US008301867B1

( 12 ) United States Patent ( 10) Patent N o . : US 8, 301, 867 B1

Mazuk et a] . ( 4 5 ) Date o f Patent: O c t. 30, 2 012
( 5 4 ) SECO N DARY CO RE O N U TO O LT VIA 7, 4 2 1, 5 2 6 B2 9 / 2 008 F l etc h er
IN TERN AL EPO N BUS CO UPLED 7, 9 33, 5 18 B2 * 4 / 2 011 Li et a1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 8/ 2 2
MULTI-CO RE PRO CESSO R F O R zo o g b o z ? g g g 2 i * ? f uk e 31' " " " " " " " " " " 39 8/ 66
IN TEGRATED MO DULAR AVIO N IC SYSTEM Z o o s/ 02 174 71 A1 9 / 2 008 Liu
I ' 2 009 / 0083368 A1 * 3/ 2 009 Stayto n et a1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 709 / 2 02
( 75 ) Inv ento r s: Daniel E. Mazuk, Mar io n, IA ( US) ; * Cited b y ex am iner
Cl if f o r d R. K l ein, Mano n, IA ( US) ;
Daniel J . Go if f o n, Cedar Rap ids, IA
( US) ; N eal J - Bo h nenkam p , Cedar Pr im ar y Ex am iner i K enneth K im
Rap ids: IA ( Us) ; Ch ar l es F - stef f ens ( 74 ) Atto r ney, Ag ent, o r F ir m * Do nna P. Suc h y; Daniel M.
Cedar Rap ids, IA ( US) ; Dav id A. Mil l er , Bar b ier i
Sw ish er , IA ( US) ; Ro b er t H . Pul j u,
Cedar Rap ids, IA ( US)
( 5 7) ABSTRACT
( 73) Assig nee: Ro c kw el l Co l l ins, Inc . , Cedar Rap ids,
IA ( Us) A m ul ti-c o r e p r o c esso r system inc l uding a m ain p r o c esso r , an
inter nal EPO N b us, and a p l ur al ity o f sec o ndar y c o r e p r o c es
( * ) N o tic e: Sub j ec t to any disc l aim er , th e ter m o f th is so r s. Th e m ain p r o c esso r inc l udes a p r o c essing unit; an o f f
p atent is ex tended o r adj usted under 35 l o ad eng ine o p er ativ el y c o nnec ted to th e p r o c essing unit f o r
U. S. C. 15 4 ( b ) b y 5 5 6 days. r o uting data to and f r o m th e p r o c essing unit; a p l ur al ity o f
m ain p r o c esso r o p tic al netW o r k units ( O N U s) o p er ativ el y
( 2 1) Ap p l . N o . : 12 / 5 38, 672 c o nnec ted to th e o f ? o ad eng ine; and, a dual o p tic al l ine ter
m inal ( O LT) o p er ativ el y c o nnec ted to th e o f ? o ad eng ine. Th e
( 2 2 ) F il ed? Al l g - 10: 2 009 inter nal EPO N b us is o p er ativ el y c o nnec ted to th e O LT. Th e
p l ur al ity o f sec o ndar y c o r e p r o c esso r s ar e l o c ated p h ysic al l y
( 5 1) Int- Cl - sep ar ate f r o m th e m ain p r o c esso r , eac h sec o ndar y c o r e p r o
G06F 15 / 16 ( 2 006-01) c esso r h av ing a r esp ec tiv e sec o ndar y c o r e p r o c esso r O N U
US. Cl - . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . b eing o p er ativ el y Co nnec ted to th e m ain p r o c esso r Via th e
( 5 8) F iel d o f Cl assi? c atio n Sear c h . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N o ne inter nal EPO N b us. A num b er o f th e m ul ti-c o r e p r o c esso r
See ap p l ic atio n ? l e f o r c o m p l ete sear c h h isto r y. system s c an b e used to f o r m an integ r ated m o dul ar av io nic s
( IMA) system W h en o p er ativ el y c o nnec ted to r em o te data
( 5 6) Ref er enc es Cited c o nc entr atio n c o m p o nents v ia an ex ter nal EPO N b us c o n
U. S. PATEN T DO CUMEN TS
7, 001, 082 B2
7, 130, 72 4 B2
* 2 / 2 006 Mo r r iso n . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 385 / 88
10/ 2 006 Peter sen
nec ted to th e dual O LTs o f th e m ul ti-c o r e p r o c esso r system s.
11 Cl aim s, 6 Dr aw ing Sh eets
Mul ti-Co r e Pr o c esso r Ar c h itec tur e
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US. Patent 0a. 30, 2 012 Sh eet 1 o f 6 US 8, 301, 867 B1
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US. Patent 0a. 30, 2 012 Sh eet 4 o f 6 US 8, 301, 867 B1
US. Patent O c t. 30, 2 012 Sh eet 5 o f 6 US 8, 301, 867 B1
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US 8, 301, 867 B1
1
SECO N DARY CO RE O N U TO O LT VIA
IN TERN AL EPO N BUS CO UPLED
MULTI-CO RE PRO CESSO R F O R
IN TEGRATED MO DULAR AVIO N IC SYSTEM
BACK GRO UN D O F TH E IN VEN TIO N
1. F iel d o f th e Inv entio n
Th e p r esent inv entio n r el ates g ener al l y to av io nic s system s
and m o r e p ar tic ul ar l y to an im p r o v ed m ul ti-c o r e p r o c esso r
ar c h itec tur e f o r use in an integ r ated m o dul ar av io nic s ( IMA)
system .
2 . Desc r ip tio n o f th e Rel ated Ar t
Mo der n o nb o ar d av io nic s netW o r ks ser v e to p r o v ide data
tr ansf er b etW een v ar io us c o m p o nents o f an air c r af t. Av io nic s
system s typ ic al l y h av e a v ar iety o f system s th at p r o v ide data
to p r o c essing c o m p o nents o f th e air c r af t o r ex c h ang e data
am o ng o ne o r m o r e c o m p o nents o f th e air c r af t. F o r ex am p l e,
a v ar iety o f av io nic s m o dul es m ay g ath er av io nic s data ( e. g . ,
senso r s detec ting sp eed, dir ec tio n, ex ter nal tem p er atur e, c o n
tr o l sur f ac e p o sitio ns, and th e l ike) th at is r o uted b y th e
av io nic s system v ia an av io nic s netW o r k to o ne o r m o r e air
c r af t c o m p o nents suc h as disp l ays, m o nito r ing c ir c uits, p r o
c esso r s, and th e l ike.
In so m e air c r af t system s, th e av io nic s netW o r k m ay b e
c o nstr uc ted W ith an Aer o nautic al Radio Inc . ( ARIN C) 4 2 9
data b us c ap ab l e o f sup p o r ting c o m m unic atio n b etW een
m any c o m p o nents. Mo r e r ec entl y, Eth er net netW o r ks h av e
b een used in av io nic netW o r k env ir o nm ents b y l ev er ag ing
Co m m er c ial O f f Th e Sh el f ( CO TS) tec h no l o g y to inc r ease
b andW idth and r educ e c o st.
