Classifications

• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04L67/00—Network arrangements or protocols for supporting network services or applications
  • H04L67/01—Protocols
  • H04L67/12—Protocols specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04L67/00—Network arrangements or protocols for supporting network services or applications
  • H04L67/01—Protocols
  • H04L67/10—Protocols in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04L67/00—Network arrangements or protocols for supporting network services or applications
  • H04L67/50—Network services
  • H04L67/60—Scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests, e.g. requests for application data transmissions using the analysis and optimisation of the required network resources
  • H04L67/63—Routing a service request depending on the request content or context
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04L69/00—Network arrangements, protocols or services independent of the application payload and not provided for in the other groups of this subclass
  • H04L69/08—Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04L69/00—Network arrangements, protocols or services independent of the application payload and not provided for in the other groups of this subclass
  • H04L69/18—Multiprotocol handlers, e.g. single devices capable of handling multiple protocols
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04L67/00—Network arrangements or protocols for supporting network services or applications
  • H04L67/01—Protocols
  • H04L67/131—Protocols for games, networked simulations or virtual reality
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04L69/00—Network arrangements, protocols or services independent of the application payload and not provided for in the other groups of this subclass
  • H04L69/40—Network arrangements, protocols or services independent of the application payload and not provided for in the other groups of this subclass for recovering from a failure of a protocol instance or entity, e.g. service redundancy protocols, protocol state redundancy or protocol service redirection

Definitions

• the invention relates to a method of data communication between a plurality of heterogeneous data processing systems, connected in a local area network, wherein the configuration of the communications is stored in storage means, connected to the network and accessible from each processing system.
• the invention also relates to a communication system implementing this method.
• the invention finds applications in the field of data communication by network, in particular by Ethernet network, with remote processing systems or co-located on the same machine.
• the invention has applications in the field of aeronautics and, in particular, aeronautical simulation and the transmission of information on board an aircraft or intended to be installed on board an aircraft.
• the networking of these systems requires an adaptation of each of the systems by means of communication in order to make the data comprehensible by each of the systems capable of sending or receiving these data.
• an unsuitable system could not understand the data transmitted from another system.
• the data sent by this system would be incomprehensible, and therefore unusable, by the other systems of the network.
• This adaptation of the systems requires the establishment of translation means for translating data produced in the format of a system in the format of another system.
• the invention proposes a method of data communication between several processing systems, in which the same configuration of the data is adaptable to all the systems.
• the method of the invention proposes to store the basic information relating to the data and the topology of the network in a simple, homogeneous and unambiguous form, in a centralized storage means, accessible by all the processing systems.
• This method thus proposes to store all the information necessary for all the processing systems of the communication network, in identical form, in a location accessible by each.
• the data is exchanged between the systems in the form of messages having a unique configuration and having a limited amount of information. This information enables the message receiving system to retrieve, in the centralized storage means, all the data corresponding to this message.
• the invention proposes a method of data communication between at least a first and a second data processing system connected to a local network, each processing system being able to execute at least one application.
• This process is characterized by the fact that the data to be exchanged are messages and the processing systems and applications being described in files stored in a network-connected backup unit accessible from the data processing systems, so that the receiving data processing system of a message is able, from information provided in the message, to find, in the files of the backup unit, the data which are necessary to him.
• the method of the invention may also include one or more of the following features: one of the stored files is a machine file comprising a list of all the processing systems with an address on the network of each system, defining a topology of the network.
• one of the stored files is an application file comprising a list of all the applications and systems on which each application can be executed.
• one of the stored files is a message file containing all the data that can be exchanged as well as paths to be taken between the applications to transmit this data.
• one of the stored files is a user file with a name.
• the machine file, the application file and the message file are files shared by all users.
• the user file is specific to each user.
• each message has at least three data fields.
• a first field contains an identifier of the message
• a second field contains a length of the data of the message
• a third field contains parameters to be exchanged.
