White Paper: On-Board Infrastructure
White Paper: On-Board infrastructure
Version 1.0
Prepared by: WAEA Internet Working Group (IWG),
On-Board Infrastructure Ad Hoc
Adopted by: WAEA Technology Committee,
August 2, 2001
©2001 World Airline Entertainment Association. All Rights Reserved.
The World Airline Entertainment Association (WAEA) is the author and creator of this specification for the purpose of copyright and other laws in all countries throughout the world. The WAEA copyright notice must be included in all reproductions, whether in whole or in part, and may not be deleted or attributed to others. The WAEA hereby grants to its members and their suppliers a limited license to reproduce this specification for their own use, provided it is not sold. Others should obtain permission to reproduce this specification from WAEA Headquarters, Attn: Executive Director, 401N. Michigan Ave., Chicago, Illinois 60611-4267 USA; (312) 245-1034 voice, (312) 321-1080 facsimile.
Version 1.0 Page 20 of 20
White Paper: On-Board Infrastructure
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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ABBREVIATIONS 3
LIST OF FIGURES AND ADDENDA
1 GENERAL 5
1.1 introduction 5
2 ON-BOARD INFRASTRUCTURE 6
2.1 DESCRIPTION 6
2.1.1 Role of the on-board infrastructure on the Aircraft 9
2.1.1.1 Relevant Standards and Items 10
2.1.1.2 Server Interface Unit 11
2.1.1.3 Network Server Unit 11
2.1.1.4 Terminal Wireless LAN Unit 12
2.1.1.5 Cabin Wireless LAN Unit 13
2.1.1.6 Ethernet Switch Unit 14
2.1.1.7 Applications and Functions 15
2.1.2 On-Board Infrastructure Block Diagram 17
3 HIGH-SPEED SATELLITE SYSTEM 20
ABBREVIATIONS
AC Alternating Current
ARINC Aeronautiocal Radio Inc.
BITE Built-In Test Equipment
CCS Cabin Communication System
CDS Cabin Distribution System
CSMA/CD Carrier Sense Multiple Access with Collision Detection
CTU Cabin Telecommunication Unit
CWLAN Cabin Wireless Local Area Network
CWLU Cabin Wireless LAN Unit
DSSS Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum
ECAM Electronic Centralized A/c Monitoring
EIA Electronic Industrie Association
ELAN Ethernet Local Area Network
FHSS Frequency Hop Spread Spectrum
GHz Gigahertz
H/W Hardware
IEEE Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
IFE In-Flight Entertainment
LAN Local Area Network
MAC Media Access Control
Mbps Megabit per Second
MCU Modular Concepì Unit
MHz Megahertz
NATS North American Telephone System
NSU Network Server Unit
PAX Passenger
OSI Open System Interconnect
PED Portable Electronic Device
RF Radio Frequency
SATCOM Satellite Communication
SDU Satellite Data Unit
SIU Server Interface Unit
S/W Software
Tbd to be determined
TCP/IP Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol
TWLAN Terminal Wireless Local Area Network
TWLU Terminal Wireless LAN Unit
WAEA World Airline Entertainment Association
LIST OF FIGURES AND ADDENDA
Figure 1 : Component Overview 17
Figure 2 : Architecture 177
ARINC 429 Mark 33 Digital Information Transfer System
ARINC 600 Air Transport Avionics Equipment Interfaces
ARINC 615 Software Data Loader Unit
ARINC 628 Cabin Equipment Interfaces
ARINC 646 Ethernet Local Area Network (ELAN)
ARINC 664 Aircraft Data Network
ARINC 746 Cabin Communications System (CCS)
ARINC 761 Aviation Satellite Communications System
ARINC 763 Network Server System
IEEE 802.1D MAC bridges
IEEE 802.3 CSMA/CD Access Method and Physical Layer Specifications
IEEE 802.3ad Link Aggregation
IEEE 802.11 Wireless LAN Medium Access Control and Physical Layer Specification
IEEE 802.11b Wireless LAN Medium Access Control and Physical Layer Specification: High Speed Physical Layer Extension
EIA Standard RS 232
EIA Standard RS 485
1 GENERAL
1.1 introduction
Growing passenger demand for information and communication services and the strong request to install specific airline applications on-board commercial aircraft necessitates the preparation of a suitable system architecture capable of supporting multiple applications.
