FIELD
-
The present technology relates to aircraft operation, and more particularly to a method and system for assistance to security of an aircraft on the ground.
BACKGROUND
-
When an aircraft is on the ground, for example on the apron of an airport, it becomes most vulnerable to attempts at intruding into it through its external doors and service and maintenance flaps. A security method and system are therefore desirable, with in particular an ability to distinguish between legitimate servicing of the aircraft, in particular for turnaround readiness (for example cleaning, cargo loading, catering etc.), and actual intrusions by for example humans, robots or animals.
-
Tools have been made available to assist with the security of buildings, or land vehicles.
-
However, even though such tools may provide benefits in the context of aircraft security, improvements are still desirable.
-
The subject matter discussed in the background section should not be assumed to be prior art merely as a result of its mention in the background section. Similarly, a problem mentioned in the background section or associated with the subject matter of the background section should not be assumed to have been previously recognized in the prior art. The subject matter in the background section merely represents different approaches.
SUMMARY
-
The following summary is for illustrative purposes only, and is not intended to limit or constrain the detailed description. The following summary merely presents various described aspects in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description provided below.
-
Implementations of the present technology have been developed at least in part based on developers' appreciation of shortcomings associated with the prior art. Developers of the present technology have devised generally a method and system for assistance to on ground aircraft security. More particularly, in an aspect of the present technology, there is provided such a method comprising the steps of:
- receiving data about planned intervention information on an aircraft;
- monitoring data about security status information for the aircraft;
- if a at least one aircraft opening is opened, determining whether it is the result of an intrusion in the aircraft external and/or internal structure, by comparing the corresponding data about planned intervention information and data about security status information;
- if it is determined that an intrusion in the aircraft has occurred, raising an alert with at least one aircraft operator.
-
In embodiments, the method further comprises analyzing data received from at least one sensor associated with the at least one aircraft opening, calculating a first level of certainty that the aircraft opening is opened, and determining that an intrusion has occurred if the first calculated level of certainty is above a first threshold.
-
In embodiments of the method, the first calculated level of certainty is based on comparing data received from at least two sensors associated with the at least one aircraft opening.
-
In embodiments, the method further comprises calculating a second level of certainty that an intrusion in the aircraft has occurred, and raising an alert only if the second calculated level of certainty is above a second threshold.
-
In embodiments of the method, the second calculated level of certainty is based on comparing data about the received planned intervention information on the aircraft.
-
In another aspect of the present technology, there is provided an aircraft security application configured to:
- receive data about planned intervention information on the aircraft;
- monitor data about security status information for the aircraft;
- if a at least one aircraft opening is opened, determine whether it is the result of an intrusion in the aircraft external and/or internal structure, by comparing the corresponding data about planned intervention information and data about security status information;
- if it is determined that an intrusion in the aircraft has occurred, raise an alert with at least one aircraft operator.
-
In embodiments, the aircraft security application is further configured to analyze data received from at least one sensor associated with the at least one aircraft opening, calculate a first level of certainty that the aircraft opening is opened, and determine that an intrusion has occurred if the first calculated level of certainty is above a first threshold.
-
In embodiments, the aircraft security application is further configured to compare data received from at least two sensors associated with the at least one aircraft opening and calculate the first level of certainty based on it.
-
In embodiments, the aircraft security application is further configured to calculate a second level of certainty that an intrusion in the aircraft has occurred, and raise an alert only if the second calculated level of certainty is above a second threshold.
-
In embodiments, the aircraft security application is further configured to compare data about the received planned intervention information on the aircraft and calculate the second level of certainty based on it.
-
In another aspect of the present technology, there is provided an aircraft comprising:
- at least one database;
- at least one aircraft opening;
- at least one sensor associated with the at least one aircraft opening; and
- the aircraft security application as above, communicably connected to the at least one database; wherein
- data about planned intervention information on the aircraft are input by at least one user terminal into the at least one database;
- data about security status information for the aircraft are input by the least one sensor associated with the at least one aircraft opening into the at least one database; and
- data about planned intervention information on the aircraft and data about security status information for the aircraft are retrieved by the aircraft security application from the at least one database.
-
In embodiments, the aircraft further comprises at least one camera inputting image data of at least a part of inside and/or outside the external structure of the aircraft into the at least one database.