• the communication network connecting the processing systems is an Ethernet network.
• the invention also relates to a data communication system comprising a plurality of processing systems connected in a local network, characterized in that it comprises a storage unit comprising:
• an application file defining all the applications that can be executed on the network with all the information relating to each application.
• FIG. 1 schematically represents a communication system according to the invention.
• FIG. 2 represents an exemplary message exchanged in the communication system of FIG. 1, having the configuration of the method of the invention.
• FIG. 3 represents a table describing examples of types of parameters of a message of FIG. 2.
• Figures 4, 5, 6 and 7 show examples of files recorded in the central storage means of the communication system of the invention.
• Figures 8A and 8B show, respectively, an example of message communication in a communication system according to the invention and a table summarizing this exchange of.
• the invention relates to a method of data communication, or communication protocol, allowing a homogeneous data exchange between several data processing systems connected via a local network. These systems can be installed on board the aircraft; they can also be on the ground, particularly when these systems are simulation means coupled with aircraft computers to validate said computers before the first flight.
• a communication protocol in an aircraft, it being understood that it also relates to ground systems, relating to the aircraft.
• This local area network may be an Ethernet network, or any other local area network operating by means of a packet data protocol.
• the transmission on the local network of the data is thus carried out according to a standard transmission process such as that of the Ethernet network or the Internet network.
• the data is transmitted on this network in the form of messages having a particular configuration, described later.
• the method of the invention consists of using a simple, unique and homogeneous topology which makes it possible to describe all the information useful for the data processing systems with the same configuration and to record the definition of this information on one and the same means of centralized storage, also called storage unit.
• This storage unit operates using a known format such as the XML format.
• the XML format is a computer language adapted to the management of long and complex documents, as found in intranets networks, and which allows the user to select the type of information he wishes to consult.
• the configuration of the communications can also be distributed at the level of each user, the coherence being ensured by the protocol of the invention.
• the useful information to be memorized in the storage unit concerns the identification of the users of the communication network, namely the applications executed by the network processing systems as well as the identification of the different data to be exchanged.
• the invention also proposes to identify the data formatting and distribution mechanisms of each processing system.
• the method of the invention proposes to describe all this information in files stored in the centralized storage means.
• Each file gathers information relating to the same type of element, for example processing systems, applications, etc.
• four files make it possible to define all the information that is useful for all the processing systems.
• a first file called a machine file
• a second file called an application file
• a third file called message file, describes all the data that can be exchanged on the network with all the information relating to this data.
• a fourth file identifies all the users of the network, that is the name of each application on the network.
• FIG. 1 An example of a communication network implementing the method of the invention is shown in FIG. 1.
• This communication network 1 comprises several data processing systems. These processing systems are distant from each other or co-located on the same machine.
• a system 11 1 is installed on a machine 11
• a system 101 and a system 102 are installed on a machine 10
• a system 131 is installed in a machine 13
• a system 121 is installed in a machine 12.
• These machines can be, for example, the onboard computer of an aircraft, a flight simulator or any other computer for determining flight parameters of the aircraft.
• the processing systems are connected to each other by a local network.
• a storage unit 2 of all the information useful for these systems.
• the storage unit is a backup unit dedicated solely to configuring the data that can be used by the data processing systems.
• This storage unit as shown in Figure 1 corresponds to the configuration of communications. This representation of the communications configuration is just one example. Figure 1 is not limiting as to the topology of the network.
• the storage unit 2 comprises several files, for example the machine file 21, the application file 22, the message file 23 and the user file 24, described in detail later.
• this storage unit 2 is to be saved permanently or almost permanently. All data processing systems of network 1 have access to this storage unit 2. This storage unit thus constitutes a centralized means for saving information. This storage unit 2 makes it possible to ensure perfect homogeneity of the communication network, since all the information is described in the same way. Thus, any processing system accessing information is sure to have the same information as that received or issued by another system of the network. This allows the communication network to be consistent since all the necessary information is collected in a single place with a unique configuration. The information can only be understood in one way by all network processing systems. So there is no possible misinterpretation. The communication protocol according to the invention is therefore unequivocal.
