included in an aircraft, the computer devices being, during the updating of the data of the computer device, liable or not to affect the safety of an operator performing maintenance, wherein the aircraft comprises a data loading device, a communication device, a data router and a module for detecting at least one maintenance operation on the aircraft, the data router being connected to the data loading device, the communication device being configured for receiving commands from a device located outside the aircraft, and wherein the method comprises:
receiving, by the communication device, a command for updating a computer device, controlling, by the communication device, the data loading device for transferring data for updating the computer device to the data router if the command for updating the computer device is received, controlling, by the communication device, the data router for transferring the updating data to the computer device if the command for updating the computer device is received, and blocking, by the module for detecting at least one maintenance operation on the aircraft, the data for updating the computer device, or blocking at least one command for transferring the updating data if at least one signal indicating that a maintenance operation is being performed on the aircraft is received by the module for detecting at least one maintenance operation.

11 . (canceled)

12 . A non-transitory storage medium that stores a computer program comprising instructions for implementing the method according to claim 10 when said program is executed by a processor.

Assignees

• Safran Electronics & Defense

Inventors

• Thirion Louis Théophile
• Delville Denis

Classifications

• G06F21/572 Primary

  Secure firmware programming, e.g. of basic input output system [BIOS] · CPC title

• G06F8/65

  Updates (security arrangements therefor G06F21/57) · CPC title

• G06F9/44521

  Dynamic linking or loading; Link editing at or after load time, e.g. Java class loading · CPC title

• G07C5/006 Primary

  Indicating maintenance · CPC title

• B64F5/40

  Maintaining or repairing aircraft · CPC title