-
In embodiments of the aircraft, data about security status information for the aircraft comprise geo-localization data of the aircraft, and the alert is raised if the at least one aircraft opening is opened when the geo-localization data of the aircraft are outside a predefined range.
-
In another aspect of the present technology, there is provided a computer-readable medium comprising instructions which, when executed by a processing unit, cause the processing unit to perform the method above.
-
In the context of the present specification, a "server" is a computer program that is running on appropriate hardware and is capable of receiving requests (e.g., from administrator devices) over a network, and carrying out those requests, or causing those requests to be carried out. The hardware may be one physical computer or one physical computer system, but neither is required to be the case with respect to the present technology. In the present context, the use of the expression a "server" is not intended to mean that every task (e.g., received instructions or requests) or any particular task will have been received, carried out, or caused to be carried out, by the same server (i.e., the same software and/or hardware); it is intended to mean that any number of software elements or hardware devices may be involved in receiving/sending, carrying out or causing to be carried out any task or request, or the consequences of any task or request; and all of this software and hardware may be one server or multiple servers.
-
In the context of the present specification, "user device" is any computer hardware that is capable of running software appropriate to the relevant task at hand. Thus, some (non-limiting) examples of user devices include personal computers (desktops, laptops, notebooks, etc.), smartphones, and tablets, etc. It should be noted that a device acting as a user device in the present context is not precluded from acting as a server to other user devices. The use of the expression "a user device" does not preclude multiple user devices being used in receiving/sending, carrying out or causing to be carried out any task or request, or the consequences of any task or request, or steps of any method described herein.
-
In the context of the present specification, a "database" is any structured collection of data, irrespective of its particular structure, the database management software, or the computer hardware on which the data is stored, implemented or otherwise rendered available for use. A database may reside on the same hardware as the process that stores or makes use of the information stored in the database or it may reside on separate hardware, such as a dedicated server or plurality of servers.
-
In the context of the present specification, the expression "component" is meant to include software (appropriate to a particular hardware context) that is both necessary and sufficient to achieve the specific function(s) being referenced.
-
In the context of the present specification, unless expressly provided otherwise, the expression "computer-readable medium" and "memory" are intended, unless more specifically defined in the description, to include media of any nature and kind whatsoever, non-limiting examples of which include RAM, ROM, disks (CD-ROMs, DVDs, floppy disks, hard disk drives, etc.), USB keys, flash memory cards, solid state-drives, and/or tape drives. Still in the context of the present specification, "a" computer-readable medium and "the" computer-readable medium should not be construed as being the same computer-readable medium. To the contrary, and whenever appropriate, "a" computer-readable medium and "the" computer-readable medium may also be construed as a first computer-readable medium and a second computer-readable medium.
-
In the context of the present specification, a "network" is intended to include a configuration of devices and software that are in mutual communication and can exchange information, including data and instructions. Such communication is accomplished by the presence of a direct physical connection between devices (i.e., wired communication) and/or indirectly by electromagnetic or other non-physically connected communication (i.e., wireless communication), using whatever protocols are existing between the two devices. A network can include arbitrary numbers and types of devices, systems, and applications, which, in some exemplary, illustrative, non-limiting embodiments, function in accordance with established policies. In some networks, the networking devices, systems and applications comprised in the network can change over time, as can their configurations, locations and other parameters as networking devices are connected or disconnected from the network whether purposely or inadvertently.
-
Networking devices may be equipment such as switches, routers, gateways, or the like, that are designed to provide services of communication between user devices, or other networking devices.
-
In the context of the present specification, unless expressly provided otherwise, an "indication" of an information element may be the information element itself or a pointer, reference, link, or other indirect mechanism enabling the recipient of the indication to locate a network, memory, database, or other computer-readable medium location from which the information element may be retrieved. For example, an indication of a document could include the document itself (i.e. its contents), or it could be a unique document descriptor identifying a data object with respect to a particular object storage device, or some other means of directing the recipient of the indication to a network location, memory address, database table, or other location where the data object may be accessed. As one skilled in the art would recognize, the degree of precision required in such an indication depends on the extent of any prior understanding about the interpretation to be given to information being exchanged as between the sender and the recipient of the indication. For example, if it is understood prior to a communication between a sender and a recipient that an indication of an information element will take the form of a database key for an entry in a particular table of a predetermined database containing the information element, then the sending of the database key is all that is required to effectively convey the information element to the recipient, even though the information element itself was not transmitted as between the sender and the recipient of the indication.