• This centralized storage unit 2 An additional advantage of this centralized storage unit 2 is that each data modification can be known to all processing systems. The change is made only in the file or files containing this data and it is passed on to the systems when they search the storage unit.
• the method of the invention has chosen a conventional format, such as the XML format, then the configuration of the network is scalable, both in number of objects and attributes characterizing each object. It thus allows a speed of integration and coupling of a system since only the files of the storage unit must be modified during the integration of a new system. In no case do network users see their communication interface evolve.
• the data is exchanged between the processing systems by means of messages circulating on the network.
• a message is a basic element in transmission over the network.
• the messages all have a unique configuration, that is to say that they all have the same fields, placed in the same order.
• Figure 2 there is shown an example of a message having a configuration according to the invention.
• This message comprises a first field ch1, called identifier field and corresponding to the identification of the message concerned. It includes a second field ch2, called field length and giving the size of the message expressed in bytes.
• It comprises a third field ch3, called parameter field, which contains all the parameters, or data, to be transmitted over the network.
• each message circulating on the local network is identified by a unique number.
• each message contains: the identity of the message, this identity being in the form of an integer
• the receiving system of the message is able, from the information provided in the message, to find in the files of the storage unit, the data that are necessary.
• the receiving system is able to retrieve the type of data and, from the parameters of the message, it is able to determine the value of these data.
• Figure 3 shows, in the form of a table, examples of types of parameters, or types of data, that may be contained in a message.
• This table contains a list of types with the length, in bytes, that corresponds to them. It is this byte value that is transmitted in the message.
• the receiving system looks, in the communications configuration, the characteristics of the message it has just received based on the identity of the message (first field). It compares the length (second field) with the theoretical length found in the configuration, to verify the good health of the communications, then discovers all the parameters that compose the message (third field) in order to be able to ensure the decoding .
• These parameters may be, for example, an integer, a byte, a real number, an array or a parameter of variable size.
• the method of the invention makes it possible to minimize the bandwidth by carrying only the bare necessities.
• the advantage of transmitting the length is to reduce the size of the message, which facilitates its transfer. Indeed, by reducing the size of the message to its bare minimum, it saves bandwidth and ensure a faster transmission of the message. Knowing the exact data rates and the volumes of information transported makes it possible to control the bandwidth and thus to anticipate possible congestion problems.
• the entire configuration of the message that has just been described makes it possible to limit the size of the messages to the strict minimum. Thus, each message circulating on the network is reduced to a minimum, this minimum being however sufficient for the message to be understood by the receiving system. It will be understood, however, that other message configurations may also be used.
• all the data that can be used in the communication network of the invention are defined and recorded in a single storage unit and centralized or distributed at each actor. These data are distributed in several configuration files, each file being associated with a particular function or a particular element of the network. The data is thus dissociated into several files, which facilitates the physical description of the communication network, the applications as well as the static and dynamic characteristics of the data.
• the data are divided into four files, already mentioned above:
• the machine file describes the network topology.
• An example of this file is shown in Figure 4.
• This file describes all the information and characteristics relating to each of the data processing systems of the network.
• This file lists the machines on which the different systems are installed.
• This file also lists the addresses of these systems on the network, under the name of IP addresses.
• This machine file is shared by all users, that is, all applications can access it from any network processing system.
• the application file identifies all the applications that can be executed in the network processing systems.
• An example of such a file is shown in Figure 5.
• This application file lists all the applications in the network. It describes, for each application, the processing systems on which the application can be run. It also describes, for each application, the links between the different parameters. These links define communication paths, called communication channels (channel in Anglo-Saxon terms). These channels are defined by their name, their IP address, the type of formatting (endianness, in terms anglosaxons) and their UDP / TCP port number.
