US20210049915A1 - Aircraft to ground data systems and computing methods - Google Patents

Abstract

A computing method for exchanging data between an aircraft computing device on an aircraft and a ground computing device, comprises receiving, by the ground computing device, a data transmission from an aircraft interface computing device located remotely from the ground computing device, the data transmission indicating that a data file is to be exchanged between the ground computing device and the aircraft computing device in communication with the aircraft interface computing device; and exchanging the data file between a central storage location associated with the ground computing device and the aircraft computing device utilizing an aircraft API executing on the aircraft interface computing device, wherein the aircraft API is one of a plurality of aircraft APIs stored on the aircraft interface computing device, and wherein each of the plurality of aircraft APIs are configured for communicating with unique aircraft services executing on unique aircraft computing devices.

Description

RELATED APPLICATION
• This application claims priority to India Patent Application No. 201911033157 entitled AIRCRAFT TO GROUND DATA SYSTEMS AND COMPUTING METHODS, which was filed on Aug. 16, 2019, and the complete disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
FIELD
• The present disclosure relates to network systems for facilitating air-to-ground data communication with aircraft computing devices.
BACKGROUND
• Aircraft computing devices are an important component of today's aircraft, as are the software modules operating on aircraft computing devices to enable them to communicate with other computing systems. Additionally, as computing technology has evolved, the complexity of aircraft computing devices available to be integrated into new aircraft, as well as the corresponding software written to operate thereon, have also increased. However, because aircraft software is expensive to create and maintain due to the rigorous requirements of flight certifications and must be calibrated against numerous security and safety concerns, once an aircraft is deployed with a functional computing system and corresponding software, the original computing system generally remains onboard the aircraft for the life of the aircraft. This means that entities that interact with aircraft computing devices onboard aircraft must currently exchange data with the many different types of computing systems and corresponding software modules which are utilized by today's aircraft. Since there are no common ground software interfaces for ground clients to communicate with multiple aircraft computing devices and/or software modules, each ground client must currently employ multiple software communication interfaces individually written for a corresponding type of computing system and/or software module.
• Additionally, the availability and reliability of uplink and downlink communication systems for air-to-ground communication with aircraft varies across different geographic regions. This means that during air travel, the ability of ground-based entities to communicate with aircraft computing devices can be very unreliable. This results in dropped data transfers, missed transmissions, and other data transfer issues.
SUMMARY
• Computing methods and computing systems for exchanging data files between aircraft computing devices and ground computing devices are disclosed.
• Some methods comprise receiving, by an aircraft API executing on an aircraft interface computing device, an initial communication from an aircraft service executing on an aircraft computing device located onboard an aircraft; determining, by the aircraft API, that a data file is to be transmitted from the ground computing device to the aircraft computing device; transmitting, to the ground computing device, a data signal configured to cause the data file to be transmitted from the ground computing device to a transient storage location associated with the aircraft interface computing device; and causing the data file to be transmitted from the transient storage location to the aircraft computing device.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
• FIG. 1 is schematic drawing of an example environment that illustrates techniques for exchanging data files between aircraft computing devices and a ground computing device.
• FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of a remote aircraft interface computing device for exchanging data files between aircraft computing devices and a ground computing device.
• FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of ground computing device(s) for exchanging data files between aircraft computing devices and the ground computing device(s).
• FIG. 4 is a flowchart depicting methods for exchanging data files between aircraft computing devices and a ground computing device.
• FIG. 5 is a flowchart depicting methods for exchanging data files between a plurality of aircraft computing devices and a ground computing device.
• FIG. 6 is a flowchart depicting methods for transmitting data files from an aircraft computing device to a ground computing device.
• FIG. 7 is a flowchart depicting methods for transmitting data files to an aircraft computing device and from a ground computing device.
• FIG. 8 is a flowchart depicting methods for generating and maintaining a command queue for exchanging data files between an aircraft computing device and a ground computing device.
DESCRIPTION
• The present disclosure describes techniques for exchanging data files between aircraft computing devices and a ground computing device. By utilizing these techniques, external ground-based computing devices are able to use a single interface to communicate and exchange data files with many different types of legacy aircraft computing devices. The disclosed techniques employ a set of decoupled interfaces to provide access points for communicating with multiple types of aircraft computing devices. Additionally, as will be discussed further below, the techniques described herein utilize cloud network resources to more efficiently exchange data files between aircraft computing devices in flight and a ground computing device. Not only does this improve the reliability of such data exchanges, but it also more efficiently uses network resources.
• FIGS. 1-8 illustrate examples of computing systems, network-connected computing devices, and methods for exchanging data files between aircraft computing devices and a ground computing device. In general, in the drawings, elements that are likely to be included in a given examples are illustrated in solid lines, while elements that are optional or alternatives are illustrated in dashed lines. However, elements that are illustrated in solid lines are not essential to all examples of the present disclosure, and an element shown in solid lines may be omitted from a particular example without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Elements that serve a similar, or at least substantially similar, purpose are labelled with numbers consistent among the figures. Like numbers in each of the figures, and the corresponding elements, may not be discussed in detail herein with reference to each of the figures. Similarly, all elements may not be labelled or shown in each of the figures, but reference numerals associated therewith may be used for consistency. Elements, components, and/or features that are discussed with reference to one or more of the figures may be included in and/or utilized with any of the figures without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.
• FIG. 1 is schematic drawing ofexample environments100 that illustrate techniques for exchanging data files between aircraft computing devices and a ground computing device. Additional details of individual operations illustrated inFIG. 1 and discussed below are described in more detail with reference to subsequent figures.
• Theenvironment100 includes one or more network-connectedground computing devices102 that exchangesdata files104 with one or moreaircraft computing devices106 operating onaircraft108, otheraircraft computing devices110 operating onother aircraft112, or both. In some examples, theground computing device102 operates electronic distribution software that enables data files to be exchanged between theground computing device102 andaircraft computing devices106 and/or otheraircraft computing devices110. In some examples,data files104 include one or more of a software module, a software update, a flight plan, an entertainment file, an alert, a message, a security log, a performance log, health monitoring data, a system log, or other data construct that is associated with the performance and/or operation of acorresponding aircraft108 or112. As used herein,aircraft112 also may be referred to asaircraft108 andaircraft computing device110 may be referred to asaircraft computing device106, withaircraft108 andaircraft computing device106 being used generally when referring to a single aircraft and its corresponding one or more aircraft computing devices.
• In various embodiments according to the present disclosure, theground computing device102 may include many different types of electronic devices, including, but not limited to, a personal computer, a laptop computer, a server, a cloud-based device or devices, and so forth. In some embodiments, theground computing device102 is associated with an entity that engages in the transmission of data files withaircraft108 in flight, such as an airline, an aircraft manufacturer, a communication service provider, a regulation agency, an air traffic control body, etc.
• In some embodiments, theground computing device102 hosts and/or provides one or more ground-based programmatic services. As illustrated,ground computing device102 hosts ground application programming interfaces (APIs)103 that permit thirdparty computing devices114 to interact withground computing device102, and as a result ultimately withaircraft108 andother aircraft112. In addition, in some examples, theground computing device102 includes ground-based service modules that acquire, manipulate, and/or evaluatedata files104 fromaircraft computing devices106. For example, in some examples, theground computing device102 hosts a software suite that provides a messaging service, a video stream service, monitoring of aircraft part interface, an aircraft sensor monitoring, a connectivity interface, a navigation assistance service, or other ground-based service that allows theground computing device102 to transmit data with an aircraft and/or a fleet of aircraft. In various embodiments, theground computing device102 provides a plurality of services that each operate by transmittingdata files104 between theground computing device102 and one or moreaircraft computing devices106. For example, in various embodiments a software-based service executing on aground computing device102 provides executable instructions to push entertainment files and/or flight plans to an aircraft operated by an airline.
• In other examples, theground computing device102 is associated with a service provider, such as an aircraft manufacturer that provides third parties, such as airlines, with communication infrastructure for communicating with aircraft in flight. In an example embodiment, an aircraft manufacturer and/or aircraft component manufacturer provides a ground-based software service that uses the ability of theground computing device102 to communicate withaircraft computing devices106 to pull system health information gathered by sensors onaircraft108 and/or112, and/or to push software updates to electronic systems withinaircraft108 and/or112. Alternatively or in addition, a service provider uses theground computing device102 to acquire performance data about one ormore aircraft108 and/or the components on the aircraft while the aircraft is in flight, and then push some or all the performance data to a third party airline. For example, in some embodiments where theground computing device102 exchanges data with aircraft operated by different airlines, theground computing device102 segregates the data from anindividual aircraft108 according to the corresponding airline that operates theindividual aircraft108, and/or transmits some or all of the data to the corresponding airline. In this way, theground computing device102 enables multiple airlines to simultaneously exchange data with aircraft in its fleet.
• As shown inFIG. 1, theground computing device102 is connected to one or more of thirdparty computing devices114, remote aircraftinterface computing devices116, other remote aircraftinterface computing devices118,local storage locations120, andtransient storage locations122 vianetwork124. In various embodiments,network124 is a wired network, a wireless network, or a combination of both. Examples ofnetwork124 include the internet, a wide area network, a local area network, or a combination thereof. Network124 also may be referred to herein asground network124, and in some examples, thenetwork124 includes acloud computing network126.
• In some embodiments, the thirdparty computing devices114 are associated with another entity that is different from the entity associated with theground computing device102. For example, where theground computing device102 are operated by a communication service provider, the thirdparty computing devices114 include devices that are associated with airlines that engage the communication service provider to enable data transmission with their aircraft fleet.
• As further illustrated inFIG. 1,environment100 includes an aircraftinterface computing device116 and other aircraftinterface computing devices118 in communication withground computing device102 overnetwork124. Each of the aircraftinterface computing devices116,118 executes aircraft APIs that enables data files to be exchanged between theground computing device102 andaircraft computing devices106 and/or otheraircraft computing devices110. In various embodiments according to the present disclosure, the aircraftinterface computing devices116 may include many different types of electronic devices, including, but not limited to, server devices. In some examples, the individual ones of aircraftinterface computing devices116 include a computing resource of a cloud server, a dedicated server, or a combination thereof. In some examples, the aircraftinterface computing devices116 are cloud server resources operating withincloud computing network126, such as transient routers. As used herein, aircraftinterface computing device118 also may be referred to as aircraftinterface computing device116, with aircraftinterface computing device116 being used generally when referring to a single aircraftinterface computing device116.
• The aircraftinterface computing devices116 are geographically distributed across multiple geographic regions. A geographic region corresponds to a threshold distance, a coverage area, a geopolitical boundary, or other geographic zones. For example, individual aircraftinterface computing devices116 are geographically positioned so as to be remote from one another and/or the ground computing device102 (e.g., located in a geographically separate server farm).
• As further shown inFIG. 1, the aircraftinterface computing device116 also is in communication withaircraft108 andother aircraft112 over an air-to-ground network128. In some embodiments, the air-to-ground network128 includes one or more networks for facilitating air-to-ground data exchanges between airborneaircraft computing devices106 and ground-based aircraftinterface computing devices116. For example, in some embodiments, the air-to-ground network128 includes one or more of a wireless network, a satellite network, a cellular network, or a combination thereof.
• Aircraft108 and112 are shown inFIG. 1 as commercial airplanes. However, in various embodiments,aircraft108 and112 can include any of personal aircraft, military aircraft, private airplanes, rotorcraft, spacecraft, or other types of aircraft havingaircraft computing devices106 operating thereon.Aircraft computing device106 can include many different types of electronic devices, including, but not limited to, a personal computer, a laptop computer, a server, and an onboard computer infrastructure, located on and/or otherwise incorporated intoindividual aircraft108 and112. Theaircraft computing devices106 provide one or more functionalities for the aircraft, such as entertainment, operation support, navigation support, aircraft component operation, data security, health and safety monitoring, etc. In some examples, theaircraft computing devices106 obtain operational and/or health data from sensors associated with one or more components of theaircraft108. In some embodiments, theaircraft computing devices106 provide pilots of theaircraft108 and/or112 with flight plan information, navigation assistance, and/or full/partial autopilot functionality.
• As shown inFIG. 1, anaircraft service130 is stored onaircraft memory132 associated with each of theaircraft computing devices106 and the otheraircraft computing devices110. Theaircraft memory132 is a component memory of the correspondingaircraft computing device106, or an external memory storage that is separate from the correspondingaircraft computing device106. In some embodiments, theaircraft memory132 also stores data files104. Theaircraft service130 is a software module that is executable to cause the correspondingaircraft computing device106 or110 to interface with external computing devices, such as theground computing devices102, aircraftinterface computing devices116,transient storage locations122, or other computing devices.
• In some embodiments, there are multiple versions ofaircraft services130 executing on theaircraft computing devices106 that can interface with a specific aircraft API. That is, differentaircraft computing devices106 have different software modules that are individually executable to cause its correspondingaircraft computing device106 to interact with an aircraftinterface computing device116. For example,aircraft108 includes a firstaircraft computing device106 that uses afirst aircraft service130 to communicate with external computing devices, while a particularother aircraft112 includes anotheraircraft computing device110 that uses asecond aircraft service130 that is different from thefirst aircraft service130 to communicate with external computing devices. The different versions ofaircraft services130 correspond to different software modules programmed to perform on different types of computing devices, programmed in different languages, created by different programming entities, programmed to operate within different operating systems and/or with different versions of a software, etc.
• In some examples, theaircraft service130 is executable to cause the correspondingaircraft computing device106 to transmit aninitial communication134 to one or more computing devices such as theground computing device102, the aircraftinterface computing devices116, thetransient storage locations122, or other computing devices. In some embodiments, transmitting theinitial communication134 includes establishing a secure connection between theaircraft computing device106 or110 and the external computing device. Theinitial communication134 is be transmitted over the air-to-ground network128.
• In some embodiments, theinitial communication134 includes one or more identifiers that are associated with the corresponding aircraft, aircraft computing device, aircraft API, or a combination thereof. In some examples, theinitial communication134 includes one or more of an airline identifier (e.g., an international civil aviation organization (ICAO) code or an international air transport association (IATA) code, etc.), an airplane identifier (e.g., a tail number, a registration number, a manufacturer number, a serial number, etc.), and a software identifier. In addition, theinitial communication134 also can include a command. A command is a software-based instruction that identifies an action and/or data transfer that is to occur between theground computing devices102 and one or moreaircraft computing devices106. An example command corresponds to a request to exchange adata file104 between theground computing device102 and theaircraft computing device106.
• In some examples, theaircraft service130 is executable to cause the correspondingaircraft computing device106 to transmit theinitial communication134 periodically, according to a schedule, and/or based on a trigger event, such as an input from a user associated with the aircraft (e.g., pilot, passenger, steward, etc.), adata file104 being generated, adata file104 reaching a preset size, an available amount of theaircraft memory132 reaching or dropping below a threshold, occurrence of a preset event (e.g., reaching a preset altitude, reaching a preset location, the aircraft being airborne for a preset amount of time, etc.), or reception of a transmission from an external computing device, such as theground computing device102, the aircraftinterface computing device116, thetransient storage locations122, or other computing devices.
• Accordingly, because of the wide number ofaircraft services130 deployed, entities that interact with aircraft computing devices onboard aircraft, such as airline manufacturers and airlines, must have multiple aircraft APIs for communicating with different types of aircraft computing devices, or be limited to only communicating with aircraft computing devices having a particular type of aircraft computing device. This makes it difficult for aircraft manufacturers and airlines to communicate broadly across their entire fleet. Not only must such aircraft manufacturers and airlines employ a plurality of aircraft APIs that allow their computing devices to communicate with each of a plurality ofaircraft services130 used by theaircraft computing devices106 deployed on the aircraft within their fleet, but also each of their software protocols that are written to facilitate and/or utilize data exchange between aircraft computing devices must be written such that it cannot interface with each deployedaircraft service130. Not only does this make the coding prohibitively complex, but it also requires each software protocol to be updated each time anew aircraft service130 is deployed onto anaircraft computing device106 and/or110.
• The techniques of the present disclosure address these issues by utilizing a system of decoupled interfaces to conduct communication and data exchanges between aground computing device102 and anaircraft computing device106. For example,FIG. 1 shows each of the aircraftinterface computing devices116storing aircraft APIs136. Theaircraft APIs136 are software modules that are executable to cause the corresponding aircraftinterface computing devices116 to facilitate the exchange of data files104 between theground computing devices102 and theaircraft computing devices106.
• In some embodiments, in response to receiving theinitial communication134, an aircraftinterface computing device116 is configured to determine an aircraft classifier associated with at least one of the aircraft, the aircraft computing device, the aircraft service, or a combination thereof, from which theinitial communication134 originated. An aircraft classifier corresponds to one or more of a type of the aircraft, a year of the aircraft, a model of the aircraft, an airline associated with the aircraft, a type of computing device on which the aircraft service is executing, a type of application to which the aircraft service corresponds, or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, the aircraft interface computing device determines the aircraft classifier based on one or more aircraft identifiers included in theinitial communication134. For example, based on theinitial communication134 including a tail number from the originating aircraft, the aircraftinterface computing device116 can access a data lookup table that identifies relationships between aircraft tail numbers and the corresponding type of aircraft computing device and/or aircraft service. In various embodiments, such a data construct is stored on one or more storage locations withincloud computing network126, aircraftinterface computing device116, or both. Alternatively, the aircraftinterface computing device116 transmits the aircraft identifier and/or the aircraft classifier to theground computing device102, theground computing device102 accesses a data lookup table that identifies relationships between aircraft identifiers and/or aircraft classifiers and corresponding aircraft computing devices, aircraft services, and/or aircraft types, and transmits the type of aircraft computing device, aircraft service, and/or aircraft from which theinitial communication134 originated. In another example, theinitial communication134 includes metadata that identifies the type of aircraft computing device and/or aircraft service executing on the originating aircraft.
• In some embodiments, the aircraftinterface computing device116 is configured to select anaircraft API136 for communicating with the aircraft computing device. As illustrated inFIG. 1, the aircraftinterface computing device116 can storemultiple aircraft APIs136, with each aircraft API defining a programmatic protocol for communicating with a specificaircraft computing device106 and/oraircraft service130 executing thereon. The programmatic protocol of eachaircraft API136 is configured to enable the aircraftinterface computing device116 to interact with one or more corresponding aircraft computing devices and/orcorresponding aircraft services130 thereof. The selectedaircraft API136 then uses its programmatic protocol to facilitate a data exchange between theground computing device102 and the aircraft computing device and/or aircraft service executing on the originating aircraft. In some embodiments, the aircraftinterface computing device116 selects an appropriate aircraft API based on a schedule or table that indicates relationships between aircraft identifiers and/or aircraft classifiers and corresponding programmatic protocols of aircraft API. In this way, not only can the aircraftinterface computing device116 quickly select and/or automatically deploy anaircraft API136 for interfacing with anyaircraft computing device106, but by acting as an intermediate decoupled interface from ground services operated byground computing device102, each of the ground services are able to interface with any type ofaircraft computing device106 and/oraircraft service130. In other embodiments, anappropriate aircraft API136 is automatically available and utilized for interaction with acorresponding aircraft service130 as a result of theinitial communication134.
• In some embodiments, the aircraftinterface computing device116 also receives an additional initial communication from anotheraircraft computing device110 onboard anotheraircraft112 over the air-to-ground network128. The additional initial communication includes one or more aircraft identifiers, which the aircraftinterface computing device116 uses to identify one or more aircraft classifiers associated with theother aircraft112, the otheraircraft computing device110, and/or theaircraft service130 executing on the otheraircraft computing device110. The aircraftinterface computing device116 then uses the aircraft classifiers to select thecorresponding aircraft API136 that is able to communicate with the otheraircraft computing device110, and/or the aircraft service executing on the otheraircraft computing device110. In some examples, theaircraft API136 selected for communicating with the otheraircraft computing device110 is the same as theaircraft API136 selected for communicating with theaircraft computing device106. In other examples, it may be a different aircraft API.
• In embodiments where theinitial communication134 includes a command to exchange adata file104, the aircraftinterface computing device116 utilizes theaircraft API136 to facilitate such an exchange of the data file104. For example, where theinitial communication134 includes a request for a particular video file to be uploaded to theaircraft computing device106, theaircraft API136 defines a programmatic protocol for interacting with the originating aircraft computing device, and then causes the particular video file to be uploaded to theaircraft computing device106. Alternatively or in addition, the aircraft interface computing device16 may send an initiation request to anaircraft computing device106, such as for a selection of sensor and/or health data stored on theaircraft memory132, for example, to be downloaded from theaircraft computing device106. In such an example, theaircraft API136 is utilized to transmit a signal to cause theaircraft computing device106 to transmit the selection of sensor and/or health data over the air-to-ground network128.
• Alternatively, where theinitial communication134 does not include a command to exchange adata file104, theaircraft API136 determines that adata file104 is be exchanged with theaircraft computing device106 by transmitting a command request to theground computing device102. In some examples, the command request includes the aircraft identifiers, aircraft classifiers, metadata that identifies the aircraft/aircraft computing device/aircraft API, or a combination thereof. Upon receipt of the command request, theground computing device102 accesses a data construct that identifies relationships between aircraft and corresponding commands that are to be executed. For example, theground computing device102 stores and maintains a data structure, or data construct, that stores a queue of commands that are to be performed in association withindividual aircraft108 and/oraircraft computing devices106. In response to receiving the command request from the aircraftinterface computing device116, theground computing device102 uses the aircraft identifiers, aircraft classifiers, and/or metadata included in the command request to identify the queue associated with thecorresponding aircraft108 and/oraircraft computing device106, and then identify one or more commands that are to be executed in association with thecorresponding aircraft108 and/oraircraft computing device106. Theground computing device102 then transmits the one or more commands to the aircraftinterface computing device116, and theaircraft API136 is utilized to exchange data files with theaircraft computing device106 according to the one or more commands.
• Where a command corresponds to adata file104 being transmitted from anaircraft computing device106 to another computing device (e.g.,ground computing device102, thirdparty computing devices114,local storage locations120, etc.), the data file104 is first transmitted to a network124 (e.g., the cloud computing network126) over the air-to-ground network128. For example, in some embodiments, the data file104 is transmitted from theaircraft computing device106 to the aircraftinterface computing device116.
• In some embodiments, the data file104 is exchanged between theaircraft computing device106 and thecloud computing network126 via atransient storage location122. Thetransient storage location122 corresponds to a data storage resource ofcloud computing network126, and is configured to exchange data files104 between theground computing device102 over thenetwork124, and also exchange data files104 between theaircraft computing devices106 over the air-to-ground network128. In some embodiments, thecloud computing network126 includes a plurality oftransient storage locations122 through which data files104 can be routed. Individualtransient storage locations122 are geographically positioned so that they are more proximate to and/or have stronger connections toaircraft108 and110 located in an associated geographic area. Thus, by using thetransient storage location122, theenvironment100 is able to ensure that the data file104 is transmitted to the associatedaircraft computing device106 over a stronger, more efficient, and/or more reliable uplink/downlink connection (i.e., connection over air-to-ground network128).
• Additionally, by using atransient storage location122, if a break in the communication over the air-to-ground network128 occurs during the transfer of the data file104, the transfer can be resumed with minimal involvement from theground computing device102. For example, where the data file104 is being transmitted to theaircraft computing device106, the transmission of the data file104 can be resumed without theground computing devices102 needing to resend the data file104, as the data file104 is fully stored in thetransient storage location122. Additionally, where the data file104 is being transmitted from theaircraft computing device106, the transmission of the data file104 does not need to be sent until it is fully downloaded from theaircraft computing device106 to thetransient storage location122. Thus theground computing device102 is unaffected by a break in communication over the air-to-ground network128 during the transfer of the data file104.
• In some examples, thetransient storage location122 is selected from a plurality oftransient storage locations122 by theground computing device102, the aircraftinterface computing device116, or a combination thereof. In some examples, thetransient storage location122 through which the data file104 is to be transferred is selected based on the aircraft being geographically located within a threshold distance of the transient storage location at the time the data file will be transferred to the aircraft computing device, a flight plan of the aircraft, an expected strength/efficiency of the uplink/downlink connection between theaircraft computing device106 and thetransient storage location122 during at least the portion of the flight plan of the aircraft, or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, when there is a break in communication over the air-to-ground network128 during the transfer of the data file104, theground computing device102 and/or the aircraftinterface computing device116 selects a differenttransient storage location122 through which to resume the data transfer. For example, based on theaircraft108 moving into a new geographic area in which there is a stronger, more efficient, and/or more reliable connection with a different transient storage location, theground computing device102 and/or the aircraftinterface computing device116 selects to continue the data exchange through the differenttransient storage location122.
• In some embodiments, transmitting the data file104 from anaircraft computing device106 to a ground-based computing device comprises transmitting the data file104 to alocal storage location120 associated with theground computing device102. For example, thelocal storage location120 can correspond to a database that stores information associated with the aircraft computing device, otheraircraft computing device110, or a subset thereof (e.g., a fleet of aircraft computing devices). In some embodiments, theground computing device102 and/or thelocal storage location120 includes a database that stores data fromaircraft computing devices106, and is further configured to segregate the stored data according to the aircraft classifiers. For example, in some embodiments, theground computing device102 and/or thelocal storage location120 stores the data files received fromaircraft computing devices106 operated by a first airline in a first database, and the data files received fromaircraft computing devices106 operated by a second airline in a second database.
• In some embodiments, transmitting the data file104 from anaircraft computing device106 to a ground-based computing device comprises transmitting the data file104 to a thirdparty computing device114 and/or storage location associated with the thirdparty computing device114. As an example embodiment, theground computing device102 and/or thelocal storage location120 segregates the stored data according to the type of data. In some embodiments, theground computing device102 and/or thelocal storage location120 stores a security log from an aircraft in a separate database from performance logs from the aircraft.
• Where a command corresponds to adata file104 being transmitted from a ground-based computing device (e.g.,ground computing device102, thirdparty computing devices114,local storage locations120, etc.) to anaircraft computing device106, the data file104 is first transmitted to an aircraftinterface computing device116 and/ortransient storage location122 via a network124 (e.g., the cloud computing network126). Upon determining that a data file is to be transmitted toaircraft computing device106 operating onaircraft108, theground computing device102 and/or aircraftinterface computing device116 determines a most efficient path for transmitting the data file104 to theaircraft computing device106. For example, based upon the flight plan of theaircraft108 passing through a region within which a particular aircraftinterface computing device116 and/ortransient storage location120 has a reliable and/or high quality air-to-ground coverage, the data file104 is transmitted to the particular aircraftinterface computing device116 and/ortransient storage location122, and then transmitted to theaircraft computing device106 from the particular aircraftinterface computing device116 and/ortransient storage location122 via the air-to-ground network128.
• Due to the unreliability of air-to-ground connections, breaks in connection occur during data exchanges withaircraft computing devices106 over the air-to-ground network128. When such a break occurs, theaircraft service130 initiates an additional initial communication. Upon reception of the additional initial communication, an aircraftinterface computing device116 causes the broken data exchange to continue. The additional initial communication includes one or more aircraft identifiers associated with theaircraft service130, theaircraft computing device106, theaircraft108, or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, the additional initial communication includes a command and/or other indication that the broken data exchange is to be completed. Alternatively, the aircraftinterface computing device116 determines that the data exchange was broken based on the one or more aircraft identifiers included in the additional initial communication and/or metadata stored by the aircraftinterface computing device116, theground computing device102, and/or atransient storage location122. In some embodiments, the additional initial communication is received by an aircraft interface computing device that is different from the aircraftinterface computing device116 that received theinitial communication134. For example, due to theaircraft108 traveling to a new geographic region, the additional initial communication is received by an aircraftinterface computing device116 in the new geographic region. The aircraftinterface computing device116 then utilizes anaircraft API136 for communicating with theaircraft computing device106 based on the one or more aircraft identifiers included in the additional initial communication.
• FIG. 2-3 are schematic diagrams illustrating example aircraftinterface computing devices200 andground computing device300 for exchanging data files between aircraft computing devices and a ground computing device, according to the present disclosure.FIG. 1 illustrates a generalized environment and conceptual flow of operations.FIGS. 2-3 illustrate additional details of hardware and software components that, in some examples according to the present disclosure, are utilized to implement such techniques. Thecomputing devices200 and300 are merely two examples, and the techniques described herein are not limited to performance using thecomputing devices200 and300 ofFIGS. 2-3. Accordingly, any of the details of aircraftinterface computing devices200 and/orground computing device300 described or depicted with regard toFIGS. 2-3 may be utilized withinenvironment100 ofFIG. 1. Additionally, any of the details described or depicted with regard toground computing device102, aircraftinterface computing devices116, and/or additional other aircraftinterface computing devices118 withinenvironment100 ofFIG. 1 may be utilized by one or more of aircraftinterface computing devices200 andground computing device300 ofFIGS. 2-3.
• FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating example aircraftinterface computing devices200 for exchanging data files between aircraft computing devices and a ground computing device, according to the present disclosure.FIG. 2 illustrates additional details of the hardware and software components that, in some examples, are utilized withenvironment100 ofFIG. 1, are utilized to communicate withground computing device300 ofFIG. 3, and/or that are utilized to implement techniques and/ormethods400,500,600,700, and800 illustrated inFIGS. 4-8. The aircraftinterface computing devices200 are merely examples, and the techniques described herein are not limited to performance using the aircraftinterface computing devices200 ofFIG. 2. That is, aircraftinterface computing device200 ofFIG. 2 is an example of an aircraftinterface computing device116, andground computing device300 ofFIG. 3 is an example of aground computing device102.