Eth er net typ e netw o r ks h av e b een used in c o m m unic atio n
netW o r ks f o r im p l em enting c o m m unic atio n am o ng v ar io us
netW o r k c o m p o nents. An Eth er net netW o r k m ay b e used to
send o r r o ute data in a dig ital f o r m b y p ac kets o r f r am es. Eac h
p ac ket c o ntains a set o f data, and th e p ac ket is g ener al l y no t
inter p r eted W h il e sent th r o ug h th e Eth er net netW o r k. In an
av io nic s netW o r k env ir o nm ent, th e Eth er net netW o r k typ i
c al l y h as dif f er ent c o m p o nents th at sub sc r ib e to th e av io nic s
netW o r k and c o nnec t to eac h o th er th r o ug h sW itc h es. Eac h
netW o r k sub sc r ib er c an send p ac kets in dig ital f o r m , at c o n
tr o l l ed r ates, to o ne o r m o r e o th er sub sc r ib er s. W h en a sW itc h
r ec eiv es th e p ac kets, th e sW itc h deter m ines th e destinatio n
eq uip m ent and dir ec ts o r sW itc h es th e p ac kets to suc h eq uip
m ent.
Suc h Eth er net netW o r ks m ay inc l ude ARIN C-664 b ased
netW o r ks. In a sW itc h ed f ul l -dup l ex Eth er net typ e netW o r k,
th e ter m f ul l -dup l ex r ef er s to sending and r ec eiv ing p ac kets
at th e sam e tim e o n th e sam e l ink, and th e ter m sW itc h ed
r ef er s to th e p ac kets b eing sW itc h ed in sW itc h es o n ap p r o p r i
ate o utp uts. H o W ev er , th e ARIN C-664 netW o r k uses m ul tip l e
sW itc h es and r edundant p ath s to r o ute data, p o int-to -p o int o r
p o int-to -m ul tip o int ac r o ss th e sW itc h es. Typ ic al l y, r em o te
data c o nc entr ato r s ar e c o nnec ted using a W ir ed ARIN C-664
netW o r k.
Cur r ent Integ r ated Mo dul ar Av io nic s ( IMA) ar c h itec tur es
ar e r el iant o n data c o nc entr ato r s to b r ing th e air c r af t system
I/ O into th e IMA system . Th e data c o nc entr ato r s ar e l o c ated
r em o tel y W ith in th e air c r af t to r educ e th e W ir e W eig h t o f th e
system . Typ ic al l y th ey ar e c o nnec ted b y th e IMA b ac kb o ne
b us.
Pr esent ap p l ic ants Daniel MaZ uk and Dav id Mil l er ar e
c o -ap p l ic ants o f U. S. Ser . N o . 12 / 15 1, 2 4 9 , ? l ed May 5 , 2 008,
entitl ed Passiv e O p tic al Av io nic s N etW o r k, W h ic h is
dir ec ted to a p assiv e o p tic al av io nic s netW o r k system and
m eth o d th at c o m p r ises: ( a) an o p tic al l ine ter m inal ( O LT) ; ( b )
at l east o ne o p tic al netW o r k unit ( O N U) ; ( c ) a ? b er o p tic b us
10
2 0
2 5
30
35
4 0
4 5
5 0
5 5
60
65
2
o p er ab l y c o up l ing th e O LT and th e O N U; and ( d) an av io nic s
m o dul e o p er ab l y c o up l ed to th e O N U. An integ r ated m o dul ar
av io nic s ( IMA) system in ac c o r danc e W ith th e netW o r k sys
tem c o m p r ises: ( a) a l ine-r ep l ac eab l e unit ( LRU) , th e LRU
c o m p r ising : ( i) a p r o c essing unit; and ( ii) an o p tic al l ine
ter m inal ( O LT) ; ( b ) at l east o ne o p tic al netW o r k unit ( O N U) ;
( c ) a ? b er o p tic b us o p er ab l y c o up l ing th e LRU and th e O N U;
and ( d) an av io nic s m o dul e o p er ab l y c o up l ed to th e O N U.
U. S. Ser . N o . 12 / 15 1, 2 4 9 is inc o r p o r ated h er ein b y r ef er enc e,
f o r al l p ur p o ses, in its entir ety.
So m e o f th e l o c atio ns o f th e r em o te data c o nc entr ato r s
( RDC s) ar e a v er y h o stil e env ir o nm ent o r th e b ac kb o ne b us
W ir e needs to tr av el th r o ug h th e h o stil e env ir o nm ent to g et to
th e RDC.
Th ese dif ? c ul t instal l atio ns c o ul d b ene? t f r o m a W ir el ess
l ink to / f r o m th e IMA b ac kb o ne b us.
Mul ti-c o r e p r o c esso r s to day sh ar e m ul tip l e inter nal
r eso ur c es W h ic h c auses th e c er ti? c atio n to b e p r o b l em atic .
Th e inter nal IP o f th e m ul ti-c o r e p r o c esso r is h el d W ith th e
sup p l ier and is no t sh ar ed W ith th e user s so a detail saf ety
anal ysis o f th e sh ar ed r eso ur c es c anno t b e p er f o r m ed.
Al l IMA ar c h itec tur e sup p l ier s h av e eith er used sing l e c o r e
p r o c esso r s o r sh ut do W n th e ex tr a c o r es o f a m ul ti-c o r e p r o
c esso r b ec ause th ey c anno t p r o v e th e saf ety o f using th e ex tr a
c o r es th us th e use o f m ul ti-c o r e p r o c esso r s ar e no t c er ti? ab l e.
SUMMARY O F TH E IN VEN TIO N
In a b r o ad asp ec t, th e p r esent inv entio n is em b o died as a
m ul ti-c o r e p r o c esso r system inc l uding a m ain p r o c esso r , an
inter nal EPO N b us, and a p l ur al ity o f sec o ndar y c o r e p r o c es
so r s. Th e m ain p r o c esso r inc l udes a p r o c essing unit; an o f f
l o ad eng ine o p er ativ el y c o nnec ted to th e p r o c essing unit f o r
r o uting data to and f r o m th e p r o c essing unit; a p l ur al ity o f
m ain p r o c esso r o p tic al netW o r k units ( O N U s) o p er ativ el y
c o nnec ted to th e o f ? o ad eng ine; and, a dual o p tic al l ine ter
m inal ( O LT) o p er ativ el y c o nnec ted to th e o ? l o ad eng ine. Th e
inter nal EPO N b us is o p er ativ el y c o nnec ted to th e O LT. Th e
p l ur al ity o f sec o ndar y c o r e p r o c esso r s ar e l o c ated p h ysic al l y
sep ar ate f r o m th e m ain p r o c esso r , eac h sec o ndar y c o r e p r o
c esso r h av ing a r esp ec tiv e sec o ndar y c o r e p r o c esso r O N U
b eing o p er ativ el y c o nnec ted to th e m ain p r o c esso r v ia th e
inter nal EPO N b us.
In o ne al ter nativ e em b o dim ent, eac h o f th e sec o ndar y c o r e
p r o c esso r s f ur th er inc l udes a sec o ndar y c o r e p r o c esso r O LT
f o r h o sting an asso c iated sec o ndar y c o r e p r o c esso r ex ter nal
EPO N b us. In ano th er al ter nativ e em b o dim ent eac h o f th e
sec o ndar y c o r e p r o c esso r s al so inc l udes a W ir el ess tr ans
c eiv er f o r c o nnec tio n to a W ir el ess netW o r k. Th e m ul ti-c o r e
p r o c esso r system m ay al so o p er ate in a m ix ed W ir ed/ W ir el ess
c o n? g ur atio n. Using W ir el ess tec h no l o g y al l o W s W ir el ess
data c o nc entr atio n c o m p o nents to b e o p er ab l y c o nnec ted
W ith m ul tip l e data p ath s v ia th e W ir el ess netW o r k to enh anc e
c o m m unic atio n av ail ab il ity. Th e W ir el ess data c o nc entr atio n
c o m p o nents ar e p r ef er ab l y o p er ab l y c o nnec ted v ia a W ir el ess
( U l tr a-W ideb and) UW B netW o r k.
