Distributed built-in test equipment system for digital avionics

A digital avionics system designed for installation in an aircraft as an integral part thereof, the system comprising:

• a plurality of line replacement units (LRUs), each designed to transmit an output signal containing information from which faulty operation of said each LRU may be detected;
• a distributed computer system, designed for installation in an aircraft as an integral part thereof, coupled to said plurality of LRUs, for receiving said output signals provided by said plurality of LRUs, said computer system comprising a plurality of discrete built-in test equipment (BITE) programs distributed within said distributed computer system each (a) for performing diagnostic operations using said information in said output signals so as to isolate faulty ones of said plurality of LRUs and (b) for performing test operations after faulty LRUs have been replaced to verify replacement LRUs function properly, said distributed computer system including a central computer having (1) a central BITE program (a) for performing diagnostic operations using said information in said output signals so as to isolate faulty ones of said plurality of LRUs and (b) for performing test operations after faulty LRUs have been replaced to verify replacement LRUs function properly and (2) selection means for permitting a user to select either said central BITE program or one of said plurality of discrete BITE programs, said central BITE program and each of said plurality of discrete BITE programs comprising an interactive, natural language interface for facilitating operation thereof by a user of the system;
• control/display means, designed for installation in the cockpit of the aircraft and coupled to said distributed computer system, for permitting a user of the avionics system to communicate therewith, and for permitting a maintenance technician to operate said central BITE program and each of said plurality of discrete BITE programs using said interactive, natural language interface, the latter including first menu means for permitting a user to access said central BITE program or a selected one of said plurality of discrete BITE programs, and second menu means for permitting a user to initiate, operate, and terminate, within said central BITE program or said selected one of said plurality of discrete BITE programs, said diagnostic operations and said test operations, said control/display means comprising a screen display and input means;
• and
• wherein said central computer additionally includes pass-through means, coupled to said distributed computer system (a) for causing input data received from said input means to be formatted in a predefined format and to be transmitted from said input means through said central computer to said distributed computer system and (b) for receiving output data transmitted from said distributed computer system and for transferring such data through said central computer to said screen display for display thereon.

A digital avionics system designed for installation in an aircraft, the system comprising:

• a plurality of line replaceable units (LRUs), each designed (a) to receive an input signal and (b) to transmit an output signal containing information from which faulty operation of said each LRU may be detected;
• a distributed computer system, designed for installation in an aircraft and coupled to said plurality of LRUs, for generating and providing said input signals to said plurality of LRUs and for receiving said output signals provided by said plurality of LRUs, said distributed computer system comprising a distributed built-in test equipment (BITE) program distributed within said distributed computer system having (a) an in-flight module for storing said information in said output signals from said plurality of LRUs receiving during a predetermined number of flights and (b) a ground module for performing diagnostic operations using said information stored by said in-flight module so as to isolate faulty ones of said plurality of LRUs and for performing test operations after faulty LRUs have been replaced to verify replacement LRUs function properly;
• and
• interface means, designed for installation in the cockpit of the aircraft and coupled with said distributed computer system, for permitting a maintenance technician to operate said ground module portion of said BITE program.

A built-in test equipment (BITE) system designed to form an integral part of a digital avionic system installed in an aircraft, the avionic system comprising (1) a plurality of line replaceable units (LRUs), each designed (a) to receive an input signal and (b) to transmit an output signal containing information from which faulty operation of said each LRU may be detected, (2) a distributed computer system, coupled to said plurality of LRUs, for generating and providing said input signals to said plurality of LRUs and for receiving said output signals provided by said plurality of LRUs, and (3) interface means for permitting a user to communicate with said distributed computer system, the BITE system comprising:

• (a) in-flight means for storing said information in said output signals received by the distributed computer system from the plurality of LRUs;
• (b) ground means for performing diagnostic operations using said information stored by said in-flight means so as to isolate faulty ones of said plurality of LRUs and for performing test operations after faulty LRUs have been replaced to verify replacement LRUs function properly;
• (c) communication means for providing a user-interactive, natural language interface with said in-flight means and said ground means;
• and
• (d) wherein said in-flight means, said ground means, and said communications means are distributed within said distributed computer system.

A digital avionics system designed for installation in an aircraft having a plurality of subsystems for controlling the operation of the aircraft, each of said subsystems comprising a plurality of line replaceable units (LRUs), each of which is designed to provide an output signal containing information from which faulty operation of the LRU may be determined, the system comprising:

• a distributed computer system designed to be installed in an aircraft so as to be coupled to the LRUs of selected subsystems of the aircraft, said distributed computer system including:
• (i) application means for controlling the operation of at least a portion of at least one of said plurality of subsystems of the aircraft;
• (ii) built-in-test equipment (BITE) means for performing diagnostic testing of the LRUs of said at least a portion of at least one of the selected subsystems based on information in the output signals of said LRUs;
• and
• (iii) control means for transferring control between said application means and said BITE means, said control means including interlock means for permitting the transfer of control from said application means to said BITE means only when information in the output signals from selected LRUs of the aircraft indicate the aircraft is on the ground.