-
In the context of the present specification, the words "first", "second", "third", etc. have been used as adjectives only for the purpose of allowing for distinction between the nouns that they modify from one another, and not for the purpose of describing any particular relationship between those nouns. Thus, for example, it should be understood that the use of the terms "first server" and "third server" is not intended to imply any particular order, type, chronology, hierarchy or ranking (for example) of/between the server, nor is their use (by itself) intended imply that any "second server" must necessarily exist in any given situation. Further, as is discussed herein in other contexts, reference to a "first" element and a "second" element does not preclude the two elements from being the same actual real-world element. Thus, for example, in some instances, a "first" server and a "second" server may be the same software and/or hardware, in other cases they may be different software and/or hardware.
-
Implementations of the present technology each have at least one of the above-mentioned objects and/or aspects, but do not necessarily have all of them. It should be understood that some aspects of the present technology that have resulted from attempting to attain the above-mentioned object may not satisfy this object and/or may satisfy other objects not specifically recited herein.
-
Additional and/or alternative features, aspects and advantages of implementations of the present technology will become apparent from the following description, the accompanying drawings and the appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
-
These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present disclosure will become better understood with regard to the following description, claims, and drawings. The present disclosure is illustrated by way of example, and not limited by, the accompanying figures in which like numerals indicate similar elements:
- Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of an aircraft equipped with the present technology;
- Figure 2 represents a system in accordance with implementations of the present technology;
- Figure 3 is a flow chart of steps of a method in accordance with implementations of the present technology; and
- Figure 4 represents a computing system that may be used as part of the present technology.
-
It should also be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified herein, the drawings may not be drawn to scale.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
-
The examples and conditional language recited herein are principally intended to aid the reader in understanding the principles of the present technology and not to limit its scope to such specifically recited examples and conditions. It will be appreciated that those skilled in the art may devise various arrangements that, although not explicitly described or shown herein, nonetheless embody the principles of the present technology.
-
Furthermore, as an aid to understanding, the following description may describe relatively simplified implementations of the present technology. As persons skilled in the art would understand, various implementations of the present technology may be of a greater complexity.
-
In some cases, what are believed to be helpful examples of modifications to the present technology may also be set forth. This is done merely as an aid to understanding, and, again, not to define the scope or set forth the bounds of the present technology. These modifications are not an exhaustive list, and a person skilled in the art may make other modifications while nonetheless remaining within the scope of the present technology. Further, where no examples of modifications have been set forth, it should not be interpreted that no modifications are possible and/or that what is described is the sole manner of implementing that element of the present technology.
-
Moreover, all statements herein reciting principles, aspects, and implementations of the present technology, as well as specific examples thereof, are intended to encompass both structural and functional equivalents thereof, whether they are currently known or developed in the future. Thus, for example, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that any block diagrams herein represent conceptual views of illustrative circuitry embodying the principles of the present technology. Similarly, it will be appreciated that any flowcharts, flow diagrams, state transition diagrams, pseudo-code, and the like represent various processes that may be substantially represented in non-transitory computer-readable media and so executed by a computer or processor, whether or not such computer or processor is explicitly shown.
-
The functions of the various elements shown in the figures, including any functional block labeled as a "processor", "processing unit", "computer" or "computing system" etc., may be provided through the use of dedicated hardware as well as hardware capable of executing software in association with appropriate software. When provided by a processor, the functions may be provided by a single dedicated processor, by a single shared processor, or by a plurality of individual processors, some of which may be shared. In some implementations of the present technology, the processor may be a general-purpose processor, such as a Central Processing Unit (CPU) or a processor dedicated to a specific purpose, such as a Digital Signal Processor (DSP). Moreover, explicit use of the term a "processor" should not be construed to refer exclusively to hardware capable of executing software, and may implicitly include, without limitation, Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), flash memory, Read-Only Memory (ROM) for storing software, Random Access Memory (RAM), and non-volatile storage. Other hardware, conventional and/or custom, may also be included.
-
Software modules, or simply modules which are implied to be software, may be represented herein as any combination of flowchart elements or other elements indicating performance of process steps and/or textual description. Such modules may be executed by hardware that is expressly or implicitly shown. Moreover, it should be understood that module may include for example, but without being limitative, computer program logic, computer program instructions, software, stack, firmware, hardware circuitry or a combination thereof which provides the required capabilities.