• According to the present disclosure, in various embodiments the aircraftinterface computing devices200 correspond to any computing device that is connected toground computing device102, other aircraftinterface computing devices118, and/ortransient storage locations122 over anetwork124, and which also are connected toaircraft computing device106 and otheraircraft computing devices110 over the air-to-ground network128. As noted, the aircraftinterface computing devices200 correspond to remote aircraftinterface computing devices116. For example, the aircraftinterface computing devices200 can include a collection of server devices that provide network services for hosting and executingaircraft APIs136 that enables services operated byground computing device102 to interface withaircraft computing devices106.
• InFIG. 2, the aircraftinterface computing devices200 include one ormore processors202,memory204 communicatively coupled to the one ormore processors202, and anetwork interface206. According to the present disclosure, thememory204 stores a plurality ofaircraft APIs136. Eachaircraft API136 is configured to enable the aircraftinterface computing device116 to interact with one or more correspondingaircraft computing devices106 and/or corresponding aircraft services130. For example, anindividual aircraft API136 is written to communicate with the type ofaircraft computing device106, oraircraft service130 thereof, deployed on a particular make and model of aircraft. In this way, the aircraftinterface computing device116 is able to communicate with a wide number of different types ofaircraft computing devices106 and/oraircraft services130. Additionally, when a new type ofaircraft computing devices106 and/oraircraft service130 is used on an aircraft, anew aircraft API136 can be introduced that enables the aircraftinterface computing device116 to interface with the new type ofaircraft computing devices106 and/oraircraft service130. Moreover, if a type ofaircraft computing devices106 and/oraircraft service130 deployed on aircraft is updated, the correspondingaircraft API136 can be updated and/or replaced with anew aircraft API136.
• FIG. 2 further illustratesmemory204 as storing anintermediate storage location210 in which data files104 can be stored during their transmission between anaircraft computing device106 and theground computing device102. In an example embodiment, adata file104 is transmitted from theground computing device102 over thenetwork124 and is stored in theintermediate storage location210, and then transmitted from theintermediate storage location210 to theaircraft computing device106 over the air-to-ground network128. Theintermediate storage location210 is a dedicated area ofmemory204. Alternatively or in addition, theintermediate storage location210 is a separate computing device such as atransient storage location122, as schematically illustrated inFIG. 2. Thetransient storage location122 is a data storage resource ofcloud computing network126 that is external to the aircraftinterface computing device116.
• Theaircraft APIs136 are executable on the one ormore processors202 to cause the aircraftinterface computing device116 to facilitate the exchange of data files betweenaircraft computing devices106 and aground computing device102, such as is discussed herein with reference toFIGS. 1 and 4-7. By acting as a decoupled interface, the aircraftinterface computing device116 is able to be used by one or more services operated byground computing device102 to communicate with many types ofaircraft computing devices106 and/oraircraft services130 thereof without the services needing to be individually coded to interact with each type ofaircraft computing device106 and/oraircraft service130.
• Theaircraft APIs136 are executable to receive aninitial communication134 from anaircraft computing device106 over the air-to-ground network128. For example, anaircraft API136 is executable to receive aninitial communication134 transmitted by anaircraft service130 executing on anaircraft computing device106 and over a satellite communications network. In various embodiments, theinitial communication134 is transmitted by theaircraft service130 periodically, according to a schedule, and/or based on a trigger event, such as an input from a user associated with the aircraft (e.g., pilot, passenger, steward, etc.), adata file104 being generated, adata file104 reaching a preset size, an available amount of theaircraft memory132 reaching or dropping below a threshold, occurrence of a preset event (e.g., reaching a preset altitude, reaching a preset location, the aircraft being airborne for a preset amount of time, etc.), or a combination thereof. For example, in some embodiments theaircraft computing device106 transmits theinitial communication134 to initiate a data transfer in response to an amount of aircraft health data reaching or exceeding a threshold amount.
• Alternatively or in addition, anaircraft API136 is executable to transmit an initiation signal, and theinitial communication134 is transmitted by theaircraft computing device106 in response to a reception of the initiation signal. In various embodiments, the correspondingaircraft API136 transmits the initiation signal periodically, or in response to a communication request fromground computing device102. For example, where theground computing device102 is operating a navigation service, theground computing device102 transmits a notification that a new flight plan foraircraft108 is to be sent to anaircraft computing device106, and theaircraft API136 is executable to transmit the initiation signal to theaircraft computing device106.
• In some embodiments, theinitial communication134 includes one or more identifiers associated with the originating aircraft, aircraft computing device, aircraft service, or a combination thereof. For example, in some embodiments theinitial communication134 includes an airline identifier (e.g., an international civil aviation organization (ICAO) code or an international air transport association (IATA) code, etc.), an airplane identifier (e.g., a tail number, a registration number, a manufacturer number, a serial number, etc.), a software identifier, or a combination thereof.
• Theaircraft API136 is further executable to determine an aircraft classifier associated with at least one of the aircraft, aircraft computing device, aircraft service, or a combination thereof, from which theinitial communication134 originated. An aircraft classifier corresponds to one or more of a type of the aircraft, a year of the aircraft, a model of the aircraft, an airline associated with the aircraft, a type of computing device on which the aircraft API is executing, a type of API to which theaircraft service130 correspond, or a combination thereof. In an example embodiment, theaircraft API136 determines the aircraft classifier based on one or more aircraft identifiers included in theinitial communication134. For example, in such an embodiment based on theinitial communication134 including a tail number from the originating aircraft, the aircraftinterface computing device116 accesses a data lookup table (e.g., a protocol schedule) that indicates relationships between aircraft tail numbers and the corresponding type of aircraft computing device and/oraircraft service130 thereof. In some examples, a protocol schedule is located on an aircraftinterface computing device116; however, in other examples, a protocol schedule is stored by theground computing device102 or on a device accessible to theground computing device102. In such embodiments, the aircraftinterface computing device116 determines the aircraft classifier by transmitting the aircraft identifiers included in theinitial communication134 to theground computing device102, and it is theground computing device102 that accesses the data construct to identify relationships between aircraft identifiers and/or aircraft classifiers and corresponding aircraft computing devices, aircraft APIs, and/or aircraft types, and transmits the type of aircraft computing device, aircraft API, and/or aircraft from which theinitial communication134 originated. Alternatively or in addition, theinitial communication134 includes metadata that identifies the type of aircraft computing device and/or aircraft service executing on the originating aircraft.
• Aircraft APIs136 also are executable to receive additionalinitial communications134 from theaircraft computing device106 and/or anotheraircraft computing device110 onboard anotheraircraft112 over the air-to-ground network128. In some embodiments, the additionalinitial communication134 also includes one or more aircraft identifiers. For example, in various embodiments, the additionalinitial communication134 from anotheraircraft112 includes one or more aircraft identifiers that theaircraft API136 uses to identify one or more aircraft classifiers associated with theother aircraft112, the otheraircraft computing device110, and/or theaircraft service130 executing on the otheraircraft computing device110.
• In some embodiments, theinitial communication134 also includes a command. The command corresponds to a request to exchange adata file104 between theground computing device102 and theaircraft computing device106. In some examples, the command corresponds to an identification of adata file104 that is to be transmitted from theaircraft computing device106 to theground computing device102, and/or adata file104 that is to be transmitted from theground computing device102 to theaircraft computing device106. Alternatively, where theinitial communication134 does not include a command to exchange adata file104, theaircraft API136 transmits a command request to theground computing device102 to determine whether adata file104 is to be exchanged with theaircraft computing device106. A command request includes the aircraft identifiers, the aircraft classifiers, metadata that identifies the aircraft, the aircraft computing device, and/or the aircraft API, or a combination thereof.
• Once it is determined that a command is to be exchanged between theaircraft computing device106 and theground computing device102, theaircraft API136 is executable to transmit one or more signals to cause the exchange of the data file104 to occur. The one or more signals are transmitted to theaircraft computing device106, theground computing device102, or both. In some examples, theaircraft API136 causes a transmission of a signal to theground computing device102 that notifies theground computing device102 that adata file104 is to be received fromaircraft computing device106, and request a location to which the data file104 is to be transmitted. In other examples, theaircraft API136 causes a transmission of a signal to theground computing device102 and/or to theaircraft computing device106 that identifies adata file104 that is to be transmitted, and identifies an intermediate storage location210 (e.g., aircraftinterface computing device116,transient storage location122, etc.) through which the data file104 is to be transmitted through. In some examples, such a transmission also includes security and/or identification information that theground computing device102 and/or theaircraft computing device106 uses to verify that theground computing device102, theaircraft computing device106, and/or theaircraft API136 has permission to access the data file104.
• FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating exampleground computing device300 for exchanging data files between aircraft computing devices and a ground computing device, according to the present disclosure.FIG. 3 illustrates additional details of hardware and software components that, in some examples, are utilized withenvironment100 ofFIG. 1, are utilized to communicate with aircraftinterface computing devices200 ofFIG. 2, and/or that are utilized to implement techniques and/ormethods400,500,600,700 and800 illustrated inFIGS. 4-8.Ground computing device300 is merely an example, and the techniques described herein are not limited to performance using theground computing device300 ofFIG. 3.
• According to the present disclosure, in some examples,ground computing device300 corresponds to any computing device that is connected to an aircraftinterface computing device116, other an aircraftinterface computing devices118, and/ortransient storage locations122 over anetwork124. In various embodiments, theground computing device300 corresponds to aground computing device102. In some examples, theground computing device300 includes a collection of many different types of electronic devices, including, but not limited to, a personal computer, a laptop computer, a server, and so forth. In other examples, theground computing device300 hosts and/or operates a software-based service that facilitates the exchange of data files104 betweenaircraft computing devices106 and110 and theground computing device300. In other examples, theground computing device300 is associated with an entity that engages in the transmission of data files withaircraft108 in flight, such as an airline, an aircraft manufacturer, a communication service provider, a regulation agency, an air traffic control body, etc.
• InFIG. 3, theground computing device300 includes one ormore processors302,memory304 communicatively coupled to the one ormore processors302, and anetwork interface306. According to the present disclosure, thememory304 stores ground APIs103, one ormore service modules308, acommand module310, and asecurity module312.FIG. 3 further illustrates thememory304 as optionally housing and/or storingdata file storage314, one ormore command queues316, and/or one ormore airline databases318. Alternatively, one or more of thedata file storage314, one ormore command queues316, and/or one ormore airline databases318 are stored on an alternate computing device, such as a thirdparty computing devices114, aircraftinterface computing device116, other remote aircraftinterface computing devices118,local storage locations120, and/ortransient storage locations122, as schematically represented inFIG. 3.
• The one ormore service modules308 are executable to cause theground computing device300 to execute a software-based service. For example, in various embodiments aservice module308 is executable to cause adata file104 to be exchanged between theground computing device102 and anaircraft computing device106. Theservice modules308 are configured to utilize the aircraft interface computing device as a decoupled interface to facilitate data exchange between theground computing device102 andaircraft computing devices106. Becauseservice modules308 are configured to utilize the aircraft interface computing device as a decoupled interface for interacting withaircraft computing devices106, theservice modules308 do not need to be coded to be able to interface with each version/type ofaircraft computing device106 and/oraircraft service130 thereof. Instead, eachservice module308 needs only to be written to interact with theaircraft APIs136, and theaircraft APIs136 facilitate communication with theaircraft computing devices106 and108 and/oraircraft services130 thereof. Not only does this simplify the initial coding requirements of creatingnew service modules308, but it also decreases maintenance requirements as updates to the ability of theaircraft APIs136 to communicate with new types ofaircraft computing devices106 andaircraft APIs136 also enable theservice modules308 to communicate with the new types ofaircraft computing devices106 andaircraft services130.
• In an example embodiment, theground computing device102 is associated with an airline that operates a fleet of aircraft, and aservice module308 is executable to cause theground computing device300 to gather and store component health data collected by aircraft sensors of the fleet of aircraft via theaircraft APIs136. Such aservice module308 also optionally can be configured to provide the component health data to third party computing devices associated with the airline, analyze the component health data to determine components that are likely to require maintenance and/or replacement, provide notifications of maintenance suggestions for the fleet of aircraft, or a combination thereof. As another example, aservice module308 is executable to cause theground computing device300 to transmit software instructions and/or updates toaircraft computing devices106 via theaircraft APIs136.
• As shown inFIG. 3, thememory304 optionally includesdata file storage314. Thedata file storage314 includes one or more databases and/or storage locations where data files104 are stored. For example, thedata file storage314 can be hosted on storage locations on thememory304, storage devices accessible to the ground computing device300 (e.g.,local storage locations120, thirdparty computing devices114, etc.), or a combination thereof. Examples of data files104 include a software module, a software update, a flight plan, an entertainment file, an alert, a message, a security log, a performance log, health monitoring data, a system log, or other data construct that is associated with the performance and/or operation of acorresponding aircraft108 or112. For example,memory304 may include a first data file storage in which data files that are to be transmitted to aircraft computing devices are stored, and a second data file storage in which data files that are received from the aircraft computing device are stored. In some embodiments, the data files104 stored in thedata file storage314 is segregated according to data file type, aircraft type, aircraft identity, aircraft computing device, airline, or other classification means. For example, in some embodiments thedata file storage314 includes multiple dedicated storage areas, where each dedicated storage area stores data files that correspond to a particular airline, service module, aircraft type, aircraft computing device type, etc.
• Thecommand module310 is executable to cause theground computing device300 to receive commands, generate acommand queue316, maintain thecommand queue316, and/or determine commands that are to be executed based on thecommand queue316. A command is a software-based instruction that identifies an action and/or data transfer that is to occur between theground computing devices102 and one or moreaircraft computing device106. An example command identifies adata file104 that is to be exchanged, one or more identifiers and/or aircraft classifiers with the data file104 that is to be exchanged, a schedule of when the data file104 is to be exchanged, or other instructions that enable thecommand module310 to facilitate the execution of a data exchange included in the command. In some examples, a command corresponds to an instruction that sensor data collected by aircraft computing devices operating on aircraft of a certain classification (i.e., aircraft type, sensor type, etc.) be transmitted from the individual aircraft computing devices to theground computing device300 according to a determined frequency or schedule. In some embodiments, a command also includes security, identification, and/or permissions information that enables the data exchange included in the command to occur. For example, such a command can include a security key that is to be provided in order for adata file104 in thedata file storage314 to be accessed and/or transmitted.
• In some embodiments, the commands are received via user inputs into the ground computing device300 (e.g., inputs provided via a keyboard, mouse, touchpad, camera, audio, etc.), a physical input to the ground computing device300 (e.g., a CD, DVD, software input, etc.), data inputs provided to theground computing device300 via the network interface306 (e.g., input from a thirdparty computing device114,aircraft computing device106, etc.), or a combination thereof. In an example embodiment, a user enters one or more identifiers and/or classifiers of one or more aircraft, and a selection of adata file104 that is to be exchanged between theground computing device300 and the one or more aircraft computing devices operating on aircraft associated with the one or more identifiers and/or classifiers. Alternatively or in addition, commands are generated by aservice module308 executing on theground computing device300. For example, aservice module308 that monitors flight conditions can determine that the weather in a particular geographic region is hazardous, and then generate and provide to the command module310 a command to transmit a warning of the hazardous weather and/or a new flight plan that avoids the hazardous weather to the individual aircraft computing devices operating on aircraft within the geographic region.
• In some embodiments, thecommand module310 is further executable to receive the data files104 for upload to one or moreaircraft computing devices106. In some embodiments, adata file104 is input directly into theground computing device300 via a user input such as by keyboard, touchscreen, mouse selection, etc. Alternatively, the data file104 is received by thecommand module310 via a data transfer from another computing device, such as from thirdparty computing device114. In an example embodiment, a computing device operated by an airline provides thecommand module310 with a video file that is to be uploaded to the entertainment systems of aircraft in its fleet. In another example, a third party software provider that provides aircraft software executing on an aircraft computing device transmits a software update for the aircraft software. Additionally, in some embodiments thecommand module310 also receives a data file from theservice module308. For example,memory304 can optionally store aservice module308 that is configured to generate, update, and distribute flight plans toaircraft computing device106. Such aservice module308 generates a new flight plan for anaircraft108, and transmits the new flight plan to thecommand module310 and/or thedata file storage314 for storage and ultimate distribution to theaircraft computing device106.
• In some embodiments, thecommand module310 is further executable to generate and maintain one ormore command queues316. Acommand queue316 corresponds to a data structure, or data construct, that comprises one or more commands that are to be executed, and an order in which the one or more commands are to be executed.Individual command queues316 comprise commands that are to be executed with regard to a particular aircraft, an aircraft type, an airline, and/or aircraft corresponding to particular identifiers and/or classifiers, etc. Maintaining acommand queue316 involves adding new commands to thecommand queue316, removing commands from thecommand queue316 once completed, updating a status of a command within the command queue (e.g., pending, interrupted, etc.), reordering the commands in thecommand queue316, or a combination thereof. For example, when a repeating command that adata file104 is to be obtained from an associated aircraft computing device, thecommand module310 removes the command from thecommand queue316 and adds a new command that corresponds to the next time the repeating command is to reoccur.
• In some embodiments, thecommand module310 maintains anindividual command queue316 of commands that are to be executed with regard toaircraft108. Alternatively or in addition, anindividual command queue316 is comprised of commands that are to be executed with aircraft associated with a particular identifier and/or classifier, airline, geographic location, etc. In some examples, the order of commands in a queue is updated each time execution of a command is completed, and/or they may be dynamically updated by thecommand module310. In an example embodiment, the order of the commands in a command queue is dynamically reordered based on one or more of an importance or urgency of individual commands; the size of the data file; the flight plan of the aircraft; a performance of the cloud network; and the capabilities of the aircraft computing device. For example, where a particular command indicates that it is required to be executed before a particular time, as the particular time approaches, an urgency rating associated with the command is increased, resulting in thecommand module310 reordering the associatedcommand queue316 so that the particular command is positioned higher in thecommand queue316. In another example, based on a performance of the air-to-ground network between an aircraftinterface computing device116 and/ortransient storage location122 and theaircraft computing device106, thecommand module310 determines that a current connection will not be live long enough to transmit files above a threshold size, and reorders the associatedcommand queue316 so that commands that are expected to be able to executed over the current connection are higher in thecommand queue316.
• Thecommand module310 is further executable to receive command requests from aircraftinterface computing devices116. In an example embodiment, a command request is transmitted to thecommand module310 by anaircraft API136 to determine whether adata file104 is to be exchanged with a particularaircraft computing device106. Such a command request includes information, such as aircraft identifiers and/or classifiers associated with the particularaircraft computing device106, metadata that identifies the aircraft, the aircraft computing device, the aircraft API, or a combination thereof. Thecommand module310 is executable to use this information to identify acommand queue316 that corresponds todata files104 that are to be exchanged with the particularaircraft computing device106.
• In some embodiments, thecommand module310 is configured to determine information associated with the particularaircraft computing device106. In some embodiments, thecommand module310 accesses anairline database318 and/or other resource to identify additional information about the particularaircraft computing device106. For example, where the command request includes a tail number of the associatedaircraft108, thecommand module310 uses the tail number to identify other airline identifiers and/or classifiers associated with theaircraft108 within theairline database318. In this way, even when the command request includes very little identification information, thecommand module310 is able to use the record in theairline database318 to determine additional information about theaircraft108. In another example, thecommand module310 uses the information in the command request to identify a location of theaircraft108, and accesses a weather resource to determine weather conditions in the geographic location of theaircraft108.
• In some embodiments, thecommand module310 identifies a plurality of commands that are to be executed in relation to the particular aircraft computing device106 (i.e., from a pool of commands, from a plurality of command queues, etc.), and then dynamically generate acommand queue316 for the particularaircraft computing device106. For example, where the queue request identifies an airline, an aircraft type, and a geographic location of the associated aircraft, thecommand module310 identifies commands that are to be executed with aircraft operated by the airline, with aircraft of the aircraft type, with the aircraft within the geographic location, and/or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, thecommand module310 then generates acommand queue316 of the relevant commands that are to be executed with the particularaircraft computing device106 and an order in which they are to be executed.
• In various embodiments, thecommand module310 uses thecommand queue316 to determine a command that is to be executed with the particularaircraft computing device106, and then transmits one or more signals to the aircraftinterface computing device116 that are configured to cause the aircraftinterface computing device116 to facilitate the execution of the command. For example, in some embodiments, the signals identify adata file104 that is to be exchanged between theground computing device300 and the particularaircraft computing device106, a location that the data file104 is to be transmitted from/to, security and/or permissions information required to facilitate the exchange (e.g., passwords, security key, identifiers, etc.), or a combination thereof.
• In some embodiments, thecommand module310 is further executable to select atransient storage location122 through which the data file104 is to be transferred during the data exchange. Thetransient storage location122 is selected from a plurality oftransient storage locations122 by theground computing device300, the aircraftinterface computing device200, or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, thetransient storage location122 through which the data file104 is to be transferred is selected based on the aircraft being geographically located within a threshold distance of thetransient storage location122 at the time the data file104 will be transferred to theaircraft computing device106, a flight plan of the aircraft, an expected strength/efficiency of the uplink/downlink connection between theaircraft computing device106 and thetransient storage location122 during at least the portion of the flight plan of the aircraft, or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, when there is a break in communication over the air-to-ground network128 during the transfer of the data file104, theground computing device300 and/or the aircraftinterface computing device200 selects a differenttransient storage location122 through which to resume the data transfer. For example, based on theaircraft108 moving into a new geographic area in which there is a stronger, more efficient, and/or more reliable connection with a different transient storage location, theground computing device300 and/or the aircraftinterface computing device116 selects to continue the data exchange through the differenttransient storage location122.
• In some embodiments, thecommand module310 also is executable to receive transmissions from the aircraftinterface computing device200 to execute the command. Such transmissions include instructions and/or metadata that cause thecommand module310 to initiate the transfer, such as a name of the data file, a type of the data file, a size of the data file, security and/or permissions information required to facilitate the exchange (e.g., passwords, security key, identifiers, etc.), a time stamp for the data file, a time stamp for the transfer, an airplane classifier, an airline identifier, an airplane identifier, a location of the aircraft, a location of the transient storage location, and a unique storage location (e.g., a URL) for the data file to be transmitted to, or a combination thereof. Alternatively or in addition, in some examples, such transmissions include a request for a unique storage location of thedata file storage314 or other storage location to which the data file104 is to be transmitted.
• In some embodiments, thecommand module310 is executable to receive a classification request from an aircraftinterface computing device116. Such a classification request includes an identifier received from a particularaircraft computing device106, and a request for classification information about the associated aircraft. Thecommand module310 can determine the classification information by accessing theairline databases318 and/or other resources, and use the identifier to find further classification information about the particularaircraft computing device106. For example, in some embodiments thecommand module310 accesses anairline database318, and uses the relationships indicated in theairline database318 to determine classification information (i.e., one or more of a type of aircraft, a year of the aircraft, a model of the aircraft, an airline associated with the aircraft, a type of computing device on which the aircraft API is executing, a type of API to which the aircraft API corresponds, etc.)
• According to the present disclosure, in some examples, the one ormore processors202 and302 are configured to execute instructions, applications, or programs stored inmemories204 and304. In some examples, the one ormore processors202 and302 include hardware processors that include, without limitation, a hardware central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), a complex programmable logic device (CPLD), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a system-on-chip (SoC), or a combination thereof.
• Thememories204 and304 are examples of computer-readable media. In some examples, computer-readable media include two types of computer-readable media, namely computer storage media and communication media. In some examples, computer storage media includes volatile and non-volatile, removable and non-removable media implemented in any method or technology for storage of information, such as computer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules, or other data. Computer storage media includes, but is not limited to, random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), flash memory or other memory technology, compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), digital versatile disk (DVD), or other optical storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other non-transmission medium that may be used to store the desired information and which may be accessed by a computing device, such asground computing device102, aircraftinterface computing devices116, thirdparty computing devices114,transient storage locations122, and/oraircraft computing devices106 and110. In general, computer storage media may include computer-executable instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause various functions and/or operations described herein to be performed.
• In contrast, communication media embody computer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules, or other data in a modulated data signal, such as a carrier wave, or other transmission mechanism. As defined herein, computer storage media does not include communication media.
• Additionally, the network interfaces206 and306 include physical and/or logical interfaces for connecting the respective computing devices to another computing device or a network. For example, in some embodiments, the network interfaces206 and306 enable WiFi-based communication such as via frequencies defined by the IEEE 802.11 standards, short range wireless frequencies such as Bluetooth™, or any suitable wired or wireless communications protocol that enables the respective computing device to interface with the other computing devices.
• The architectures, systems, and individual elements described herein may include many other logical, programmatic, and physical components, of which those shown in the accompanying figures are merely examples that are related to the discussion herein.
• FIGS. 4-8 schematically provide flowcharts that represent examples of methods according to the present disclosure. InFIGS. 4-8, some steps are illustrated in dashed boxes indicating that such steps may be optional or may correspond to an optional version of a method according to the present disclosure. That said, not all methods according to the present disclosure are required to include the steps illustrated in dashed boxes. Additionally, the order of steps illustrated inFIGS. 4-8 is exemplary, and in different embodiments, the steps inFIGS. 4-8 may be performed in a different order. The methods and steps illustrated inFIGS. 4-8 are not limiting, and other methods and steps are within the scope of the present disclosure, including methods having greater than or fewer than the number of steps illustrated, as understood from the discussions herein.
• FIG. 4 is aflowchart depicting methods400, according to the present disclosure, for exchanging data files between anaircraft computing device106 and aground computing device102. As shown inFIG. 4, atoperation402, the aircraft computing device transmits a communication. For example, in some examples, anaircraft service130 executing on the aircraft computing device causes a communication to be transmitted to one or more aircraft interface computing devices. In some such examples, the communication is transmitted over an air-to-ground network128, such a wireless network, a satellite network, a cellular network, or other type of air-to-ground network that allows uplinks/downlinks to facilitate data exchanges between an aircraft in flight and a ground-based computing device. In some examples, the communication includes one or more identifiers that are associated with the corresponding aircraft, aircraft computing device, aircraft service, or a combination thereof. As examples, the communication includes one or more of an airline identifier (e.g., an international civil aviation organization (ICAO) code or an international air transport association (IATA) code, etc.), an airplane identifier (e.g., a tail number, a registration number, a manufacturer number, a serial number, etc.), and a software identifier. In addition, in some examples, the communication also includes a software-based instruction that identifies an action and/or data transfer that is to occur between ground computing devices and the aircraft computing device.
• In some examples, the aircraft service causes the aircraft computing device to transmit the communication periodically, according to a schedule, and/or based on a trigger event, such as an input from a user associated with the aircraft (e.g., pilot, passenger, steward, etc.), a data file being generated, a data file reaching a preset size, an available amount of the aircraft memory reaching or dropping below a threshold, occurrence of a preset event (e.g., reaching a preset altitude, reaching a preset location, the aircraft being airborne for a preset amount of time, etc.), and/or reception of a transmission from an external computing device, such as a ground computing device, an aircraft interface computing device, a transient storage location, or another computing device.
• Atoperation404, the aircraft interface computing device receives the communication over the air-to-ground network. In some examples, receiving the communication includes establishing a secure connection between the aircraft computing device and the aircraft interface computing device. In some embodiments, more than one aircraft interface computing device receives the communication, and it is determined which one of the aircraft interface computing devices is to establish a secure connection with the aircraft computing device.
• Atoperation406, the aircraft interface computing device optionally determines an aircraft classifier. For example, in response to receiving the communication, in some examples, the aircraft interface computing device determines an aircraft classifier associated with at least one of the aircraft, aircraft computing device, aircraft API, or a combination thereof, from which the communication originated. In some examples, an aircraft classifier corresponds to one or more of a type of the aircraft, a year of the aircraft, a model of the aircraft, an airline associated with the aircraft, a type of computing device on which the aircraft service is executing, a type of service to which the aircraft service corresponds, or a combination thereof.
• In some examples, the aircraft interface computing device determines the aircraft classifier based on one or more aircraft identifiers included in the communication. For example, based on the communication including a serial number from the originating aircraft, in some examples, the aircraft interface computing device accesses a data lookup table that indicates relationships between aircraft serial numbers and the corresponding type of aircraft computing device and/or aircraft service. Alternatively, in other examples, the aircraft interface computing device transmits the aircraft identifier and/or aircraft classifier to a ground computing device, which then accesses a data construct that identifies relationships between aircraft identifiers and/or aircraft classifiers and corresponding aircraft computing devices, aircraft services, and/or aircraft types. In some such examples, the ground computing device then transmits the determined aircraft identifiers and/or aircraft classifiers to the aircraft interface computing device.
• Atoperation408, the aircraft interface computing device optionally selects a programmatic protocol. Specifically, in some examples, the aircraft interface computing device is configured to select anaircraft API136 for communicating with the aircraft computing device and/oraircraft service130 executing on the originating aircraft. In some examples, the aircraft interface computing device stores multiple aircraft APIs with each aircraft API defining a programmatic protocol for communicating with a specific aircraft computing device and/or aircraft service executing thereon. The programmatic protocol of each aircraft API is configured to enable the aircraft interface computing device to interact with one or more corresponding aircraft computing devices and/or corresponding aircraft services. In some embodiments, the aircraft interface computing device selects the appropriate aircraft API based on a schedule or table that indicates relationships between aircraft identifiers and/or aircraft classifiers and corresponding aircraft APIs. In other embodiments, an appropriate aircraft API is automatically available and utilized for interaction with a corresponding aircraft services as a result of the initial communication from the originating aircraft.
