Distributed avionics

A method of operating a distributed avionics system for controlling at least one avionics function, the method comprising:

• providing input data, related to conditions of the at least one avionics function, providing the input data to the memory unit of the processing subsystems for later processing by at least one task in order to provide a set data message comprising one or more units of data related to controlling the at least one avionics function,
• synchronize the avionics processing subsystems in time by generating at least one cycle start signal onto the network,
• wherein the method further comprises in each of the processing subsystems:
• generating a repeating set of periodic processing time frames by detecting repeatedly subsequent instants of time, based on a first predetermined interval and the at least one cycle start signal,
• selecting within each of the generated processing time frames at least one task set to process, based on a predetermined schedule,
• selecting the order in which to process each of at least one task within each of the selected at least one task set, based on a predetermined processing rate associated to each of the at least one task, determined from a set of system global processing rates in descending order of said associated processing rate,
• wherein the method further comprises in each of the processing subsystems:
• generating a set of periodic communication time frames by detecting repeatedly subsequent instants of time within each generated processing time frame, based on a second predetermined periodic time interval,
• perform scheduled transmissions of data packets, based on scheduling information relating to a timing table statically allocating to each of the plurality of said periodic communication time frames a predetermined number of data packets, each comprising a predetermined subset of data messages from said set of data messages.

A computer programme product, comprising:

• a non-transitory computer readable medium;
• and
• a programme code recorded on the computer readable medium for performing when said computer programme is run on a computer a method for operating a distributed avionics system for controlling at least one avionics function, the method comprising
• providing input data, related to conditions of the at least one avionics function,
• providing the input data to the memory unit of the processing subsystems for later processing by at least one task in order to provide a set data message comprising one or more units of data related to controlling the at least one avionics function,
• synchronize the avionics processing subsystems in time by generating at least one cycle start signal onto the network,
• wherein the method further comprises in each of the processing subsystems
• generating a repeating set of periodic processing time frames by detecting repeatedly subsequent instants of time, based on a first predetermined interval and the at least one cycle start signal,
• selecting within each of the generated processing time frames at least one task set to process, based on a predetermined schedule,
• selecting the order in which to process each of at least one task within each of the selected at least one task set, based on a predetermined processing rate associated to each of the at least one task, determined from a set of system global processing rates in descending order of said associated processing rate,
• wherein the method further comprises in each of the processing subsystems
• generating a set of periodic communication time frames by detecting repeatedly subsequent instants of time within each generated processing time frame, based on a second predetermined periodic time interval,
• perform scheduled transmissions of data packets, based on scheduling information relating to a timing table statically allocating to each of the plurality of said periodic communication time frames a predetermined number of data packets, each comprising a predetermined subset of data messages from said set of data messages.