-
It is to be expressly understood that the figures merely depict illustrative implementations of the present technology. Thus, the description thereof that follows is intended to be only a description of illustrative examples of the present technology. In some cases, what are believed to be helpful examples of modifications to the present technology may also be set forth below. This is done merely as an aid to understanding, and, again, not to define the scope or set forth the bounds of the present technology. These modifications are not an exhaustive list, and, as a person skilled in the art would understand, other modifications are likely possible. Further, where this has not been done (i.e., where no examples of modifications have been set forth), it should not be interpreted that no modifications are possible and/or that what is described is the sole manner of implementing that element of the present technology. As a person skilled in the art would understand, this is likely not the case. In addition, it is to be understood that the present disclosure may provide in certain instances simple implementations of the present technology, and that where such is the case they have been presented in this manner as an aid to understanding. As persons skilled in the art would understand, various implementations of the present technology may be of a greater complexity.
-
With these fundamentals in place, we will now consider some non-limiting examples to illustrate various implementations of aspects of the present technology.
-
Referring to Figure 1, there is shown an example of an aircraft equipped with the present technology. An aircraft 100 is equipped with an onboard central server 101, and one or several wireless access points 102, such as Cabin Wireless LAN Units (CWLU), to an onboard wireless network.
-
This onboard wireless network is not usable by passengers, and is dedicated to aircraft 100 operation, for example maintenance, preparation or surveillance of the aircraft. It is also securely independent from cellular networks and access, and may be powered by the aircraft own power circuit.
-
As is known to the person skilled in the art, the onboard central server 101 may host and run specific software and applications, and communicate with and to, the wireless access points 102.
-
The aircraft 100 is also equipped with doors and service and maintenance flaps, such as that designated by the reference 103. They are generically designated hereafter as "aircraft opening" 103, and are defined hereafter as any opening into the aircraft 100 external structure, that may be closed/protected by a door or a flap.
-
At least one aircraft opening 103 is equipped/associated with at least one sensor, such as that designated by the reference 104. The characteristics of such sensor 104 are not limitative, but it must at a minimum have the capability to detect that the aircraft opening 103 it is associated with is open.
-
The aircraft 100 may also be equipped with at least one camera 105. The characteristics of such camera 105 are not limitative, but it must at a minimum have the capability to provide an image of at least a part of inside and/or outside the external structure of the aircraft 100.
-
Figure 2 represents a system in accordance with implementations of the present technology. An aircraft security application 200 may be hosted, and run, on the onboard central server 101. The aircraft security application 200 may be communicatively connected to one or several user terminals, such as for example a cell phone 201, or a computer 202. The aircraft security application 200 may also be communicatively connected to one or several sensors 104, and/or one or several cameras 105. In addition, or as a substitute, to sensors 104 and/or cameras 105, motion detectors (not represented) may also equip the aircraft 100 to detect motion inside the aircraft external structure, and be communicatively connected to the aircraft security application 200.
-
The communication link between the aircraft security application 200 and the user terminals such as the cell phone 201 or the computer 202, may be wireless, ie may use radio waves, and may involve data communication standards such as Bluetooth, Wifi, or Cellular data service, etc...
-
The communication link between the aircraft security application 200 and respectively the sensors 104, the cameras 105, an motion detectors as the case may be, may be wired or wireless. When it is wireless, it may for example use the onboard wireless network through the wireless access points 102.
-
Further, the aircraft security application 200 may be communicatively connected to one or several databases 203. Part or all of such databases 203 may be implemented as part of the onboard central server 101 (as represented), or outside of it (not represented), and the communication link between the aircraft security application 200 and the databases 203 may be wired. Part or all of the cell phone 201, the computer 202, the sensors 104 and the cameras 105 may store data in the databases 203, through the aircraft security application 200 (as represented), or bypassing it as the case may be (not represented), ie. by having part or all of the cell phone 201, the computer 202, the sensors 104 and the cameras 105 directly communicably connected to the databases 203.
-
Databases 203 may provide the aircraft security application 200 with data related to security of the aircraft 100, such as:
- aircraft opening 103 status: closed or open;
- real-time/live or recorded images of within and/or outside the external structure of the aircraft 100;
- detection of motion within the external structure of the aircraft 100; etc.
-
Such security status information may be uploaded in databases 203 including, without limitation, through sensors 104, cameras 105, etc.