In ano th er b r o ad asp ec t, th e p r esent inv entio n is em b o died
as an integ r ated m o dul ar av io nic s ( IMA) system inc l uding a
num b er o f m ul ti-c o r e p r o c esso r system s, as disc ussed ab o v e,
and r em o te data c o nc entr atio n c o m p o nents o p er ativ el y c o n
nec ted to th o se m ul ti-c o r e p r o c esso r system s v ia an ex ter nal
EPO N b us c o nnec ted to th e dual O LTs o f th e m ul ti-c o r e
p r o c esso r system s. F ail ur e o f o ne o r m o r e o f th e p l ur al ity o f
sec o ndar y c o r e p r o c esso r s do es no t ef f ec t th e ex ter nal EPO N
b us f unc tio nal ity.
Th e p r esent inv entio n is p ar tic ul ar l y adv antag eo us in av i
o nic s ap p l ic atio ns b ec ause it al l o W s av io nic s f unc tio ns to b e
US 8, 301, 867 B1
3
h o sted o n th e sec o ndar y c o r e p r o c esso r s and no t b e ef f ec ted
b y any o f th e ex ter nal dev ic es o n th e ex ter nal EPO N b us, and
v ic e-v er sa. Th us, th e f aul ts ar e iso l ated. Th is im p r o v es th e
p r o c essing c ap ab il ity o f th e IMA system . In th e p r esent sys
tem , air c r af t f unc tio ns m ay b e sep ar ated, suc h as, air b r akes
and W h eel b r akes, b y using dif f er ent sec o ndar y c o r e p r o c es
so r s, in dif f er ent m ain p r o c esso r s in th e IMA system . Th e
sec o ndar y c o r e p r o c esso r s c an eac h h o st its o W n EPO N tr ee
and c o nnec t its o W n m em b er system s to it.
Th e W ir el ess c ap ab il ity al l o W s v ar io us el ec tr o nic units to
b e dir ec tl y c o nnec ted to th e sec o ndar y c o r e p r o c esso r s th at
ar e h o sting th e so f tW ar e f o r th eir p ar tic ul ar f unc tio n. Addi
tio nal l y, use o f W ir el ess c ap ab il ities p r o v ides f o r a v er y sig
ni? c ant r educ tio n in th e air c r af t W ir e W eig h t. It c an b e used in
h o stil e env ir o nm ents W ith in th e air c r af t, e. g . th e r o to r b ur st
zo ne. It do es no t af f ec t th e saf ety sig nal r o uting anal ysis, th us
p r o v iding a v er y r o b ust system , im m une to c er tain ef f ec ts th at
W o ul d r ender c o nv entio nal W ir ed o r W ir el ess system s ino p
er ativ e.
O th er o b j ec ts, adv antag es, and no v el f eatur es W il l b ec o m e
ap p ar ent f r o m th e f o l l o W ing detail ed desc r ip tio n o f th e inv en
tio n W h en c o nsider ed in c o nj unc tio n W ith th e ac c o m p anying
dr aW ing s.
BRIEF DESCRIPTIO N O F TH E DRAW IN GS
F IG. 1 il l ustr ates a ? r st em b o dim ent o f th e m ul ti-c o r e
p r o c esso r system o f th e p r esent inv entio n.
F IG. 2 is a sc h em atic il l ustr atio n o f th e m ain p r o c esso r
ar c h itec tur e o f th e m ul ti-c o r e p r o c esso r system .
F IG. 3 il l ustr ates a m ul ti-c o r e p r o c esso r system im p l e
m ented in an integ r ated m o dul ar av io nic s ( IMA) system .
F IG. 4 il l ustr ates an air c r af t em p l o ying an integ r ated
m o dul ar av io nic s ( IMA) system util izing a m ul ti-c o r e p r o
c esso r system o f th e p r esent inv entio n.
F IG. 5 il l ustr ates ano th er em b o dim ent o f th e m ul ti-c o r e
p r o c esso r system in W h ic h eac h sec o ndar y c o r e p r o c esso r
h o sts its o W n EPO N tr ee.
F IG. 6 il l ustr ates ano th er em b o dim ent o f th e m ul ti-c o r e
p r o c esso r system o f th e p r esent inv entio n W h ic h is im p l e
m ented as a W ir el ess system .
Th e sam e el em ents o r p ar ts th r o ug h o ut th e ? g ur es o f th e
dr aW ing s ar e desig nated b y th e sam e r ef er enc e c h ar ac ter s,
W h il e eq uiv al ent el em ents b ear a p r im e desig natio n.
DETAILED DESCRIPTIO N O F TH E IN VEN TIO N
Ref er r ing no W to th e dr aW ing s and th e c h ar ac ter s o f r ef er
enc e m ar ked th er eo n, F IG. 1 il l ustr ates a ? r st em b o dim ent o f
th e m ul ti-c o r e p r o c esso r system o f th e p r esent inv entio n,
desig nated g ener al l y as 10. Th e system 10 inc l udes a m ain
p r o c esso r , desig nated g ener al l y as 12 . Th e m ain p r o c esso r 12
inc l udes a p r o c essing unit 14 . An o f ? o ad eng ine 16 is o p er a
tiv el y c o nnec ted to th e p r o c essing unit 14 f o r r o uting data to
and f r o m th e p r o c essing unit 14 . A p l ur al ity o f m ain p r o c esso r
o p tic al netW o r k units ( O N U s) 18, 18' , . . . , 18 ar e o p er ativ el y
c o nnec ted to th e o ? l o ad eng ine 16. A dual o p tic al l ine ter m i
nal ( O LT) 2 0 is o p er ativ el y c o nnec ted to th e o ? l o ad eng ine
16
An inter nal EPO N b us 2 2 is o p er ativ el y c o nnec ted to th e
O LT 2 0. Sec o ndar y c o r e p r o c esso r s 2 4 , 2 4 ' , . . . , 2 4 ar e
l o c ated p h ysic al l y sep ar ate f r o m th e m ain p r o c esso r 12 . Gen
er al l y, th ey ar e l o c ated o n sep ar ate p r inted c ir c uit b o ar ds.
Eac h sec o ndar y c o r e p r o c esso r 2 4 h as a r esp ec tiv e sec o ndar y
c o r e p r o c esso r O N U 2 6, 2 6' , . . . , 2 6 o p er ativ el y c o nnec ted to
th e m ain p r o c esso r v ia th e inter nal EPO N b us 2 2 . Th e inter nal
EPO N b us 2 2 is c o n? g ur ed as a sep ar ate EPO N tr ee f r o m th e
2 0
2 5
30
35
4 0
4 5
5 0
5 5
60
65
4
ex ter nal EPO N b us 2 7, i. e. th e m ain p r o c esso r s EPO N tr ee.
Th is al l o W s th e l ayer tW o sW itc h W ith in th e O LT 2 0 to
c o nnec t th e sec o ndar y c o r e p r o c esso r s 2 4 , 2 4 ' , . . . , 2 4 .
As used h er ein th e ter m dual o p tic al l ine ter m inal ( O LT) is
de? ned b r o adl y to inc l ude b o th a dual o p tic al ter m inal and
tW o O LTs ac ting in c o nj unc tio n. Th e O LT m ay b e, f o r
ex am p l e, a c o m m er c ial l y av ail ab l e p r o duc t suc h as th e
TK 372 3 m o del m anuf ac tur ed b y Tekno v us, Inc . Sim il ar l y,
th e O N Us ar e c o m m er c ial l y av ail ab l e f r o m , f o r ex am p l e,
Tekno v us, Inc .
