Methods and systems for non-intrusive system data pipe

Methods and systems are provided for accessing data in a networked system. In one embodiment, a method includes: receiving a request for information from a first system; evaluating a display system to determine a communication request to be generated to obtain the information; and generating a request to a second system based on the communication request.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure generally relates to methods and systems for accessing data of a system.

BACKGROUND

An aircraft includes various hierarchically related sub-systems such as, propulsion systems, flight management systems, etc., that communicate over one or more networks. Legacy aircraft contain a defined set of systems and needed wiring to support the systems. In order to add functionality to a legacy aircraft, the system can be modified to add the functionality, or a new system can be added or provided in place of the existing system to add the functionality. For example, to add a new performance application, the flight management system (FMS) software must be modified. To add the display of the newly computed value on a displayed map, both the FMS software and display software must be modified. In another example, the new performance application could be added to a new system that would require an update to the wiring. Either option can be costly and or time consuming to add the new performance application.

Hence, there is a need for improved methods and for integrating new applications in a legacy aircraft. In addition, there is a need for improved methods and systems for accessing data in any system. Other desirable features and characteristics will become apparent from the subsequent detailed description and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and the foregoing technical field and background.

BRIEF SUMMARY

Methods and systems are provided for accessing data in a networked system. In one embodiment, a method includes: receiving a request for information from a first system; evaluating a display system to determine a communication request to be generated to obtain the information; and generating a request to a second system based on the communication request.

Furthermore, other desirable features and characteristics of the method and system will become apparent from the subsequent detailed description and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and the preceding background.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As used herein, the term module refers to any hardware, software, firmware, electronic control component, processing logic, and/or processor device, individually or in any combination, including without limitation: application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), an electronic circuit, a processor (shared, dedicated, or group) and memory that executes one or more software or firmware programs, a combinational logic circuit, and/or other suitable components that provide the described functionality.

Referring now toFIG. 1, exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a data access system10that may be implemented, for example, on an aircraft12. As can be appreciated, the data access system10described herein can be implemented for networked systems (not shown) other than an aircraft12. For exemplary purposes, the disclosure will be discussed in the context of the data access system10and the aircraft12. Although the figures shown herein depict an example with certain arrangements of elements, additional intervening elements, devices, features, or components may be present in actual embodiments. It should also be understood thatFIG. 1is merely illustrative and may not be drawn to scale.

As shown inFIG. 1, the aircraft12generally includes one or more aircraft systems14a-14nthat communicate with a display system16to display information about the aircraft12to a pilot or other user. The aircraft systems14a-14ninclude conventional systems of an aircraft such as, but not limited to, a flight management system, a cabin management system, control systems, etc. The communication between the systems14a-14nand the display system16may be via a communication bus18or other direct or indirect communication means.

The display system16includes a computing device20, a display device22, and one or more input devices24. The display device22may be located in a cockpit (not shown) of the aircraft12for viewing by, for example, a pilot of the aircraft12. In various embodiments, the display device22is an interactive display device (e.g., a touch screen, or other interactive display device) that accepts user input from a user through the one or more of the user input devices24.

The computing device20includes at least a processor26, and one or more data storage devices28. The processor26can be any custom made or commercially available processor, a central processing unit (CPU), an auxiliary processor among several processors associated with the computing device20, a semiconductor based microprocessor (in the form of a microchip or chip set), a macroprocessor, or generally any device for executing instructions. The data storage device28may be one or a combination of storage elements that store data, and/or instructions that can be performed by the processor26. The instructions may include one or more separate programs, each of which comprises an ordered listing of executable instructions for implementing logical functions.

In various embodiments, the data storage device28stores a data access module30. In various embodiments, the data access module30includes one or more instructions that may be executed by the processor26of the computing device20. In general, the instructions of the data access module30cause the display system16to communicate with the one or more systems14a-14nof the aircraft12to obtain information. The instructions of the data access module30further cause the data access module30to receive the information and to provide the information to other new systems32of the aircraft12. For example, the data access module30provides the information to a new system32or new application of a new system32or existing system14a-14nrequesting the information. The data access module30provides the information in a non-intrusive manner such that the hardware and/or the software of the aircraft systems14a-14nand the display system16do not have to be modified.

For example,FIGS. 2-4illustrate an exemplary display system16that is implemented as a multi-control display unit (MCDU). The MCDU displays various pages34-38of information on the display device22. The information displayed on the pages34-38is populated from information received from one or more of the systems14a-14n. The pages34-38are displayed based on information requested by a user or pilot. The information is requested based on a user's selection of one or more of the input devices24. For example, when the “ECON Cruise” page34is being displayed as shown inFIG. 2, a user can select the “Radio” button input device24awhich results in the “PERF INDEX” page36to be displayed as shown inFIG. 3. When the “PERF INDEX” page36is displayed as shown inFIG. 3, and a user selects the “NEXT” button input device24b, the “RADIO” page38is displayed as shown inFIG. 4.