-
Databases 203 may also provide the aircraft security application 200 with data (such as time, duration, expected aircraft openings 103 to be opened, aircraft geo-localization or position, etc.) related to planned maintenance, preparation or surveillance tasks for the aircraft 100, that may result in planned opening of an aircraft opening 103, such as:
- refueling;
- water refilling;
- baggage and/or cargo loading;
- catering supplies' loading;
- passengers' onboarding;
- crew onboarding;
- aircraft maintenance and/or repair tasks; etc.
-
Such planned intervention information may be uploaded in databases 203 including, without limitation, through user terminals such as the cell phone 201, and/or the computer 202 and/or via off board communication links e.g. WIFI, GSM (3G, 4G, 5G or 6G) or satellite connection.
-
For security reasons, all communication networks between the aircraft security application 200 and respectively the user terminals such as the cell phone 201, and/or the computer 202, the databases 203, the aircraft sensors or the aircraft progress monitoring applications, may be independent from the internet.
-
In operation, the aircraft security application 200 may continuously compare the security status information with the planned intervention information, and provide real time feedback about aircraft security, to air traffic control, and/or ground and/or cabin crews, and/or aircraft operator. The real time feedback can be further automated based on aircraft geo-localization or position. More specifically, as seen Figure 3, the method, as implemented in the aircraft security application 200 in accordance with the present technology, involves the following steps, in relation to the examples provided above:
- at step 301: receiving planned intervention information on the aircraft 100;
- at step 302: monitoring security status information for the aircraft 100;
- at step 303: if an aircraft opening 103 is opened, determining whether it is the result of an intrusion in the aircraft 100 external structure, by comparing the corresponding planned intervention information and security status information;
- at step 304: if it is determined that an intrusion has occurred, raising an alert with at least an aircraft operator.
-
As regard execution of step 301 (receiving planned intervention information on the aircraft), as further examples:
- the planned intervention information may be uploaded in databases 203 through user terminals such as the cell phone 201, and/or the computer 202, and/or via off board communication links e.g. WIFI, GSM (3G, 4G, 5G or 6G) or satellite connection, by authorized ground and/or cabin crews only, and/or aircraft operator.
-
As regard execution of step 302 (monitoring security status information for the aircraft), as further examples:
- cameras 105 coupled with image analysis software may provide a robust (ie: yielding fewer false positives) mean for detecting that an aircraft opening 103 has been opened;
- monitoring may take the form of software running in the aircraft security application 200; this monitoring software may analyze all data received in databases 203 and originating in sensors 104, cameras 105, and/or motion detectors and/or other types of sensors as the case may be; the analysis may consist in calculating a first level of certainty that an aircraft opening 103 has been opened, for example through comparing information from multiple sensors covering a given aircraft opening 103, and determining that the given aircraft opening 103 is opened if the first calculated level of certainty exceeds a first threshold;
- the first threshold may be set through user terminals such as the cell phone 201, and/or the computer 202, by authorized ground and/or cabin crews only, and/or aircraft operator.
-
As regard execution of step 303 (if an aircraft opening 103 is opened, determining whether there has been the result of an intrusion in the aircraft 100 external structure):
- when it has been determined that an aircraft opening 103 has been opened, the aircraft security application 200 may determine whether such opening may be the result of a planned intervention on the aircraft 100; for example the opening of an aircraft cargo door during the planned period for cargo loading, does not give rise to an alert; in contrast, the detected opening of a service flap, outside of any planned period for refueling, water refilling, or any kind of maintenance activity, may be interpreted by the aircraft security application 200, as an intrusion;
- a second level of certainty may be calculated by the aircraft security application 200 to qualify an opening as an intrusion or not, for example through comparing data received as planned intervention information; for example, the second calculated level of certainty may be low, if the opening of the main door of the aircraft 100 takes place outside of any period of passengers' onboarding or crew onboarding, yet during an aircraft maintenance period, ie. there is a level of doubt as to whether such event qualifies as an intrusion or not.