Ref er r ing no W to F IG. 2 , a l o W -l ev el il l ustr atio n o f an
ex am p l e m ul ti-c o r e p r o c esso r system ( i. e. f ail -p assiv e c o m
p uting r eso ur c e m o dul e o r l ine r ep l ac eab l e unit ( LRU) ) , des
ig nated g ener al l y as 2 8, is sh o W n. A p r o c essing unit 30 o f an
av io nic s c o m p uting r eso ur c e el em ent o f th e f ail -p assiv e c o m
p uting r eso ur c e m o dul e 2 8 inc l udes an o ? l o ad eng ine 32
W h ic h is o p er ab l y c o up l ed to O N U s 34 , 34 ' , . . . , 34 and th e
dual O LT 36. Th e o f ? o ad eng ine 32 m ay b e an ap p l ic atio n
sp ec i? c integ r ated c ir c uit ( ASIC) tasked W ith 1) r o uting o ut
g o ing data f r o m th e p r o c esso r 30 ( e. g . a p r o c esso r suc h as
m o del MPC5 5 67 m anuf ac tur ed b y F r eesc al e Sem ic o nduc
to r ) to th e O N U s 34 f o r tr ansm issio n to r em o te c o nc entr atio n
c o m p o nents distr ib uted ab o ut th e air c r af t; and, 2 ) r o uting
o utg o ing data to th e dual O LT 36. Sim il ar l y, a sec o nd o ? l o ad
eng ine 32 ' m ay b e tasked W ith r o uting inc o m ing data ( e. g .
data o r ig inating f r o m a sib l ing p r o c essing unit 30' ) b etW een
th e O N U s 34 and th e p r o c esso r 30' and b etW een th e dual
O LT and th e p r o c essing unit 30' . In th is f ail -p assiv e p r o c ess
ing ex am p l e, th e o ? l o ad eng ine 32 and o ? l o ad eng ine 32 ' m ay
eac h inc l ude tW o inter nal c o m p o nents. Eac h eng ine 30, 30'
m ay p r o v ide inter f ac e c ap ab il ity W ith a r esp ec tiv e O N U 34
and dual O LT 36. Th e o th er c o m p o nent m ay sync h r o nize,
c r o ss-f eed, and c r o ss-c o m p ar e th e data suc h th at b o th p r o
c essing units 30, 30' ar e p r o v ided W ith c o r r ec t and c o nsistent
data. F o r o th er ap p l ic atio ns W h er e f ail -p assiv e p r o c essing is
no t needed, a sing l e p r o c essing unit 30 and o f ? o ad eng ine 32
m ay b e em p l o yed, W h er e th e o f ? o ad eng ine 32 p r o v ides th e
inter f ac e to th e O N Us 34 and dual O LT 36.
F o r th e f ail -p assiv e ex am p l e sh o W n, a f ail -p assiv e m o nito r
38 m ay p r o v ide a c r o ss-c o m p ar iso n f unc tio n b etW een l o c al
b uses ( LBs) 4 0, 4 0' asso c iated W ith eac h p r o c essing unit 30,
30' . Th e f ail -p assiv e m o nito r 38 m ay detec t dif f er enc es in
data p r o v ided to eac h p r o c essing unit 30, 38' W h ic h m ay
indic ate a f ail ur e, th er eb y ensur ing th e integ r ity o f data. Th is
f ail -p assiv e m o nito r 38 m ay f ur th er p r o v ide f unc tio ns W h ic h
aid in th e sync h r o nizatio n o f th e p r o c esso r s, al l o W ing th em to
p r o duc e identic al r esul ts o n identic al data f o r a f aul t-f r ee
c ase. Sync h r o nized r esets 4 2 , 4 2 ' and sync h r o nized inter r up ts
4 3, 4 3' m ay b e p r o v ided to b o th p r o c esso r s to m aintain syn
c h r o nizatio n f o r sW itc h ing am o ng m ul tip l e p r o c esses. As an
im p l em entatio n c o nv enienc e, th e f ail -p assiv e m o nito r 38
m ay p r o v ide inter f ac es W ith m em o r y dev ic es th at ar e no t
r eq uir ed to b e dual f o r f ail -p assiv ity ( e. g . a N AN D p r o g r am
m em o r y 4 4 ; and, no n-v o l atil e data m em o r y 4 6) . F o r suc h
c ases, o th er m eans suc h as CRCs m ay b e used to ensur e th e
nec essar y data integ r ity r ath er th an use o f a dual c o n? g ur a
tio n.
Al th o ug h F IG. 2 sh o W s th e o f ? o ad eng ines as b eing dis
c r ete f r o m th e dual O LT and th e O N Us th ese item s m ay b e a
sing l e c o m p o nent, f o r ex am p l e, em b o died as an ASIC.
Ref er r ing no W to F IG. 3, an integ r ated m o dul ar av io nic s
( IMA) system is il l ustr ated, desig nated g ener al l y as 4 8. Th e
IMA system 4 8 inc l udes a p l ur al ity o f m ul ti-c o r e p r o c esso r
system s ( i. e. c o m m o n c o m p uting m o dul es) , desig nated g en
er al l y as 5 0-5 0 . Eac h o f th e m ul ti-c o r e p r o c esso r system s 5 0
inc l udes a m ain p r o c esso r 12 ' , as disc ussed ab o v e. Th e m ain
p r o c esso r 12 ' inc l udes a p r o c essing unit 14 ' , an o ? l o ad eng ine
US 8, 301, 867 B1
5
( no t sh o w n in th is ? g ur e) , a p l ur al ity o f m ain p r o c esso r o p ti
c al netw o r k units ( O N U s) 18' and a dual o p tic al O LT 2 0' .
F ur th er m o r e, c o nsistent W ith th e F IG. 1 disc ussio n ab o v e, th e
m ain p r o c esso r inc l udes an inter nal EPO N b us ( no t sh o W n)
o p er ativ el y c o nnec ted to th e O LT 2 0' ; and, a p l ur al ity o f
sec o ndar y c o r e p r o c esso r s 2 4 , l o c ated p h ysic al l y sep ar ate
f r o m th e m ain p r o c esso r 12 ' . Eac h sec o ndar y c o r e p r o c esso r
2 4 h as a r esp ec tiv e sec o ndar y c o r e O N U ( no t sh o W n) b eing
o p er ativ el y c o nnec ted to th e m ain p r o c esso r v ia th e inter nal
EPO N b us. A p l ur al ity o f r em o te data c o nc entr atio n c o m p o
nents 5 2 ar e o p er ativ el y c o nnec ted to th e p l ur al ity o f m ul ti
c o r e p r o c esso r system s 5 0-5 0 v ia an ex ter nal EPO N b us 5 8
c o nnec ted to th e dual O LT 14 ' . F ail ur e o f o ne o r m o r e o f th e
p l ur al ity o f sec o ndar y c o r e p r o c esso r s 2 4 do es no t ef f ec t th e
ex ter nal EPO N b us f unc tio nal ity.
Th e o nl y sh ar ed p r o c esso r r eso ur c e is th e inter nal EPO N
b us 2 2 ( see F IG. 1) c o n? g ur ed as a sep ar ate EPO N tr ee f r o m
th e ex ter nal EPO N b us 5 8, 5 8' , i. e. th e m ain p r o c esso r s
EPO N tr ee. Th is al l o W s th e l ayer tW o sW itc h W ith in th e dual
O LT 2 0' to c o nnec t th e sec o ndar y Vir tual c o r e p r o c esso r s to
th eir I/ O and th e standar d AF DX m essag e ex c h ang e b etW een
any p r o c esso r in th e IMA system 4 8.