• Atoperation410, the aircraft interface computing device transmits a command using the aircraft API. For example, in some embodiments, the aircraft API executing on the aircraft interface computing device then uses its programmatic protocol to facilitate a data exchange between the ground computing device and the aircraft computing device. In this way, by quickly identifying or automatically selecting and deploying appropriate aircraft APIs across a wide range of aircraft types and/or types of aircraft services, the aircraft interface computing device is able to act as a decoupled interface that enables ground-based software services to conduct communication and data exchanges with aircraft computing devices without the software services needing to be individually programmed to communicate with each type of aircraft and/or aircraft service.
• Atoperation412, the aircraft computing device optionally receives the command from the aircraft interface computing device. For example, in some embodiments, the aircraft computing device receives a communication that indicates that a data file is to be exchanged between the aircraft computing device and one or more ground computing devices. In some examples, the command includes instructions and/or metadata that cause the aircraft computing device to initiate the transfer, such as a name of the data file, a type of the data file, a size of the data file, security and/or permissions information required to facilitate the exchange (e.g., passwords, security key, identifiers, etc.), a time stamp for the data file, a time stamp for the transfer, an airplane classifier, the airline identifier, the airplane identifier, a location of the aircraft, a location of the transient storage location, and a unique storage location (e.g., a URL) to which and/or from which the data file is to be transmitted, or a combination thereof. Atoperation414, the aircraft computing device exchanges the data file with the ground computing device.
• Atoperation416, the ground computing device optionally receives the command from the aircraft interface computing device. In some examples, the ground computing device also receives transmissions from the aircraft interface computing device to exchange the data file with the aircraft computing device. In some such examples, such transmissions include instructions and/or metadata that cause the ground computing device to initiate the transfer, such as a name of the data file, a type of the data file, a size of the data file, security and/or permissions information required to facilitate the exchange (e.g., passwords, security key, identifiers, etc.), a time stamp for the data file, a time stamp for the transfer, an airplane classifier, the airline identifier, the airplane identifier, a location of the aircraft, a location of the transient storage location, and a unique storage location (e.g., a URL) for the data file to be transmitted to, or a combination thereof. Alternatively or in addition, such transmissions include a request for a unique storage location of the data file storage or other storage location to which the data file is to be transmitted. Atoperation418, the ground computing device exchanges the data file with the aircraft computing device.
• FIG. 5 is aflowchart depicting methods500, according to the present disclosure, for exchanging data files between a plurality ofaircraft computing devices106 and aground computing device102. As shown inFIG. 5, atoperation502, the first aircraft computing device transmits a first communication. In some embodiments, a first aircraft service executing on the first aircraft computing device causes the first communication to be transmitted to one or more of the first aircraft interface computing device and the second aircraft interface computing device. In some examples, the first communication is transmitted over an air-to-ground network, such a wireless network, a satellite network, a cellular network, or other type of air-to-ground network that allows uplinks/downlinks to facilitate data exchanges between an aircraft in flight and a ground-based computing device. In some examples, the first communication includes one or more identifiers that are associated with the first aircraft, first aircraft computing device, first aircraft service, or a combination thereof. For example, in some embodiments, the one or more identifiers include one or more of an airline identifier (e.g., an international civil aviation organization (ICAO) code or an international air transport association (IATA) code, etc.), an airplane identifier (e.g., a tail number, a registration number, a manufacturer number, a serial number, etc.), and a software identifier. In addition, in some examples, the first communication also includes a software-based instruction that identifies an action and/or data transfer that is to occur between ground computing devices and the first aircraft computing device.
• In some examples, the first aircraft service causes the first aircraft computing device to transmit the first communication periodically, according to a schedule, and/or based on a trigger event, such as an input from a user associated with the first aircraft (e.g., pilot, passenger, steward, etc.), a data file being generated, a data file reaching a preset size, an available amount of aircraft memory reaching or dropping below a threshold, occurrence of a preset event (e.g., reaching a preset altitude, reaching a preset location, the aircraft being airborne for a preset amount of time, etc.), and/or reception of a transmission from an external computing device, such as the ground computing devices, an aircraft interface computing device, a transient storage location, or another computing device.
• Atoperation504, the first aircraft interface computing device receives the communication. In some examples, receiving the communication includes establishing a secure connection between the first aircraft computing device and the first aircraft interface computing device. In some embodiments, both the first aircraft interface computing device and the second aircraft interface computing device receive the first communication, and it is determined that the first aircraft interface computing device is to establish a secure connection with the aircraft computing device.
• Atoperation506, the first aircraft interface computing device optionally determines an aircraft classifier. For example, in some embodiments, in response to receiving the first communication, the first aircraft interface computing device determines an aircraft classifier associated with at least one of the first aircraft, first aircraft computing device, first aircraft service, or a combination thereof. In some examples, an aircraft classifier corresponds to one or more of a type of the first aircraft, a year of the first aircraft, an aircraft model of the first aircraft, an airline associated with the first aircraft, a type of computing device on which the first aircraft service is executing, a type of service to which the first aircraft service corresponds, or a combination thereof. In some examples, the first aircraft interface computing device determines the aircraft classifier based on one or more aircraft identifiers included in the first communication. For example, based on the first communication including a serial number of first aircraft, in some examples, the first aircraft interface computing device accesses a data lookup table that indicates relationships between aircraft serial numbers and the corresponding type of aircraft computing device and/or aircraft service. Alternatively, in other examples, the first aircraft interface computing device transmits the one or more aircraft identifiers to a ground computing device, which then accesses a data construct that identifies relationships between aircraft identifiers and/or aircraft classifiers and corresponding aircraft computing devices, aircraft services, and/or aircraft types. In some examples, the ground computing device then transmits the aircraft classifiers associated with the one or more aircraft identifiers to the first aircraft interface computing device.
• Atoperation508, the first aircraft interface computing device optionally selects an appropriate aircraft API. Specifically, the first aircraft interface computing device is configured to select an aircraft API for communicating with the first aircraft computing device and/or first aircraft service executing thereon. In some examples, the first aircraft interface computing device stores multiple aircraft APIs with each aircraft API defining a programmatic protocol for communicating with a specific aircraft computing device and/or aircraft service executing therein. The programmatic protocol of each aircraft API is configured to enable the first aircraft interface computing device to interact with one or more corresponding aircraft computing devices and/or corresponding aircraft services. In some embodiments, the first aircraft interface computing device selects the appropriate aircraft API based on a schedule or table that indicates relationships between aircraft identifiers and/or aircraft classifiers and corresponding aircraft APIs. In other embodiments, an appropriate aircraft API is automatically available and utilized for interaction with a corresponding aircraft services as a result of the initial communication from the originating aircraft.
• Atoperation510, the first aircraft interface computing device determines whether there is a command associated with the first communication. If the answer is yes (there is a command associated with the first communication), then the process continues to operation512, where the first aircraft interface computing device transmits one or more notifications. For example, in some examples, the first aircraft interface computing device transmits notifications that include information configured to cause the command to be executed using the programmatic protocol to the first computing device, the ground computing device, or both. The command causes a data file to be exchanged between the first computing device and the ground computing device.
• In some embodiments, where the command included in the first communication indicates that a data file is to be exchanged between the first aircraft interface computing device and the ground computing device, a first aircraft API executing on the first aircraft interface computing device uses the selected aircraft API to facilitate a data exchange between the ground computing device and the aircraft computing device. For example, in some embodiments, the first aircraft interface computing device uses the selected aircraft API to interface with a first aircraft service executing on the first aircraft computing device, and to cause the first aircraft service to perform one or more actions to facilitate the data exchange.
• Atoperation514, the first aircraft computing device optionally receives the notification from the first aircraft interface computing device. For example, in some embodiments, the first aircraft computing device receives a notification that indicates that a data file is to be exchanged between the first aircraft computing device and ground computing device via the selected aircraft API. In some examples, the command includes instructions and/or metadata that causes the first aircraft computing device to initiate the transfer of the data file, such as a name of the data file, a type of the data file, a size of the data file, security and/or permissions information required to facilitate the exchange (e.g., passwords, security key, identifiers, etc.), a time stamp for the data file, a time stamp for the transfer, an airplane classifier, the airline identifier, the airplane identifier, a location of the aircraft, a location of the transient storage location, and a unique storage location (e.g., a URL) to which and/or from which the data file is to be transmitted, or a combination thereof. Atoperation516, the first aircraft computing device exchanges the data file with the ground computing device.
• Atoperation518, the ground computing device optionally receives the notification from the first aircraft interface computing device. In some examples, the ground computing device also receives notifications from the first aircraft interface computing device to exchange the data file with the first aircraft computing device. In some such examples, such notifications include instructions and/or metadata that cause the ground computing device to initiate the transfer of the data file, such as a name of the data file, a type of the data file, a size of the data file, security and/or permissions information required to facilitate the exchange (e.g., passwords, security key, identifiers, etc.), a time stamp for the data file, a time stamp for the transfer, an airplane classifier, the airline identifier, the airplane identifier, a location of the aircraft, a location of the transient storage location, and a unique storage location (e.g., a URL) for the data file to be transmitted to, or a combination thereof. Alternatively or in addition, such notifications include a request for a unique storage location of the data file storage or other storage location to which the data file is to be transmitted. Atoperation520, the ground computing device exchanges the data file with the first aircraft computing device.
• However, if the answer atoperation510 is no (there is not a command associated with the first communication), then the process continues tooperation522, where the first aircraft interface computing device determines whether there is a pending command for the aircraft. If the answer is yes (there is a pending command for the first aircraft), then the process continues tooperation524, where the first aircraft interface computing device causes the execution of the pending command to continue. In some examples, the pending command corresponds to a previously initiated data transfer of the data file that was interrupted by a break in communication with the aircraft computing device over the air-to-ground network.
• In some embodiments, the first aircraft interface computing device determines that there is a pending command for the first aircraft by transmitting a command request to the ground computing device, and receiving a notification from the ground computing device that a previous data exchange with the first aircraft computing device was interrupted and that it should be continued. In some examples, the notification that the previous data exchange should be continued includes information necessary to cause the first aircraft interface computing device to continue the execution of the command, such as a name of the data file, an aircraft identifier, an aircraft classifier, an amount of the data file transferred, an identification of the last portion of the data file that was transferred, a storage location to which or from which the data file is to be transferred, etc.
• Alternatively or in addition, the first aircraft interface computing device determines that there is a pending command for the first aircraft based on metadata stored on one of the first aircraft interface computing device, the second aircraft interface computing device, the ground computing device, or a transient storage location. For example, in some embodiments, when a break in communication occurs, one or more computing devices involved in the data transfer store metadata that indicates information about the data transfer, such as a name of the data file, an aircraft identifier, an aircraft classifier, an amount of the data file transferred, an identification of the last portion of the data file that was transferred, a storage location to which or from which the data file is to be transferred, etc. Thus, by accessing the metadata, the first aircraft interface computing device is able to determine both that a pending command for the first aircraft exists and the information necessary to resume the exchange of the corresponding data file. In this way, the first aircraft interface computing device is able to cause the execution of the command to continue from the point at which the breakage occurred, reducing the amount of redundant data that is transferred over the air-to-ground network.
• In some embodiments, the pending command corresponds to an exchange of a data file between the first aircraft computing device and a different computing device (e.g., the second aircraft interface computing device, a transient storage location, etc.) over the air-to-ground network. For example, in some embodiments, the pending command corresponds to a data exchange between the first aircraft computing device and the second aircraft interface computing device that was interrupted due to the first aircraft moving into a geographic area that no longer allowed for an uplink/downlink connection between the second aircraft interface computing device and the first aircraft computing device. In such a situation, if the first aircraft moves into a new geographic region in which the first aircraft computing device is able to connect to the first aircraft interface computing device over the air-to-ground network, the data transfer may be resumed between the first aircraft interface computing device and the first aircraft computing device. Where the data transfer corresponds to a transmission of the data file from the first aircraft computing device to the ground computing device, each of the first aircraft interface computing device and the second aircraft interface computing device sends one or more portion of the data file that it received from the first aircraft computing device, and the ground computing device assembles the data file based on the received portions.
• If the answer atoperation522 is no (there is not a pending command for the first aircraft), then the process continues tooperation526, where the first aircraft interface computing device transmits a message to the ground computing device requesting a command associated with the first aircraft computing device. If the ground computing device transmits a response indicating a command that is to be executed with regard to the first aircraft computing device, the first aircraft interface computing device performs one or more actions to cause the execution of the command. Alternatively, if the ground computing device transmits a response indicating that there is not a command to be executed with regard to the first aircraft computing device, the first aircraft interface computing device transmits a message to the first aircraft computing device that no commands are to be executed at this time.
• FIG. 5 further illustratesoperation528, where a second aircraft computing device optionally transmits a second communication. For example, in some embodiments, a second aircraft service executing on the second aircraft computing device causes the second communication to be transmitted to one or more of the first aircraft interface computing device and the second aircraft interface computing device. In some examples, the second communication is transmitted over an air-to-ground network, such as a wireless network, a satellite network, a cellular network, or other type of air-to-ground that allows uplinks/downlinks to facilitate data exchanges between an aircraft in flight and a ground-based computing device. In some examples, the second communication includes one or more identifiers that are associated with the second aircraft, second aircraft computing device, second aircraft service, or a combination thereof. In some examples, the one or more identifiers includes one or more of an airline identifier (e.g., an international civil aviation organization (ICAO) code or an international air transport association (IATA) code, etc.), an airplane identifier (e.g., a tail number, a registration number, a manufacturer number, a serial number, etc.), and a software identifier. In addition, in some examples, the second communication also includes a software-based instruction that identifies an action and/or data transfer that is to occur between ground computing devices and the second aircraft computing device.
• In some examples, the second aircraft service causes the second aircraft computing device to transmit the second communication periodically, according to a schedule, and/or based on a trigger event, such as an input from a user associated with the second aircraft (e.g., pilot, passenger, steward, etc.), a data file being generated, a data file reaching a preset size, an available amount of aircraft memory reaching or dropping below a threshold, occurrence of a preset event (e.g., reaching a preset altitude, reaching a preset location, the aircraft being airborne for a preset amount of time, etc.), and/or reception of a transmission from an external computing device, such as the ground computing device, an aircraft interface computing device, a transient storage location, or another computing device.
• The second transmission is optionally received by the second aircraft interface computing device atoperation530. In some examples, receiving the second communication includes establishing a secure connection between the second aircraft computing device and the second aircraft interface computing device. In some embodiments, both the first aircraft interface computing device and the second aircraft interface computing device receive the second communication, and it is determined that the second aircraft interface computing device is to establish a secure connection with the second aircraft computing device.
• Atoperation532, the second aircraft interface computing device optionally determines an aircraft classifier. For example, in some embodiments, in response to receiving the second communication, the second aircraft interface computing device determines an aircraft classifier associated with at least one of the second aircraft, second aircraft computing device, second aircraft service, or a combination thereof. In some examples, an aircraft classifier corresponds to one or more of a type of the second aircraft, a year of the second aircraft, an aircraft model of the second aircraft, an airline associated with the second aircraft, a type of computing device on which the second aircraft service is executing, a type of service to which the second aircraft service corresponds, or a combination thereof. In some examples, the second aircraft interface computing device determines the aircraft classifier based on one or more aircraft identifiers included in the second communication. For example, in some embodiments, based on the second communication including a serial number of second aircraft, the second aircraft interface computing device accesses a data lookup table that indicates relationships between aircraft serial numbers and the corresponding type of aircraft computing device and/or aircraft service. Alternatively, in other examples, the second aircraft interface computing device transmits the one or more aircraft identifiers to a ground computing device, which then accesses a data construct that identifies relationships between aircraft identifiers and/or aircraft classifiers and corresponding aircraft computing devices, aircraft services, and/or aircraft types. In some such examples, the ground computing device then transmits the aircraft classifiers associated with the one or more aircraft identifiers to the second aircraft interface computing device.
• Atoperation534, the second aircraft interface computing device optionally selects an aircraft API. In some examples, the second aircraft interface computing device is configured to select an aircraft API for communicating with the second aircraft computing device and/or second aircraft service executing thereon. In some examples, the second aircraft interface computing device stores multiple aircraft APIs with each aircraft API defining a programmatic protocol for communicating with a specific aircraft computing device and/or aircraft service executing thereon. In some embodiments, the second aircraft interface computing device selects the appropriate aircraft API based on a schedule or table that indicates relationships between aircraft identifiers and/or aircraft classifiers and corresponding aircraft APIs. In other embodiments, an appropriate aircraft API is automatically available and utilized for interaction with a corresponding aircraft services as a result of the initial communication from the originating aircraft.
• Atoperation536, the second aircraft interface computing device optionally determines whether there is a command associated with the second communication. If the answer is yes (there is a command associated with the second communication), then the process continues tooperation538, where the second aircraft interface computing device transmits a notification. For example, in some embodiments, the second aircraft interface computing device transmits notifications that include information configured to cause the command to be executed using the programmatic protocol to the second computing device, the ground computing device, or both. The command causes a data file to be exchanged between the second aircraft computing device and the ground computing device.
• In embodiments where the command included in the second communication indicates that a data file is to be exchanged between the second aircraft interface computing device and the ground computing device, a second aircraft API executing on the second aircraft interface computing device uses the selected programmatic protocol to facilitate a data exchange between the ground computing device and the second aircraft computing device. For example, in some embodiments, the second aircraft interface computing device uses the selected aircraft API to interface with a second aircraft service executing on the second aircraft computing device, and to cause the second aircraft service to perform one or more actions to facilitate the data exchange.
• Atoperation514, the second aircraft computing device optionally receives the notification from the second aircraft interface computing device, and atoperation516, the second aircraft computing device exchanges the data file with the ground computing device. Additionally, as illustrated inFIG. 5, atoperation518, the ground computing device optionally receives the notification from the second aircraft interface computing device, and atoperation520, the ground computing device exchanges the data file with the second aircraft computing device.
• If the answer atoperation536 is no (there is not a command associated with the second communication), then the process continues tooperation540, where the second aircraft interface computing device determines whether there is a pending command for the aircraft. If the answer is yes (there is a pending command for the second aircraft), then the process continues tooperation542, where the second aircraft interface computing device causes the execution of the pending command to continue.
• In some embodiments, the second aircraft interface computing device determines that there is a pending command for the second aircraft by transmitting a command request to the ground computing device, and receiving a notification from the ground computing device that a previous data exchange with the second aircraft computing device was interrupted and that it should be continued. In some examples, the notification includes the information necessary to cause the second aircraft interface computing device to continue the execution of the command, such as a name of the data file, an aircraft identifier, an aircraft classifier, an amount of the data file transferred, an identification of the last portion of the data file that was transferred, a storage location to which or from which the data file is to be transferred, etc. Alternatively or in addition, the second aircraft interface computing device determines that there is a pending command for the second aircraft based on metadata stored on one of the first aircraft interface computing device, the second aircraft interface computing device, the ground computing device, or a transient storage location.
• In some embodiments, the pending command corresponds to an exchange of a data file between the second aircraft computing device and a different computing device (e.g., the first aircraft interface computing device, a transient storage location, etc.) over the air-to-ground network. Where the data transfer corresponds to a transmission of the data file from the second aircraft computing device to the ground computing device, in some examples, each of the first aircraft interface computing device and the second aircraft interface computing device sends one or more portion of the data file that it received from the second aircraft computing device, and the ground computing device assembles the data file based on the received portions.
• If the answer atoperation540 is no (there is not a pending command for the second aircraft), then the process continues to operation544, where the second aircraft interface computing device transmits a message to the ground computing device requesting a command associated with the second aircraft computing device. If the ground computing device transmits a response indicating a command that is to be executed with regard to the second aircraft computing device, the second aircraft interface computing device performs one or more actions to cause the execution of the command. Alternatively, if the ground computing device transmits a response indicating that there is not a command to be executed with regard to the second aircraft computing device, the second aircraft interface computing device transmits a message to the second aircraft computing device that no commands are to be executed at this time.
• FIG. 6 is aflowchart depicting methods600, according to the present disclosure, for exchanging data files from anaircraft computing device106 to aground computing device102. As shown inFIG. 6, atoperation602, the aircraft computing device transmits a communication. In some examples, an aircraft service executing on the aircraft computing device causes a communication to be transmitted to one or more aircraft interface computing devices. In some examples, the communication is transmitted over an air-to-ground network, such a wireless network, a satellite network, a cellular network, or other type of air-to-ground network that allows uplinks/downlinks to facilitate data exchanges between an aircraft in flight and a ground-based computing device. In some examples, the communication includes one or more identifiers that are associated with the corresponding aircraft, aircraft computing device, aircraft API, or a combination thereof. In some examples, the communication includes one or more of an airline identifier (e.g., an international civil aviation organization (ICAO) code or an international air transport association (IATA) code, etc.), an airplane identifier (e.g., a tail number, a registration number, a manufacturer number, a serial number, etc.), and a software identifier. In addition, in some examples, the communication also includes a software-based instruction that identifies an action and/or data transfer that is to occur between ground computing devices and the aircraft computing device.
• In some embodiments, the aircraft service causes the aircraft computing device to transmit the communication periodically, according to a schedule, and/or based on a trigger event, such as an input from a user associated with the aircraft (e.g., pilot, passenger, steward, etc.), a data file being generated, a data file reaching a preset size, an available amount of the aircraft memory reaching or dropping below a threshold, occurrence of a preset event (e.g., reaching a preset altitude, reaching a preset location, the aircraft being airborne for a preset amount of time, etc.), and/or reception of a transmission from an external computing device, such as the ground computing device, an aircraft interface computing device, a transient storage location, or another computing device.
• Atoperation604, the aircraft interface computing device receives the communication. In some examples, receiving the communication includes establishing a secure connection between the aircraft computing device and an aircraft interface computing device. In some embodiments, more than one aircraft interface computing device receives the communication, and it is determined which one of the aircraft interface computing devices is to establish a secure connection with the aircraft computing device.
• Atoperation606, the aircraft interface computing device optionally determines an aircraft classifier. For example, in response to receiving the communication, in some examples, the aircraft interface computing device determines an aircraft classifier associated with at least one of the aircraft, aircraft computing device, aircraft service, or a combination thereof, from which the communication originated. In some examples, an aircraft classifier corresponds to one or more of a type of the aircraft, a year of the aircraft, a model of the aircraft, an airline associated with the aircraft, a type of computing device on which the aircraft service is executing, a type of service to which the aircraft service corresponds, or a combination thereof.
• In some examples, the aircraft interface computing device determines the aircraft classifier based on one or more aircraft identifiers included in the communication. In some such examples, based on the communication including a serial number from the originating aircraft, the aircraft interface computing device accesses a data lookup table that indicates relationships between aircraft serial numbers and the corresponding type of aircraft computing device and/or aircraft service. Alternatively, in other examples, the aircraft interface computing device transmits the aircraft identifier and/or aircraft classifier to a ground computing device, which then accesses a data construct that identifies relationships between aircraft identifiers and/or aircraft classifiers and corresponding aircraft computing devices, aircraft services, and/or aircraft types. The ground computing device then transmits the determined aircraft identifiers and/or aircraft classifiers to the aircraft interface computing device.
• Atoperation608, the aircraft interface computing device optionally selects an appropriate aircraft API. Specifically, in some examples, the aircraft interface computing device is configured to select an aircraft API for communicating with the aircraft computing device and/or aircraft service executing on the originating aircraft. In some examples, the aircraft interface computing device stores multiple aircraft APIs with each aircraft API defining a programmatic protocol for communicating with a specific aircraft computing device and/or aircraft service executing thereon. The programmatic protocol of each aircraft API is configured to enable the aircraft interface computing device to interact with one or more corresponding aircraft computing devices and/or corresponding aircraft services. In some embodiments, the aircraft interface computing device selects the appropriate aircraft API based on a schedule or table that indicates relationships between aircraft identifiers and/or aircraft classifiers and corresponding aircraft APIs. In other embodiments, an appropriate aircraft API is automatically available and utilized for interaction with a corresponding aircraft services as a result of the initial communication from the originating aircraft.
• Atoperation610, it is determined that a data file is to be transmitted to the aircraft computing device from the ground computing device. In some embodiments, the communication includes the command. In some such examples, the communication from the aircraft computing device indicates that a data file including aircraft health data is to be transmitted from the aircraft computing device to the ground computing device.
• Alternatively, where the communication does not include a command, in some examples, the aircraft interface computing device determines that a data file is to be transferred to the ground computing device based on a command queue maintained by the ground computing device. As illustrated inFIG. 6, this optionally includes a transmission of a queue request atoperation612. In some examples, a queue request includes the aircraft identifiers, aircraft classifiers, metadata that identifies the aircraft/aircraft computing device/aircraft service, or a combination thereof.
• In some examples,operation610 includes a determination that a command is in the command queue atoptional operation614. For example, in some examples, the ground computing device is configured to receive queue requests from the aircraft interface computing device, identify a command queue that corresponds to data files that are to be exchanged with the aircraft computing device, and determine that a command is in a command queue associated with the aircraft computing device.
• In some embodiments, determining that the command is in the command queue comprises the ground computing device dynamically generating a command queue for the aircraft computing device. In some such examples, the ground computing device identifies a plurality of commands that are to be executed in relation to the particular aircraft computing device (i.e., from a pool of commands, from a plurality of command queues, etc.), and then dynamically generates a command queue for the particular aircraft computing device. In some examples, where the queue request identifies an airline type, aircraft type, and a geographic location of the associated aircraft, the ground computing device identifies commands that are to be executed with aircraft operated by the airline, with aircraft of the aircraft type, with aircraft within the geographic location, and/or a combination thereof. In some examples, the ground computing device then generates a command queue of the relevant commands that are to be executed with the particular aircraft computing device and an order in which they are to be executed. In some examples, the ground computing device then uses the command queue to determine a command that is to be executed with the aircraft computing device.
• In some examples,operation610 also includes transmitting a notification that the command is in the command queue atoptional operation616. In some such examples, the ground computing device transmits a notification to the aircraft interface computing device that is configured to cause the aircraft interface computing device to facilitate the execution of the command. In some examples, the signals identify a data file that is to be exchanged between the ground computing device and the particular aircraft computing device, a location that the data file is to be transmitted from/to, security and/or permissions information required to facilitate the exchange (e.g., passwords, security key, identifiers, etc.), or a combination thereof.
• Atoperation618, a transient storage location is optionally selected. In some embodiments, the data file is exchanged between the aircraft computing device and the cloud computing resources via a transient storage location. In some examples, a transient storage location corresponds to a data storage resource of a cloud computing network that is configured to exchange data files between the ground computing devices over the cloud computing network, and also exchange data files between the aircraft computing devices over the air-to-ground network. In some embodiments, the cloud computing network includes a plurality of transient storage locations through which data files can be routed. Individual transient storage locations may be geographically positioned so that they are more proximate to and/or have stronger connections to aircraft located in an associated geographic area.
• In some examples, the transient storage location is selected from a plurality of transient storage locations by the ground computing device, the aircraft interface computing device, or a combination thereof. In some examples, the transient storage location through which the data file is to be transferred is selected based on the aircraft being geographically located within a threshold distance of the transient storage location at the time the data file will be transferred to the aircraft computing device, a flight plan of the aircraft, an strength/efficiency of the uplink/downlink connection between the aircraft computing device and the transient storage location during at least a portion of the flight plan of the aircraft, or a combination thereof.
• Atoperation620, the aircraft interface computing device transmits the command using the corresponding aircraft API. In some examples, an aircraft API executing on the aircraft interface computing device then uses the selected aircraft API to initiate a data exchange from the aircraft computing device to the ground computing device. In this way, by quickly identifying or automatically selecting and deploying appropriate aircraft APIs across a wide range of aircraft types and/or types of aircraft services, the aircraft interface computing device is able to act as a decoupled interface that enables ground-based software services to conduct communication and data exchanges with aircraft computing devices without the software services needing to be individually programmed to communicate with each type of aircraft and/or aircraft service.
