Data communication analysis and simulation tool

A data communication analysis and simulation tool capable of simulating in real time the communication data transmissions and communication data responses of at least one line replaceable unit communicating on at least one communication bus with at least one line replaceable unit under test, comprising:

• a computer operating under a real time operating system, said computer having available memory and means for accepting user input;
• a programmed simulator resident in said computer, said programmed simulator comprising a plurality of processes to effectuate the simulation of the communication data transmissions and communication data responses of at least one line replaceable unit, said programmed simulator allocating a portion of said available memory as a shared memory segment serving as a central database and supporting inter-process communication, said programmed simulator further generating graphical and textural images in response to communicated data from the at least one line replaceable unit under test and user input;
• a monitor coupled to said computer for displaying graphical and textural images generated by said programmed simulator;
• at least one communication protocol interconnect module coupled to said simulator;
• and wherein
• said simulator configures said communication protocol interconnect module to enable said simulator to communicate using a specific communication protocol as used by the at least one line replaceable unit under test;
• means for inputting at least one user defined configuration file to said programmed simulator for use thereby, said configuration file containing data and rules which are specific to the line replaceable unit under test and parameters required during a particular test to be performed;
• and wherein
• said programmed simulator automatically updates said communicated data based on said rules in said configuration file, generates freshness counters to maintain validity of the simulated transmissions, and wherein said programmed simulator creates invalid data by changing transmit schedules of the simulated transmissions.

A data communication analysis and simulation tool for use in both line replaceable unit (LRU) and system level development, verification, and qualification testing, comprising:

• first means for transmitting and receiving on one or more ARINC 629 buses;
• second means connected to said first means for continuously monitoring bus, LRU, and label activity, as well as bus errors in real-time on said one or more ARINC 629 buses;
• third means connected to said first means for continuously receiving and displaying LRU/system ARINC 629 outputs in hexadecimal and engineering units such as volts, amps, signal true/false, and breaker open/closed, said third means displaying said ARINC 629 outputs with color highlighting of state changes and when tolerances are exceeded;
• fourth means connected to said first means for continuously transmitting LRU/system ARINC 629 inputs in hexadecimal and engineering units such as air/ground, autoland request true/false, switch on/off status, said fourth means simulating data from many other LRUs thereby;
• fifth means connected to said first means for monitoring hardware discrete and analog signals, said fifth means automatically driving corresponding transmit data to real values to suppress and test LRU/system responses thereto;
• sixth means connected to said first means for monitoring received data, said sixth means driving corresponding hardware signals, said sixth means further providing automatic transmit data responses to instrument LRU/system status and to simulate reactions of other LRUs;
• and
• seventh means connected to said first means for maintaining validity of transmit data by updating freshness counters at expected rates, said seventh means further creating invalid data by changing transmit schedules, inhibiting freshness update, setting system status bits, and parameter validity bits, and by creating data/data or data/hardware disagreements.