The Boeing Company

Nha Thanh Nguyen

Anil Kumar

Timothy McNally Mitchell

Arun Ayyagari

Radhakrishna G Sampigethaya

Sudhakar S Shetty

Brian Edward Ward

Roger C vonDoenhoff

Sopheap Ya

Bertin Koala

Donald B Lee

John Patrick Baron

Steve J Avila

Oanh T Kha

Timothy McNally Mitchel

A multifactor authentication system onboard a vehicle including at least one processor, a first database, a second database, and one or more protected computer systems is provided. The at least one processor is programmed to receive, from a user, a request for access to the one or more protected computer systems, wherein the request contains authentication information including a first authentication factor and a second authentication factor, retrieve first factor authentication data associated with the user from the first database, compare the first factor authentication data with the received first authentication factor to determine if there is a match, retrieve the second factor authentication data associated with the user from the second database, compare the second factor authentication data with the received second authentication factor to determine if there is a match, and grant access to the one or more protected computer systems if all of the comparisons match.

Method and apparatus for advanced security systems over a power line connection

A broadband over powerline (BPL) unit is provided. The BPL unit includes at least one processor programmed to execute a first virtual machine and a second virtual machine, at least one memory device in communication with the at least one processor, and a powerline transceiver. The at least one processor is programmed to transmit and receive data over a three-phase power line via the powerline transceiver. The at least one processor is also programmed to receive, via the first virtual machine, a first plurality of data for transmission via the powerline transceiver, receive, via the second virtual machine, a second plurality of data for transmission via the powerline transceiver, transmit, via the powerline transceiver, the first plurality of data via a first phase, and transmit, via the powerline transceiver, the second plurality of data via a second phase.

Method and apparatus for data transfer over a power line connection

A method and system for an electrically switchable window system for an aerospace vehicle. The electrically switchable window system comprises electrically switchable windows and a window controller system connected to the electrically switchable windows. The window controller system receives a group of wireless signals from an onboard network system that controls systems in the aerospace vehicle and changes voltages applied to the electrically switchable windows when the group of wireless signals are received. The changes in the voltages change an amount of light passing through the electrically switchable windows.

Wirelessly controlled electrically switchable window system

Disclosed are onboard network systems for passenger aircrafts and methods of operating thereof. Specifically, an onboard network system is configured to handle various requests (e.g., communication, entertainment) from passenger devices during aircraft operation. Each request is first received at a cabin virtual router, which determines the security threat associated with this request and, if the security threat exceeds a security threshold, performs a corresponding security operation. In some examples, the cabin virtual router is configured to disable its operation entirely, e.g., if the security threat is high. In other examples, the cabin virtual router switches to a new operating system and/or throttles its operation. The cabin virtual router effectively isolates other components of the onboard network system (e.g., a flight deck) from potential threats associated with the passenger devices using this system. Security threats are analyzed to reconfigure the cabin virtual router on the aircraft and/or entire fleet.

Onboard network systems for passenger aircraft and methods of operating thereof

A broadband over powerline (BPL) master control unit is provided. The BPL master control unit includes a processor, a local memory device, a first wireless transceiver, a second wireless transceiver and a powerline transceiver. The processor is configured to transmit and receive data over a power line via the powerline transceiver. The processor is further configured to receive a plurality of data via the powerline transceiver, determine whether to route the plurality of data through the first wireless transceiver or the second wireless transceiver, and transmit the plurality of data via one of the first wireless transceiver and the second wireless transceiver based on the determination.

Method and apparatus for physical security over a power line connection

A shared data communications system includes a network file server and two routers, each with its own address. A first router provides wireless access to a first part of the system. A second router provides wireless access to a second part of the same, shared system via the technique known as broadband-over-power line (BPL). In the second part, a first BPL unit is carried by the proximal end of an electrical conductor for receiving and sending signals between it and distal, second BPL unit on the same electrical conductor. The use of separate routers with different addresses and a power line to transmit and receive data to confine the wireless portion of the second part of the system to a smaller area increase the physical security of wireless communications with the second part, making it less likely data communications taking place in the second part will be accessed by others.

Physical security in a shared, wireless data communications network

A method for providing information by optimizing the data rate to a vehicle over a three-phase power line utilized to provide power to the vehicle is described. The method includes assigning three separate frequency bands to three respective conductors extending between a ground power system and the vehicle, generating carrier signals in three separate frequency bands and modulating various data onto three carrier signals to generate three transmission signals for sending the various data from the ground power system to the vehicle at frequencies within respective ones of the three separate frequency bands. The frequencies for each of the three separate frequency bands do not overlap one another. The method also includes switching the three transmission signals onto respective conductors of the three-phase power line, demodulating the various data within the vehicle, and providing the various data to one or more vehicle systems.

Methods and system for increasing data transmission rates across a three-phase power system

Provided are methods and systems for terrestrial data transmission between aircrafts and external networks connected to gates at airports. This type of data transmission is performed through an electrical power cable that includes multiple conductors interconnecting electrical components of an aircraft and a gate. Each conductor may be used to establish a separate broadband over power line (BPL) communication channel using its own frequency range that does not overlap with frequency ranges of other channels. As such, no radio frequency (RF) shielding is needed in the cable and any standard multi-conductor cable may be used. A channel management unit is used to control allocation of data domains among different communication channels depending on characteristics of the data domains, characteristics of the channels, and other factors. For example, one channel may be designated for secure data transfer of specific data domains, such as aircraft control data.

Aircraft data transmission using phase separation

A method for providing information by optimizing the data rate to a vehicle over a three-phase power line utilized to provide power to the vehicle is described. The method includes generating carrier signals in three separate frequency bands, modulating various data onto the three carrier signals to generate three transmission signals, switching the three transmission signals onto respective conductors of the three-phase power line, demodulating the various data within the vehicle, and providing the various data to one or more vehicle systems. The three transmission signals are dynamically monitored such that the three frequency bands are controlled to optimize a data rate of the transmission.

An aircraft includes a first electrical connector configured to couple with a first power cable, a first data communication network and a first modem coupled to first electrical connector and first data communication network and is configured to transmit data received at first electrical connector through first power cable to first data communication network and to transmit data from first data communication network to first power cable through first electrical connector. The aircraft additionally includes a second electrical connector configured to couple with a second power cable, a second data communication network and a second modem coupled to second electrical connector and to second data communication network and is configured to transmit data received at second electrical connector through second power cable to second data communication network and to transmit data from second data communication network to second power cable through second electrical connector.

Systems and methods for physical security of information flows over a power cable connection

Methods and systems for communicating data between a vehicle and a ground-based unit are provided. The method includes communicatively coupling the vehicle to the ground-based unit, initiating a Broadband over Power Line (BPL) link between the vehicle and the ground-based unit when power is supplied to the vehicle, and updating data stored in the vehicle with data received from the ground-based unit.

Growing community of inventors

Shoreline, WA, United States of America

Nha Thanh Nguyen