• Atoperation622, the aircraft computing device receives the command from the aircraft interface computing device. In some examples, the aircraft computing device receives a communication that indicates that the data file is to be exchanged from the aircraft computing device to one or more ground computing devices. In some such examples, the command includes instructions and/or metadata that cause the aircraft computing device to initiate the transfer, such as a name of the data file, a type of the data file, a size of the data file, security and/or permissions information required to facilitate the exchange (e.g., passwords, security key, identifiers, etc.), a time stamp for the data file, a time stamp for the transfer, an airplane classifier, an airline identifier, an airplane identifier, a location of the aircraft, a location of the transient storage location, and a unique storage location (e.g., a URL) to which and/or from which the data file to be transmitted, or a combination thereof. Atoperation624, the aircraft computing device initiates the transmission of the data file. In some examples, the data file is transmitted directly to the ground computing device. Alternatively, it is transmitted via the aircraft interface computing device and/or a transient storage location.
• Atoperation626, the aircraft computing device determines whether there is a break in communication during the transmission of the data file. In some examples, a break in communication corresponds to a break in the connection with the aircraft computing device over the air-to-ground network during the transfer of the data file. If the answer is yes (there is a break in communication), then the process continues tooperation602, where the aircraft interface computing device transmits an additional communication. If the answer atoperation626 is no (there is not a break in communication), then the process continues tooperation628, where the ground computing device receives the data file.
• Atoperation630, the ground computing device determines whether the data file was received in one piece. If the answer is yes (the data file was received in one piece), then the process continues tooperation632, where the ground computing device optionally removes the command from the command queue. In some embodiments, when the command to transmit the data file to the ground computing device is a repeating command, upon completion of the transmission of the data file, the ground computing device removes a first instance of the command from the command queue and add a new instance of the command that corresponds to the next time the repeating command is to reoccur.
• Atoperation634, the ground computing device transmits a notification that the transmission of the data file is complete. In response to receiving the notification, in some examples, the aircraft interface computing device and/or a transient storage location deletes a local version of the data file. If the answer atoperation630 is no (the data file was received in more than one piece), then the process continues tooperation636, where the ground computing device assembles the data file. The process then continues atoperation634. For example, where the transmission of the data file is interrupted by a break in communication, in some examples, the data file is transmitted to the ground computing device in one or more pieces. In such a situation, the ground computing device assembles one or more pieces into a complete version of the data file.
• FIG. 7 is aflowchart depicting methods700, according to the present disclosure, for exchanging data files to anaircraft computing device106 and from aground computing device102.
• As shown inFIG. 7, atoperation702, the aircraft computing device transmits a communication. For example, anaircraft service130 executing on the aircraft computing device, in some examples, causes a communication to be transmitted to one or more aircraft interface computing devices. In some such examples, the communication is transmitted over an air-to-ground network, such a wireless network, a satellite network, a cellular network, or other type of air-to-ground that allows uplinks/downlinks to facilitate data exchanges between an aircraft in flight and a ground-based computing device. In some examples, the communication includes one or more identifiers that are associated with the corresponding aircraft, aircraft computing device, aircraft service, or a combination thereof. For example, in some examples, the communication includes one or more of an airline identifier (e.g., an international civil aviation organization (ICAO) code or an international air transport association (IATA) code, etc.), an airplane identifier (e.g., a tail number, a registration number, a manufacturer number, a serial number, etc.), and a software identifier. In addition, in some examples, the communication also includes a software-based instruction that identifies an action and/or data transfer that is to occur between ground computing devices and the aircraft computing device.
• In some embodiments, the aircraft service causes the aircraft computing device to transmit the communication periodically, according to a schedule, and/or based on a trigger event, such as an input from a user associated with the aircraft (e.g., pilot, passenger, steward, etc.), a data file being generated, a data file reaching a preset size, an available amount of the aircraft memory reaching or dropping below a threshold, occurrence of a preset event (e.g., reaching a preset altitude, reaching a preset location, the aircraft being airborne for a preset amount of time, etc.), and/or reception of a transmission from an external computing device, such as the ground computing devices, an aircraft interface computing device, a transient storage location, or another computing device.
• Atoperation704, the aircraft interface computing device receives the communication. In some examples, receiving the communication includes establishing a secure connection between the aircraft computing device and an aircraft interface computing device. In some embodiments, more than one aircraft interface computing device receives the communication, and it is determined that the aircraft interface computing device is to establish a secure connection with the aircraft computing device.
• Atoperation706, the aircraft interface computing device optionally determines an aircraft classifier. For example, in some examples, in response to receiving the communication, the aircraft interface computing device determines an aircraft classifier associated with at least one of the aircraft, aircraft computing device, aircraft service, or a combination thereof, from which the communication originated. In some examples, an aircraft classifier corresponds to one or more of a type of the aircraft, a year of the aircraft, a model of the aircraft, an airline associated with the aircraft, a type of computing device on which the aircraft service is executing, a type of service to which the aircraft service corresponds, or a combination thereof.
• In some examples, the aircraft interface computing device determines the aircraft classifier based on one or more aircraft identifiers included in the communication. In some examples, based on the communication including a serial number from the originating aircraft, the aircraft interface computing device accesses a data lookup table that indicates relationships between aircraft serial numbers and the corresponding type of aircraft computing device and/or aircraft service. Alternatively, in other examples, the aircraft interface computing device transmits the aircraft identifier and/or aircraft classifier to a ground computing device, which then accesses a data construct that identifies relationships between aircraft identifiers and/or aircraft classifiers and corresponding aircraft computing devices, aircraft services, and/or aircraft types. In some such examples, the ground computing device then transmits the determined aircraft identifiers and/or aircraft classifiers to the aircraft interface computing device.
• Atoperation708, the aircraft interface computing device optionally selects an appropriate aircraft API. Specifically, in some examples, the aircraft interface computing device is configured to select an aircraft API for communicating with the aircraft computing device and/or aircraft service executing on the originating aircraft. In some examples, the aircraft interface computing device stores multiple aircraft APIs with each aircraft API defining a programmatic protocol for communicating with a specific aircraft computing device and/or aircraft service executing thereon. The programmatic protocol of each aircraft API is configured to enable the aircraft interface computing device to interact with one or more corresponding aircraft computing devices and/or corresponding aircraft services. In some embodiments, the aircraft interface computing device selects the appropriate aircraft API based on a schedule or table that indicates relationships between aircraft identifiers and/or aircraft classifiers and corresponding aircraft APIs. In other embodiments, an appropriate aircraft API is automatically available and utilized for interaction with a corresponding aircraft services as a result of the initial communication from the originating aircraft.
• Atoperation710, the aircraft interface computing device optionally determines whether there is a pending data transfer to the aircraft computing device. In some examples, the pending command corresponds to a previously initiated data transfer of the data file that was interrupted by a break in communication with the aircraft computing device over the air-to-ground network. In some embodiments, the aircraft interface computing device determines that there is a pending command for the aircraft computing device by transmitting a queue request to the ground computing device, and receiving a notification from the ground computing device that a previous data exchange with the aircraft computing device was interrupted and that it should be continued. In some examples, the notification includes the information necessary to cause the aircraft interface computing device to continue the execution of the command, such as a name of the data file, an aircraft identifier, an aircraft classifier, an amount of the data file transferred, an identification of the last portion of the data file that was transferred, a storage location to which and/or from which the data file is to be transferred, etc.
• Alternatively or in addition, the aircraft interface computing device determines that there is a pending command for the aircraft based on metadata stored on one of the aircraft interface computing device, the ground computing device, or a transient storage location. In some examples, when a break in communication occurs, one or more computing devices involved in the data transfer stores metadata that includes information about the data transfer, such as a name of the data file, an aircraft identifier, an aircraft classifier, an amount of the data file transferred, an identification of the last portion of the data file that was transferred, a storage location to which and/or from which the data file is to be transferred, etc. Thus, by accessing the metadata, the aircraft interface computing device is able to determine both that a pending command for the aircraft computing device exists and the information necessary to resume the exchange of the corresponding data file. In this way, the aircraft interface computing device is able to cause the execution of the command to continue from the point at which the break in communication occurred, reducing the amount of redundant data that is transferred over the air-to-ground network.
• If the answer atoperation710 is yes (there is a pending data transfer), then the process continues tooperation712 and the cloud computing resource optionally causes the data transfer to continue. Alternatively, if the answer atoperation710 is no (there is not a pending data transfer), then the process continues tooperation714, where the aircraft interface computing device transmits a notification to the ground computing device. In some examples, the notification corresponds to a request to determine whether there is a command that is to be executed in association with the aircraft computing device.
• Atoperation716, the ground computing device determines that a data file is to be transmitted from the aircraft computing device to the ground computing device. As illustrated inFIG. 7, in some examples, the ground computing device determines that the data file is to be transmitted in this way by optionally accessing a command queue associated with the aircraft computing device atoperation718. In some examples, the ground computing device is configured to receive queue requests from the aircraft interface computing device, identify a command queue that corresponds to data files that are to be exchanged with the aircraft computing device, and determine that a command is in a command queue associated with the aircraft computing device.
• In some embodiments, determining that the command is in the command queue comprises the ground computing device dynamically generating a command queue for the aircraft computing device. In some examples, the ground computing device identifies a plurality of commands that are to be executed in relation to the particular aircraft computing device (i.e., from a pool of commands, from a plurality of command queues, etc.), and then dynamically generate a command queue for the particular aircraft computing device. In some examples, where the queue request identifies an airline type, aircraft type, and a geographic location of the associated aircraft, the ground computing device identifies commands that are to be executed with aircraft operated by the airline, with aircraft of the aircraft type, with aircraft within the geographic location, and/or a combination thereof. In some examples, the ground computing device then generates a command queue of the relevant commands that are to be executed with the particular aircraft computing device and an order in which they are to be executed. In some examples, the ground computing device then uses the command queue to determine a command that is to be executed with the aircraft computing device.
• FIG. 7 further illustratesprocess700 as optionally includingoperation720, where the ground computing device receives a command to upload the data file. In some examples, the command is received via user inputs into a ground computing device (e.g., inputs provided via a keyboard, mouse, touchpad, camera, audio, etc.), a physical input to the ground computing device (e.g., a CD, DVD, software input, etc.), data inputs provided to the ground computing device via the network interface (e.g., input from a third party computing device, aircraft computing device, etc.), or a combination thereof. In some examples, a user enters one or more identifiers and/or classifiers of one or more aircraft, and a selection of a data file that is to be exchanged between the ground computing device and the one or more aircraft computing devices operating on aircraft associated with the one or more identifiers and/or classifiers. Alternatively or in addition, commands are generated by a service module executing on the ground computing device. In some examples, a service module that monitors flight conditions determines that the weather in a particular geographic region is hazardous, and generates and provides a command to transmit a warning of the hazardous weather and/or a new flight plan that avoids the hazardous weather to the individual aircraft computing devices operating on aircraft within the geographic region.
• Atoperation722, the ground computing device receives the data file. In some examples, the ground computing device is further executable to receive the data files for upload to one or more aircraft computing devices. In some embodiments, a data file is input directly into the ground computing device via a user input such as by keyboard, touchscreen, mouse selection, etc. Alternatively, in other examples, the data file is received by the ground computing device via a data transfer from another computing device, such as from a third party computing device. In some examples, a computing device operated by an airline is the third party computing device, and it receives a video file that is to be uploaded to the entertainment systems of aircraft in its fleet. In another example, a third party software provider that provides aircraft software executing on an aircraft computing device transmits a software update for the aircraft software. Additionally, in some examples, the ground computing device also receives a data file from the service module. For example, in some examples, the ground computing device stores a service module that is configured to generate, update, and distribute flight plans to aircraft computing device. Such a service module generates a new flight plan for an aircraft, and transmits the new flight plan to the ground computing device for storage and ultimate distribution to the aircraft computing device.
• Atoperation724, a transient storage location is optionally selected. In some embodiments, the data file is exchanged between the aircraft computing device and the cloud computing resources via a transient storage location. In some examples, a transient storage location corresponds to a data storage resource of a cloud computing network that is configured to exchange data files between the ground computing devices over the network, and also exchange data files between the aircraft computing devices over the air-to-ground network. In some embodiments, the cloud computing network includes a plurality of transient storage locations through which data files can be routed. In some examples, individual transient storage locations are geographically positioned so that they are more proximate to and/or have stronger connections to aircraft located in an associated geographic area.
• In some examples, the transient storage location is selected from a plurality of transient storage locations by the ground computing device, the aircraft interface computing device, or a combination thereof. In some examples, the transient storage location through which the data file is to be transferred is selected based on the aircraft being geographically located within a threshold distance of the transient storage location at the time the data file will be transferred to the aircraft computing device, a flight plan of the aircraft, an strength/efficiency of the uplink/downlink connection between theaircraft computing device106 and the transient storage location during at least the portion of the flight plan of the aircraft, or a combination thereof.
• Atoperation726, the data file is transmitted. In some embodiments, the data file is transmitted over a cloud computing network connection to an aircraft interface computing device or the transient storage connection, and then transmitted to the aircraft computing device over an air-to-ground connection from the aircraft interface computing device or the transient storage connection. Atoperation728, the aircraft computing device receives the data file.
• Atoperation730, the aircraft computing device determines whether there is a break in communication during the transmission of the data file. A break in communication may correspond to a break in the connection with the aircraft computing device over the air-to-ground network during the transfer of the data file. If the answer is yes (there is a break in communication), then the process continues tooperation702, where the aircraft computing device transmits an additional communication. If the answer atoperation730 is no (there is not a break in communication), then the process continues tooperation732, where the aircraft computing device completes the transmission of the data file.
• Atoperation734, the aircraft computing device transmits a notification that the transmission of the transmission is complete, and atoperation736, the ground computing device optionally removes the command from the command queue. In some embodiments, when the command to transmit the data file to the ground computing device is a repeating command, upon completion of the transmission of the data file, the ground computing device removes a first instance of the command from the command queue and add a new instance of the command that corresponds to the next time the repeating command is to reoccur.
• FIG. 8 is aflowchart depicting methods800, according to the present disclosure, for generating and maintaining a command queue for exchanging data files between anaircraft computing device106 and aground computing device102.
• As shown inFIG. 8, atoperation802 the ground computing device optionally receives a command. In some examples, the command is received via user inputs into a ground computing device (e.g., inputs provided via a keyboard, mouse, touchpad, camera, audio, etc.), a physical input to the ground computing device (e.g., a CD, DVD, software input, etc.), data inputs provided to the ground computing device via the network interface (e.g., input from a third party computing device, aircraft computing device, etc.), or a combination thereof. For example, a user may enter one or more identifiers and/or classifiers of one or more aircraft, and a selection of a data file that is to be exchanged between the ground computing device and the one or more aircraft computing devices operating on aircraft associated with the one or more identifiers and/or classifiers. Alternatively or in addition, commands are generated by a service module executing on the ground computing device. For example, a service module that monitors flight conditions may determine that the weather in a particular geographic region is hazardous, and may generate and provide a command to transmit a warning of the hazardous weather and/or a new flight plan that avoids the hazardous weather to the individual aircraft computing devices operating on aircraft within the geographic region.
• Atoperation804, the ground computing device optionally receives a data file. In some examples, the ground computing device is further executable to receive the data files for upload to one or more aircraft computing devices. In some embodiments, a data file is input directly into the ground computing device via a user input such as by keyboard, touchscreen, mouse selection, etc. Alternatively, the data file is received by the ground computing device via a data transfer from another computing device, such as from a third party computing device. In some examples, a computing device operated by an airline is the third party computing device, and it provide receives a video file that is to be uploaded to the entertainment systems of aircraft in its fleet. In another example, a third party software provider that provides aircraft software executing on an aircraft computing device transmits a software update for the aircraft software. Additionally, in some examples, the ground computing device also receives a data file from the service module. In some examples, the ground computing device stores a service module that is configured to generate, update, and distribute flight plans to aircraft computing device. Such a service module generates a new flight plan for an aircraft, and transmits the new flight plan to the ground computing device for storage and ultimate distribution to the aircraft computing device.
• Atoperation808, the ground computing device optionally adds the command to a command queue associated with the aircraft computing device. In some examples, the ground computing device is configured to generate and maintain one or more command queues. In some examples, maintaining a command queue involves adding new commands to the command queue, removing commands from the command queue once completed, updating a status of a command within the command queue (e.g., pending, interrupted, etc.), reordering the commands in the command queue, or a combination thereof.
• In some examples, atoperation806, in response to receiving a command, the ground computing device optionally identifies an aircraft computing device associated with the command, and then adds the command to a command queue associated with the aircraft computing device.
• Atoperation810, the ground computing device accesses the command queue associated with the aircraft computing device. In some examples, the ground computing device is configured to receive queue requests from the aircraft interface computing device, identify a command queue that corresponds to data files that are to be exchanged with the aircraft computing device, and determine that a command is in a command queue associated with the aircraft computing device. In some embodiments, determining that the command is in the command queue comprises the ground computing device dynamically generating a command queue for the aircraft computing device. In some examples, the ground computing device identifies a plurality of commands that are to be executed in relation to the particular aircraft computing device (i.e., from a pool of commands, from a plurality of command queues, etc.), and then dynamically generates a command queue for the particular aircraft computing device. For example, where the queue request identifies an airline type, aircraft type, and a geographic location of the associated aircraft, in some examples, the ground computing device identifies commands that are to be executed with aircraft operated by the airline, with aircraft of the aircraft type, with aircraft within the geographic location, and/or a combination thereof. In some examples, the ground computing device then generates a command queue of the relevant commands that are to be executed with the particular aircraft computing device and an order in which they are to be executed.
• Atoperation812, the aircraft computing device optionally transmits a communication. In some examples, an aircraft service executing on the aircraft computing device causes a communication to be transmitted to one or more aircraft interface computing devices. In some examples, the communication is transmitted over an air-to-ground network, such as a wireless network, a satellite network, a cellular network, or other type of air-to-ground that allows uplinks/downlinks to facilitate data exchanges between an aircraft in flight and a ground-based computing device. In some examples, the communication includes one or more identifiers that are associated with the corresponding aircraft, aircraft computing device, aircraft service, or a combination thereof. For example, in some examples, the communication includes one or more of an airline identifier (e.g., an international civil aviation organization (ICAO) code or an international air transport association (IATA) code, etc.), an airplane identifier (e.g., a tail number, a registration number, a manufacturer number, a serial number, etc.), and a software identifier. In addition, in some examples, the communication also includes a software-based instruction that identifies an action and/or data transfer that is to occur between ground computing device and the aircraft computing device.
• In some embodiments, the aircraft service causes the aircraft computing device to transmit the communication periodically, according to a schedule, and/or based on a trigger event, such as an input from a user associated with the aircraft (e.g., pilot, passenger, steward, etc.), a data file being generated, a data file reaching a preset size, an available amount of the aircraft memory reaching or dropping below a threshold, occurrence of a preset event (e.g., reaching a preset altitude, reaching a preset location, the aircraft being airborne for a preset amount of time, etc.), and/or reception of a transmission from an external computing device, such as the ground computing devices, an aircraft interface computing device, a transient storage location, or another computing device.
• Atoperation814, the aircraft interface computing device optionally receives the communication. Receiving the communication may include establishing a secure connection between the aircraft computing device and an aircraft interface computing device. In some embodiments, more than one aircraft interface computing devices receive the communication, and it is determined which one of the aircraft interface computing devices is to establish a secure connection with the aircraft computing device. In some embodiments, the aircraft interface computing device also determines an aircraft classifier associated with the aircraft computing device, and/or selects an aircraft API for communication with an aircraft service executing on the aircraft computing device.
• Atoperation816, the aircraft interface computing device optionally determines whether there is a command associated with the communication. If the answer atoperation816 is no (there is not a command associated with the communication), then the process continues tooperation820 and the aircraft interface computing device optionally transmits a queue request. In some examples, the queue request includes the aircraft identifiers, aircraft classifiers, and/or metadata that identifies the aircraft, the aircraft computing device, the aircraft service, or a combination thereof. Alternatively, if the answer atoperation816 is yes (there is a command associated with the communication), then the process continues tooperation818, where the aircraft interface computing device optionally transmits a notification. In some examples, the aircraft interface computing device transmits a notification that includes information configured to cause the command associated with the communication to be executed. In some examples, the notification is configured to cause a data file to be exchanged between the aircraft computing device and the ground computing device.
• Atoperation822, the ground computing device determines that a command is to be executed. In some examples, the ground computing device uses the command queue to determine a command that is to be executed with the aircraft computing device.
• Atoperation824, a transient storage location is optionally selected. In some embodiments, the data file may be exchanged between the aircraft computing device and the aircraft interface computing device via a transient storage location. In some examples, a transient storage location corresponds to a data storage resource of cloud computing network that is configured to exchange data files between the ground computing devices over the network, and also exchange data files between the aircraft computing devices over the air-to-ground network. In some embodiments, the cloud computing network includes a plurality of transient storage locations through which data files can be routed. Individual transient storage locations may be geographically positioned so that they are more proximate to and/or have stronger connections to aircraft located in an associated geographic area.
• In some examples, the transient storage location is selected from a plurality of transient storage locations by the ground computing device, the aircraft interface computing device, or a combination thereof. In some examples, the transient storage location through which the data file is to be transferred is selected based on the aircraft being geographically located within a threshold distance of the transient storage location at the time the data file will be transferred to the aircraft computing device, a flight plan of the aircraft, an strength/efficiency of the uplink/downlink connection between the aircraft computing device and the transient storage location during at least a portion of the flight plan of the aircraft, or a combination thereof.
• Atoperation826, the ground computing device causes the command to be executed. In some examples, the ground computing device performs one or more actions to cause a data file to be exchanged between the ground computing device and an aircraft computing device. Then, atoperation828, the ground computing device determines that the execution of the command has finished, and optionally updates the queue associated with the aircraft atoperation830. In some examples, updating the queue corresponds to removing the command, or, where the command is to be repeated, the ground computing device removes the command and then adds a new instance of the command that corresponds to the next occasion that the command is to be executed.
• Atoperation832, the ground computing device determines whether there is another command to be executed. If the answer is yes (there is another command to be executed), then the process returns tooperation826, where the ground computing device causes the command to be executed. However, if the answer atoperation832 is no (there is not another command to be executed), then the process continues tooperation834, where the ground computing device optionally sends a notification that there is no command in the queue associated with the aircraft to the aircraft interface computing device, the aircraft computing device, or both.
• Themethods400,500,600,700, and800 are described with reference to theenvironment100 andcomputing devices200 and300 ofFIGS. 1-3 for convenience and ease of understanding. However, themethods400,500,600,700, and800 are not limited to being performed using theenvironment100 and/orcomputing devices200 and300. Moreover, theenvironment100 andcomputing devices200 and300 are not limited to performing themethods400,500,600,700, and800.
• Themethods400,500,600,700, and800 are illustrated as collections of blocks in logical flow graphs, which represent sequences of operations that may be implemented in hardware, software, or a combination thereof. In the context of software, the blocks represent computer-executable instructions stored on one or more computer-readable storage media that, when executed by one or more processors, perform the recited operations. Generally, computer executable instructions include routines, programs, objects, components, data structures, and the like that perform particular functions or implement particular abstract data types. The order in which the operations are described is not intended to be construed as a limitation, and any number of the described blocks may be combined in any order and/or in parallel to implement the methods. In some embodiments, one or more blocks of the method may be omitted entirely. Moreover, themethods400,500,600,700, and800 may be combined in whole or in part.
• The various techniques described herein may be implemented in the context of computer-executable instructions or software that are stored in computer-readable storage and executed by the processor or processors of one or more computers or other devices such as those illustrated in the figures. Generally, program modules include routines, programs, objects, components, data structures, etc., and define operating logic for performing particular tasks or implement particular abstract data types. As used herein, the term “module” when used in connection with software or firmware functionality may refer to code or computer program instructions that are integrated to varying degrees with the code or computer program instructions of other such “modules.” The distinct nature of the different modules described and depicted herein is used for explanatory purposes and should not be used to limit the scope of this disclosure.
• Other architectures may be used to implement the described functionality, and are intended to be within the scope of this disclosure. Furthermore, although specific distributions of responsibilities are defined above for purposes of discussion, the various functions and responsibilities might be distributed and divided in different ways, depending on circumstances.
• Similarly, software may be stored and distributed in various ways and using different means, and the particular software storage and execution configurations described above may be varied in many different ways. Thus, software implementing the techniques described above may be distributed on various types of computer-readable media and not limited to the forms of memory that are specifically described.
• Illustrative, non-exclusive examples of inventive subject matter according to the present disclosure are described in the following enumerated paragraphs:
• A1. A computing method for data exchanges between an aircraft computing device and a ground computing device, the method comprising:
• receiving, by an aircraft interface computing device, an initial communication from an aircraft service executing on the aircraft computing device located onboard an aircraft;
• determining, based on the initial communication, an aircraft classifier associated with at least one of the aircraft service, the aircraft computing device, and the aircraft;
• selecting, by the aircraft interface computing device and based on the aircraft classifier, an aircraft API for communicating with the aircraft service from a plurality of aircraft APIs, wherein each of the aircraft APIs allows the aircraft interface computing device to communicate with one or more of corresponding aircraft services, corresponding aircraft computing devices, or corresponding aircraft;
• transmitting, by the aircraft interface computing device, one or more first communications to the ground computing device; and
• transmitting, by the aircraft interface computing device and using the aircraft API, one or more second communications to the aircraft service, wherein the one or more first communications and the one or more second communications cause a data file to be exchanged between the ground computing device and the aircraft computing device.
• A1.1. The method of paragraph A1, wherein the ground computing device is configured to exchange the data file with one or more aircraft computing devices within a service region, wherein the service region comprises a plurality of service sub-regions.
• A1.1.1. The method of paragraph A1.1, wherein the service region is a global region.
• A2. The method of any of paragraphs A1-A1.1.1, wherein each aircraft API of the plurality of aircraft APIs is executable on a plurality of aircraft interface computing devices.
• A2.1. The method of paragraph A2, wherein each aircraft interface computing device of the plurality of aircraft interface computing device is located in a corresponding service sub-region of the plurality of service sub-regions.
• A2.2. The method of any paragraphs A1-A2.1, wherein the aircraft interface computing device is geographically located in a remote location from the ground computing device.
• A2.2.1. The method of paragraph A2.2, wherein the aircraft is within a first service region during the transmission of the initial communication.
• A3. The method of any of paragraphs A1-A2.1, wherein the initial communication is transmitted from the aircraft service to the aircraft interface computing device over a first communications medium, and the one or more first communications are transmitted from the aircraft interface computing device to the ground computing device over a second communications medium that is different from the first communications medium.
• A3.1. The method of paragraph A3, wherein the first communications medium is one of a wireless network, a satellite network, and a cellular network.
• A3.2. The method of any of paragraphs A3-A3.1, wherein the second communications medium is the internet.
• A3.3. The method of any of paragraphs A3-A3.1, wherein the second communications medium is a cloud computing network.
• A4. The method of any of paragraphs A1-A3.3, wherein the receiving the initial communication from the aircraft service comprises establishing a secure connection between the aircraft computing device and the aircraft interface computing device.
• A5. The method of any of paragraphs A1-A4, wherein the aircraft is in flight during the transmission of the initial communication.
• A6. The method of any of paragraphs A1-A5, wherein the aircraft interface computing device is an infrastructure component of a cloud computing network.
• A7. The method of any of paragraphs A1-A6, wherein the initial communication includes one or more identifiers for the aircraft, the aircraft computing device, and/or the aircraft service.
• A7.1. The method of paragraph A7, wherein the one or more identifiers include an airline identifier and/or an airplane identifier.
• A7.1.1. The method of paragraph A7.1, wherein the airline identifier comprises one of an international civil aviation organization (ICAO) code or an international air transport association (IATA) code.
• A7.1.2. The method of any of paragraphs A7.1-A7.1.1, wherein the airplane identifier comprises one of a tail number, a registration number, a manufacturer number, and a serial number.
• A8. The method of any of paragraphs A1-A7.1.2, wherein the receiving the initial communication includes a command.
• A8.1. The method of paragraph A8, wherein the command corresponds to a request to exchange the data file between the ground computing device and the aircraft computing device.
• A9. The method of any of paragraphs A1-A8.1, wherein the receiving the initial communication is responsive to a prior transmission from the aircraft API.
• A9.1. The method of paragraph A9, wherein the initial communication is transmitted periodically by the aircraft service.
• A9.2. The method of paragraph A9, wherein the initial communication is transmitted to a plurality of aircraft interface computing devices proximate to the aircraft at the time of transmission.
