Abstract: A method for synchronizing messages between processors is provided. The method comprising receiving, by a first external device, inbound messages for applications running redundantly in high integrity mode on two or more multi-core processors. The inbound messages are synchronously copied to the multi-core processors. The multi-core processors send outbound messages to respective alignment queues in the first external device or a second external device, wherein the outbound messages contain calculation results from the inbound messages. The first or second external device compares the alignment queues. Matched outbound messages in the alignment queues are sent to a network or data bus. Any unmatched outbound messages in the alignment queues are discarded.

Abstract: A device for verifying wire connectivity of a bus may include a bus connector configured to connect to a bus comprising a plurality of wires and measurement circuitry configured to perform a verification test on each wire of the bus. The verification test of each wire may include connecting a wire under test in a predetermined configuration relative to the other wires for performing the verification test and measuring a value of an electrical parameter associated with the wire under test. The verification test may also include comparing the value of the measured electrical parameter associated with the wire under test to an expected value of the electrical parameter. The wire under test passes the verification test in response to the measured value of the electrical parameter corresponding substantially to the expected value of the electrical parameter.

Abstract: A controller area network (CAN) comprising a plurality of CAN nodes that communicate via a CAN bus that comprises a fiber optical network. The fiber optical network uses a single fiber and a single wavelength for transmit and receive, and comprises a passive reflective optical star. The reflective optical star comprises an optical mixing rod having a mirror at one end. The other end of the reflective optical star is optically coupled to the transmitters and receivers of a plurality of optical-electrical media converters by way of respective high-isolation optical Y-couplers. Each CAN node produces electrical signals (in accordance with the CAN message-based protocol) which are converted into optical pulses that are broadcast to the fiber optical network. Those optical pulses are then reflected back to all CAN nodes by the reflective optical star.

Abstract: A method for managing data transfer for a plurality of processors. Transfer messages exchanged between processor units and an external node in an integrity manager located in hardware in communication with the processor units and the external node are received. An exchange of the transfer messages is managed by the processor units with the external node based on a selected mode in mixed integrity modes such that redundantly calculated outputs from the processor units in a high integrity mode match.

Abstract: A method for synchronizing processor units. An external synchronizer is communicated with to determine whether an undesired amount of skew is present between a first processor unit and a second processor unit in communication with a synchronization system. The first processor unit is selectively directed to perform an action without generating a needed result such that the undesired amount of skew between the first processor unit and the second processor unit is reduced when the undesired amount of skew is present in the first processor unit. The first processor unit and the second processor unit are associated with each other for a high integrity mode in which integrity checks are performed on corresponding messages generated by the first processor unit and the second processor unit.

Abstract: A controller area network (CAN) comprising a plurality of CAN nodes that communicate via a CAN bus that comprises a fiber optical network. The fiber optical network uses a single fiber and a single wavelength for transmit and receive, and comprises a passive reflective optical star. The reflective optical star comprises an optical mixing rod having a mirror at one end. The other end of the reflective optical star is optically coupled to the transmitters and receivers of a plurality of optical-electrical media converters by way of respective high-isolation optical Y-couplers. Each CAN node produces electrical signals (in accordance with the CAN message-based protocol) which are converted into optical pulses that are broadcast to the fiber optical network. Those optical pulses are then reflected back to all CAN nodes by the reflective optical star.

Abstract: A method for synchronizing processor units. An external synchronizer is communicated with to determine whether an undesired amount of skew is present between a first processor unit and a second processor unit in communication with a synchronization system. The first processor unit is selectively directed to perform an action without generating a needed result such that the undesired amount of skew between the first processor unit and the second processor unit is reduced when the undesired amount of skew is present in the first processor unit. The first processor unit and the second processor unit are associated with each other for a high integrity mode in which integrity checks are performed on corresponding messages generated by the first processor unit and the second processor unit.

Abstract: A method for managing data transfer for a plurality of processors. Transfer messages exchanged between processor units and an external node in an integrity manager located in hardware in communication with the processor units and the external node are received. An exchange of the transfer messages is managed by the processor units with the external node based on a selected mode in mixed integrity modes such that redundantly calculated outputs from the processor units in a high integrity mode match.

Abstract: A pin-configurable bus termination system may include a bus connector attached to an end of a bus. The bus connector may be configured for electrically connecting the bus to an input connector of a node. The node may include a bus termination resistance. The bus connector may include a first bus output pin, a second bus output pin and configurable first and second termination resistor pins. The configurable first and second termination resistor pins may be configurable to provide a first termination configuration and a second termination configuration. The first termination configuration may electrically interconnect the first and second bus output pins and the configurable first and second termination resistor pins to electrically connect the bus termination resistance for terminating the bus. The second termination configuration may include an open electrical circuit between the first and second bus output pins and the configurable first and second termination resistor pins.

Abstract: A controller area network (CAN) comprising a plurality of CAN nodes that communicate via a CAN bus that comprises a fiber optical network. The fiber optical network uses a single fiber and a single wavelength for transmit and receive, and comprises a passive reflective optical star. The reflective optical star comprises an optical mixing rod having a mirror at one end. The other end of the reflective optical star is optically coupled to the transmitters and receivers of a plurality of optical-electrical media converters by way of respective high-isolation optical Y-couplers. Each CAN node produces electrical signals (in accordance with the CAN message-based protocol) which are converted into optical pulses that are broadcast to the fiber optical network. Those optical pulses are then reflected back to all CAN nodes by the reflective optical star.

