Methods and systems for securely uploading files onto aircraft

A system for verifying integrity of files uplinked to a remote vehicle, the system comprising:

• a communication system onboard the remote vehicle, the communication system configured to receive an uplinked file;
• at least one processor onboard the remote vehicle coupled to the communication system;
• and
• at least one storage device coupled to the at least one processor, the at least one storage device including processor executable instructions which, when executed by the at least one processor, implement data checking functionality to:
• receive a first message authentication code for the uplinked file, a first acknowledgement message authentication code for the message authentication code, and a first cyclic redundancy check for the first message authentication code and the acknowledgement message authentication code;
• compute a second message authentication code from the uplinked file, a second acknowledgement message authentication code from the second message authentication code and a second cyclic redundancy check from the second message authentication code and second acknowledgement message authentication code;
• verify integrity of the uplinked file by comparing the second acknowledgement message authentication code against the first acknowledgement message authentication code;
• if integrity of the uplinked file is confirmed, accept the uplinked file;
• and
• if integrity of the uplinked file is not confirmed, reject the uplinked file.

A system for transmitting files to a remote vehicle, the system comprising:

• a communication system at a ground unit;
• at least one processor coupled to the communication system;
• and
• at least one storage device coupled to the at least one processor, the at least one storage device including processor executable instructions which, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to:
• obtain a file for transmittal from the ground unit to a remote vehicle;
• calculate a message authentication code from the file, an acknowledgement message authentication code for the message authentication code, and a cyclic redundancy check for the message authentication code and the acknowledgement message authentication code;
• uplink the file for transmittal to the remote vehicle;
• and
• uplink the message authentication code, acknowledgement message authentication code for the message authentication code, and the cyclic redundancy check for the message authentication code and the acknowledgement message authentication code with the file for transmittal to the remote vehicle.