• A9.2.1. The method of paragraph A9.2, further comprising determining that the aircraft interface computing device is the most efficient computing resource for communicating with the aircraft.
• A10. The method of any of paragraphs A1-A9.2.1, wherein the aircraft classifier corresponds to one or more of a type of the aircraft, a year of the aircraft, a model of the aircraft, an airline associated with the aircraft, a type of computing device on which the aircraft service is executing, a type of service to which the aircraft service corresponds, or a combination thereof.
• All. The method of any of paragraphs A1-A10, wherein the determining the aircraft classifier comprises accessing a data construct that identifies the aircraft classifier.
• A11.1. The method of paragraph A11, wherein the data construct is a lookup table that stores relationships between the one or more identifiers and the aircraft classifier.
• A12. The method of any of paragraphs A1-A10, wherein the determining the aircraft classifier comprises transmitting the one or more identifiers included in the initial communication to the ground computing device, and receiving the aircraft classifier from the ground computing device.
• A13. The method of any of paragraphs A1-A12, wherein the one or more first communications and the one or more second communications cause the data file to be exchanged between the ground computing device and the aircraft computing device by transmitting the data file from the aircraft computing device to the ground computing device.
• A14. The method of any of paragraphs A1-A12, wherein transmitting the data file corresponds to transmitting the data file from the aircraft computing device to a central storage location associated with the ground computing device.
• A14.1. The method of paragraph A14, wherein the central storage location segregates stored data according to the aircraft classifiers.
• A15. The method of any of paragraphs A1-A14.1, wherein the data file includes a security log, a performance log, health monitoring data, and/or a system log.
• A16. The method of any of paragraphs A1-A15, wherein the one or more first communications and the one or more second communications cause the data file to be exchanged between the ground computing device and the aircraft computing device by transmitting the data file to a third party storage location associated with the ground computing device.
• A17. The method of any of paragraphs A1-A12, wherein the one or more first communications and the one or more second communications cause the data file to be exchanged between the ground computing device and the aircraft computing device by transmitting the data file from the ground computing device to the aircraft computing device.
• A17.1. The method of paragraph A17, wherein the one or more first communications and the one or more second communications cause the data file to be exchanged between the ground computing device and the aircraft computing device by transmitting the data file from the central storage location associated with the ground computing device to the aircraft computing device.
• A18. The method of any of paragraphs A1-A17.1, wherein the data file includes a software update and/or a flight plan.
• A19. The method of any of paragraphs A1-A18, wherein the data file is exchanged between the ground computing device and the aircraft computing device via a transient storage location.
• A19.1. The method of paragraph A19, wherein the transient storage location is associated with the aircraft interface computing device.
• A20. The method of any of paragraphs A1-A19.1, further comprising receiving an additional initial communication from the aircraft service based on a break in communication between the aircraft computing device and the aircraft interface computing device.
• A20.1. The method of paragraph A20, wherein the additional initial communication is received by the aircraft API executing on the aircraft interface computing device.
• A20.2. The method of paragraph A20, wherein the aircraft API device is a first aircraft API executing on a first aircraft interface computing device, and the additional initial communication is received by a second aircraft API executing on a second aircraft interface computing device.
• A20.2.1. The method of paragraph A20.2, wherein the second aircraft interface computing device is geographically located remotely from the first aircraft interface computing device.
• A20.3. The method of any of paragraphs A20-A20.2.1, further comprising determining the aircraft classifier based on the additional initial communication, and selecting the programmatic protocol based on the aircraft classifier.
• A21. The method of any of paragraphs A1-A20.3, further comprising determining that an exchange of the data file was interrupted by the break in communication, and causing the exchange of the data file between the ground computing device and the aircraft computing device to continue.
• A22. The method of any of paragraphs A1-A21, wherein the transmitting the one or more first communications includes transmitting to the ground computing device a request to exchange the data file between the aircraft computing device and the ground computing device.
• A22.1. The method of paragraph A22, wherein the transmitting the one or more first communications includes transmitting the aircraft classifier and the one or more identifiers to the ground computing device, and wherein the ground computing device is configured to determine, based on the aircraft classifier and the one or more identifiers, that the data file is to be transmitted between the ground computing device and the aircraft computing device.
• A22.1.1. The method of paragraph A22.1, further comprising determining, by the ground computing device, that the data file is to be exchanged between the ground computing device and the aircraft computing device by accessing a command queue associated with the aircraft.
• A22.1.1.1. The method of paragraph A22.1.1, wherein the ground computing device hosts and/or maintains the command queue in an accessible storage location.
• A23. The method of any of paragraphs A1-A22.1.1.1, wherein the initial communication is a first initial communication from a first aircraft service executing on a first aircraft computing device located onboard a first aircraft, and the method further comprises receiving, by the aircraft interface computing device, a second initial communication from a second aircraft service executing on a second aircraft computing device located onboard a second aircraft.
• A23.1. The method of paragraph A23, further comprising determining, based on the second initial communication, that the aircraft classifier is associated with at least one of the second aircraft service, the second aircraft computing device, and the second aircraft.
• A23.1.1. The method of paragraph A23.1, further comprising selecting, by the aircraft interface computing device and based on the aircraft classifier, a second aircraft API for communicating with the second aircraft service from the plurality of aircraft APIs.
• A23.2. The method of paragraph A23, wherein the aircraft classifier is a first aircraft classifier, and the method further comprising determining, based on the second initial communication, that a second aircraft classifier is associated with at least one of the second aircraft service, the second aircraft computing device, and the second aircraft, wherein the second aircraft classifier is different from the first aircraft classifier.
• A23.2.1. The method of paragraph A23.2, further comprising selecting, by the aircraft interface computing device and based on the second aircraft classifier, the second aircraft API for communicating with the second aircraft service from the plurality of aircraft APIs.
• A23.2.2. The method of paragraph A23.2, wherein the aircraft API is a first aircraft API, and the method further comprises selecting, by the aircraft interface computing device and based on the second aircraft classifier, a second aircraft API for communicating with the second aircraft service from the plurality of aircraft APIs, wherein the second aircraft API is different from the first aircraft API.
• B1. A computing method for data exchanges between an aircraft computing device on an aircraft and a ground computing device, the method comprising:
• receiving, by the ground computing device, a data transmission from an aircraft interface computing device located remotely from the ground computing device, the data transmission indicating that a data file is to be exchanged between the ground computing device and the aircraft computing device in communication with the aircraft interface computing device; and exchanging the data file between the ground computing device and the aircraft computing device utilizing an aircraft API executing on the aircraft interface computing device, wherein the aircraft API is one of a plurality of aircraft APIs stored on the aircraft interface computing device, and wherein each of the plurality of aircraft APIs are configured for communicating with unique aircraft services executing on unique aircraft computing devices.
• B1.1. The method of paragraph B1, wherein the ground computing device is configured to exchange the data file with the aircraft computing device within a service region, wherein the service region comprises a plurality of service sub-regions.
• B1.1.1. The method of paragraph B1.1, wherein the service region is a global region.
• B2. The method of any of paragraphs B1-B1.1.1, wherein the aircraft interface computing device is one of a plurality of aircraft interface computing devices.
• B2.1. The method of paragraph B2, wherein each aircraft interface computing device of the plurality of aircraft interface computing device is located in a corresponding service sub-region of a/the plurality of service sub-regions.
• B3. The method of any of paragraphs B1-B2.1, wherein the ground computing device receiving the data transmission from the aircraft interface computing device located in the service sub-region corresponds to receiving a first data transmission from a first aircraft interface computing device located in a first service sub-region, the first data transmission indicating that a first data file is to be exchanged between the ground computing device and a first aircraft computing device in communication with the first aircraft interface computing device.
• B3.1. The method of paragraph B3, further comprising:
• receiving, by the ground computing device, a second data transmission from a second aircraft interface computing device located in a second service sub-region, wherein the second service sub-region is different from the first service sub-region, and the second data transmission indicating that a second data file is to be exchanged between the ground computing device and a second aircraft computing device in communication with the second aircraft interface computing device; and
• exchanging, the second data file between the ground computing device and the second aircraft computing device utilizing an aircraft API executing on the second aircraft interface computing device.
• B3.2. The method of paragraph B3, further comprising:
• receiving, by the ground computing device, a second data transmission from the first aircraft interface computing device, the second data transmission indicating that a third data file is to be exchanged between the ground computing device and a second aircraft computing device in communication with the second aircraft interface computing device; and
• exchanging, the third data file between the ground computing device and the second aircraft computing device utilizing the aircraft API executing on the second aircraft interface computing device.
• B4. The method of any of paragraphs B1-B3.2, wherein the aircraft interface computing device is geographically located in a remote location from the ground computing device.
• B4.1. The method of paragraph B4, wherein the aircraft is located within a threshold distance of a geographic location of the aircraft interface computing device during a transmission of an initial communication between the aircraft and the aircraft interface computing device.
• B5. The method of any of paragraphs B1-B4.1, wherein the data file includes a security log, a performance log, health monitoring data, and/or a system log.
• B6. The method of any of paragraphs B1-B5, wherein the data file includes a software update and/or a flight plan.
• B7. The method of any of paragraphs B1-B6, wherein the data transmission is received from the aircraft interface computing device in response to the aircraft interface computing device receiving an/the initial communication from the aircraft.
• B8. The method of any of paragraphs B1-B7, wherein the aircraft is in flight during the transmission of an/the initial communication.
• B9. The method of any of paragraphs B1-B8, wherein an/the initial communication is transmitted from the aircraft to the aircraft interface computing device over a first communications medium, and the data transmission is transmitted from the aircraft interface computing device to the ground computing device over a second communications medium that is different from the first communications medium.
• B9.1. The method of paragraph B9, wherein the first communications medium is one of a wireless network, a satellite network, and a cellular network.
• B9.2. The method of any of paragraphs B9-B9.1, wherein the second communications medium is the internet.
• B9.3. The method of any of paragraphs B9-B9.1, wherein the second communications medium is a cloud computing network.
• B9.3.1. The method of paragraph B9.3, wherein the aircraft interface computing device is an infrastructure component of the cloud computing network.
• B10. The method of any of paragraphs B9-B9.3.1, further comprising receiving, from the aircraft interface computing device and by the ground computing device, one or more identifiers associated with the aircraft.
• B10.1. The method of paragraph B10, wherein the one or more identifiers are associated with the aircraft, the aircraft computing device, and/or an aircraft service executing on the aircraft computing device.
• B10.2. The method of any of paragraphs B10-B10.1, wherein the one or more identifiers include an airline identifier and/or an airplane identifier.
• B10.2.1. The method of paragraph B10.2, wherein the airline identifier comprises one of an international civil aviation organization (ICAO) code or an international air transport association (IATA) code.
• B10.2.2. The method of any of paragraphs B10.2-B10.2.1, wherein the airplane identifier comprises one of a tail number, a registration number, a manufacturer number, and a serial number.
• B11. The method of any of paragraphs B1-B10.2.2, further comprising receiving, from the aircraft interface computing device and by the ground computing device, an aircraft classifier associated with the aircraft.
• B12. The method of any of paragraphs B1-B11, further comprising determining an aircraft classifier associated with a/the airplane identifier.
• B12.1. The method of paragraph B12, wherein the determining the aircraft classifier comprises accessing a data construct that identifies the aircraft classifier.
• B12.1.1. The method of paragraph B12.1, wherein the data construct is a lookup table that stores relationships between the one or more identifiers and the aircraft classifier.
• B13. The method of any of paragraphs B11-B12.1.1, wherein the aircraft classifier corresponds to one or more of a type of the aircraft, a year of the aircraft, a model of the aircraft, an airline associated with the aircraft, a type of the aircraft computing device, a type of aircraft service executing on the aircraft computing device, or a combination thereof.
• B14. The method of any of paragraphs B1-B13, wherein the exchanging the data file corresponds to:
• receiving the data file from the aircraft computing device; and
• storing the data file on the ground computing device.
• B14.1. The method of paragraph B14, wherein the ground computing device segregates stored data according to the aircraft classifiers.
• B14.2. The method of any of paragraphs B14-B14.1, further comprising storing the data file in a portion of the ground computing device associated with a/the aircraft classifier associated with the aircraft.
• B15. The method of any of paragraphs B1-B13, wherein the exchanging the data file corresponds to:
• receiving the data file from the aircraft computing device; and
• storing the data file in a third party storage location associated with the ground computing device.
• B16. The method of any of paragraphs B1-B13, wherein the exchanging the data file corresponds to transmitting the data file from the ground computing device to the aircraft computing device.
• B17. The method of any of paragraphs B1-B16, wherein the data file is exchanged between the ground computing device and the aircraft computing device via a transient storage location.
• B17.1. The method of paragraph B17, wherein the transient storage location is associated with the aircraft interface computing device.
• B18. The method of any of paragraphs B1-B17.1, further comprising receiving an additional data transmission based on a break in communication between the aircraft computing device and the aircraft interface computing device.
• B18.1. The method of paragraph B18, wherein the additional data transmission is received from the aircraft interface computing device.
• B18.2. The method of paragraph B18, wherein the aircraft interface computing device is a first aircraft interface computing device, and the additional data transmission is received from a second aircraft interface computing device.
• B18.2.1. The method of paragraph B18.2, wherein the second aircraft interface computing device is located in a different service sub-region than the first aircraft interface computing device.
• B19. The method of any of paragraphs B1-B18.2.1, further comprising determining, by the ground computing device, the data file is to be transmitted between the ground computing device and the aircraft computing device by accessing a command queue associated with the aircraft.
• B19.1. The method of paragraph B19, wherein the ground computing device hosts and/or maintains the command queue in an accessible storage location.
• B19.2. The method of any of paragraphs B19-B19.1, further comprising:
• determining that the data file has been exchanged between the ground computing device and the aircraft computing device;
• determining, based on the command queue, that another data file is to be exchanged between the ground computing device and the aircraft computing device based on the command queue; and
• exchanging the other data file between the ground computing device and the aircraft computing device.
• C1. A computing method for data transmissions from an aircraft computing device on an aircraft to a ground computing device, the method comprising:
• receiving, by an aircraft API executing on an aircraft interface computing device, an initial communication from an aircraft service executing on the aircraft computing device;
• determining, by the aircraft API, that a data file is to be transmitted from the aircraft computing device to the ground computing device;
• transmitting, to the aircraft computing device, a data signal configured to cause the data file to be transmitted from the aircraft computing device to a transient storage location associated with the aircraft interface computing device; and
• causing the data file to be transmitted from the transient storage location to the ground computing device.
• C1.1. The method of paragraph C1, wherein the ground computing device is configured to exchange the data file with the aircraft computing device within a service region, wherein the service region comprises a plurality of service sub-regions.
• C1.1.1. The method of paragraph C1.1, wherein the service region is a global region.
• C2. The method of any of paragraphs C1-C1.1.1, wherein the transient storage location is geographically located in a remote location from the ground computing device.
• C2.1. The method of paragraph C2, wherein the aircraft interface computing device is located in a first service sub-region of a/the plurality of service sub-regions, and the transient storage location is located in a second service sub-region of the plurality of service sub-regions that is different from the first service sub-region.
• C2.1.1. The method of paragraph C2.1, wherein the aircraft interface computing device is geographically located in a remote location from the ground computing device.
• C2.1.2. The method of paragraph C2.1, wherein the aircraft interface computing device is geographically located within a threshold distance of the transient storage location.
• C3. The method of any of paragraphs C1-C2.1.2, wherein the aircraft API is one of a plurality of aircraft APIs, and wherein each aircraft API of the plurality of aircraft APIs executes on a plurality of aircraft interface computing devices.
• C3.1. The method of paragraph C3, wherein each aircraft interface computing device of the plurality of aircraft interface computing devices is located in a different service sub-region of a/the plurality of service sub-regions.
• C4. The method of any of paragraphs C1-C3.1, wherein the aircraft interface computing device is an infrastructure component of a cloud computing network.
• C5. The method of any of paragraphs C1-C4, wherein the data file includes a security log, a performance log, health monitoring data, and/or a system log.
• C6. The method of any of paragraphs C1-C5, wherein the initial communication includes one or more identifiers for the aircraft, the aircraft computing device, and/or the aircraft service.
• C6.1. The method of paragraph C6, wherein the one or more identifiers include an airline identifier and/or an airplane identifier.
• C6.1.1. The method of paragraph C6.1, wherein the airline identifier comprises one of an international civil aviation organization (ICAO) code or an international air transport association (IATA) code.
• C6.1.2. The method of any of paragraphs C6.1-C6.1.1, wherein the airplane identifier comprises one of a tail number, a registration number, a manufacturer number, and a serial number.
• C7. The method of any of paragraphs C1-C6.1.2, further comprising determining, based on the initial communication, an aircraft classifier associated with at least one of the aircraft service, the aircraft computing device, and the aircraft.
• C7.1. The method of paragraph C7, wherein the aircraft classifier corresponds to one or more of a type of the aircraft, a year of the aircraft, a model of the aircraft, an airline associated with the aircraft, a type of computing device on which the aircraft service is executing, a type of service to which the aircraft service corresponds, or a combination thereof.
• C7.2. The method of any of paragraphs C7-C7.1, wherein the determining the aircraft classifier comprises accessing a data construct that identifies the aircraft classifier.
• C7.2.1. The method of paragraph C7.2, wherein the data construct is a lookup table that stores relationships between the one or more identifiers and the aircraft classifier.
• C7.3. The method of any of paragraphs C7-C7.1, wherein the determining the aircraft classifier comprises transmitting a/the one or more identifiers included in the initial communication to the ground computing device and receiving the aircraft classifier from the ground computing device.
• C8. The method of any of paragraphs C7-C7.3, further comprising selecting, by the aircraft interface computing device and based on the aircraft classifier, the aircraft API for communicating with the aircraft service from a plurality of aircraft APIs, wherein each aircraft API of the plurality of aircraft APIs is configured to communicate with a unique aircraft service of a unique aircraft computing device.
• C9. The method of any of paragraphs C1-C8, wherein the initial communication includes a command to transmit the data file from the aircraft computing device to the ground computing device, and wherein the determining that the data file is to be transmitted from the aircraft computing device to the ground computing device is based on the command.
• C10. The method of any of paragraphs C1-C8, wherein the determining that the data file is to be transmitted from the aircraft computing device to the ground computing device comprises:
• transmitting, by the aircraft interface computing device, the aircraft classifier and the one or more identifiers to the ground computing device; and
• receiving, from the ground computing device, a notification that the data file is to be transmitted from the aircraft computing device to the ground computing device.
• C10.1. The method of paragraph C10, further comprising determining, by the ground computing device, that the data file is to be exchanged between the ground computing device and the aircraft computing device by accessing a command queue associated with the aircraft.
• C10.1.1. The method of paragraph C10.1, wherein the ground computing device hosts and/or maintains the command queue in an accessible storage location.
• C11. The method of any of paragraphs C1-C10.1, wherein the initial communication is a downlink communication.
• C12. The method of any of paragraphs C1-C11, further comprising determining that the data file has been completely stored in the transient storage location, and wherein the data file is transmitted from the transient storage location to the ground computing device based on the data file being completely stored in the transient storage location.
• C13. The method of any of paragraphs C1-C12, wherein the transient storage location is a data storage resource of a cloud computing network.
• C14. The method of any of paragraphs C1-C13, wherein the causing the data file to be transmitted from the transient storage location corresponds to causing the data file to be transmitted from the transient storage location to a third party storage location associated with the ground computing device.
• C15. The method of any of paragraphs C1-C14, wherein the causing the data file to be transmitted from the transient storage location comprises:
• determining a location the data file is to be stored in the ground computing device; and
• causing the data file to be transmitted to the location in the ground computing device.
• C15.1. The method of paragraph C15, wherein the determining the location the data file is to be stored in the ground computing device comprises:
• transmitting, by the aircraft interface computing device, one or more of the one or more identifiers and the aircraft classifier to the ground computing device; and
• receiving, by the aircraft interface computing device and from the ground computing device, a uniform resource identifier (URI) for the location the data file is to be stored in the ground computing device; and
• causing the data file to be transmitted to the location in the ground computing device based on the URI.
• C15.1.1. The method of paragraph C15.1, wherein the URI identifies a storage container associated with the one or more identifiers and/or the aircraft classifier.
• C15.1.2. The method of any of paragraphs C15-C15.1.1, wherein the URI identifies a storage container associated with the airline that operates the aircraft.
• C16. The method of any of paragraphs C1-C15.1.2, further comprising determining that the data file is to be transmitted from the aircraft computing device to the ground computing device via the transient storage location.
• C16.1. The method of paragraph C16, wherein the determining that the data file is to be transmitted from the aircraft computing device to the ground computing device via the transient storage location comprises selecting the transient storage location from a plurality of transient storage locations.
• C16.2. The method of any of paragraphs C16-C16.1, wherein the determining that the data file is to be transmitted via the transient storage location comprises determining that the transient storage location is geographically located within a threshold distance of the aircraft.
• C16.3. The method of any of paragraphs C16-C16.2, wherein the determining that the data file is to be transmitted via the transient storage location is based on the airline identifier and/or the airplane identifier.
• C16.4. The method of any of paragraphs C16-C16.1, wherein the determining that the data file is to be transmitted via the transient storage location comprises:
• transmitting the airline identifier and/or the airplane identifier to the ground computing device; and
• receiving, from the ground computing device and based on the airline identifier and/or the airplane identifier, an identification of a selected transient storage location.
• C16.5. The method of any of paragraphs C16-C16.4, wherein the determining that the data file is to be transmitted via the transient storage location is based on an airplane link type between the aircraft and the aircraft interface computing device.
• C16.5.1. The method of paragraph C16.5, wherein the airplane link type is one of a Wi-Fi link, a cellular link, or a satellite link.
• C16.6. The method of any of paragraphs C16-C16.5.1, wherein the determining that the data file is to be transmitted via the transient storage location is based on a file size of the data file, an onboard system type of the aircraft computing device, and/or hardware capabilities of the aircraft computing device.
• C16.7. The method of any of paragraphs C16-C16.6, wherein the determining that the data file is to be transmitted via the transient storage location is based on a performance of the cloud computing network and/or a performance of the aircraft interface computing device.
• C17. The method of any of paragraphs C1-C16.7, further comprising deleting the data file from the transient storage location.
• C17.1. The method of paragraph C17, wherein the deleting the data file from the transient storage location is based on receiving a data transmission from the ground computing device corresponding to a notification the data file has been fully transmitted.
• C18. The method of any of paragraphs C1-C17.1, further comprising:
• receiving a notification the data file is to be transferred from the aircraft computing device and the ground computing device via a different aircraft interface computing device and/or a different transient storage location; and
• causing the aircraft computing device to transmit the data file to the ground computing device via the different aircraft interface computing device and/or the different transient storage location.
• C19. The method of any of paragraphs C1-C18, wherein the transient storage location receives the data file in component subparts, and the method further comprises aggregating the component subparts to form the data file.
• C20. The method of any of paragraphs C1-C18, wherein the transient storage location receives the data file in component subparts, and the transmitting the data file from the transient storage location to the ground computing device comprises transmitting the component subparts from the transient storage location to the ground computing device, wherein the ground computing device is configured to aggregate the component subparts to form the data file.
• C21. The method of any of paragraphs C1-C20, further comprising:
• determining metadata for the initial communication; and
• transmitting a notification to the ground computing device that includes the metadata for the initial communication.
• C21.1. The method of paragraph C21, wherein the metadata for the initial communication includes one or more of a name of the data file, a type of the data file, a size of the data file, a time stamp for the data file, a time stamp for the transfer, an airplane classifier, the airline identifier, the airplane identifier, a location of the aircraft, a location of the transient storage location, and a URL for the data file in the transient storage location.
• C21.2. The method of any of paragraphs C21-C21.1, further comprising storing the metadata for the initial communication.
• C21.3. The method of any of paragraphs C21-C21.2, further comprising tagging the data file with the metadata for the initial communication.
• C22. The method of any of paragraphs C1-C21.3, further comprising:
• receiving an additional initial communication from the aircraft interface computing device based on a break in communication between the aircraft computing device and the aircraft interface computing device that interrupted the transmission of the data file from the aircraft computing device to the transient storage location; and
• resuming the transmission of the data file from the aircraft computing device to the transient storage location.
• C22.1. The method of paragraph C22, wherein the break in communication to the aircraft computing device corresponds to losing a network connection.
• C22.2. The method of paragraph C22, wherein the break in communication corresponds to a failure of the aircraft interface computing device.
• C22.3. The method of paragraph C22, wherein the break in communication corresponds to a failure of the transient storage location.
• C22.4. The method of any of paragraphs C22-C22.3, wherein the resuming the transmission of the data file from the aircraft computing device to the transient storage location comprises determining the transient storage is available, and transmitting a notification to the aircraft that causes the transmission of the data file from the aircraft computing device to the transient storage location to resume.
• C22.4.1. The method of paragraph C22.4, wherein the resuming the transmission of the data file from the aircraft computing device to the transient storage location is based on the metadata for the initial communication stored by the aircraft interface computing device.
• C22.4.2. The method of paragraph C22.4, wherein the resuming the transmission of the data file from the aircraft computing device to the transient storage location comprises:
• transmitting the metadata for the additional initial communication to the ground computing device;
• receiving, based on the metadata for the initial communication stored by the ground computing device, a notification from the ground computing device that the transmission of the data file is to be continued; and
• resuming the transmission of the data file from the aircraft computing device to the transient storage based on the notification that the transmission of the data file is to be continued.
• C22.4.2.1. The method of paragraph C22.4.2, wherein the notification includes one or more of a status of the data file, a size of the data file stored on the transient storage location, and a location of the data file on the transient storage location.
• C23. The method of any of paragraphs C22-C22.4.2.1, wherein the additional initial communication is received by the aircraft interface computing device.
• C24. The method of any of paragraphs C22-C22.4.2.1, wherein the aircraft API is a first aircraft API executing on a first aircraft interface computing device, and the additional initial communication is received by a second aircraft API executing on a second aircraft interface computing device.
• C24.1. The method of paragraph C24, wherein the second aircraft interface computing device is located in a different service sub-region than the first aircraft interface computing device.
• C25. The method of any of paragraphs C1-C24.1, further comprising selecting an alternate transient storage location, and causing a remaining portion of the data file to be transmitted from the aircraft computing device to the alternate transient storage location.
• C25.1. The method of paragraph C25, wherein the selecting the alternate transient storage location is based on one or more of a new geographic location of the aircraft, performance data for the transient storage location, performance data for the alternate transient storage location, a failure of the transient storage location, performance data for the connection between the ground computing device and the transient storage location, performance data for the connection between the ground computing device and the alternate transient storage location, a type of connection between the aircraft computing device and the transient storage location, and a type of connection between the aircraft computing device and the alternate transient storage location.
• C25.2. The method of any of paragraphs C25-C25.1, wherein the selecting the alternate transient storage location comprises selecting the alternate transient storage location from a plurality of alternate transient storage locations.
• C26. The method of any of paragraphs C1-C25.2, further comprising:
• receiving, by the aircraft interface computing device, an additional initial communication from an additional aircraft service executing on an additional aircraft computing device located onboard an additional aircraft;
• determining, by the aircraft interface computing device, that an additional data file is to be transmitted from the additional aircraft computing device to the ground computing device;
• transmitting, to the additional aircraft computing device, an additional data signal configured to cause the additional data file to be transmitted from the additional aircraft computing device to the transient storage location; and
• causing the additional data file to be transmitted from the transient storage location to the ground computing device.
• C27. The method of any of paragraphs C1-C265.2, further comprising:
• receiving, by the aircraft interface computing device, a further initial communication from an additional aircraft service executing on an additional aircraft computing device located onboard an additional aircraft;
• determining, by the aircraft interface computing device, that an additional data file is to be transmitted from the additional aircraft computing device to the ground computing device;
• transmitting, to the additional aircraft computing device, an additional data signal configured to cause the additional data file to be transmitted from the additional aircraft computing device to an additional transient storage location that is different from the transient storage location; and causing the additional data file to be transmitted from the additional transient storage location to the ground computing device.
• C28. The method of any of paragraphs C1-C27, wherein the initial communication is transmitted from the aircraft service to the aircraft interface computing device over a first communications medium, and one or more first communications are transmitted from the aircraft interface computing device to the ground computing device over a second communications medium that is different from the first communications medium.
• C28.1. The method of paragraph C28, wherein the first communications medium is one of a wireless network, a satellite network, and a cellular network.
• C28.2. The method of any of paragraphs C28-C28.1, wherein the second communications medium is the internet.
• C28.3. The method of any of paragraphs C28-C28.1, wherein the second communications medium is a cloud computing network.
• C29. The method of any of paragraphs C1-C28.3, wherein the receiving the initial communication from the aircraft service comprises establishing a secure connection between the aircraft computing device and the aircraft interface computing device.
• C30. The method of any of paragraphs C1-C29, wherein the aircraft is in flight during the transmission of the initial communication.
• D1. A computing method for data exchanges between an aircraft computing device executing an aircraft service on an aircraft and a ground computing device, the method comprising:
• receiving, by the ground computing device, a data transmission from an aircraft interface computing device and in communication with the aircraft computing device, the data transmission indicating that a data file is to be transmitted from the aircraft computing device to the ground computing device; and
• receiving, by the ground computing device, the data file from the aircraft computing device via a transient storage location associated with the aircraft interface computing device.
• D1.1. The method of paragraph D1, wherein the ground computing device is configured to exchange the data file with one or more aircraft computing devices within a service region, wherein the service region comprises a plurality of service sub-regions.
• D1.1.1. The method of paragraph D1.1, wherein the service region is a global region.
• D2. The method of any of paragraphs D1-D1.1.1, wherein the transient storage location is a data storage resource of a cloud network.
• D2.1. The method of paragraph D2, wherein receiving the data file from the aircraft computing device via the transient storage location corresponds to the ground computing device receiving the data file from the transient storage location over the cloud network.
• D3. The method of any of paragraphs D1-D2.1, wherein the receiving the data file from the aircraft computing device via the transient storage location comprises causing the data file to be transmitted from the transient storage location to a central storage location associated with the ground computing device.
• D4. The method of paragraph D1, wherein the transient storage location is geographically located in a remote location from the ground computing device.