The data access module30ofFIG. 1makes use of the established relationship between the user selections and the data that is displayed on the pages as a result of the selection to access data from the systems14a-14n. For example, the data access module30simulates certain user selections to cause one or more requests to be generated to one or more of the systems14a-14nfor the information. The data access module30simulates the user selections based on the page associated with the information that is requested and a communication protocol associated with the system14a-14nin which the information is being requested from.

Referring now toFIG. 5and with continued reference toFIG. 1, a dataflow diagram illustrates the data access module30in more detail in accordance with various embodiments. As can be appreciated, various exemplary embodiments of the data access module30, according to the present disclosure, may include any number of sub-modules. In various exemplary embodiments, the sub-modules shown inFIG. 5may be combined and/or further partitioned to similarly access data from the systems14a-14nand provide the data to new systems or applications32. In various exemplary embodiments, the data access module30includes a mode control module40, a protocol determination module42, a data communication module44, and one or more datastores46,48.

The mode control module40determines an operating mode of the display system16and generates a request50to change the current operating mode based on the determined operating mode. In various embodiments, the various operating modes can include, but are not limited to a standard operating mode and a non-display operating mode. For example, when in the standard operating mode, the display system16displays information as the information is received. In another example, when in the non-display operating mode, the display system16maintains a current display of information and does not display any new information.

In various embodiments, the mode control module40determines the operating mode based on received inputs. For example, the mode control module40receives as input a start request52. The start request52may be generated by a new system or application32that plans to request information. Based on the start request52, the mode control module40determines the operating mode to be the non-display mode and generates the mode change request50to change the current mode to the determined non-display mode. The mode control module40then captures a snapshot54of the current page block displayed by the display system16and captures the current active system56. The mode control module40stores the snapshot54and the active system56in a datastore46for future use.

In another example, the mode control module40receives as input user selection data58. The user selection data58may be generated based on a user's interaction with one or more input devices24of the display system16. Based on the user selection data58, the mode control module40determines the operating mode to be a standard mode and if the current mode is not already the standard mode, generates a mode change request50to change the current mode to the determined standard mode. The mode control module40then uses the stored snapshot54and the active system56to generate device restore data60to restore the page block and active system of the display system16.

The protocol determination module42receives as input information request data62. In various embodiments, the information request data62can be a part of the start request52or be part of a separate request. The information request data62can be generated by the new application that is requesting information. Based on the information request data62, the protocol determination module42determines what information is requested. The protocol determination module42then determines which page64(from any number of displayable pages) is associated with the information that is requested. For example, an association of the information to a particular displayable page64may be stored as a table in a datastore48and the page64may be looked up from the table based on the information. The protocol determination module42then determines a protocol66to cause the page and/or a data element of the page68to be displayed. For example, the protocol66can correspond to a simulation of certain input selections (e.g., button presses, or other selections) to cause the page64to be displayed. The protocol determination module42provides the protocol66and the page or data element68to the data communication module44for future use.

The data communication module44receives as input the protocol66and the page or data element68to be requested. The data communication module44generates system requests70to the one or more of the system14a-14nbased on the received protocol66and the page or data element68. In response, the data communication module44receives information72based on the request. Optionally, the data communication module44verifies the received information72to ensure that the information received corresponds to the information requested. The data communication module44communicates the received information72to the new system or application32as requested information data74based on the protocol established for the new system or application (e.g., which may be known or determined).

Referring now toFIG. 6, and with continued reference toFIGS. 1 through 5, a flowchart illustrates a method190that can be performed by the data access module30in accordance with the present disclosure. As can be appreciated in light of the disclosure, the order of operation within the method is not limited to the sequential execution as illustrated inFIG. 6, but may be performed in one or more varying orders as applicable and in accordance with the present disclosure.

In various embodiments, the method190may be scheduled to run based on predetermined events or may be scheduled to run at predetermined time intervals. In one example, the method may begin at200. It is determined whether a start request52is received at210. If a start request52is not received, the method190continues to monitor for a start request52at210.

If, however, a start request52is received at210, the snapshot54is taken of a current page block and the active system56is determined at220. The mode of the display system16is modified to the non-display mode where all received information or the requested information that is received is not displayed at230. Thereafter, it is determined what information is requested at240. For example, a subsequent request is received or the first request containing the information request data62is processed to determine the information that is requested at240. The page or data element of the page68that is associated with the information that is requested is determined at250. The protocol66associated with the page and/or the particular data element of the page68is determined at260. Thereafter, the system request70for the information is generated based on the protocol66at270.

Upon receipt of information from the system14a-14nat280, the information is verified at290. If, the information is not the requested information at300, optionally an error notification message is generated at330and the mode of the display system16is modified to the standard mode at340. The snapshot captured at220is used to restore the display device22to the current page at350. Thereafter, the method may end at360.

If, however, the information is the information that was requested at300, then the information is communicated to the new system or application32at310. If the non-display mode has not been ended at320, the method continues to determine the information requested at240. If, however, the non-display mode has been ended, for example, based on a user's interaction with the display system16, the mode of the display system16is modified to a standard mode at340. The snapshot54captured at220is used to restore the display device22to the current page at350. Thereafter, the method may end at360.