-
As regard execution of step 304 (if it is determined that an intrusion has occurred, raising an alert):
- determining that an intrusion has occurred that warrants raising an alert, may be based upon whether the second calculated level of certainty exceeds a second threshold;
- the second threshold may further be differentiated depending upon the sensitivity of a given aircraft opening 103; for example, certain service flaps may be opened in very limited circumstances, and any opening outside of restricted periods or in predefined aircraft geo-localizations or positions may be raised as alerts;
- the second threshold or differentiated threshold may be set through user terminals such as the cell phone 201, and/or the computer 202, by authorized ground and/or cabin crews only, and/or aircraft operator;
- an aircraft opening 103 opened during an unplanned period may also be indicative of a malfunction of the aircraft opening 103 that the aircraft security application 200 may also give an alert for;
- the alert may be communicated (as a push notification or on request, at regular intervals or on request, etc.) by the aircraft security application 200 to user terminals such as the cell phone 201, and/or the computer 202 so as to keep at least the aircraft operator informed of the intrusion or malfunction detection;
- in embodiments, other interested parties such as air traffic control, and/or ground and/or cabin crews, etc. may also be alerted by the aircraft security application 200.
-
Through the present technology, is thus provided a centralized real time system and method for securing an aircraft on ground, for example on the apron of an airport. By monitoring part or all of the openings in the external and/or internal structure of the aircraft, protection may be provided against for example smuggling and sabotage activities.
-
Figure 4 illustrates a computing system that may be used in the present technology, for example in any one of, or a subset of, or all of the elements of Fig.2. As will be appreciated by the person skilled in the art, such computing system may be implemented in any other suitable hardware, software, and/or firmware, or a combination thereof, and may be a single physical entity, or several separate physical entities with a distributed functionality.
-
In some aspects of the present technology, the Computing system 400 may comprise various hardware components including one or more single or multi-core processors collectively represented by a Processor 401, a Memory 403 and an Input/output interface 404. In this context, the Processor 401 may or may not be included in a FPGA. In some other aspect, the Computing system 400 may be an "off the shelf" generic computing system. In some aspect, the Computing system 400 may also be distributed amongst multiple systems. The Computing system 400 may also be specifically dedicated to the implementation of the present technology. As a person in the art of the present technology may appreciate, multiple variations as to how the Computing system 400 is implemented may be envisioned without departing from the scope of the present technology.
-
Communication between the various components of the Computing system 400 may be enabled by one or more internal and/or external Buses 405 (e.g. a PCI bus, universal serial bus, IEEE 1394 "Firewire" bus, SCSI bus, Serial-ATA bus, ARINC bus, etc.), to which the various hardware components are electronically coupled.
-
The Input/output interface 404 may enable networking capabilities such as wire or wireless access. As an example, the Input/output interface 404 may comprise a networking interface such as, but not limited to, a network port, a network socket, a network interface controller and the like. Multiple examples of how the networking interface may be implemented will become apparent to the person skilled in the art of the present technology.
-
The Memory 403 may store Code instructions 408, such as those part of, for example, a library, an application, etc. suitable for being loaded into the Memory 403 and executed by the Processor 401 for implementing the method and process steps according to the present technology. The Memory 403 may also store a Database 409. The person skilled in the art will appreciate that any of the Database 409, the Code instructions 408, and generally the Memory 403, may also physically reside outside of the Computing System 400, still within the scope of the present technology.
-
The Input/output interface 404 may allow Computing System 400 to be communicably connected to other processors through a Connection 410. The input/output interface 404 may enable networking capabilities such as wire or wireless access. As an example, the input/output interface 404 may comprise a networking interface such as, but not limited to, a network port, a network socket, a network interface controller and the like. Multiple examples of how the networking interface may be implemented will become apparent to the person skilled in the art of the present technology. For example, but without being limitative, the networking interface may implement specific physical layer and data link layer standard such as Ethernet, Fibre Channel, Wi-Fi or Token Ring. The specific physical layer and the data link layer may provide a base for a full network protocol stack, allowing communication among small groups of computers on the same local area network (LAN) and large-scale network communications through routable protocols, such as Internet Protocol (IP).
-
While the above-described implementations have been described and shown with reference to particular steps performed in a particular order, it will be understood that these steps may be combined, sub-divided, or re-ordered without departing from the teachings of the present technology. At least some of the steps may be executed in parallel or in series. Accordingly, the order and grouping of the steps is not a limitation of the present technology.
-
Modifications and improvements to the above-described implementations of the present technology may become apparent to those skilled in the art. The foregoing description is intended to be exemplary rather than limiting. The scope of the present technology is therefore intended to be limited solely by the scope of the appended claims.