Max Leslie Taylor

US Patent:

20210351987, Nov 11, 2021

Filed:

Oct 9, 2020

Appl. No.:

17/067463

Inventors:

- Cedar Rapids IA, US
Abdul A. Khan - Richardson TX, US
Brian S. Rach - Vinton IA, US
Charles Adams - Marion IA, US
Mitchell A. Riley - Marion IA, US
Max G. Taylor - Houston TX, US

Assignee:

Rockwell Collins, Inc. - Cedar Rapids IA

International Classification:

H04L 12/24
H04W 84/18
H04L 12/437
H04L 12/46

Abstract:

A high availability aircraft network architecture incorporating smart points of presence (SPoP) is disclosed. In embodiments, the network architecture divides the aircraft into districts, or physical subdivisions. Each district includes one or more mission systems (MS) smart network access point (SNAP) devices for connecting MS components and devices located within its district to the MS network. Similarly, each district includes one or more air vehicle systems (AVS) SNAP devices for connecting AVS components and devices within the district to the AVS network. The AVS network may remain in a star or hub-and-spoke topology, while the MS network may be configured in a ring or mesh topology. Selected MS and AVS SNAP devices may be connected to each other via guarded network bridges to securely interconnect the MS and AVS networks.

US Patent:

20210351988, Nov 11, 2021

Filed:

Oct 9, 2020

Appl. No.:

17/067500

Inventors:

- Cedar Rapids IA, US
Abdul A. Khan - Richardson TX, US
Brian S. Rach - Vinton IA, US
Charles Adams - Marion IA, US
Mitchell A. Riley - Marion IA, US
Max G. Taylor - Houston TX, US

Assignee:

Rockwell Collins, Inc. - Cedar Rapids IA

International Classification:

H04L 12/24
H04L 12/46
H04W 84/18
H04L 12/437

Abstract:

A smart network access point (SNAP) device is disclosed. In embodiments, the SNAP device includes trunk ports for accepting a network trunk cable (e.g., fiber optic trunk) and thereby connecting the SNAP device to an aircraft-based network of SNAP devices. The SNAP device includes switch ports for incorporating physical connections to mission systems (MS) or air vehicle systems (AVS) components and devices, providing a local smart point of presence (SPoP) throughout a physical subdivision (e.g., network district) of an aircraft. The SNAP device is configured for monitoring data exchanges between local MS/AVS components and the aircraft network. The SNAP device includes a cybersecurity module for connecting to local security components (e.g., data guards and multiple levels of security (MLS) encryption/decryption) or for providing built-in data guard and encryption/decryption services. The SNAP device includes power control components for managing power distribution to the connected local network components.