Abstract: Provided are mechanisms for improving bandwidth for non-essential data on deterministic aircraft data networks (ADNs) such as ARINC 664 networks. A switch such as an ARINC 664 switch maintains rate constrains on one or more priority levels of traffic while releasing rate constraints on low priority traffic. Low priority traffic can be received at an ARINC 664 switch at rates allowed by an Ethernet physical layer. However, low priority, non-rate constrained traffic is transmitted only when there are no other scheduled messages to send. Low priority traffic can consume all available bandwidth whenever there is slack time. A switch can further be separated into zones including a standard rate constrained zone as well as a rate unconstrained zone. Internal or external cross-links can be provided between the zones for any data that needs to be transferred between zones.

Abstract: A controller area network (CAN) comprising a plurality of CAN nodes that communicate via a CAN bus that comprises a fiber optical network. The fiber optical network uses a single fiber and a single wavelength for transmit and receive, and comprises a passive reflective optical star. The reflective optical star comprises an optical mixing rod having a mirror at one end. The other end of the reflective optical star is optically coupled to the transmitters and receivers of a plurality of optical-electrical media converters by way of respective high-isolation optical Y-couplers. Each CAN node produces electrical signals (in accordance with the CAN message-based protocol) which are converted into optical pulses that are broadcast to the fiber optical network. Those optical pulses are then reflected back to all CAN nodes by the reflective optical star.

Abstract: Provided are mechanisms for improving bandwidth for non-essential data on deterministic aircraft data networks (ADNs) such as ARINC 664 networks. A switch such as an ARINC 664 switch maintains rate constrains on one or more priority levels of traffic while releasing rate constraints on low priority traffic. Low priority traffic can be received at an ARINC 664 switch at rates allowed by an Ethernet physical layer. However, low priority, non-rate constrained traffic is transmitted only when there are no other scheduled messages to send. Low priority traffic can consume all available bandwidth whenever there is slack time. A switch can further be separated into zones including a standard rate constrained zone as well as a rate unconstrained zone. Internal or external cross-links can be provided between the zones for any data that needs to be transferred between zones.

Abstract: A device for verifying wire connectivity of a bus may include a bus connector configured to connect to a bus comprising a plurality of wires and measurement circuitry configured to perform a verification test on each wire of the bus. The verification test of each wire may include connecting a wire under test in a predetermined configuration relative to the other wires for performing the verification test and measuring a value of an electrical parameter associated with the wire under test. The verification test may also include comparing the value of the measured electrical parameter associated with the wire under test to an expected value of the electrical parameter. The wire under test passes the verification test in response to the measured value of the electrical parameter corresponding substantially to the expected value of the electrical parameter.

Abstract: A device for verifying wire connectivity of a bus may include a bus connector configured to connect to a bus comprising a plurality of wires and measurement circuitry configured to perform a verification test on each wire of the bus. The verification test of each wire may include connecting a wire under test in a predetermined configuration relative to the other wires for performing the verification test and measuring a value of an electrical parameter associated with the wire under test. The verification test may also include comparing the value of the measured electrical parameter associated with the wire under test to an expected value of the electrical parameter. The wire under test passes the verification test in response to the measured value of the electrical parameter corresponding substantially to the expected value of the electrical parameter.

Abstract: A pin-configurable bus termination system may includes a bus connector attached to an end of a bus. The bus connector may be configured for electrically connecting the bus to an input connector of a node. The node may include a bus termination resistance. The bus connector may include a first bus output pin, a second bus output pin and configurable first and second termination resistor pins. The configurable first and second termination resistor pins may be configurable to provide a first termination configuration and a second termination configuration. The first termination configuration may electrically interconnect the first and second bus output pins arid the configurable first and second termination resistor pins to electrically connect the bus termination resistance for terminating the bus. The second termination configuration may include an open electrical circuit between the first and second bus output pins and the configurable first and second termination resistor pins.

Abstract: A device for verifying wire connectivity of a bus may include a bus connector configured to connect to a bus comprising a plurality of wires and measurement circuitry configured to perform a verification test on each wire of the bus. The verification test of each wire may include connecting a wire under test in a predetermined configuration relative to the other wires for performing the verification test and measuring a value of an electrical parameter associated with the wire under test. The verification test may also include comparing the value of the measured electrical parameter associated with the wire under test to an expected value of the electrical parameter. The wire under test passes the verification test in response to the measured value of the electrical parameter corresponding substantially to the expected value of the electrical parameter.

Abstract: A pin-configurable bus termination system may includes a bus connector attached to an end of a bus. The bus connector may be configured for electrically connecting the bus to an input connector of a node. The node may include a bus termination resistance. The bus connector may include a first bus output pin, a second bus output pin and configurable first and second termination resistor pins. The configurable first and second termination resistor pins may be configurable to provide a first termination configuration and a second termination configuration. The first termination configuration may electrically interconnect the first and second bus output pins arid the configurable first and second termination resistor pins to electrically connect the bus termination resistance for terminating the bus. The second termination configuration may include an open electrical circuit between the first and second bus output pins and the configurable first and second termination resistor pins.

Abstract: A device for verifying wire connectivity of a bus may include a bus connector configured to connect to a bus comprising a plurality of wires and measurement circuitry configured to perform a verification test on each wire of the bus. The verification test of each wire may include connecting a wire under test in a predetermined configuration relative to the other wires for performing the verification test and measuring a value of an electrical parameter associated with the wire under test. The verification test may also include comparing the value of the measured electrical parameter associated with the wire under test to an expected value of the electrical parameter. The wire under test passes the verification test in response to the measured value of the electrical parameter corresponding substantially to the expected value of the electrical parameter.