• D4.1. The method of paragraph D4, wherein the aircraft interface computing device is located in a first service sub-region of a/the plurality of service sub-regions, and the transient storage location is located in a second service sub-region of the plurality of service sub-regions that is different from the first service sub-region.
• D4.1.1. The method of paragraph D4.1, wherein the aircraft interface computing device is geographically located in a remote location from the ground computing device.
• D4.1.2. The method of paragraph D4.1, wherein the aircraft interface computing device is geographically located within a threshold distance of the transient storage location.
• D5. The method of any of paragraphs D1-D4.1.2, wherein the aircraft API is one of a plurality of aircraft APIs, and wherein each aircraft API of the plurality of aircraft APIs executes on a plurality of aircraft interface computing devices.
• D5.1. The method of paragraph D5, wherein each aircraft interface computing device of the plurality of aircraft interface computing devices is located in a different service sub-region of a/the plurality of service sub-regions.
• D6. The method of any of paragraphs D1-D5.1, further comprising determining that the data file is to be transmitted via the transient storage location.
• D6.1. The method of paragraph D6, wherein the determining that the data file is to be transmitted via the transient storage location comprises selecting a selected transient storage location from a plurality of transient storage locations.
• D6.2. The method of any of paragraphs D6-D6.1, wherein the determining that the data file is to be transmitted via the transient storage location is based on the ground computing device determining the transient storage location is geographically located within a threshold distance of the aircraft.
• D6.3. The method of any of paragraphs D6-D6.2, wherein the determining that the data file is to be transmitted via the transient storage location is based on an airline identifier and/or an airplane identifier of the aircraft.
• D6.3.1. The method of paragraph D6.3, wherein the determining that the data file is to be transmitted via the transient storage location comprises:
• receiving the airline identifier and/or the airplane identifier from the aircraft interface computing device;
• determining, based on the airline identifier and/or the airplane identifier, the selected transient storage location through which the data file is to be transmitted; and
• transmitting, to the aircraft interface computing device, an identification of the selected transient storage location.
• D6.4. The method of any of paragraphs D6-D6.3.1, wherein the determining that the data file is to be transmitted via the transient storage location is based on an airplane link type between the aircraft and the aircraft interface computing device.
• D6.4.1. The method of paragraph D6.4, wherein the airplane link type is one of a Wi-Fi link, a cellular link, or a satellite link.
• D6.5. The method of any of paragraphs D6-D6.4.1, wherein the determining that the data file is to be transmitted via the transient storage location is based on a file size of the data file, an onboard system type of the aircraft computing device, and/or hardware capabilities of the aircraft computing device.
• D6.6. The method of any of paragraphs D6-D6.5, wherein the determining that the data file is to be transmitted via the transient storage location is based on a performance of the cloud computing network and/or a performance of the aircraft interface computing device.
• D7. The method of any of paragraphs D1-D6.6, further comprising:
• determining a remaining portion of the data file is to be transferred from the aircraft computing device to the ground computing device via a different transient storage location; and
• transmitting a notification the remaining portion of the data file is to be transferred from the aircraft computing device to the ground computing device via the different transient storage location.
• D7.1. The method of paragraph D7, wherein the determining the remaining portion of the data file is to be transferred from the aircraft computing device to the ground computing device via the different transient storage location is based on one or more of a new geographic location of the aircraft, performance data for the transient storage location, performance data for an alternate transient storage location, a failure of the transient storage location, performance data for the connection between the ground computing device and the transient storage location, performance data for the connection between the ground computing device and the alternate transient storage location, a type of connection between the aircraft computing device and the transient storage location, and a type of connection between the aircraft computing device and the alternate transient storage location.
• D8. The method of any of paragraphs D1-D7.1, wherein receiving the data file from the aircraft computing device via the transient storage location comprises:
• receiving the data file in component subparts; and
• aggregating, by the ground computing device, the component subparts to form the data file.
• D8.1. The method of paragraph D8, wherein the receiving the data file in the component subparts comprises receiving the component subparts of the data file from a plurality of transient storage locations.
• D9. The method of any of paragraphs D1-D8.1, further comprising:
• determining that the data file has been transmitted to the ground computing device; and
• transmitting, to the aircraft interface computing device, a notification the data file has been transferred from the aircraft computing device to the ground computing device, wherein the notification that the data file has been transferred is configured to cause the data file to be deleted from the transient storage location.
• D10. The method of any of paragraphs D1-D9, further comprising receiving a notification from the aircraft interface computing device that includes metadata for the data file.
• D10.1. The method of paragraph D10, wherein the metadata for the data file includes one or more of a name of the data file, a type of the data file, a size of the data file, a time stamp for the data file, a time stamp for the transfer, an airplane classifier, the airline identifier, the airplane identifier, a location of the aircraft, a location of the transient storage location, and a URL for the data file in the transient storage location.
• D10.2. The method of any of paragraphs D10-D10.1, further comprising storing the metadata for the data file.
• D10.3. The method of any of paragraphs D10-D10.2, further comprising tagging the data file with the metadata.
• D11. The method of any of paragraphs D1-D10.3, wherein the ground computing device receiving the data transmission from the aircraft interface computing device located in the service sub-region corresponds to receiving a first data transmission from a first aircraft interface computing device located in a first service sub-region of a/the plurality of service sub-regions, the first data transmission indicating that a first data file is to be transmitted from a first aircraft computing device in communication with the first aircraft interface computing device to the ground computing device.
• D11.1. The method of paragraph D11, further comprising receiving, by the ground computing device, a second data transmission from a second aircraft interface computing device located in a second service sub-region of the plurality of service sub-regions, wherein the second service sub-region is different from the first service sub-region, and the second data transmission indicating that a second data file is to be transmitted from a second aircraft computing device in communication with the second aircraft interface computing device to the ground computing device.
• D11.1.1. The method of paragraph D11.1, further comprising receiving, by the ground computing device, the second data file from the second aircraft computing device via the transient storage location.
• D11.1.2. The method of any of paragraphs D11.1-D11.1.1, further comprising receiving, by the ground computing device, the second data file from the second aircraft computing device via the alternate transient storage location that is located in a different service sub-region from the transient storage location.
• D11.2. The method of paragraph D11, further comprising receiving, by the ground computing device, a second data transmission from the first aircraft interface computing device, the second data transmission indicating that a third data file is to be transmitted from a second aircraft computing device in communication with the first aircraft interface computing device to the ground computing device.
• D11.2.1. The method of paragraph D11.2, further comprising receiving, by the ground computing device, the third data file from the second aircraft computing device via the transient storage location.
• D11.2.2. The method of any of paragraphs D11.2-D11.2.1, further comprising receiving, by the ground computing device, the third data file from the second aircraft computing device via the alternate transient storage location that is located in the different service sub-region from the transient storage location.
• D12. The method of any of paragraphs D1-D11.2.2, wherein the data file includes one or more of a security log, a performance log, health monitoring data, and/or a system log.
• D13. The method of any of paragraphs D1-D12, wherein the data transmission is received from the aircraft interface computing device in response to the aircraft interface computing device receiving an initial communication from the aircraft.
• D14. The method of any of paragraphs D1-D13, wherein the aircraft is in flight during a transmission of the data file from the aircraft computing device to the transient storage location.
• D15. The method of any of paragraphs D1-D14, wherein the data file is transmitted from the aircraft to the transient storage location over a first communications medium, and the data transmission is transmitted from the transient storage location to the ground computing device over a second communications medium that is different from the first communications medium.
• D15.1. The method of paragraph D15, wherein the first communications medium is one of a wireless network, a satellite network, and a cellular network.
• D15.2. The method of any of paragraphs D15-D15.1, wherein the first communications medium is a downlink communication medium.
• D15.3. The method of any of paragraphs D15-D15.2, wherein the second communications medium is the internet.
• D15.4. The method of any of paragraphs D15-D15.2, wherein the second communications medium is a cloud computing network.
• D16. The method of any of paragraphs D1-D15.4, wherein the aircraft interface computing device is an infrastructure component of a cloud computing network.
• D17. The method of any of paragraphs D1-D16, further comprising receiving, from the aircraft interface computing device and by the ground computing device, one or more identifiers associated with the aircraft.
• D17.1. The method of paragraph D17, wherein the one or more identifiers are associated with the aircraft, the aircraft computing device, and/or the aircraft service.
• D17.2. The method of any of paragraphs D17-D17.1, wherein the one or more identifiers include an airline identifier and/or an airplane identifier.
• D17.2.1. The method of paragraph D17.2, wherein the one or more airline identifiers comprise one or more of an international civil aviation organization (ICAO) code or an international air transport association (IATA) code.
• D17.2.2. The method of any of paragraphs D17.1-D17.2.1, wherein the airplane identifier comprises one of a tail number, a registration number, a manufacturer number, and a serial number.
• D18. The method of any of paragraphs D1-D17.2.2, further comprising determining an aircraft classifier associated with the aircraft.
• D18.1. The method of paragraph D18, wherein the determining the aircraft classifier comprises receiving, from the aircraft interface computing device and by the ground computing device, the aircraft classifier associated with the aircraft.
• D18.2. The method of paragraph D18, wherein the determining the aircraft classifier comprises determining, by the ground computing device, the aircraft classifier is based at least in part on the airplane identifier.
• D18.2.1. The method of paragraph D18.2, wherein the determining the aircraft classifier comprises accessing a data construct that identifies the aircraft classifier.
• D18.2.1.1. The method of paragraph D18.2.1, wherein the data construct is a lookup table that stores relationships between the one or more identifiers and the aircraft classifier.
• D18.3. The method of any of paragraphs D18-D18.2.1.1, wherein the determining the aircraft classifier comprises:
• receiving, from the aircraft interface computing device, the one or more identifiers and/or the aircraft classifier;
• determining a storage location where the data file is to be stored in the central storage location; and
• transmitting, to the aircraft interface computing device and by the ground computing device, a uniform resource identifier (URI) for the storage location where the data file is to be stored in the central storage location.
• D18.3.1. The method of paragraph D18.3, wherein the URI identifies a storage container associated with the one or more identifiers and/or the aircraft classifier.
• D18.3.2. The method of any of paragraphs D18.3-D18.3.1, wherein the URI identifies a/the storage container associated with an airline that operates the aircraft.
• D18.4. The method of any of paragraphs D18-D18.3.2, wherein the aircraft classifier corresponds to one or more of a type of the aircraft, a year of the aircraft, a model of the aircraft, the airline associated with the aircraft, a type of aircraft computing device on which the aircraft service is executing and communicating to a aircraft API to which the aircraft service corresponds, or a combination thereof.
• D19. The method of any of paragraphs D1-D18.4, wherein exchanging the data file corresponds to:
• receiving the data file from the aircraft computing device; and
• storing the data file in the central storage location.
• D19.1. The method of paragraph D19, wherein the central storage location segregates stored data according to the aircraft classifier.
• D19.1.1. The method of paragraph D19.1, further comprising storing the data file in a portion of the central storage location associated with the aircraft classifier associated with the aircraft.
• D20. The method of any of paragraphs D1-D19.1.1, wherein the transmission of the data file corresponds to:
• receiving the data file from the aircraft computing device;
• determining that the data file is associated with a third party; and
• transmitting the data file for storage in a third party storage location associated with the ground computing device.
• D20.1. The method of paragraph D20, wherein the determining that the data file is associated with the third party is based on one or more of the aircraft classifier and the one or more identifiers associated with the aircraft.
• D21. The method of any of paragraphs D1-D20.1, further comprising:
• receiving an additional data transmission based on a break in communication between the aircraft computing device and the aircraft interface computing device and/or the transient storage location, the additional data transmission indicating that a remaining portion of the data file is to be transmitted from the aircraft computing device to the ground computing device; and
• resuming the transmission of the data file from the aircraft computing device to the ground computing device.
• D21.1. The method of paragraph D21, wherein the break in communication corresponds to the aircraft computing device losing a network connection.
• D21.2. The method of paragraph D21, wherein the break in communication corresponds to a failure of the aircraft interface computing device.
• D21.3. The method of paragraph D21, wherein the break in communication corresponds to a failure of the transient storage location.
• D21.4. The method of any of paragraphs D21-D21.3, wherein the resuming the transmission of the data file from the aircraft computing device to the ground computing device further comprises determining that the transient storage location is available and resuming the transmission of the data file from the aircraft computing device to the transient storage location.
• D21.5. The method of any of paragraphs D21-D21.4, wherein the resuming the transmission of the data file from the aircraft computing device to the transient storage location is based on a/the metadata for the data file.
• D21.6. The method of any of paragraphs D21-D21.5, wherein the resuming the transmission of the data file from the aircraft computing device to the ground computing device comprises transmitting to the aircraft interface computing device a notification that includes one or more of a status of the data file, a size of the data file stored on the transient storage location, and a location of the data file on the transient storage location.
• D21.7. The method of any of paragraphs D21-D21.6, wherein the additional data transmission is received from the aircraft interface computing device.
• D21.8. The method of any of paragraphs D21-D21.6, wherein the aircraft interface computing device is a first aircraft interface computing device, and the additional data transmission is received from a second aircraft interface computing device.
• D21.8.1. The method of paragraph D21.8, wherein the second aircraft interface computing device is located in a different service sub-region than the first aircraft interface computing device.
• D22. The method of any of paragraphs D1-D21.8.1, wherein the receiving the data transmission from the aircraft interface computing device indicating that the data file is to be transmitted from the aircraft computing device to the ground computing device comprises:
• receiving, from the aircraft interface computing device and by the ground computing device, one or more of the aircraft classifier and the one or more identifiers associated with the aircraft;
• determining, by the ground computing device, the data file is to be transmitted from the aircraft computing device to the ground computing device based on the one or more of the aircraft classifier and the one or more identifiers associated with the aircraft; and
• transmitting, to the aircraft interface computing device and by the ground computing device, a notification the data file is to be transmitted from the aircraft computing device to the ground computing device.
• D22.1. The method of paragraph D22, wherein the determining that the data file is to be transmitted from the aircraft computing device to the ground computing device comprises accessing, by the ground computing device, a command queue associated with the aircraft.
• D23. The method of any of paragraphs D1-D22.1, further comprising determining, by the ground computing device, that an additional data file is to be exchanged between the central storage location and the aircraft computing device by accessing the command queue associated with the aircraft.
• D24. The method of any of paragraphs D1-D23, further comprising:
• determining that the data file has been transmitted from the aircraft computing device to the ground computing device; and
• determining, based on the command queue, that another data file is to be exchanged between the central storage location and the aircraft computing device; and
• exchanging the other data file between the central storage location and the aircraft computing device.
• D24.1. The method of paragraph D24, wherein the ground computing device hosts and/or maintains the command queue in an accessible storage location.
• E1. A computing method for data transmissions from an aircraft computing device on an aircraft to a ground computing device, the method comprising:
• receiving, by an aircraft API executing on an aircraft interface computing device, an initial communication from an aircraft service executing on the aircraft computing device;
• determining, by the aircraft API, that a data file is to be transmitted from the ground computing device to the aircraft computing device;
• transmitting, to the ground computing device, a data signal configured to cause the data file to be transmitted from the ground computing device to a transient storage location associated with the aircraft interface computing device; and
• causing the data file to be transmitted from the transient storage location to the aircraft computing device.
• E1.1. The method of paragraph E1, wherein the ground computing device is configured to exchange the data file with one or more aircraft computing devices within a service region, wherein the service region comprises a plurality of service sub-regions.
• E1.1.1. The method of paragraph E1.1, wherein the service region is a global region.
• E2. The method of any of paragraphs E1-E1.1.1, wherein the transient storage location is geographically located in a remote location from the ground computing device.
• E2.1. The method of paragraph E2, wherein the aircraft interface computing device is geographically located within a threshold distance of the transient storage location.
• E2.1.1. The method of paragraph E2.1, wherein the aircraft interface computing device is geographically located in a remote location from the ground computing device.
• E3. The method of any of paragraphs E1-E2.1.1, wherein the aircraft interface computing device is an infrastructure component of a cloud computing network.
• E4. The method of any of paragraphs E1-E3, wherein the data file includes a security log, a performance log, health monitoring data, and/or a system log.
• E5. The method of any of paragraphs E1-E4, wherein the initial communication includes one or more identifiers for the aircraft, the aircraft computing device, and/or the aircraft service.
• E5.1. The method of paragraph E5, wherein the one or more identifiers include an airline identifier and/or an airplane identifier.
• E5.1.1. The method of paragraph E5.1, wherein the airline identifier comprises one of an international civil aviation organization (ICAO) code or an international air transport association (IATA) code.
• E5.1.2. The method of paragraph E5.1, wherein the airplane identifier comprises one of a tail number, a registration number, a manufacturer number, and a serial number.
• E6. The method of any of paragraphs E1-E5.1.2, wherein the aircraft API is one of a plurality of aircraft APIs, and wherein each aircraft API of the plurality of aircraft APIs executes on a plurality of aircraft interface computing devices.
• E6.1. The method of paragraph E6, wherein each aircraft interface computing device of the plurality of aircraft interface computing devices is located in a corresponding service sub-region of a/the plurality of service sub-regions.
• E7. The method of any of paragraphs E1-E6.1, further comprising determining, based on the initial communication, an aircraft classifier associated with at least one of the aircraft service, the aircraft computing device, and the aircraft.
• E7.1. The method of paragraph E7, further comprising selecting, by the aircraft interface computing device and based on the aircraft classifier, the aircraft API for communicating with the aircraft service from a plurality of aircraft APIs, wherein each of the aircraft APIs allows the aircraft interface computing device to communicate with one or more of corresponding aircraft services, corresponding aircraft computing devices, or corresponding aircraft.
• E7.2. The method of any of paragraphs E7-E7.1, wherein the aircraft classifier corresponds to one or more of a type of aircraft, a year of the aircraft, a model of the aircraft, an airline associated with the aircraft, a type of computing device on which the aircraft service is executing, a type of service to which the aircraft service corresponds, or a combination thereof.
• E7.3. The method of any of paragraphs E7-E7.2, wherein the determining the aircraft classifier is based on one or more identifiers for the aircraft, the aircraft computing device, and/or the aircraft service.
• E7.4. The method of any of paragraphs E7-E7.3, further comprising accessing a data construct that identifies the aircraft classifier.
• E7.4.1. The method of paragraph E7.4, wherein the data construct is a lookup table that stores relationships between one or more identifiers for the aircraft, the aircraft computing device, and/or the aircraft service and the aircraft classifier.
• E7.5. The method of any of paragraphs E7-E7.3, wherein the determining the aircraft classifier comprises:
• transmitting the one or more identifiers included in the initial communication to the ground computing device; and
• receiving the aircraft classifier from the ground computing device.
• E8. The method of any of paragraphs E1-E7.5, wherein the initial communication includes a command to transmit the data file from the ground computing device to the aircraft computing device and wherein the determining that the data file is to be transmitted from the ground computing device to the aircraft computing device is based on the command.
• E9. The method of any of paragraphs E7-E7.5, wherein the determining that the data file is to be transmitted from the ground computing device to the aircraft computing device comprises:
• transmitting, by the aircraft interface computing device, the aircraft classifier and one or more identifiers for the aircraft, the aircraft computing device, and/or the aircraft service to the ground computing device; and
• receiving, from the ground computing device, a notification that indicates that the data file is to be transmitted from the ground computing device to the aircraft computing device.
• E9.1. The method of paragraph E9, further comprising determining, by the ground computing device, that the data file is to be transmitted from the ground computing device to the aircraft computing device by accessing a command queue associated with the aircraft.
• E9.1.1. The method of paragraph E9.1, wherein the ground computing device hosts and/or maintains the command queue in an accessible storage location.
• E10. The method of any of paragraphs E1-E9.1.1, wherein the initial communication is a downlink communication.
• E11. The method of any of paragraphs E1-E10, wherein the transient storage location is a data storage resource of a cloud computing network.
• E11.1. The method of paragraph E11, wherein the transmitting the data file to the transient storage location comprises transmitting the data file via the cloud computing network.
• E12. The method of any of paragraphs E1-E11.1, wherein the transmitting the data file to the transient storage location comprises transmitting the data file to the transient storage location from a central storage location associated with the ground computing device.
• E13. The method of any of paragraphs E1-E11.1, wherein the transmitting the data file to the transient storage location comprises transmitting the data file to the transient storage location from a third party storage location associated with the ground computing device.
• E14. The method of any of paragraphs E1-E13, wherein the causing the data file to be transmitted to the transient storage location corresponds to causing the data file to be transmitted to the transient storage location in the aircraft computing device via an uplink communication.
• E15. The method of any of paragraphs E1-E14, further comprising determining that the data file is to be transmitted from the aircraft computing device to the ground computing device via the transient storage location.
• E15.1. The method of paragraph E15, wherein the determining that the data file is to be transmitted via the transient storage location comprises selecting the transient storage location from a plurality of transient storage locations.
• E15.2. The method of any of paragraphs E15-E15.1, wherein the determining that the data file is to be transmitted via the transient storage location is based on determining the aircraft will be geographically located within a threshold distance of the transient storage location at the time the data file will be transferred to the aircraft computing device.
• E15.3. The method of any of paragraphs E15-E15.2, wherein the data file is preloaded to the transient storage location before the aircraft is geographically located within the threshold distance of the transient storage location.
• E15.4. The method of any of paragraphs E15-E15.3, wherein the determining that the data file is to be transmitted via the transient storage location is based on a flight plan of the aircraft.
• E15.5. The method of any of paragraphs E15-E15.4, wherein the transient storage location is a cloud storage resource that is geographically located within a threshold distance of at least a portion of the flight plan of the aircraft and/or that is expected to have an efficient connection to the aircraft computing device during at least the portion of the flight plan of the aircraft.
• E15.6. The method of any of paragraphs E15-E15.5, wherein the determining that the data file is to be transmitted via the transient storage location is based on the airline identifier and/or the airplane identifier.
• E15.6.1. The method of paragraph E15.6, wherein the determining that the data file is to be transmitted via the transient storage location comprises:
• transmitting the airline identifier and/or the airplane identifier to the ground computing device; and
• receiving, from the ground computing device and based on the airline identifier and/or the airplane identifier, an identification of the selected transient storage location.
• E15.7. The method of any of paragraphs E15-E15.6.1, wherein the determining that the data file is to be transmitted via the transient storage location is based on an airplane link type between the aircraft and the aircraft interface computing device.
• E15.7.1. The method of paragraph E15.7, wherein the airplane link type is one of a Wi-Fi link, a cellular link, or a satellite link.
• E15.8. The method of any of paragraphs E15-E15.7.1, wherein the determining that the data file is to be transmitted via the transient storage location is based on a file size of the data file, an onboard system type of the aircraft computing device, and/or hardware capabilities of the aircraft computing device.
• E15.9. The method of any of paragraphs E15-E15.8, wherein the determining that the data file is to be transmitted via the transient storage location is based on a performance of the cloud computing network and/or a performance of the aircraft interface computing device.
• E16. The method of any of paragraphs E1-E15.9, further comprising deleting the data file from the transient storage location.
• E16.1. The method of paragraph E16, wherein the deleting the data file from the transient storage location is based on receiving the data transmission from the aircraft computing device corresponding to a notification that the data file has been fully transmitted.
• E17. The method of any of paragraphs E1-E16.1, further comprising:
• receiving a notification that a remaining portion of the data file is to be transferred from the ground computing device to the aircraft computing device via an alternate aircraft interface computing device and/or an alternate transient storage location; and
• causing the aircraft computing device to receive the data file from the ground computing device via the alternate aircraft interface computing device and/or the alternate transient storage location.
• E18. The method of any of paragraphs E1-E17, further comprising:
• determining metadata for the initial communication; and transmitting a notification to the ground computing device that includes the metadata for the initial communication.
• E18.1. The method of paragraph E18, wherein the metadata for the initial communication includes one or more of a name of the data file, a type of the data file, a size of the data file, a time stamp for the data file, a time stamp for the transfer, an airplane classifier, the airline identifier, the airplane identifier, a location of the aircraft, a location of the transient storage location, and a URL for the data file in the transient storage location.
• E18.2. The method of any of paragraphs E18-E18.1, further comprising storing the metadata for the initial communication.
• E18.3. The method of any of paragraphs E18-E18.2, further comprising tagging the data file with the metadata for the initial communication.
• E19. The method of any of paragraphs E1-E18.3, further comprising:
• receiving an additional initial communication from the aircraft service based on a break in communication between the aircraft computing device and the aircraft interface computing device that interrupted the transmission of the data file from the aircraft computing device to the transient storage location; and
• resuming the transmission of the data file from the aircraft computing device to the transient storage location.
• E19.1. The method of paragraph E19, wherein the break in communication to the aircraft computing device comprises losing a network connection.
• E19.2. The method of any of paragraphs E19-E19.1, wherein the break in communication is a failure of the aircraft interface computing device.
• E19.3. The method of any of paragraphs E19-E19.2, wherein the break in communication corresponds to a failure of the transient storage location.
• E19.4. The method of any of paragraphs E19-E19.3, wherein the resuming the transmission of the data file from the aircraft computing device to the transient storage location comprises determining the transient storage is available, and transmitting a notification to the aircraft that causes the transmission of the data file to the aircraft computing device and from the transient storage location to resume.
• E19.5. The method of any of paragraphs E19-E19.4, wherein the resuming the transmission of the data file to the aircraft computing device and from the transient storage location is based on a/the metadata for the initial communication stored by the aircraft interface computing device.
• E19.6. The method of any of paragraphs E19-E19.5, wherein the resuming the transmission of the data file to the aircraft computing device and from the transient storage location comprises:
• transmitting the metadata for the additional initial communication to the ground computing device;
• receiving, based on the metadata for the initial communication stored by the ground computing device, a notification from the ground computing device that the transmission of the data file is to be continued; and
• causing the transmission of the data file to the aircraft computing device and from the transient storage location to resume based on the notification that the transmission of the data file is to be continued.
• E19.6.1. The method of paragraph E19.6, wherein the notification that the transmission of the data file is to be continued includes one or more of a status of the data file, a size of the data file stored on the transient storage location, and a location of the data file on the transient storage location.
• E19.7. The method of any of paragraphs E19-E19.6.1, wherein the additional initial communication is received by the aircraft API executing on the aircraft interface computing device.
• E19.8. The method of any of paragraphs E19-E19.6.1, wherein the aircraft interface computing device is a first aircraft interface computing device, and the additional initial communication is received by a second aircraft interface computing device.
• E19.8.1. The method of paragraph E19.8, wherein the second aircraft interface computing device is geographically located in a different service sub-region than the first aircraft interface computing device.
• E20. The method of any of paragraphs E1-E19.8.1, further comprising selecting an alternate transient storage location, and causing a remaining portion of the data file to be transmitted to the aircraft computing device and from the alternate transient storage location.
• E20.1. The method of paragraph E20, wherein the selecting the alternate transient storage location comprises selecting the alternate transient storage location based on one or more of a new geographic location of the aircraft, performance data for the transient storage location, performance data for the alternate transient storage location, a failure of the transient storage location, performance data for the connection between the ground computing device and the transient storage location, performance data for the connection between the ground computing device and the alternate transient storage location, a type of connection between the aircraft computing device and the transient storage location, and a type of connection between the aircraft computing device and the alternate transient storage location.
• E20.2. The method of any of paragraphs E20-E20.1, wherein the selecting the alternate transient storage location comprises selecting the alternate transient storage location from the plurality of transient storage locations.
• E21. The method of any of paragraphs E1-E20.2, further comprising:
• receiving, by the aircraft interface computing device, a further initial communication from an additional aircraft service executing on an additional aircraft computing device located onboard an additional aircraft;
• determining, by the aircraft interface computing device, that an additional data file is to be transmitted to the additional aircraft computing device and from the ground computing device;
• transmitting, to the ground computing device, an additional data signal configured to cause the additional data file to be transmitted from the ground computing device to the transient storage location; and
• causing the additional data file to be transmitted from the transient storage location to the additional aircraft computing device.
• E22. The method of any of paragraphs E1-E20.2, further comprising:
• receiving, by the aircraft interface computing device, a further initial communication from an additional aircraft service executing on an additional aircraft computing device located onboard an additional aircraft;
• determining, by the aircraft interface computing device, that an additional data file is to be transmitted from the additional aircraft computing device to the ground computing device;
• transmitting, to the ground computing device, an additional data signal configured to cause the additional data file to be transmitted from the ground computing device to an additional transient storage location that is different from the transient storage location; and
• causing the additional data file to be transmitted from the additional transient storage location to the additional aircraft computing device.
• E23. The method of any of paragraphs E1-E22, wherein the initial communication is transmitted from the aircraft service to the aircraft API over a first communications medium, and one or more first communications are transmitted from the aircraft interface computing device to the ground computing device over a second communications medium that is different from the first communications medium.
• E23.1. The method of paragraph E23, wherein the first communications medium is one of a wireless network, a satellite network, and a cellular network.
• E23.2. The method of any of paragraphs E23-E23.1, wherein the second communications medium is the internet.
• E23.3. The method of any of paragraphs E23-E23.1, wherein the second communications medium is a cloud computing network.
• E24. The method of any of paragraphs E1-E23.3, wherein the receiving the initial communication from the aircraft service comprises establishing a secure connection between the aircraft computing device and the aircraft interface computing device.
• E25. The method of any of paragraphs E1-E24, wherein the aircraft is in flight during the transmission of the initial communication.
• F1. A computing method for data exchanges between an aircraft computing device executing an aircraft service on an aircraft and a ground computing device, the method comprising:
• receiving, by the ground computing device, a data transmission from an aircraft interface computing device located remotely from the ground computing device, the data transmission indicating that a data file is to be transmitted from the ground computing device to the aircraft computing device in communication with the aircraft interface computing device via an aircraft API executing on the aircraft interface computing device; and
• transmitting, by the ground computing device, the data file to the aircraft computing device via a transient storage location associated with the aircraft interface computing device.
• F1.1. The method of paragraph F1, wherein the ground computing device is configured to exchange the data file with one or more aircraft computing devices within a service region, wherein the service region comprises a plurality of service sub-regions.
• F1.1.1. The method of paragraph F1.1, wherein the service region is a global region.
• F2. The method of any of paragraphs F1-F1.1.1, wherein the transient storage location is a data storage resource of a cloud network.
• F3. The method of any of paragraphs F1-F2, wherein the transmitting the data file to the aircraft computing device via the transient storage location corresponds to the ground computing device transmitting the data file from the transient storage location over the cloud network.
