The Boeing Company

Theboeing Company

Timothy William Anstey

Steven J Yukawa

David L Allen

Rajit Jain

Reynold Rullan Panergo

Subramaniam Natarajan

Mycah Mattox

Lakshmi M Puttaswamy

Selvakumar Santharam

Nathan T VanRheenen

Arun Ayyagari

Timothy McNally Mitchell

John E Bush

Gordon E Letney

Aziz Yousif

Kevin James Luschei

Steve Magnuson

Anil Kumar

Robert James Myers

David T Kirkland

Peter James Batsakes

Ethan Carl Owyang

Guillermo De Vivero

Steven James Churchill

Jason Apanovitch

Gordon Edward Letney

A computing method for transmitting data from a ground computing device to an aircraft computing device, comprises receiving, by an aircraft API executing on an aircraft interface computing device, an initial communication from an aircraft service executing on the aircraft computing device located onboard an aircraft; determining, by the aircraft API, that a data file is to be transmitted from the ground computing device to the aircraft computing device; transmitting, to the ground computing device, a data signal configured to cause the data file to be transmitted from the ground computing device to a transient storage location associated with the aircraft interface computing device; and causing the data file to be transmitted from the transient storage location to the aircraft computing device.

Aircraft to ground data systems and computing methods

A system for off-board communication includes data storage configured to store one or more data objects. A data object includes data of an application. The data object indicates a data object priority and one or more acceptable communication links associated with the application. The system also includes one or more processors configured to retrieve communication link status from a memory. The communication link status indicates available communication links with available bandwidth. The processors are also configured to retrieve the data object from the data storage based on the data object priority and acceptable communication links of the data object including the available communication links. The processors are further configured to generate, based on the available bandwidth of the available communication links, sub-data objects of the data object. The processors are also configured to initiate concurrent transmission of the sub-data objects via the available communication links.

Data communication via communication links

A secure communication management (SCM) computer device for providing secure data connections in an aviation environment which, includes safety of flight information, is provided. The SCM computer device includes a processor in communication with a memory. The processor is programmed to receive, from a first user computer device, a first data message for a first aircraft. The first data message is in a standardized data format. The processor is also programmed to analyze the first data message for potential cybersecurity threats. If the determination is that the first data message does not contain a cybersecurity threat, the processor is further programmed to convert the first data message into a first data format associated with the first aircraft and transmit the converted first data message to the first aircraft using a first communication protocol associated with the first aircraft.

Systems for secure data connections in an aviation environment

A computing method for transmitting data from an aircraft computing device on an aircraft to a ground computing device, comprises receiving, by an aircraft API executing on an aircraft interface computing device, an initial communication from an aircraft service executing on the aircraft computing device; determining, by the aircraft API, that a data file is to be transmitted from the aircraft computing device to the ground computing device; transmitting, to the aircraft computing device, a data signal configured to cause the data file to be transmitted from the aircraft computing device to a transient storage location associated with an aircraft interface computing device; and causing the transmission of the data file from the transient storage location to the ground computing device.

A method, apparatus, and system for facilitating communications between a client computer system and a vehicle computer system in a vehicle. An operational digital twin establishes communications with the client computer system using a client interface and the vehicle computer system using a vehicle interface. The operational digital twin includes a model of the vehicle computer system. Remote information received from the vehicle computer system is stored. The stored information is sent responsive to a request received from the client computer system. The remote information responsive to request but absent from the stored information is retrieved from the vehicle computer system. The retrieved information is sent to the client computer system, wherein the operational digital twin operates to provide network connectivity between the vehicle computer system in the vehicle and the client computer system with an increased a quality of service to the client computer system.

