The Boeing Company

Todd William Gould

Ludwin Fuchs

Greg A Kimberly

Christopher J Morgan

Fred J McLain

Travis Stephen Reid

James T Farricker

Charles D Royalty

Jack D Lawson

Garry G Herzberg

Bryan P Kesterson

Richard Jon Reuter

George Wilber

James Michael Parker

Ben Klausner

Keith D Conzachi

Steve R Stovner

Stanely W Engdahl

George F Wilber

A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer program product for transferring information with an aircraft. A connection is established between an onboard electronic distribution system executing in an aircraft data processing system in the aircraft and an on ground component. Responsive to a request for a command from the on ground component, the command for execution is identified. The identified command is sent to the onboard electronic distribution system from an on ground component. A transaction identifier is assigned to the command. A transaction associated with the command is maintained on the onboard electronic distribution system and the on ground component using the transaction identifier. An uplink is initiated by the on ground component. An aircraft software part is sent to the onboard electronic distribution system from the on ground component to perform the uplink. A status of a transfer of the aircraft software part on ground component is stored.

Method and apparatus for loadable aircraft software parts distribution

Onboard electronic distribution system

A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer program product for managing aircraft software parts. In one embodiment, a computer implemented method creates an alternate parts signature list part having a set of signatures for a set of stored aircraft software parts. The alternate parts signature list part is distributed to the aircraft data processing system. Each signature for a set of stored aircraft software parts on the aircraft data processing system is replaced with a corresponding signature in the alternate parts signature list part to form a set of current signatures on the aircraft data processing system.

Alternate parts signature list file

Methods, apparatus and computer program products are provided to authenticate and determine the integrity a software part. In this regard, a software part is authenticated and its integrity is determined by determining a first hash of the digital data that comprises the software part. If the air vehicle lacks data communications connectivity with an off-board security system, the method determines the authenticity and integrity of the software part by decrypting an encrypted hash of a software part in accordance with a public-private key pair to create a decrypted hash, comparing the first hash with the decrypted hash and transmitting the first hash to the off-board security system once data communications connectivity is established. Conversely, if the air vehicle has data communications connectivity with the off-board security system, the method determines the integrity of the software part by transmitting the first hash to the off-board security system for comparison with a whitelist.

Methods, apparatus and computer program products for authenticating and determining integrity of a software part of an air vehicle

Remotely performed maintenance of a transportation unit such as an aircraft is disclosed, wherein the maintenance is performed utilizing a networked environment. In one implementation, a first network, located within the mobile transportation unit, is accessed from a second network, located externally to the mobile transportation unit. Having remotely assessed the first network, communication with one or more assets of the mobile transportation unit, which are connected to the first network, is possible. Maintenance operations are then performed by exchanging data and commands with the assets of the mobile transportation unit.

Remote aircraft maintenance in a networked environment

An aircraft wireless data communication system includes an aircraft computer/server in communication with a plurality of aircraft systems. Access to the aircraft systems via the computer/server is available in real-time via wireless communication with a ground-based computer system. The ground-based computer system includes a computer that can be accessed from one or more networks of computers. Each authorized computer user on an airline, manufacturer, or supplier network has remote real-time access to the aircraft computer/server. Properly authorized remote users can: perform comparisons between the aircraft actual configuration identity and an aircraft authorized configuration identity; perform system diagnostic testing; view system status and parameters; collaborate with users from local and remote organizations using real-time aircraft data; and upload and download software and data to and from aircraft systems.

Remote aircraft manufacturing, monitoring, maintenance and management system

Growing community of inventors

Marysville, WA, United States of America

Todd William Gould