• F4. The method of any of paragraphs F1-F3, wherein the transient storage location is geographically located remotely from the ground computing device.
• F4.1. The method of paragraph F4, wherein the aircraft interface computing device is located in a first service sub-region of the plurality of service sub-regions, and the transient storage location is located in a second service sub-region of the plurality of service sub-regions that is different from the first service sub-region.
• F4.1.1. The method of paragraph F4.1, wherein the aircraft interface computing device is geographically located remotely from the ground computing device.
• F4.1.2. The method of paragraph F4.1, wherein the aircraft interface computing device is geographically located within a threshold distance of the transient storage location.
• F5. The method of any of paragraphs F1-F4.1.2, wherein the aircraft API is one of a plurality of aircraft APIs, and wherein each aircraft API of the plurality of remote APIs executes on a plurality of aircraft interface computing devices.
• F5.1. The method of paragraph F5, wherein each aircraft interface computing device of the plurality of aircraft interface computing device is located in a different service sub-region of the plurality of service sub-regions.
• F6. The method of any of paragraphs F1-F5.1, further comprising receiving, from the aircraft interface computing device and by the ground computing device, one or more identifiers associated with an aircraft.
• F6.1. The method of paragraph F6, wherein the one or more identifiers are associated with the aircraft, the aircraft computing device, and/or the aircraft service.
• F6.2. The method of any of paragraphs F6-F6.1, wherein the one or more identifiers include an airline identifier and/or an airplane identifier.
• F6.2.1. The method of paragraph F6.2, wherein the airline identifier comprises one or more of an international civil aviation organization (ICAO) code or an international air transport association (IATA) code.
• F6.2.2. The method of paragraph F6.2, wherein the airplane identifier comprises one of a tail number, a registration number, a manufacturer number, and a serial number.
• F7. The method of any of paragraphs F1-F6.2.2, further comprising determining an aircraft classifier associated with the aircraft.
• F7.1. The method of paragraph F7, wherein the determining the aircraft classifier comprises receiving, from the aircraft interface computing device and by the ground computing device, the aircraft classifier associated with the aircraft.
• F7.2. The method of paragraph F7, wherein the determining the aircraft classifier comprises determining, by the ground computing device, the aircraft classifier based at least in part on the airplane identifier.
• F7.2.1. The method of paragraph F7.2, wherein the determining the aircraft classifier comprises accessing a data construct that identifies the aircraft classifier.
• F7.2.1.1. The method of paragraph F7.2.1, wherein the data construct is a lookup table that stores relationships between the one or more identifiers and the aircraft classifier.
• F8. The method of any of paragraphs F1-F7.2.1.1, further comprising determining that the data file is to be transmitted via the transient storage location.
• F8.1. The method of paragraph F8, wherein the determining that the data file is to be transmitted via the transient storage location comprises selecting the transient storage location from a plurality of transient storage locations.
• F8.2. The method of any of paragraphs F8-F8.1, wherein the determining that the data file is to be transmitted via the transient storage location is based on the ground computing device determining the location of the transient storage location is geographically within a threshold distance of the aircraft.
• F8.3. The method of any of paragraphs F8-F8.2, wherein the determining that the data file is to be transmitted via the transient storage location is based on the ground computing device determining the aircraft will be located within the threshold distance of the transient storage location at the time the data file will be transferred to the aircraft computing device.
• F8.4. The method of any of paragraphs F8-F8.3, wherein the data file is preloaded to the transient storage location before the aircraft is geographically located within the threshold distance of the transient storage location.
• F8.5. The method of any of paragraphs F8-F8.4, wherein the transient storage location is selected from a plurality of potential transient storage locations based on a flight plan of the aircraft.
• F8.6. The method of any of paragraphs F8-F8.5, wherein the transient storage location is a cloud storage resource that is geographically located within the threshold distance of the transient storage location during at least a portion of the flight plan of the aircraft and/or that is expected to have an efficient connection to the aircraft computing device during at least the portion of the flight plan of the aircraft.
• F8.7. The method of any of paragraphs F8-F8.6, wherein the transient storage location is selected from the plurality of potential transient storage locations based on one or more of performance data for an alternate transient storage location, a failure of the transient storage location, performance data for the connection between the ground computing device and the transient storage location, performance data for the connection between the ground computing device and the alternate transient storage location, a type of connection between the aircraft computing device and the transient storage location, and a type of connection between the aircraft computing device and the alternate transient storage location.
• F8.8. The method of any of paragraphs F8-F8.7, wherein the determining that the data file is to be transmitted via the transient storage location is based on the airline identifier and/or the airplane identifier.
• F8.9. The method of any of paragraphs F8-F8.8, wherein the determining that the data file is to be transmitted via the transient storage location comprises:
• receiving the airline identifier and/or the airplane identifier from the aircraft interface computing device; and
• determining, based on the airline identifier and/or the airplane identifier, a selected transient storage location through which the data file is to be transmitted.
• F8.10. The method of any of paragraphs F8-F8.9, wherein the determining that the data file is to be transmitted via the transient storage location is based on an airplane link type between the aircraft and the aircraft interface computing device.
• F8.10.1. The method of paragraph F8.10, wherein the airplane link type is one of a Wi-Fi link, a cellular link, or a satellite link.
• F8.11. The method of any of paragraphs F8-F8.10.1, wherein the determining that the data file is to be transmitted via the transient storage location is based on a file size of the data file, an onboard system type of the aircraft computing device, and/or hardware capabilities of the aircraft computing device.
• F8.12. The method of any of paragraphs F8-F8.11, wherein the determining that the data file is to be transmitted via the transient storage location is based on a performance of the cloud computing network and/or a performance of the aircraft interface computing device.
• F9. The method of any of paragraphs F1-F8.12, further comprising:
• determining that a remaining portion of the data file is to be transferred from the ground computing device to the aircraft computing device via a different transient storage location; and transmitting a notification that the remaining portion of the data file is to be transferred from the ground computing device to the aircraft computing device via the different transient storage location.
• F9.1. The method of paragraph F9, wherein the determining the remaining portion of the data file is to be transferred from the ground computing device to the aircraft computing device via the different transient storage location is based on one or more of a new geographic location of the aircraft, performance data for the transient storage location, performance data for the alternate transient storage location, a failure of the transient storage location, performance data for the connection between the ground computing device and the transient storage location, performance data for the connection between the ground computing device and the alternate transient storage location, a type of connection between the aircraft computing device and the transient storage location, and a type of connection between the aircraft computing device and the alternate transient storage location.
• F10. The method of any of paragraphs F1-F9.1, wherein the ground computing device receiving the data transmission from the aircraft interface computing device corresponds to receiving a first data transmission from a first aircraft interface computing device located in a first service sub-region, the first data transmission indicating that a first data file is to be transmitted from the ground computing device to a first aircraft computing device in communication with the first aircraft interface computing device.
• F10.1. The method of paragraph F10, further comprising receiving, by the ground computing device, a second data transmission from a second aircraft interface computing device located in a second service sub-region, wherein the second service sub-region is different from the first service sub-region, and the second data transmission indicating that a second data file is to be transmitted from the ground computing device to a second aircraft computing device in communication with the second aircraft interface computing device.
• F10.1.1. The method of paragraph F10.1, further comprising transmitting, by the ground computing device, the second data file to the second aircraft computing device via the transient storage location.
• F10.1.2. The method of paragraph F10.1, further comprising transmitting, by the ground computing device, the second data file to the second aircraft computing device via the alternate transient storage location that is located in a different service sub-region from the transient storage location.
• F10.2. The method of paragraph F10, further comprising receiving, by the ground computing device, a second data transmission from the first aircraft interface computing device, the second data transmission indicating that a third data file is to be transmitted from the ground computing device to a second aircraft computing device in communication with the first aircraft interface computing device.
• F10.2.1. The method of paragraph F10.2, further comprising transmitting, by the ground computing device, the third data file to the second aircraft computing device via the transient storage location.
• F10.2.2. The method of paragraph F10.2, further comprising transmitting, by the ground computing device, the third data file to the second aircraft computing device via the alternate transient storage location that is located in a different service sub-region from the transient storage location.
• F11. The method of any of paragraphs F1-F10.2.2, wherein the data file includes a software update and/or a flight plan.
• F12. The method of any of paragraphs F1-F11, wherein the data transmission is received from the aircraft interface computing device in response to the aircraft interface computing device receiving an initial communication from the aircraft.
• F13. The method of any of paragraphs F1-F12, wherein the aircraft is in flight during a transmission of the data file from the transient storage location to the aircraft computing device.
• F14. The method of any of paragraphs F1-F13, wherein the data file is transmitted to the aircraft from the transient storage location over a first communications medium, and the data transmission is transmitted to the transient storage location from the ground computing device over a second communications medium that is different from the first communications medium.
• F14.1. The method of paragraph F14, wherein the first communications medium is one of a wireless network, a satellite network, and a cellular network.
• F14.2. The method of any of paragraphs F14-F14.1, wherein the first communications medium is a downlink communication medium.
• F14.3. The method of any of paragraphs F14-F14.2, wherein the second communications medium is the internet.
• F14.4. The method of any of paragraphs F14-F14.2, wherein the second communications medium is a cloud computing network.
• F15. The method of any of paragraphs F1-F14.3, wherein the aircraft interface computing device is an infrastructure component of a cloud computing network.
• F16. The method of any of paragraphs F1-F15, further comprising receiving, from the aircraft interface computing device and by the ground computing device, an aircraft classifier associated with the aircraft.
• F16.1. The method of paragraph F16, wherein the aircraft classifier corresponds to one or more of a type of the aircraft, a year of the aircraft, a model of the aircraft, an airline associated with the aircraft, a type of computing device on which the aircraft service is executing, a type of service to which the aircraft service corresponds, or a combination thereof.
• F17. The method of any of paragraphs F1-F16.1, further comprising:
• receiving an additional data transmission based on a break in communication between the aircraft computing device and the aircraft interface computing device and/or the transient storage location, the additional data transmission indicating that a remaining portion of the data file is to be transmitted from the ground computing device to the aircraft computing device; and
• resuming the transmission of the data file from the ground computing device to the aircraft computing device.
• F17.1. The method of paragraph F17, wherein the break in communication corresponds to the aircraft computing device losing a network connection.
• F17.2. The method of paragraph F17, wherein the break in communication corresponds to a failure of the aircraft interface computing device.
• F17.3. The method of paragraph F17, wherein the break in communication corresponds to a failure of the transient storage location.
• F17.4. The method of any of paragraphs F17-F17.3, wherein the resuming the transmission of the data file from the transient storage location to the aircraft computing device comprises determining the transient storage location is available.
• F17.5. The method of any of paragraphs F17-F17.4, wherein the resuming the transmission of the data file from the transient storage location to the aircraft computing device is based on metadata for the data file.
• F17.6. The method of any of paragraphs F17-F17.5, wherein the resuming the transmission of the data file from the ground computing device to the aircraft computing device comprises transmitting to the aircraft interface computing device a notification that includes one or more of a status of the data file, a size of the data file stored on the transient storage location, and a location of the data file on the transient storage location.
• F17.7. The method of any of paragraphs F17-F17.6, wherein the additional data transmission is received from the aircraft interface computing device.
• F17.8. The method of any of paragraphs F17-F17.7, wherein the aircraft interface computing device is a first aircraft interface computing device, and the additional data transmission is received from a second aircraft interface computing device.
• F17.8.1. The method of paragraph F17.8, wherein the second aircraft interface computing device is geographically located in a remote location from the first aircraft interface computing device.
• F18. The method of any of paragraphs F1-F17.8.1, wherein the receiving the data transmission from the aircraft interface computing device indicating the data file is to be transmitted from the aircraft computing device to the ground computing device comprises:
• receiving, from the aircraft interface computing device, one or more of the aircraft classifiers and the one or more identifiers associated with the aircraft;
• determining that the data file is to be transmitted from the aircraft computing device to the ground computing device is based on the one or more of the aircraft classifiers and the one or more identifiers associated with the aircraft; and
• transmitting, to the aircraft interface computing device, a notification that the data file is to be transmitted from the aircraft computing device to the ground computing device.
• F18.1. The method of paragraph F18, further comprising determining, by the ground computing device, that the data file is to be transmitted from the ground computing device to the aircraft computing device by accessing a command queue associated with the aircraft.
• F19. The method of any of paragraphs F1-F18.1, further comprising:
• determining that the data file has been transmitted to the aircraft computing device and from the ground computing device;
• determining, based on the command queue, an additional data file is to be exchanged between the central storage and the aircraft computing device; and
• exchanging the additional data file between the ground computing device and the aircraft computing device.
• F20. The method of any of paragraphs F1-F19, wherein the ground computing device hosts and/or maintains the command queue in an accessible storage location.
• F21. The method of any of paragraphs F1-F20, further comprising receiving, by the ground computing device, a command to transmit the data file to the aircraft computing device.
• F21.1. The method of paragraph F21, wherein the command to transmit the data file is received from a third party computer separate from the ground computing device.
• F21.2. The method of paragraph F21, wherein the command to transmit the data file is received via a user input received by one of the ground computing device and a user computer associated with the ground computing device.
• F21.3. The method of any of paragraphs F21-F21.2, wherein the command to transmit the data file is added to the command queue based on the receiving the command to transmit the data file to the aircraft computing device.
• G1. A computing method for data exchanges between an aircraft computing device executing an aircraft service on an aircraft and a ground computing device, the method comprising:
• accessing a command queue associated with the aircraft computing device located on an aircraft, wherein the command queue corresponds to a data structure that identifies a plurality of commands that are to be executed in association with the aircraft computing device;
• determining a command in the command queue is to be executed, wherein the command corresponds to a notification that a data file is to be exchanged between the aircraft computing device and the ground computing device; and
• transmitting, by the ground computing device, a data transmission to an aircraft API operating on an aircraft interface computing device, wherein the data transmission is configured to cause the aircraft API to cause the data file to be exchanged between the aircraft computing device and the ground computing device.
• G2. The method of paragraph G1, wherein the data file is exchanged between the aircraft computing device and the ground computing device while the aircraft is in flight.
• G3. The method of any of paragraphs G1-G2, wherein the command corresponds to a notification that the data file is to be transmitted to the ground computing device and from the aircraft computing device.
• G3.1. The method of paragraph G1, further comprising causing the data file to be stored in a storage device associated with the ground computing device.
• G3.1.1. The method of paragraph G3.1, wherein a central storage location segregates stored data according to one or more aircraft classifiers.
• G3.1.1.1. The method of paragraph G3.1.1, wherein individual aircraft classifiers of the one or more aircraft classifiers correspond to one or more of a type of the aircraft, a year of the aircraft, a model of the aircraft, an airline associated with the aircraft, a type of computing device on which an aircraft service is executing, a type of service to which the aircraft service corresponds, or a combination thereof.
• G3.2. The method of paragraph G1, further comprising transmitting the data file to a third party computer associated with a third party airline.
• G4. The method of any of paragraphs G1-G2, wherein the command corresponds to a notification the data file is to be transmitted to the aircraft computing device and from the ground computing device.
• G4.1. The method of paragraph G4, wherein the command corresponds to a notification the data file is to be exchanged between a plurality of aircraft computing devices executing on a plurality of aircraft and the ground computing device.
• G5. The method of any of paragraphs G1-G4.1, wherein the data file comprises one or more of a software update, a flight plan, a security log, a performance log, health monitoring data, and/or a system log.
• G6. The method of any of paragraphs G1-G5, further comprising receiving, from the aircraft interface computing device, a data transmission that includes a command request and one or more identifiers associated with the aircraft.
• G6.1. The method of paragraph G6, wherein the command request is received from the aircraft interface computing device in response to the aircraft interface computing device receiving an initial communication from the aircraft computing device.
• G6.1.1. The method of paragraph G6.1, wherein the initial communication is received from the aircraft computing device while the aircraft is in flight.
• G6.1.2. The method of any of paragraphs G6.1-G6.1.1, wherein the initial communication includes the command request.
• G6.1.2.1. The method of paragraph G6.1.2, wherein the ground computing device is configured to access the command queue associated with the aircraft computing device located on the aircraft based on the command request received from the aircraft interface computing device.
• G6.1.3. The method of any of paragraphs G6.1-G6.1.2.1, wherein the ground computing device is configured to access the command queue associated with the aircraft computing device located on the aircraft based on the one or more identifiers.
• G6.1.3.1. The method of paragraph G6.1.3, wherein the initial communication includes the one or more identifiers for the aircraft, the aircraft computing device, and/or the aircraft service.
• G6.2. The method of any of paragraphs G6-G6.1.3.1, wherein the one or more identifiers include an airline identifier and/or an airplane identifier.
• G6.2.1. The method of paragraph G6.2, wherein the airline identifier comprises one of an international civil aviation organization (ICAO) code or an international air transport association (IATA) code.
• G6.2.2. The method of any of paragraphs G6.2-G6.2.1, wherein the airplane identifier comprises one of a tail number, a registration number, a manufacturer number, and a serial number.
• G6.3. The method of any of paragraphs G6-G6.2.2, further comprising:
• determining an identity of the aircraft associated with the command based on the one or more identifiers associated with the aircraft; and
• selecting the command queue from a plurality of command queues based on the identity of the aircraft.
• G7. The method of any of paragraphs G1-G6.3, wherein the ground computing device is configured to access the command queue associated with the aircraft computing device located on the aircraft based on the determination that a trigger condition has occurred.
• G7.1. The method of paragraph G7, wherein the trigger condition corresponds to a time period expiring, a message being received, an alert being received, reception of a user input, a notification from a third party computing device being received, a location of the aircraft, or a combination thereof.
• G8. The method of any of paragraphs G1-G7.1, wherein the command queue further identifies an order of the plurality of commands that indicates the sequence in which the individual commands are to be executed, and the determining that the command in the command queue is to be executed is based on the order of the plurality of commands in the command queue.
• G8.1. The method of paragraph G8, wherein the determining that the command in the command queue is to be executed is based on the order of the plurality of commands in the command queue is based on a/the one or more identifiers.
• G8.2. The method of any of paragraphs G8-G8.1, wherein the determining that the command in the command queue is to be executed based on the order of the plurality of commands in the command queue is based on a location of the aircraft.
• G9. The method of any of paragraphs G1-G8.2, wherein the determining that the command in the command queue is to be executed is based on a performance of a cloud computing network.
• G10. The method of any of paragraphs G1-G9, wherein the determining that the command in the command queue is to be executed is based on a file size of the data file, an onboard system type of the aircraft computing device, and/or hardware capabilities of the aircraft computing device.
• G11. The method of any of paragraphs G1-G10, wherein the determining the command in the command queue is to be executed is based on a type of the trigger condition that has occurred.
• G12. The method of any of paragraphs G1-G11, wherein the data transmission causes the remote API to transmit one or more communications to the aircraft API executing on the aircraft computing device.
• G12.1. The method of paragraph G12, wherein the one or more communications to the aircraft service cause the data file to be exchanged between the aircraft computing device and the ground computing device.
• G13. The method of any of paragraphs G1-G12.1, wherein causing the data file to be exchanged between the aircraft computing device and the ground computing device comprises the data file being transmitted from the aircraft computing device to the ground computing device.
• G13.1. The method of paragraph G13, wherein the data file being transmitted from the aircraft computing device to the ground computing device comprises:
• the data file being transmitted from the aircraft computing device to a transient storage location, wherein the transient storage location is a data storage resource of a cloud computing network; and
• wherein the method further comprises receiving, by the ground computing device, the data file from the transient storage location.
• G13.1.1. The method of paragraph G13.1, wherein the data file is transmitted from the aircraft computing device to the transient storage location over one of a wireless network, a satellite network, and a cellular network.
• G13.1.2. The method of any of paragraphs G13.1-G13.1.1, wherein the data file is received by the ground computing device and from the transient storage location over the cloud computing network.
• G14. The method of any of paragraphs G1-G12.1, wherein causing the data file to be exchanged between the aircraft computing device and the ground computing device comprises transmitting the data file from the ground computing device to the aircraft computing device.
• G14.1. The method of paragraph G14, wherein the transmitting the data file from the ground computing device to the aircraft computing device comprises:
• transmitting, by the ground computing device, the data file to a transient storage location, wherein the transient storage location is a data storage resource of a cloud computing network; and
• transmitting the data file to the aircraft computing device from the transient storage location.
• G14.1.1. The method of paragraph G14.1, wherein the data file is received by the aircraft computing device and from the transient storage location over one of a wireless network, a satellite network, and a cellular network.
• G14.1.2. The method of any of paragraphs G14.1-G14.1.1, wherein the data file is transmitted by the ground computing device to the transient storage location over the cloud computing network.
• G15. The method of any of paragraphs G1-G14.1.2, further comprising determining a break in communication between the aircraft computing device and the ground computing device.
• G15.1. The method of paragraph G15, further comprising storing metadata associated with the break in communication in the command queue.
• G15.1.1. The method of paragraph G15.1, further comprising determining a data connection with the aircraft computing device is formed, and causing an exchange of the data file to resume based on the metadata associated with the break in communication.
• G16. The method of any of paragraphs G1-G15.1.1, further comprising determining the exchange of the data file is complete.
• G16.1. The method of paragraph G16, further comprising transmitting a notification to the aircraft interface computing device configured to cause the data file to be deleted from the transient storage location based on the exchange of the data file being complete.
• G16.2. The method of any of paragraphs G16-G16.1, further comprising removing the command from the command queue.
• G16.3. The method of any of paragraphs G16-G16.2, further comprising:
• determining an additional command in the command queue is to be executed, wherein the additional command corresponds to an additional notification that an additional data file is to be exchanged between the aircraft computing device and the ground computing device; and
• transmitting, by the ground computing device, an additional data transmission to the aircraft API operating on the aircraft interface computing device, wherein the additional data transmission is configured to cause the aircraft API to cause the additional data file to be exchanged between the aircraft computing device and the ground computing device.
• G17. The method of any of paragraphs G1-G14.1.2, further comprising receiving an input data communication that includes the command the data file is to be exchanged between the aircraft computing device and the ground computing device.
• G17.1. The method of paragraph G17, wherein the command included in the input data communication indicates the data file is to be exchanged between a plurality of aircraft computing devices located on different aircrafts and the ground computing device.
• G17.2. The method of any of paragraphs G17-G17.1, wherein the command included in the input data communication indicates that a plurality of data files are to be exchanged between the aircraft computing devices and the ground computing device.
• G17.3. The method of any of paragraphs G17-G17.2, wherein the input data communication is received by the ground computing device from a third party computing device associated with an airline.
• G17.4. The method of any of paragraphs G17-G17.2, wherein the input data communication corresponds to a user input to the ground computing device.
• G17.5. The method of any of paragraphs G17-G17.2, wherein the input data communication corresponds to a user input to a computing device associated with the ground computing device.
• G17.6. The method of any of paragraphs G17-G17.2, wherein the input data communication is received by the ground computing device from the aircraft computing device.
• G17.7. The method of any of paragraphs G17-G17.6, wherein the command included in the input data communication indicates that the data file is to be exchanged between the ground computing device and one or more aircraft associated with a specified aircraft classifier.
• G17.8. The method of any of paragraphs G17-G17.7, wherein the command included in the input data communication indicates that the data file is to be exchanged between the ground computing device and one or more aircraft associated with an aircraft identifier.
• G17.9. The method of any of paragraphs G17-G17.8, further comprising adding the command to the command queue.
• G18. The method of any of paragraphs G1-G17.9, further comprising reordering the command queue based on one or more of an importance or urgency of individual commands, the file size of the data file, the flight plan of the aircraft, a performance of the cloud computing network, and the hardware capabilities of the aircraft computing device.
• H1. A computing device comprising:
• a processing unit;
• a memory; and
• an API stored on the memory, wherein the API comprises non-transitory computer readable instructions that, when executed by the processing unit, cause the computing device to perform the computing methods of any of paragraphs A1-G18.
• I1. Use of the computing device of paragraph H1 to exchange a data file between an aircraft computing device and a ground computing device.
• J1. Non-transitory computer readable instructions stored on a memory of a computing device that, when executed by a processing unit of the computing device, cause the computing device to perform the computing methods of any of paragraphs A1-G18.
• K1. Use of the non-transitory computer readable instructions of paragraph J1 to exchange a data file between an aircraft computing device and a ground computing device.
• L1. A cloud computing system for supporting data communication between a plurality of aircraft computing devices and a ground computing device, the cloud computing system comprising:
• the plurality of aircraft computing devices, each aircraft computing device being located on a corresponding aircraft;
• a plurality of aircraft interface computing devices of the cloud computing system, wherein individual aircraft interface computing devices of the plurality of aircraft interface computing devices store non-transitory computer readable instructions that, when executed by a processing unit of the individual aircraft interface computing devices, cause the individual aircraft interface computing devices to perform the computing methods of any of paragraphs A1-A23.2.2, C1-C30, and E1-E25;
• a plurality of transient storage locations of the cloud computing system; and
• a ground computing device, wherein the ground computing device stores non-transitory computer readable instructions that, when executed by a processing unit of the ground computing device, cause the ground computing device to perform the computing methods of any of paragraphs B1-19.2, D1-D24.1, F1-F21.3, and G1-G18.
• M1. Use of the cloud computing system of paragraph L1 to exchange a data file between an aircraft computing device and a ground computing device.
• As used herein, the term “and/or” placed between a first entity and a second entity means one of (1) the first entity, (2) the second entity, and (3) the first entity and the second entity. Multiple entities listed with “and/or” should be construed in the same manner, i.e., “one or more” of the entities so conjoined. Other entities may optionally be present other than the entities specifically identified by the “and/or” clause, whether related or unrelated to those entities specifically identified. Thus, as a non-limiting example, a reference to “A and/or B,” when used in conjunction with open-ended language such as “comprising” may refer, in one embodiment, to A only (optionally including entities other than B); in another embodiment, to B only (optionally including entities other than A); in yet another embodiment, to both A and B (optionally including other entities). These entities may refer to elements, actions, structures, steps, operations, values, and the like.
• As used herein, the phrase “at least one,” in reference to a list of one or more entities should be understood to mean at least one entity selected from any one or more of the entities in the list of entities, but not necessarily including at least one of each and every entity specifically listed within the list of entities and not excluding any combinations of entities in the list of entities. This definition also allows that entities may optionally be present other than the entities specifically identified within the list of entities to which the phrase “at least one” refers, whether related or unrelated to those entities specifically identified. Thus, as a non-limiting example, “at least one of A and B” (or, equivalently, “at least one of A or B,” or, equivalently “at least one of A and/or B”) may refer, in one embodiment, to at least one, optionally including more than one, A, with no B present (and optionally including entities other than B); in another embodiment, to at least one, optionally including more than one, B, with no A present (and optionally including entities other than A); in yet another embodiment, to at least one, optionally including more than one, A, and at least one, optionally including more than one, B, (and optionally including other entities). In other words, the phrases “at least one,” “one or more,” and “and/or” are open-ended expressions that are both conjunctive and disjunctive in operation. For example, each of the expressions “at least one of A, B, and C,” “at least one of A, B, or C,” “one or more of A, B, and C,” “one or more of A, B, or C,” and “A, B, and/or C” may mean A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, A, B, and C together, and optionally any of the above in combination with at least one other entity.
• As used herein, the terms “adapted” and “configured” mean that the element, component, or other subject matter is designed and/or intended to perform a given function. Thus, the use of the terms “adapted” and “configured” should not be construed to mean that a given element, component, or other subject matter is simply “capable of” performing a given function but that the element, component, and/or other subject matter is specifically selected, created, implemented, utilized, programmed, and/or designed for the purpose of performing the function. It also is within the scope of the present disclosure that elements, components, and/or other recited subject matter that is recited as being adapted to perform a particular function may additionally or alternatively be described as being configured to perform that function, and vice versa.
• As used herein, the phrase, “for example,” the phrase, “as an example,” and/or simply the term “example,” when used with reference to one or more components, features, details, structures, embodiments, and/or methods according to the present disclosure, are intended to convey that the described component, feature, detail, structure, embodiment, and/or method is an illustrative, non-exclusive example of components, features, details, structures, embodiments, and/or methods according to the present disclosure. Thus, the described component, feature, detail, structure, embodiment, and/or method is not intended to be limiting, required, or exclusive/exhaustive; and other components, features, details, structures, embodiments, and/or methods, including structurally and/or functionally similar and/or equivalent components, features, details, structures, embodiments, and/or methods, are also within the scope of the present disclosure.
• The various disclosed elements of apparatuses and steps of methods disclosed herein are not required to all apparatuses and methods according to the present disclosure, and the present disclosure includes all novel and non-obvious combinations and subcombinations of the various elements and steps disclosed herein. Moreover, one or more of the various elements and steps disclosed herein may define independent inventive subject matter that is separate and apart from the whole of a disclosed apparatus or method. Accordingly, such inventive subject matter is not required to be associated with the specific apparatuses and methods that are expressly disclosed herein, and such inventive subject matter may find utility in apparatuses and/or methods that are not expressly disclosed herein.
• The various disclosed elements of systems and steps of methods disclosed herein are not required of all systems and methods according to the present disclosure, and the present disclosure includes all novel and non-obvious combinations and subcombinations of the various elements and steps disclosed herein. Moreover, any of the various elements and steps, or any combination of the various elements and/or steps, disclosed herein may define independent inventive subject matter that is separate and apart from the whole of a disclosed system or method. Accordingly, such inventive subject matter is not required to be associated with the specific systems and methods that are expressly disclosed herein, and such inventive subject matter may find utility in systems and/or methods that are not expressly disclosed herein.
• It is believed that the disclosure set forth above encompasses multiple distinct inventions with independent utility. While each of these inventions has been disclosed in its preferred form, the specific embodiments thereof as disclosed and illustrated herein are not to be considered in a limiting sense as numerous variations are possible. The subject matter of the inventions includes all novel and non-obvious combinations and subcombinations of the various elements, features, functions, and/or properties disclosed herein. Similarly, where the claims recite “a” or “a first” element or the equivalent thereof, such claims should be understood to include incorporation of one or more such elements, neither requiring nor excluding two or more such elements.