Th e Vir tual sec o ndar y c o r e p r o c esso r s c an im p r o v e th e
o v er al l saf ety anal ysis b y using dissim il ar p r o c esso r s, i. e.
sev er al o f th em c o ul d b e Intel Cel er o n 4 60 p r o c esso r s and
m ix ed m ic r o -c o ntr o l l er s, e. g . MPC-5 5 67. An air c r af t f unc
tio n th en c an b e h o sted o n f o ur dif f er ent p r o c esso r typ es ( eg
F r eesc al e MPC-85 78, Intel Cel er o n 4 60, Intel Cel er o n 4 60,
F r eesc al e MPC-5 5 67) . Al so th ese sec o ndar y Vir tual c o r e
p r o c esso r s c an b e p r o c esso r c o r es h o sted in an F PGA/ ASIC
( eg th e IP f o r 603c c o r es c o ul d b e h o sted in anASIC) .
Sinc e th e " Vir tual sec o ndar y c o r e p r o c esso r s ar e o n th eir
o W n EPO N tr ee, W h en th er e is a f ail ur e in any o f th em , th e
m ain p r o c esso r c an p r une th at tr ee W ith o ut im p ac ting th e
m ain b ac kb o ne netW o r k. Th us, in a sense, th er e is a sep ar ate
f aul t c o ntainm ent Z o ne f o r th e sec o ndar y Vir tual c o r e p r o
c esso r s.
Th e IMA system 4 8 is im p l em ented W ith a l ef t IMA c ab i
net 5 4 th at c o ntains m ul tip l e m ul ti-c o r e p r o c essing system s
( i. e. CCMs) 5 0-5 0 . Th ese CCMs 5 0-5 0 ar e p r ef er ab l y l ine
r ep l ac eab l e units ( LRUs) desig ned to b e r ep l ac ed q uic kl y at
an air p o r t r am p ar ea and desig ned to c o m m o n sp ec i? c atio ns
so as to b e inter c h ang eab l e W ith in m ul tip l e so c kets W ith in an
av io nic s system as W el l as c r o ss-c o m p atib l e b etW een m ul
tip l e air c r af t. Th e IMA c ab inet 5 4 inc l udes ap p r o p r iate p o W er
sup p l ies 5 6. Mul tip l e p o W er sup p l ies 5 6 m ay p r o v ide r edun
danc y in p o W er so ur c ing . Typ ic al l y, th e IMA system 4 8 al so
inc l udes an IMA c ab inet 5 4 ' W ith sim il ar c o m p o nents.
A sing l e str and o f ? b er m ay g o o ut f r o m a g iv en O LT 2 0'
o v er a ? b er o p tic b us 5 8 to a p assiv e o p tic al sp l itter ( no t
sh o W n) W h er e th e o p tic al sig nal is div ided into m ul tip l e
b r anc h es. Additio nal p assiv e o p tic al sp l itter s m ay al so b e
inc o r p o r ated do W nstr eam f r o m th e p r im ar y p assiv e o p tic al
sp l itter to p r o v ide f ur th er b r anc h ing f o r th e o p tic al sig nal .
Th e o p tic al sig nal m ay b e p o r ted to r em o te data c o nc en
tr ato r s ( RDCs) l o c ated in f o r W ar d-r ig h t, f o r W ar d-l ef t, af t-l ef t
and/ o r af t-r ig h t p o sitio ns, as indic ated b y num er al desig na
tio ns 5 2 , 5 2 ' , 5 2 " and 5 2 " ' , v ia ex ter nal EPO N ? b er o p tic al
b uses 5 8, 5 8' .
Th e m ain p r o c esso r 12 ' p r o c esso r m ay c ause an O LT 2 0' to
tr ansm it data p ac kets o v er th e ex ter nal EPO N b us 5 8 W h ic h
m ay b e r ec eiv ed b y eac h o f th e O N Us l o c ated o n th e RDCs
5 2 . Tr ansm it and r ec eiv e sig nal s W ith in th e EPO N -b ased
system 4 8 m ay o p er ate o n dif f er ent W av el eng th s al l o W ing
b i-dir ec tio nal o p er atio n o v er a sing l e ? b er . In th e dep ic ted
c o n? g ur atio n, data p ac kets tr ansm itted f r o m an O LT 2 0' m ay
b e tr ansm itted as a b ur st o v er al l ? b er o p tic b us l ines 5 8, 5 8' to
2 0
2 5
30
35
4 0
4 5
5 0
5 5
60
65
6
m ul tip l e O N Us o n th e RDCs 5 2 , 5 2 ' , 5 2 " and 5 2 " ' . Th e data
p ac kets m ay c o m p r ise an addr ess h eader indic ating a p ar tic u
l ar RDC to W h ic h th e data p ac ket is to b e dir ec ted. An RDC
m ay r ec eiv e al l data tr ansm itted b y th e O LT 14 ' b ut m ay o nl y
p r o c ess th at data W h ic h is p ar tic ul ar l y addr essed to th at RDC
W h il e disc ar ding al l o th er data.
Al ter natel y, th e data p ac ket m ay b e sent g ener ic al l y ( e. g .
W ith o ut th e RDC O N U sp ec i? c h eader s) to al l RDCs W h er e
eac h RDC m ay indep endentl y anal yZ e th e data p ac ket f o r
c o m p atib il ity W ith th e data r eq uir em ents o f an asso c iated
av io nic s m o dul e. ( As W il l b e disc ussed b el o W , th e av io nic s
m o dul es m ay b e ? ig h t c o ntr o l sur f ac e senso r s, l anding g ear
senso r s, c ab in c l im ate c o ntr o l senso r s, c o c kp it disp l ay
dev ic es, etc . )
Up str eam c o m m unic atio n f r o m an O N U o f an RDC to an
O LT 2 0' m ay b e g o v er ned b y a tim e div isio n m ul tip l e ac c ess
( TDMA) p r o to c o l . Th e RDC s O N U m ay tr ansm it in r ap id
suc c essio n, o ne af ter th e o th er , eac h using a p r edeter m ined
tim e sl o t. Th is al l o W s m ul tip l e RDC O N Us to sh ar e th e sam e
b us W h il e using o nl y th e p ar t o f th e b andW idth th at eac h
r eq uir es. O n p o W er ing up , th e O LT 2 0' m ay institute a dis
c o v er y p r o c edur e in W h ic h it deter m ines W h ic h RDC O N Us
ar e o n a g iv en b us and th e r o und tr ip tim e to eac h RDC O N U.
Sub seq uent to th e disc o v er y p r o c edur e, W h en an RDC O N U
h as data to tr ansm it to an O LT 2 0' it m ay send a r ep o r t in
W h ic h it r eq uests a sl o t ( tim e) in W h ic h to tr ansm it th e data. In
r etur n th e O LT 2 0' sends a g ate to th e RDC O N U W h ic h
de? nes th e tim e sl o t in W h ic h th at O N U m ay tr ansm it th e data.
Inf o r m atio n f r o m an O LT 2 0' to th e o ne o r m o r e RDC O N Us
is sent v ia a g l o b al b r o adc ast. O ne o r m o r e RDC O N Us m ay
tr ansm it in r ap id suc c essio n b ut ar e no t l im ited to a g iv en
seq uenc e. Th e tr ansm issio ns m ay b e in a r ando m seq uenc e
dep ending o n th e needs o f eac h RDC O N U to c o m m unic ate
data to th e O LT 2 0' .
Th e IMA system 4 8 is sh o W n im p l em ented o n an air p l ane
60, in F IG. 4 . Th e RDC s 5 2 , 5 2 ' , 5 2 " and 5 2 ' " ar e eac h
util iZ ed W ith o ne o r m o r e r esp ec tiv e av io nic s m o dul es 62 to
f o r m W h at m ay b e ter m ed as data c o nc entr atio n c o m p o nents,
desig nated g ener al l y as 64 , 64 ' , . . . 64 " ' . Th e av io nic s m o dul es
62 m ay b e ? ig h t c o ntr o l sur f ac e senso r s, l anding g ear senso r s,
c ab in c l im ate c o ntr o l senso r s, c o c kp it disp l ay dev ic es, etc .
