Systems and methods of integrated application framework for connected aircraft using avionics systems

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2023365270-A1
Application number	US-202217931099-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 9, 2022
Priority date	May 10, 2022
Publication date	Nov 16, 2023
Grant date	—

Abstract

Disclosed are methods, systems, and one or more computer-readable mediums for providing, by an integrated flight deck (IFD) networked computing system, data acquisition for generating a plurality of inflight operation insights, the IFD networked computing system comprising: a presentation platform, a plurality of framework components, a software development kit (SDK) framework, and one or more user interface libraries configured to develop a plurality of applications from the presentation platform and add one or more additional SDKs and/or libraries to the presentation platform; aggregating, by an orchestrator of the SDK framework, a plurality of data sources to fuse data from the plurality of data sources and create a data packet comprising real-time flight data; generating, the plurality of inflight operation insights by analyzing a plurality of key performance indicators of the created data packet; and assessing a flight parameter based on the generated inflight operation insights.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method of using an electronic flight bag (EFB) application framework with an aircraft, comprising:
providing, by an integrated flight deck (IFD) networked computing system, data acquisition for generating a plurality of inflight operation insights, the IFD networked computing system comprising: a presentation platform, a plurality of framework components, a software development kit (SDK) framework, and one or more user interface libraries configured to develop a plurality of applications from the presentation platform and add one or more additional SDKs and/or libraries to the presentation platform; aggregating, by an orchestrator of the SDK framework, a plurality of data sources to fuse data from the plurality of data sources and create a data packet comprising real-time flight data; generating, the plurality of inflight operation insights by analyzing a plurality of key performance indicators of the created data packet; assessing a flight parameter based on the generated inflight operation insights; and presenting an electronic display regarding the flight parameter to one or more users, the electronic display comprising an electronic display of one or more actions available for changing a flight operation.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
evaluating, by the IFD networked computing system, the plurality of inflight operation insights against current atmospheric conditions and real-time flight mission information to generate a plurality of flight mission insights, the inflight operation insights comprising fuel efficiency insights and/or flight efficiency insights.

3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
wherein the orchestrator is a common object layer, wherein the step of aggregating further comprises: receiving, by the common object layer, objects from low-level platform components; and using the received objects to receive data from the plurality of data sources, including get and send files, get, and send objects, sign up for periodic data, and/or sign up for event data.

4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the orchestrator is a single point of source where a client and/or a feature module can access components and services of the common object layer.

5 . The method of claim 3 , further comprising:
holding, by an object factory in communication with the orchestrator, objects from the low-level platform components in an object pool; using, by the object factory, a plugin manager to register and/or deregister the low level platform components.

6 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
registering each of the plurality of data sources with the orchestrator and then exposing a common API to the orchestrator.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of framework components comprise an object factory, and a plugin manager in communication with the object factory.

8 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
generating, by a flight level advisory system of the IFD networked computing system, one or more cost-efficient flight levels based on historical flight data.

9 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
generating, by the IFD networked computing system, one or more real-time maintenance alerts by analyzing real-time avionics data and detecting one or more fault conditions or event conditions.

10 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
analyzing, by the IFD networked computing system, avionics data to detect one or more anomalies related to a flight operation; and upon detecting the one or more anomalies, then generating, by the IFD networked computing system, one or more alerts to be presented on a user interface.

11 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
analyzing, by the IFD networked computing system, avionics data to detect one or more anomalies related to a flight operation; and upon detecting the one or more anomalies, then instructing to take one or more corrective actions to prevent one or more operational disruptions.

12 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining a prediction, using a machine learning prediction model, for one or more fault conditions, event conditions, and/or anomalies of inflight operations, the machine learning prediction model having been generated by processing avionics data and the real-time flight data; causing the aircraft, based on the prediction, to take one or more corrective actions to prevent one or more operational disruptions.

13 . An electronic flight bag (EFB) application framework system of an aircraft, comprising:
at least one memory storing instructions; and at least one processor executing the instructions to perform a process comprising: using real-time flight data to generate end-to-end real-time data analytics for inflight features around inflight operation insights and mission management, the real-time flight data comprising a plurality of onboard avionics subsystems; using real-time flight data to generate an avionics common object model of the aircraft; fusing the avionics common object model with data corresponding to aerospace safety services, fuel efficiency service, ground service, pilot workflow automation and connected maintenance service for that aircraft; integrating one or more avionics subsystems into the avionics common object model by using automated extensions and defining a domain model based upon the avionics common object model and making the domain model available for one or more applications via onboard application programming interfaces (APIs); using the avionics common object model to provide flow of communication between the one or more avionics subsystems and applications hosted on one or more external EFB devices; and transmitting one or more alert messages from one or more applications hosted on one or more external EFB devices to a user based on the inflight operation insights and/or a flight status.

14 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the instructions comprise:
providing communication connectivity, via an avionics data processing service (ADPS), between the aircraft, the one or more external EFB devices and/or a cloud based computing system, a processor of the aircraft being configured to control one or more on-board avionics control functions using the ADPS to render accessible a connected cockpit computing system.

15 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the applications hosted on the one or more external EFB devices are directed to fuel efficiency, flight safety, aircraft maintenance, and/or pilot workflow automation.

16 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the one or more alert messages comprise weather hazard avoidance, flight efficiency and/or safety.

17 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the one or more alert messages are configured to preclude intervention from a ground controller user.

18 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the instructions comprise:
determining a prediction, using a machine learning prediction model of the EFB application framework system, for one or more fault conditions, event conditions, and/or anomalies of flight operations, the machine learning prediction model having been generated by processing the real-time flight data avionics data.

19 . The system of claim 18 , wherein the instructions comprise:
causing the aircraft, based on the prediction, to take one or more corrective actions to prevent one or more operational disruptions.

20 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by a proc

Assignees

• Honeywell Int Inc

Inventors

• Janakiraman Kirupakar
• Khan Kalimulla
• Toews Phillip
• Rajendran Ramkumar
• Goswami Manish
• Jayathirtha Srihari

Classifications

• B64D45/00 Primary

  Aircraft indicators or protectors not otherwise provided for · CPC title

• G06F3/14

  Digital output to display device {; Cooperation and interconnection of the display device with other functional units} · CPC title

• G06F8/76

  Adapting program code to run in a different environment; Porting · CPC title

• B64D43/00

  Arrangements or adaptations of instruments · CPC title

• B64D2045/0075

  Adaptations for use of electronic flight bags in aircraft; Supports therefor in the cockpit · CPC title