This document presents a generic on-board infrastructure concept based on switched Ethernet which provides commercial server technology, high speed data communication and exchange via wired and wireless LAN between the passenger and/or cabin/cockpit/maintenance crew on the user side and the bearer/radio systems to use these communication links for a wide range of applications. It should be noted that there are a number of technologies and concepts which can support the goal of an on-board infrastructure, and this paper indicates one example architecture which highlights the issues involved. To follow the charter of the WAEA Internet Working Group this document is concentrating on:
· Intranet access
· Internet access
· High-speed communication und data exchange via wired and wireless LAN
· Server technology as platforms for several applications
Beside that the on-board infrastructure provides the capability to host a variety of software applications as a computing platform onboard the aircraft.
The nature of the on-board infrastructure allows for functionalities far beyond the scope of this document and therefore these functionalities are not subject of this document. Additional work on future architecture and on-board concepts will be addressed in the Next Generation IFE Architecture Working Group.
2 ON-BOARD INFRASTRUCTURE
2.1 DESCRIPTION
This section describes the example on-board infrastructure to be installed aboard commercial aircraft under consideration of already existing standards, e.g. ARINC, IEEE.
The concept for the example on-board infrastructure is a system consisting of the following major parts:
· the Network Server Unit (NSU) in accordance with ARINC 763
· the Terminal Wireless LAN in accordance with ARINC 763
· the Cabin Wireless LAN in accordance with ARINC 763
· the Ethernet Switch Unit
· the interface to other A/c systems through the Server Interface Unit (SIU) in accordance with ARINC 763
· the Cabin Distribution System (CDS) in accordance with ARINC 628 part 4
· the Cabin Telecommunication Unit (CTU) in accordance with ARINC 746
· the connection to the passenger (subject of the ad-hoc connectivity group)
· the High-Speed Satellite Data Transceiver (subject of off-board infrastructure)
· the communication systems (e.g. SATCOM in accordance with ARINC 741, subject of off-board infrastructure)
The on-board infrastructure architecture is as shown in Figure 1.
The On-Board Information Network System may be based on a modular concept, in order to accommodate easy extension and adaption to the airline needs.
A brief description of each of the major components listed above, follows:
The Network Server Units (NSU) may provide system processing, data/file storage and network communication services (modem bank) to devices and systems. As a primary function the Network Server Unit shall provide a standard operating system able to host several software applications.
The software packages may include an E-Mail server, intranet web pages, intranet routing, internet routing, cabin crew applications). The NSU may also be capable of hosting Airline applications.
The NSU is specified in ARINC 763.
The Terminal Wireless LAN includes the Terminal Wireless LAN Unit and the Antenna. The Terminal Wireless LAN is used to bridge a wireless connection between the Network Server Unit and a ground based LAN typically at an airport.
The TWLAN is specified in ARINC 763.
The Cabin Wireless LAN includes the Cabin Wireless LAN Unit and the Antennas. The Cabin Wireless LAN provides a wireless network connection between devices within the aircraft structure and those systems connected to the Network Server Unit.
The CWLAN is specified in ARINC 763.
The Ethernet Switch Unit provides a wired network connection between the connected systems based on IEEE 802.3 Ethernet.
Systems/units potentially connected to the Ethernet Switch are:
· NSU
· CDS/IFE
· High-Speed Satellite System
· CWLU
· SDU (future)
· Printer/Data loader
· Other systems (tbd)
The Server Interface Unit (SIU) interfaces to the existing aircraft avionics equipment to collect and provide aircraft data to the on-board infrastructure. The SIU shall act as a firewall to protect the avionics equipment from the open world.
The SIU is specified in ARINC 763.
The Cabin Distribution System provides the wired access for the passengers to the on-board infrastructure. The passenger connectivity is ensured by bridging between the interface in the seat and the chosen data bus within the CDS.
The CDS is specified in ARINC 628 part 4.
The Cabin Telecommunication Unit is the switchboard between the cabin systems and the bearer systems. It routes voice and data to the relevant systems and controls the communication paths. The CTU is specified in ARINC 746.
The High-Speed Satellite System provides access to satellite based high speed data communication. It consists of antenna(s) and the transceiver(s) part. Such systems are under development and there will be multiple systems available. The systems will allow for unidirectional or bi-directional communication. The on-board infrastructure is interfacing with such systems and use it for access to earth based networks. Details are described in the off-board infrastructure part.
The communication systems (e.g. SATCOM, NATS) are the existing and evolving systems which provide communication access to the ground. SATCOM is specified in ARINC 741/761. The on-board infrastructure is interfacing with such systems and use it for access to earth based networks. Details are described in the off-board infrastructure part.
2.1.1 Role of the on-board infrastructure on the Aircraft
This on-board infrastructure concept provides server technology and standardized high-speed communication and data exchange via wired and wireless LANs to the connected systems and opens these communication links for a wide range of applications.
The on-board infrastructure provides high-speed communication links based on Ethernet according to IEEE 802.3 and based on Wireless Network according to IEEE 802.11.