Eac h RDC 5 2 is p r ef er ab l y dual c h annel to p r o v ide th e
desir ed r edundanc y and f ail -p assiv e attr ib utes. Th e RDC s 5 2
p r o v ide ac c ess into th e system f o r th e senso r s and ef f ec to r s.
Th e m anuf ac tur e o f RDC s is W el l kno W n to th o se skil l ed in
th is ? el d. As an ex am p l e, th e RDC m ay util iZ e a F r eesc al e
MPC5 5 67 p r o c esso r .
Ref er r ing no W to F IG. 5 , an em b o dim ent o f th e m ul ti-c o r e
p r o c esso r system is il l ustr ated in W h ic h eac h sec o ndar y c o r e
p r o c esso r h o sts its o W n EPO N tr ee, th e m ul ti-c o r e p r o c esso r
system b eing desig nated g ener al l y as 10' . As in th e ? r st
em b o dim ent th e system 10' inc l udes a m ain p r o c esso r , des
ig nated g ener al l y as 12 " . Th e m ain p r o c esso r 12 " inc l udes a
p r o c essing unit 14 " . An o f ? o ad eng ine 16' is o p er ativ el y
c o nnec ted to th e p r o c essing unit 14 " f o r r o uting data to and
f r o m th e p r o c essing unit 14 " . A p l ur al ity o f m ain p r o c esso r
o p tic al netW o r k units ( O N U s) 18, 18' , . . . , 18 ar e o p er ativ el y
c o nnec ted to th e o ? l l o ad eng ine 16' . A dual o p tic al l ine ter m i
nal ( O LT) 2 0" is o p er ativ el y c o nnec ted to th e o f ? o ad eng ine
16' . Th is em b o dim ent al so inc l udes a p l ur al ity o f sec o ndar y
c o r e p r o c esso r s 66, 66' , . . . , 66 , as in th e p r ev io us em b o di
m ent. H o W ev er , in th is em b o dim ent at l east o ne o f th e p l ur al
ity o f sec o ndar y c o r e p r o c esso r s f ur th er c o m p r ises a sec o nd
ar y c o r e p r o c esso r O LT 68 f o r h o sting an asso c iated
sec o ndar y c o r e p r o c esso r ex ter nal EPO N b us 70. Th is ser v es
to iso l ate a sp ec i? c sub system and dedic ate it r el ativ e to a
sel ec ted sec o ndar y c o r e p r o c esso r . Th is al l o W s f o r r ap id c o m
US 8, 301, 867 B1
7
m unic atio n to sp ec i? c sub system r eso ur c es, i. e. LRU s,
RDC s, o r r em o te el ec tr o nic s unit desir ed to b e c o ntr o l l ed,
i. e. ac tuato r o n a l anding g ear , detec tio n senso r , etc .
In sum m ar y, additio n o f th e O LTs to th e sec o ndar y c o r e
p r o c esso r s enab l es th em to dir ec tl y c o nnec t to th eir m em b er
system s W ith o ut b ur dening th e m ain p r o c esso r . Th is al so
al l o W s th e sec o ndar y p r o c esso r s to ac t as ag ents/ inter m ediar
ies f o r th e m ain p r o c esso r and ? l ter / f o r W ar d data to / f r o m th e
m ain p r o c esso r .
Ref er r ing no W to F IG. 6, an em b o dim ent o f th e m ul ti-c o r e
p r o c esso r system is il l ustr ated in W h ic h : 1) eac h sec o ndar y
c o r e p r o c esso r h o sts its o W n EPO N tr ee and 2 ) th e W ir el ess
c o nnec tiv ity is p r o v ided, th e m ul ti-c o r e p r o c esso r system
b eing desig nated g ener al l y as 10" . In th is em b o dim ent, th e
sec o ndar y c o r e p r o c esso r s 72 , 72 ' , . . . , 72 inc l ude W ir el ess
tr ansc eiv er s 74 , 74 ' , . . . , 74 . Ag ain, th is m ay b e used W ith
v ar io us el ec tr o nic units W h er e W ir el ess c ap ab il ity is desir ed
suc h as ? r e detec tio n l o o p , sm o ke detec to r s, p r essur izatio n
v al v es, etc .
Th e sec o ndar y p r o c esso r s m ay b e c o nnec ted to data c o n
c entr atio n c o m p o nents v ia a W ir el ess ( Ul tr a-W ideb and)
UW B netW o r k as desc r ib ed in detail in c o -ap p l ic ants D. E.
MaZ uk, C. R. K l ein, D. L. Go if f o n, and N . J . Bo h nenkam p ,
p atent ap p l ic atio n entitl ed Rem o te Co nc entr atio n System
f o r An Integ r ated Mo dul ar Av io nic s System , US. Ser . N o .
12 / 378, 9 5 2 , ? l ed o n F eb . 2 0, 2 009 , inc o r p o r ated h er ein b y
r ef er enc e, f o r al l p ur p o ses, in its entir ety. W ir el ess senso r /
ef f ec to r assem b l ies f o r r ec eiv ing th e W ir el ess tr ansm issio n
m ay inc l ude a UW B tr ansc eiv er c o nnec ted to an av io nic s
m o dul e. Th e UW B tr ansc eiv er m ay c o m p r ise, f o r ex am p l e,
Co Air TM c h ip sets m anuf ac tur ed b y Sig m a Desig ns.
It sh o ul d b e no ted th at W h il e th e v ar io us av io nic s m o dul es
ar e dep ic ted as disc r ete distr ib uted c o m p o nents, it W il l b e
r ec o g niZ ed b y o ne skil l ed in th e ar t th at suc h f unc tio nal ity
( e. g . c o ntr o l f unc tio nal ity, senso r f unc tio nal ity, etc . ) m ay b e
im p l em ented in any num b er o f f o r m s inc l uding b ut no t l im
ited to so f tW ar e, h ar dW ar e, ? r m W ar e, ap p l ic atio n sp ec i? c
integ r ated c ir c uitr y ( ASICs) and th e l ike and m ay b e c o n? g
ur ed as p ar t o f distr ib uted o r integ r ated system s W ith o ut
dep ar ting f r o m th e sc o p e o f th e p r esent disc l o sur es. F o r
ex am p l e, th e UW B tr ansc eiv er c an b e inc o r p o r ated W ith th e
av io nic s m o dul e.
It is b el iev ed th at th e p r esent inv entio n and m any o f its
attendant adv antag es W il l b e under sto o d b y th e f o r eg o ing
desc r ip tio n. It is al so b el iev ed th at it W il l b e ap p ar ent th at
v ar io us c h ang es m ay b e m ade in th e f o r m , c o nstr uc tio n and
ar r ang em ent o f th e c o m p o nents th er eo f W ith o ut dep ar ting
f r o m th e sc o p e and sp ir it o f th e inv entio n o r W ith o ut sac r i? c
ing al l o f its m ater ial adv antag es. Th e f o r m h er ein b ef o r e
desc r ib ed is m er el y an ex p l anato r y em b o dim ent th er eo f . It is
th e intentio n o f th e f o l l o W ing c l aim s to enc o m p ass and
inc l ude suc h c h ang es.