• the TCP and UDP ports are modes of data synchronization with, respectively, a guarantee or not that the arrival and the order of arrival of the data is respected.
• the application file This application file is shared by all users.
• the message file identifies all the data, or parameters, that can be exchanged.
• An example of such a file is shown in FIG. 7.
• This message file lists all the messages and describes, for each message, the type of the message, the type of communication as well as the communication period.
• the message file also describes, for each message, the sending application of the message, the receiving application and the channels to be used to go from the sending application to the receiving application. It also contains the identification of the message as well as the length of the message to be transmitted. Finally, it defines the parameters contained in each message as well as the type and size of these parameters.
• the message file is a file shared by all users.
• the user file identifies the user himself, that is to say the application concerned.
• An example of such a user file is shown in Figure 6.
• This user file contains the name of the application whose communications must be taken into account. This file makes it possible to substitute a first user, a second user, simply by changing the name of the user in said file.
• This user file is specific to each user. It can not be accessed by other users.
• FIGS. 8A and 8B show an example of a communication network according to the invention, in which three data processing systems H1, H2, H3 are connected by an Ethernet network.
• the H1 system and the H3 system use Little processors.
• the H2 system uses a processor working in the Big mode.
• the Little and Big types are two different and incompatible ways of representing data in memory.
• the H1 system hosts several applications, namely the A1 and A2 applications.
• the H2 system hosts the A3 application and the H3 system hosts the A4 application.
• Each of these applications uses a C channel to transmit its information over the network.
• the application A1 transmits its messages M1 and M2 through the channel C1 to the application A3 and its message M4 via the channel C2 to the application A4.
• the application A3 transmits its message M3 via the channel C4 to the application A1.
• the application A4 transmits its message M6 via the channel C5 to the applications A2 and A1.
• the application A2 transmits its message M5 via the
• Each channel C1, C2, C3, C4 or C5 is identified by an IP address and a TCP or UDP port. Examples of addresses of these channels are noted under each system H1, H2 and H3.
• the message exchanges between these three systems H1, H2 and H3 are summarized in the table of Figure 8B.
• This table thus gathers the information relating to the different messages sent on the local network, in the network example of FIG. 8A.
• the first identified message transmission 1 sends the message M1 from the application A1 by the channel C1 to the application A3 by the channel C4.
• the parameters transmitted by the message M1 are the parameter I32 and the parameter F64.
• This parameter F64 is a real type datum of 64 bits with 5 reals.
• the I32 parameter is a 32-bit integer.
• the information description files take into account the characteristics of each system, which has the effect that the system itself does not have formatting or deformatting to manage; he simply has to receive the message and look in the file what this message corresponds to.
• the format change is transparent.
• the change of format, to switch from a Little mode to a Big mode (which are two different modes of storage of the data in memory), is transparent for the H1, H2 and H3 systems. .

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
• Signal Processing (AREA)
• Computer Security & Cryptography (AREA)
• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Computing Systems (AREA)
• General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Medical Informatics (AREA)
• Small-Scale Networks (AREA)
• Computer And Data Communications (AREA)
• Information Retrieval, Db Structures And Fs Structures Therefor (AREA)
• Data Exchanges In Wide-Area Networks (AREA)

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• 2006
  • 2006-03-21 FR FR0650971A patent/FR2899050B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2007
  • 2007-03-20 WO PCT/FR2007/050969 patent/WO2007107674A2/fr active Application Filing
  • 2007-03-20 BR BRPI0709055-2A patent/BRPI0709055A2/pt not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2007-03-20 EP EP07731784A patent/EP1997295A2/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2007-03-20 CA CA002646351A patent/CA2646351A1/fr not_active Abandoned
  • 2007-03-20 JP JP2009500899A patent/JP5016664B2/ja not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2007-03-20 US US12/293,647 patent/US8977715B2/en active Active
  • 2007-03-20 RU RU2008141703/08A patent/RU2473957C2/ru not_active IP Right Cessation

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