Inherent power-over-data bus signaling for secure operating mode switching

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9948508-B2
Application number	US-201414312803-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 24, 2014
Priority date	Jun 25, 2013
Publication date	Apr 17, 2018
Grant date	Apr 17, 2018

Abstract

A method for changing an operating mode of a processing unit of a network node is described. The processing unit is connected to a communication and supply line for providing data communication and for providing a supply voltage. The method includes an establishing of a communication connection of the processing unit of the network node via the communication and supply line, a determination of a change of the supply voltage of the communication and supply line by the processing unit, and a setting of an operation mode of the processing unit based on the determined change of the supply voltage.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method for changing an operating mode of a processing unit of a data network node for an aircraft, connected to a data communication and power supply line for providing data communication and for providing a supply voltage, the method comprising:
establishing a data communication connection of the processing unit of the data network node to another data network node or a server unit via the data communication and supply line wherein the data communication connection of the processing unit to the data communication and supply line is established via a data switch of the data network node;
determining a change of the supply voltage of the data communication and power supply line by the processing unit;
setting an operation mode of the processing unit based on the determined change of the power supply voltage; and
exchanging, by an interface of the processing unit, data with application data services,
wherein the setting of the operation mode of the processing unit comprises at least changing between a normal operation mode and a configuration mode,
wherein the change between the normal operation mode and the configuration mode is set by triggering a change in voltage on the power supply line,
wherein, in the normal operating mode, data is processed and/or forwarded according to requirements of connected services, and
wherein, in the configuration mode, the device responds to configuration or administration instructions.

2. The method according to claim 1 ,
wherein the operation mode is set based on a determination of a predefined present voltage or voltage range of the supply voltage.

3. The method according to claim 1 ,
wherein the operation mode of the processing unit is set based on determination of a predefined timely change of the supply voltage.

4. The method according to claim 1 ,
wherein the operation mode is set based on a combination of the determined change of the supply voltage and a predefined set of data received by the processing unit via the communication connection.

5. The method according to claim 1 ,
wherein the supply voltage of the data communication and power supply line is provided to the data switch.

6. The method according to claim 1 ,
wherein the processing unit provides a further supply voltage to the data switch.

7. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:
connecting the data connection to a previous and a next data network node by the data switch;
detecting a failure of the processing unit by the data switch; and
short-circuiting the data connection between the previous and the next data network node in case of a failure of the processing unit.

8. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:
changing the supply voltage by a central server unit, which is connected to the data communication and supply line.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the change of the supply voltage includes switching off the supply voltage.

10. A data network node for an aircraft data network, comprising
a processing unit;
a sensor for measuring a voltage in a supply voltage in a data communication and power supply line connected to the processing unit;
wherein the data network node is supplied with the supply voltage from the data communication and power supply line;
wherein the processing unit is adapted to establishing a communication connection of a processing unit of the data network node via the data communication and power supply line;
wherein the processing unit is adapted to determine a change of the central supply voltage of a data communication and power supply line with the sensor;
wherein the processing unit is adapted to set an operation mode of the processing unit as a function of the state of the supply voltage,
wherein the processing unit is adapted to exchange, by an interface of the processing unit, data with application data services,
wherein the setting of the operation mode of the processing unit comprises at least changing between a normal operation mode and a configuration mode,
wherein the setting of the normal operation mode and the configuration mode is triggered by changing a voltage on the supply voltage,
wherein, in the normal operating mode, data is processed and/or forwarded according to requirements of connected services, and
wherein, in the configuration mode, the device responds to configuration or administration instructions.

11. An aircraft data network, comprising
a central server unit;
a data network node comprising:
a processing unit;
a sensor for measuring a voltage in a supply voltage in a communication and supply line connected to the processing unit;
wherein the data network node is supplied with the supply voltage from the supply and communication line;
wherein the processing unit is adapted to establishing a communication connection of a processing unit of the data network node via the communication and supply line;
wherein the communication connection of the processing unit to the communication and supply line is established via a data switch of the data network node;
wherein the processing unit is adapted to determine a change of the central supply voltage of a data communication and power supply line with the sensor;
wherein the processing unit is adapted to set an operation mode of the processing unit as a function of the state of the supply voltage,
wherein the processing unit is adapted to exchange, by an interface of the processing unit, data with application data services, and
a communication and supply line adapted to provide data communication between the central server unit and the data network node and to supply a supply voltage from the central server unit,
wherein the setting of the operation mode of the processing unit comprises at least changing between a normal operation mode and a configuration mode,
wherein the change between the normal operation mode and the configuration mode is set by triggering a change in voltage on the power supply line,
wherein, in the normal operating mode data is processed and/or forwarded according to requirements of connected services, and
wherein, in the configuration mode, the device responds to configuration or administration instructions.

12. The aircraft data network of claim 11 ,
wherein the central server unit comprises a server power supply adapted to provide the supply voltage to the data communication and power supply line;
wherein the central server unit comprises a server supply voltage switch for changing the supply voltage supplied to the data network node.

Assignees

• Airbus Operations Gmbh

Inventors

• Klose Peter
• Hanka Oliver

Classifications

• H04L12/10 Primary

  Current supply arrangements · CPC title

• G05F1/625

  wherein it is irrelevant whether the variable actually regulated is AC or DC · CPC title

• H04L2012/4028

  the transportation system being an aircraft · CPC title

• H04L12/40039

  Details regarding the setting of the power status of a node according to activity on the bus · CPC title

• Y02B60/34

  Cross-Sectional Technologies · mapped topic