These communication links shall be designed for standard network protocols such as TCP / IP, Internet and E-Mail protocols to enable a variety of applications and services to support flight and cabin crew, maintenance people and passengers.
The on-board infrastructure functionality may include as an example, but not be limited to, the following:
· E-mail services
· Intranet Access
· Internet Access
· Passenger Database
· Software download/upload
· Troubleshooting Aids and access to Electronic Maintenance Manuals via portable devices
· Airline Specific Applications (such as Booking Systems, Airline Logistics, Mobile Credit Card Reader, Flight Connection Information, Car rental and Information etc.).
It is the intention that industry standards and common system architecture are applied to the system to use commercially available components, which may be repackaged for aircraft installation.
The following sections show an example of an on-board infrastructure which is based upon existing ARINC and other industry specifications and provides possibility for easy extension of capabilities and number of subscribers.
2.1.1.1 Relevant Standards and Items
Some of the relevant standards and defining items to which various components of the overall system are:
· IEEE 802.3 Ethernet 10BaseT (10 Mbps) and 100BaseT (100 Mbps)
· Wireless LAN based on IEEE 802.11 / 802.11b
· IEEE 1394 (Firewire)
· ARINC 628 (Cabin Equipment Interfaces)
· ARINC 664 (Aircraft Data Network)
· ARINC 746 (Cabin Communication Systems)
· ARINC 761 (Aviation Satellite Communications System)
· ARINC 763 (Network Server System)
· Cable, Connectors and Interface Connectors for production breaks (Ethernet)
· Network Technology
· Operating Systems and Partitioning (S/W and H/W)
· Firewalls and Virus Protection
2.1.1.2 Server Interface Unit
The SIU shall be designed according to ARINC 763 to interface to the existing aircraft avionic equipment and to provide data collection and transfer to devices and systems connected through the on-board aircraft LAN.
The SIU is primarily dedicated to the isolation and the protection of the existing aircraft avionics and will be capable of supporting higher-level criticality applications. The interfaces to the connected avionic systems will differ due to the various aircraft types.
The SIU shall be equipped with a dedicated Ethernet interface to communicate with the NSU. This interface shall be used to receive and send aircraft data from/to aircraft avionics.
2.1.1.3 Network Server Unit
This unit is closely linked with the highly customized cabin and passenger-related functions (e.g. E-mail and Intranet/Internet) as opposed to Network Server Unit 1, which is intimately linked with the avionics equipment.
The NSU shall be designed to provide system processing, data/file storage and network communication services to devices and systems connected through the on-board aircraft LAN.
The NSU shall be capable of hosting a variety of software applications as a computing platform on-board the aircraft. Therefore the NSU shall be equipped with a widely used commercial operating system such as Windows NT or LINUX as examples.
A standard Application Program Interface (API) shall be defined to enable common software application development from various originators.
The NSU shall have the means to connect to the Cabin Wireless LAN Unit and shall offer the services for wireless communication to devices and systems connected through the on-board aircraft LAN. A firewall protection shall be integrated for the wireless communication path.
The access to NSU and to the systems connected to the wired network needs to be protected against unauthorized computing devices, (e.g. devices connected to the wireless LAN). The access may be realized by implementing an authorization process e.g. based on user passwords.
The NSU shall be equipped with an adequate kind of virus protection. This protection will need to be regularly updated.
The NSU shall include the means to interface with the Satellite Data Unit (SDU) of the satellite communication system and with the Cabin Telecommunication Unit (CTU) for communication functions such as E-mail exchange.
The NSU shall provide the means to interface with a system providing high-speed data communication via satellite links.
The form factor of the NSU is ARINC 600 4 MCU. The NSU shall be powered with a single phase 115 VAC, 400 Hz.
Due to the evolution speed in the In-Flight Entertainment business, the form, fit and functions of NSU shall be linked closely to the architecture of the In-Flight Entertainment System and for this reason NSU may be ARINC 763 compatible but does not necessarily have to be.
2.1.1.4 Terminal Wireless LAN Unit
The Terminal Wireless LAN Unit shall be designed according to ARINC 763 to provide wireless network connectivity between computing devices within the terminal/airline LAN and systems connected to the wired Ethernet LAN.
The Terminal Wireless LAN Unit supports LAN communication compliant with IEEE 802.11 using a wireless RF spread spectrum link operating in the 2.4 GHz radio frequency spectrum.
The Terminal Wireless LAN Unit shall be connected to the NSU via an Ethernet interface.
At least one RF connector for connection of an antenna mounted on the aircraft structure shall be provided by the Terminal Wireless LAN Unit according to ARINC 763.