Aircraft communications system with an operational digital twin

A computing method for exchanging data between an aircraft computing device and a ground computing device comprises receiving an initial communication from an aircraft service executing on the aircraft computing device located onboard an aircraft; determining an aircraft classifier associated with the aircraft; selecting an aircraft API for communicating with the aircraft service; transmitting one or more first communications to the ground computing device; and transmitting one or more second communications to the aircraft service, wherein the one or more first communications and the one or more second communications cause a data file to be exchanged between the ground computing device and the aircraft computing device.

System and methods for providing secure data connections in an aviation environment

A system and method for handling information for use on a flight deck network on an aircraft. Information is received from a number of information sources. The number of information sources is not part of the flight deck network. The flight deck network is a certified network. It is determined whether the information is approved to be used on the flight deck network. A manner in which the information is allowed to be used on the flight deck network is also determined. Responsive to a determination that the information is approved to be used on the flight deck network, the information is sent to the flight deck network during operation of the aircraft.

Information handling for aircraft flight decks

A system and method for non-real-time validation of an electronically signed message transmitted via an asynchronous communications link is provided. The method includes creating an electronic message comprising an electronically signed data entry created by executing a secure data application first portion (SDA) module hosted by a mobile system. The method additionally includes passing the message to a communications management function first portion (CMF) module via a synchronous interface. The CMFmodule is hosted by the mobile system. The method further includes transmitting the message from the CMFmodule to a communications management function second portion (CMF) module in a temporally delayed manner using an asynchronous communications link. The CMFmodule is hosted by a central computer system (CCS) located remotely from the mobile system. The method further yet includes validating the electronically signed entry in a temporally delayed manner utilizing a user database. The user database is hosted by the CCS and has stored thereon user account information for all users authorized to electronically sign entries transmitted from the mobile system to the CCS. The user account information includes user information and/or user personal identification numbers (PINs) for each authorized user.

Electronic signature validation systems and methods for asynchronous environments

A method for automating tracking of an effectiveness of fault repairs. The method may involve defining a unique fault code for each one of a plurality of different faults; cataloging faults that are repaired according to their respective fault codes and storing each cataloged fault in a fix effectiveness subsystem; placing the fix effectiveness subsystem in communication with an electronic logbook (ELB) system that is able to populate the fix effectiveness subsystem with additional fault information; providing a user interface to enable a user to access said ELB system to obtain information on a specific fault condition that was previously stored on the fix effectiveness subsystem; and presenting a fault history to the user from information stored in the fix effectiveness subsystem that enables the user to select a repair procedure for correcting the specific fault condition.

System and method for determining electronic logbook observed defect fix effectiveness

A method for real-time validation of an electronically signature generated onboard a mobile system. The method includes maintaining a ground mobile user account management (GMUAM) module user database to have up-to-date authorized user account information. The GMUAM is hosted by a stationary central computer system (CCS). The method additionally includes transferring the up-to-date authorized user account information stored on the GMUAM user database to a mobile user account management (MUAM) module user database, thereby updating the MUAM user data base with up-to-date authorized user account information. The MUAM module is included in an onboard computer system (OCS) hosted by the mobile system. The method further includes evoking a signature validator module communicatively connected to the MUAM module to access the MUAM database and verify whether user account information included in an electronic signature initiated by a secure data application (SDA) is authorized user account information. The SDA and the signature validator module hosted by the OCS.

Real-time electronic signature validation systems and methods

An electronic flight bag is disclosed which includes an electronic logbook module having an electronic logbook database. The electronic logbook module is configured to compile a list of deferred maintenance items including one or more MEL items. The electronic flight bag also includes an onboard performance tool module operatively connected to the electronic logbook module. The onboard performance tool module is configured to access the list of deferred maintenance items compiled by the electronic logbook module and calculate a plurality of performance parameters. The electronic flight bag also includes an electronic document browser module operatively connected to the electronic logbook module and the onboard performance tool module. The electronic document browser module includes an electronic document browser database storing documentation regarding the MEL item(s) included in the list of deferred maintenance items compiled by the electronic logbook module.

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Seattle, WA, United States of America

Timothy William Anstey