The Boeing Company

Murali Rangarajan

Jonathan Nicholas Hotra

Sean M Ramey

Arnold W Nordsieck

Ronald James Koontz

Clarke Edgar Moore

Dick P Wong

Jackson Chia

Wing Chung Lee

David Clyde Sharp

Anthony S Fornabaio

Paul Eugene Denzel

Yong-Long Calvin Ling

Paul E Denzel

David C Sharp

Jackson Y Chia

A method, apparatus, and virtual computer system for testing application software. A first operating system of a first operating type is run on a first processor of a first processor type in a physical computer system. A virtual machine that emulates a second processor of a second processor type is run on the first processor. A second operating system of a second operating type is run on the virtual machine with the virtual machine running on the first processor. The first processor running the first operating system and the virtual machine running the second operating system together form the virtual computer system. A tool qualifier module performs verification of an application testing tool on the virtual machine using tool qualification data to qualify the application testing tool before the application testing tool is run using the second operating system on the virtual machine to test an application program.

Testing application programs using a virtual machine

A system onboard a vehicle may include a vehicle management system (VMS) and a mission management system (MMS). The VMS may include a plurality of VMS nodes for controlling operation of the vehicle. The MMS may include a plurality of MMS nodes for controlling equipment associated with a mission of the vehicle. The system may also include a flexible deterministic communications network. The flexible deterministic communication network may be configurable for communications between each of the VMS nodes, between each of the MMS nodes and between the VMS nodes and the MMS nodes. The VMS nodes communicate using static, deterministic messages and the MMS nodes communicate using dynamic, non-deterministic messages.

Flexible deterministic communications network

A method for managing data transfer for a plurality of processors. Transfer messages exchanged between processor units and an external node in an integrity manager located in hardware in communication with the processor units and the external node are received. An exchange of the transfer messages is managed by the processor units with the external node based on a selected mode in mixed integrity modes such that redundantly calculated outputs from the processor units in a high integrity mode match.

Message synchronization system

A method for synchronizing processor units. An external synchronizer is communicated with to determine whether an undesired amount of skew is present between a first processor unit and a second processor unit in communication with a synchronization system. The first processor unit is selectively directed to perform an action without generating a needed result such that the undesired amount of skew between the first processor unit and the second processor unit is reduced when the undesired amount of skew is present in the first processor unit. The first processor unit and the second processor unit are associated with each other for a high integrity mode in which integrity checks are performed on corresponding messages generated by the first processor unit and the second processor unit.

Instruction processing alignment system

A method and apparatus for testing application software for installation on hardware platforms. A software tool is verified using a tool qualifier module running on a physical computer system that has a processor of a first processor type and an operating system of a first operating type. A benchmark performance is established for the physical computer system. A virtual machine in a virtual computer system is verified using a qualifier module to determine whether its performance is consistent with the benchmark performance to form a qualified virtual machine. The virtual computer system has a configuration that comprises a processor of a second type; an operating system of a second operating type; the virtual machine emulating the processor of the first processor type; and an operating system of the first operating type. The software tool can be transferred from the physical computer system to the qualified virtual machine without requiring requalification.

Transferring application software from a physical to a virtual computer system

An onboard system for controlling flight of an unmanned aerial vehicle. The system comprises: a flight management system configured for controlling flight of the unmanned aerial vehicle; a mission control module configured to send commands to the flight management system for guiding the unmanned aerial vehicle to perform a mission; a safety module configured to communicate commands to the flight management system for guiding the unmanned aerial vehicle to fly in a safe mode; a communication control component which is switchable between a mission state in which the flight management system receives commands from the mission control module and a safety state in which the flight management system receives commands from the safety module; and a monitor module configured to determine whether a trigger condition warranting a change in mode is present or not and to cause the communication control component to switch from the mission state to the safety state when the trigger condition is present.

Unmanned aerial vehicle flight control system

A method and apparatus for testing application software for installation on hardware platforms. A software tool is qualified using a tool qualifier module running on a first virtual computer system having a configuration that comprises a processor of first processor type and a first virtual machine emulating a processor of second processor type. A benchmark performance is established for the first virtual machine. A second virtual computer system has a configuration that comprises a processor of third type and a second virtual machine emulating the processor of the second processor type. The second virtual machine is verified using a qualifier module to determine whether its performance is consistent with the benchmark performance to form a qualified second virtual machine. After the tool has been qualified, the tool is transferred from the first virtual machine to the qualified second virtual machine without needing to be requalified.

Growing community of inventors

Chesterfield, MO, United States of America

Murali Rangarajan