Th e f o r eg o ing detail ed desc r ip tio n h as set f o r th v ar io us
em b o dim ents o f th e dev ic es and/ o r p r o c esses v ia th e use o f
b l o c k diag r am s, ? o W c h ar ts, and/ o r ex am p l es. Inso f ar as suc h
b l o c k diag r am s, ? o W c h ar ts, and/ o r ex am p l es c o ntain o ne o r
m o r e f unc tio ns and/ o r o p er atio ns, it W il l b e under sto o d b y
th o se W ith in th e ar t th at eac h f unc tio n and/ o r o p er atio n W ith in
suc h b l o c k diag r am s, ? o W c h ar ts, o r ex am p l es c an b e im p l e
m ented, indiv idual l y and/ o r c o l l ec tiv el y, b y a W ide r ang e o f
h ar dW ar e, so f tW ar e, ? r m W ar e, o r v ir tual l y any c o m b inatio n
th er eo f . In o ne em b o dim ent, sev er al p o r tio ns o f th e sub j ec t
m atter desc r ib ed h er ein m ay b e im p l em ented v ia Ap p l ic atio n
Sp ec i? c Integ r ated Cir c uits ( ASICs) , F iel d Pr o g r am m ab l e
Gate Ar r ays ( F PGAs) , dig ital sig nal p r o c esso r s ( DSPs) , o r
o th er integ r ated f o r m ats. H o W ev er , th o se skil l ed in th e ar t W il l
r ec o g niZ e th at so m e asp ec ts o f th e em b o dim ents disc l o sed
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65
8
h er ein, in W h o l e o r in p ar t, c an b e eq uiv al entl y im p l em ented
in integ r ated c ir c uits, as o ne o r m o r e c o m p uter p r o g r am s
r unning o n o ne o r m o r e c o m p uter s ( e. g . , as o ne o r m o r e
p r o g r am s r unning o n o ne o r m o r e c o m p uter system s) , as o ne
o r m o r e p r o g r am s r unning o n o ne o r m o r e p r o c esso r s ( e. g . , as
o ne o r m o r e p r o g r am s r unning o n o ne o r m o r e m ic r o p r o c es
so r s) , as ? r m W ar e, o r as v ir tual l y any c o m b inatio n th er eo f ,
and th at desig ning th e c ir c uitr y and/ o r W r iting th e c o de f o r th e
so f tW ar e/ and o r ? r m W ar e W o ul d b e W el l W ith in th e skil l o f
o ne skil l ed in th e ar t in l ig h t o f th is disc l o sur e.
In additio n, th o se skil l ed in th e ar t W il l ap p r ec iate th at th e
m ec h anism s o f th e sub j ec t m atter desc r ib ed h er ein ar e
c ap ab l e o f b eing distr ib uted as a p r o g r am p r o duc t in a v ar iety
o f f o r m s, and th at an il l ustr ativ e em b o dim ent o f th e sub j ec t
m atter desc r ib ed h er ein ap p l ies r eg ar dl ess o f th e p ar tic ul ar
typ e o f sig nal b ear ing m edium used to ac tual l y c ar r y o ut th e
distr ib utio n. Ex am p l es o f a sig nal b ear ing m edium inc l ude,
b ut ar e no t l im ited to , th e f o l l o W ing : a r ec o r dab l e typ e
m edium suc h as a ? o p p y disk, a h ar d disk dr iv e, a Co m p ac t
Disc ( CD) , a Dig ital Video Disk ( DVD) , a dig ital tap e, a
c o m p uter m em o r y, etc . ; and a tr ansm issio n typ e m edium suc h
as a dig ital and/ o r an anal o g c o m m unic atio n m edium ( e. g . , a
? b er o p tic c ab l e, a W av eg uide, a W ir ed c o m m unic atio n l ink, a
W ir el ess c o m m unic atio n l ink ( e. g . , tr ansm itter , r ec eiv er ,
tr ansm issio n l o g ic , r ec ep tio n l o g ic , etc . ) , etc . ) .
Th o se h av ing skil l in th e ar t W il l r ec o g niZ e th at th e state o f
th e ar t h as p r o g r essed to th e p o int W h er e th er e is l ittl e distinc
tio n l ef t b etW een h ar dW ar e, so f tW ar e, and/ o r ? r m W ar e im p l e
m entatio ns o f asp ec ts o f system s; th e use o f h ar dW ar e, so f t
W ar e, and/ o r ? r m W ar e is g ener al l y ( b ut no t al W ays, in th at in
c er tain c o ntex ts th e c h o ic e b etW een h ar dw ar e and so f tw ar e
c an b ec o m e sig ni? c ant) a desig n c h o ic e r ep r esenting c o st v s.
e? ic ienc y tr adeo f f s. Th o se h av ing skil l in th e ar t W il l ap p r e
c iate th at th er e ar e v ar io us v eh ic l es b y W h ic h p r o c esses and/ o r
system s and/ o r o th er tec h no l o g ies desc r ib ed h er ein c an b e
ef f ec ted ( e. g . , h ar dW ar e, so f tW ar e, and/ o r ? r m W ar e) , and th at
th e p r ef er r ed v eh ic l e W il l v ar y W ith th e c o ntex t in W h ic h th e
p r o c esses and/ o r system s and/ o r o th er tec h no l o g ies ar e
dep l o yed. F o r ex am p l e, if an im p l em enter deter m ines th at
sp eed and ac c ur ac y ar e p ar am o unt, th e im p l em enter m ay o p t
f o r a m ainl y h ar dW ar e and/ o r ? r m W ar e v eh ic l e; al ter nativ el y,
if ? ex ib il ity is p ar am o unt, th e im p l em enter m ay o p t f o r a
m ainl y so f tW ar e im p l em entatio n; o r , yet ag ain al ter nativ el y,
th e im p l em enter m ay o p t f o r so m e c o m b inatio n o f h ar dW ar e,
so f tW ar e, and/ o r ? r m W ar e. H enc e, th er e ar e sev er al p o ssib l e
v eh ic l es b y W h ic h th e p r o c esses and/ o r dev ic es and/ o r o th er
tec h no l o g ies desc r ib ed h er ein m ay b e ef f ec ted, no ne o f W h ic h
is inh er entl y sup er io r to th e o th er in th at any v eh ic l e to b e
util iZ ed is a c h o ic e dep endent up o n th e c o ntex t in W h ic h th e
v eh ic l e W il l b e dep l o yed and th e sp ec i? c c o nc er ns ( e. g . ,
sp eed, ? ex ib il ity, o r p r edic tab il ity) o f th e im p l em enter , any o f
W h ic h m ay v ar y. Th o se skil l ed in th e ar t W il l r ec o g niZ e th at
o p tic al asp ec ts o f im p l em entatio ns W il l typ ic al l y em p l o y
o p tic al l y-o r iented h ar dW ar e, so f tW ar e, and o r ? r m W ar e.
O th er em b o dim ents and c o n? g ur atio ns m ay b e dev ised
W ith o ut dep ar ting f r o m th e sp ir it o f th e inv entio n and th e
sc o p e o f th e ap p ended c l aim s.