Claims (20)

1. A computing method for exchanging data between an aircraft computing device on an aircraft and a ground computing device, the method comprising:

receiving, by the ground computing device, a data transmission from an aircraft interface computing device located remotely from the ground computing device, the data transmission indicating that a data file is to be exchanged between the ground computing device and the aircraft computing device in communication with the aircraft interface computing device; and

exchanging the data file between a central storage location associated with the ground computing device and the aircraft computing device utilizing an aircraft API executing on the aircraft interface computing device, wherein the aircraft API is one of a plurality of aircraft APIs stored on the aircraft interface computing device, and wherein each of the plurality of aircraft APIs are configured for communicating with unique aircraft services executing on unique aircraft computing devices.

2. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the ground computing device receiving the data transmission from the aircraft interface computing device comprises receiving a first data transmission from a first aircraft interface computing device located in a first service sub-region, and the method further comprising:

receiving, by the ground computing device, a second data transmission from a second aircraft interface computing device located in a second service sub-region, wherein the second service sub-region is different from the first service sub-region, and the second data transmission indicating that a second data file is to be exchanged between the ground computing device and a second aircraft computing device in communication with the second aircraft interface computing device; and

exchanging, the second data file between the central storage location and the second aircraft computing device.

3. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the receiving the data transmission from the aircraft interface computing device comprises receiving a first data transmission from a aircraft interface computing device located in a first service sub-region, and the method further comprising:

receiving, by the ground computing device, a second data transmission from the first aircraft interface computing device, the second data transmission indicating that a third data file is to be exchanged between the ground computing device and a second aircraft computing device in communication with the second aircraft interface computing device; and

exchanging, the third data file between the central storage location and the second aircraft computing device.

4. The method ofclaim 1, further comprising receiving an additional data transmission based on a break in communication between the aircraft computing device and the aircraft interface computing device.

5. The method ofclaim 4, wherein the additional data transmission is received from the aircraft interface computing device.

6. The method ofclaim 4, wherein the aircraft interface computing device is a first aircraft interface computing device, and the additional data transmission is received from a second aircraft interface computing device that is located in a different service sub-region than the first aircraft interface computing device.

7. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the ground computing device maintains a command queue in an accessible storage location, and the method further comprises determining, by the ground computing device, that the data file is to be transmitted between the central storage location and the aircraft computing device by accessing the command queue associated with the aircraft.

8. The method ofclaim 7, further comprising:

determining that the data file has been exchanged between the ground computing device and the aircraft computing device;

determining, based on the command queue, that another data file is to be exchanged between the central storage location and the aircraft computing device based on the command queue; and

exchanging the other data file between the central storage location and the aircraft computing device.

9. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the aircraft interface computing device is one of a plurality of aircraft interface computing devices.

10. The method ofclaim 9, wherein each aircraft interface computing device of the plurality of aircraft interface computing devices is located in a corresponding service sub-region of the plurality of service sub-regions.

11. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the data file includes one of:

a security log;

a performance log;

health monitoring data;

a system log;

a software update; or

a flight plan.

12. The methodclaim 1, wherein the data transmission is received from the aircraft interface computing device in response to the aircraft interface computing device receiving an initial communication from the aircraft service.

13. The method ofclaim 12, wherein the aircraft is in flight during the receiving the initial communication, and wherein the initial communication is transmitted from the aircraft to the aircraft interface computing device over a first communications medium, and the data transmission is transmitted from the aircraft interface computing device to the ground computing device over a second communications medium that is different from the first communications medium.

14. The method ofclaim 13, wherein the first communications medium is one of a wireless network, a satellite network, and a cellular network, and the second communications medium is the internet.

15. The method ofclaim 1, further comprising:

receiving, from the aircraft interface computing device and by the ground computing device, one or more identifiers associated with the aircraft; and

determining, based on the one or more identifiers, an aircraft classifier associated with at least one of an aircraft service executing on the aircraft computing device, the aircraft computing device, and the aircraft.

16. The method ofclaim 15, wherein the one or more identifiers include at least one of:

an international civil aviation organization (ICAO) code;

an international air transport association (IATA) code;

a tail number;

a registration number;

a manufacturer number; and

a serial number.

17. The method ofclaim 15, wherein the ground computing device determining the aircraft classifier comprises the ground computing device accessing a data construct that identifies the aircraft classifier.

18. The method ofclaim 17, wherein the data construct is a lookup table that stores relationships between the one or more identifiers and the aircraft classifier.

19. The methodclaim 15, wherein the aircraft classifier corresponds to one or more of a type of the aircraft, a year of the aircraft, a model of the aircraft, an airline associated with the aircraft, a type of computing device on which the aircraft service is executing, a type of service to which the aircraft service corresponds, or a combination thereof.

20. The method ofclaim 15, wherein the exchanging the data file corresponds to:

receiving, by the ground computing device, the data file from the aircraft computing device; and

storing the data file in the central storage location, wherein the central storage location segregates stored data according to the aircraft classifier.

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