Th e inv entio n c l aim ed is:
1. A m ul ti-c o r e p r o c esso r system , c o m p r ising :
a) a m ain p r o c esso r , c o m p r ising :
i) a p r o c essing unit c o n? g ur ed to f unc tio n as a h o st
p r o c esso r f o r m ain p r o c esso r f unc tio ns;
ii) an o ? l l o ad eng ine o p er ativ el y c o nnec ted to said p r o
c essing unit f o r r o uting data to and f r o m said p r o c ess
ing unit;
US 8, 301, 867 B1
iii) a p l ur al ity o f m ain p r o c esso r o p tic al netw o r k units
( O N U s) o p er ativ el y c o nnec ted to said o f ? o ad
eng ine; and,
iv ) a dual o p tic al l ine ter m inal ( O LT) o p er ativ el y c o n
nec ted to said o f ? o ad eng ine;
b ) an inter nal EPO N b us o p er ativ el y c o nnec ted to said
O LT; and,
c ) a p l ur al ity o f sec o ndar y c o r e p r o c esso r s, l o c ated p h ysi
c al l y sep ar ate f r o m said m ain p r o c esso r , eac h sec o ndar y
c o r e p r o c esso r h av ing a r esp ec tiv e sec o ndar y c o r e p r o
c esso r O N U b eing o p er ativ el y c o nnec ted to said m ain
p r o c esso r v ia said inter nal EPO N b us, said inter nal
EPO N b us b eing th e o nl y c o nnec tio n p o int f o r th e sec
o ndar y c o r e p r o c esso r s to th e m ain p r o c esso r , th us th e
inter nal EPO N b us is c o n? g ur ed as a sep ar ate EPO N tr ee
f r o m an ex ter nal EPO N b us o f th e m ain p r o c esso r .
2 . Th e m ul ti-c o r e p r o c esso r system o f c l aim 1, W h er ein at
l east o ne o f said p l ur al ity o f sec o ndar y c o r e p r o c esso r s f ur
th er c o m p r ises a sec o ndar y c o r e p r o c esso r O LT f o r h o sting an
asso c iated sec o ndar y c o r e p r o c esso r ex ter nal EPO N b us.
3. Th e m ul ti-c o r e p r o c esso r system o f c l aim 1, W h er ein at
l east o ne o f said p l ur al ity o f sec o ndar y c o r e p r o c esso r s f ur
th er c o m p r ises:
a) a sec o ndar y c o r e p r o c esso r O LT f o r h o sting a sec o ndar y
c o r e p r o c esso r ex ter nal EPO N b us; and,
b ) a W ir el ess tr ansc eiv er f o r c o nnec tio n to a W ir el ess net
W o r k.
4 . Th e m ul ti-c o r e p r o c esso r system o f c l aim 1, W h er ein
said o ? l l o ad eng ine, said p l ur al ity o f m ain p r o c esso r O N U s
and said dual O LT c o m p r ise a sing l e ap p l ic atio n sp ec i? c
integ r ated c ir c uit ( ASIC) .
5 . An integ r ated m o dul ar av io nic s ( IMA) system , c o m p r is
ing :
a) a p l ur al ity o f m ul ti-c o r e p r o c esso r system s, eac h c o m
p r ising :
i) a m ain p r o c esso r , c o m p r ising :
1. a p r o c essing unit c o n? g ur ed to f unc tio n as a h o st
p r o c esso r f o r m ain p r o c esso r av io nic s f unc tio ns;
2 . an o ? l l o ad eng ine o p er ativ el y c o nnec ted to said
p r o c essing unit f o r r o uting data to and f r o m said
p r o c essing unit;
3. a p l ur al ity o f m ain p r o c esso r o p tic al netW o r k units
( O N U s) o p er ativ el y c o nnec ted to said o f ? o ad
eng ine and,
4 . a dual o p tic al l ine ter m inal ( O LT) o p er ativ el y c o n
nec ted to said o ? l l o ad eng ine;
ii) an inter nal EPO N b us o p er ativ el y c o nnec ted to said
O LT; and,
iii) a p l ur al ity o f sec o ndar y c o r e p r o c esso r s, l o c ated
p h ysic al l y sep ar ate f r o m said m ain p r o c esso r , eac h
sec o ndar y c o r e p r o c esso r h av ing a r esp ec tiv e sec o nd
ar y c o r e O N U b eing o p er ativ el y c o nnec ted to said
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m ain p r o c esso r v ia said inter nal EPO N b us, said inter
nal EPO N b us b eing th e o nl y c o nnec tio n p o int f o r th e
sec o ndar y c o r e p r o c esso r s to th e m ain p r o c esso r , th us
th e inter nal EPO N b us is c o n? g ur ed as a sep ar ate
EPO N tr ee f r o m an ex ter nal EPO N b us o f th e m ain
p r o c esso r ; and,
b ) a p l ur al ity o f r em o te data c o nc entr atio n c o m p o nents
o p er ativ el y c o nnec ted to said p l ur al ity o f m ul ti-c o r e p r o
c esso r system s v ia an ex ter nal EPO N b us c o nnec ted to
said dual O LTs o f said p l ur al ity o f m ul ti-c o r e p r o c es
so r s, W h er ein f ail ur e o f o ne o r m o r e o f said p l ur al ity o f
sec o ndar y c o r e p r o c esso r s do es no t ef f ec t th e ex ter nal
EPO N b us f unc tio nal ity.
6. Th e IMA system o f c l aim 5 , W h er ein at l east o ne o f said
p l ur al ity o f sec o ndar y c o r e p r o c esso r s f ur th er c o m p r ises a
sec o ndar y c o r e p r o c esso r O LT f o r h o sting an asso c iated sec
o ndar y c o r e p r o c esso r ex ter nal EPO N b us.
7. Th e IMA system o f c l aim 5 , W h er ein at l east o ne o f said
p l ur al ity o f sec o ndar y c o r e p r o c esso r s f ur th er c o m p r ises:
a) a sec o ndar y c o r e p r o c esso r O LT f o r h o sting a sec o ndar y
c o r e p r o c esso r ex ter nal EPO N b us; and,
b ) a W ir el ess tr ansc eiv er f o r c o nnec tio n to a W ir el ess net
W o r k.
8. Th e IMA system o f c l aim 5 , W h er ein at l east o ne o f said
o ? l l o ad eng ines and its asso c iated O N U s and dual O LT c o m
p r ise a sing l e ap p l ic atio n sp ec i? c integ r ated c ir c uit ( ASIC) .
9 . Th e IMA system o f c l aim 5 , W h er ein said p l ur al ity o f
r em o te data c o nc entr atio n c o m p o nents c o m p r ises a p l ur al ity
o f r em o te W ir el ess data c o nc entr ato r ( RDC) assem b l ies, eac h
RDC assem b l y c o m p r ising :
a) a r em o te data c o nc entr ato r ( RDC) ; and,
b ) an av io nic s m o dul e o p er ab l y c o nnec ted to said RDC.
10. Th e IMA system o f c l aim 5 , W h er ein said p l ur al ity o f
r em o te data c o nc entr atio n c o m p o nents c o m p r ises a p l ur al ity
o f r em o te data c o nc entr ato r ( RDC) assem b l ies, eac h RDC
assem b l y c o m p r ising :
a) a r em o te data c o nc entr ato r ( RDC) c o m p r ising a UW B
tr ansc eiv er ; and, a m ic r o p r o c esso r o p er ab l y c o nnec ted
to said UW B tr ansc eiv er ; and,
b ) an av io nic s m o dul e o p er ab l y c o nnec ted to said RDC.
11. Th e IMA system o f c l aim 5 , W h er ein eac h o f said
r em o te data c o nc entr atio n c o m p o nents, c o m p r ise a p l ur al ity
o f W ir el ess senso r / ef f ec to r assem b l ies, eac h W ir el ess senso r /
ef f ec to r assem b l y, c o m p r ising :
a) a UW B tr ansc eiv er ; and,
b ) an av io nic s m o dul e o p er ab l y c o nnec ted to said UW B,
W h er ein said av io nic s m o dul e is o ne o f a set o f air c r af t
av io nic s m o dul es sel ec ted f r o m th e set c o nsisting o f :
? ig h t c o ntr o l sur f ac e senso r s; l anding g ear senso r s;
c ab in c l im ate c o ntr o l senso r s; and, c o c kp it disp l ay
dev ic es.