Remote updates of a gas turbine engine

Abstract

A communication adapter of a gas turbine engine of an aircraft includes a communication interface configured to wirelessly communicate with an offboard system and to communicate with an engine control of the gas turbine engine. The communication adapter also includes a memory system and processing circuitry configured to receive one or more configuration items from the offboard system, apply a cryptographic algorithm using one or more parameters received and cryptographic information to decrypt the one or more configuration items, wherein the cryptographic information includes a combination of received cryptographic information and previously stored cryptographic information, and transfer the one or more configuration items to the engine control after applying the cryptographic algorithm.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A communication adapter of a gas turbine engine of an aircraft, the communication adapter comprising:
 a communication interface configured to wirelessly communicate with an offboard system and to communicate with an engine control of the gas turbine engine;   a memory system; and   processing circuitry configured to:
 receive one or more configuration items from the offboard system; 
 apply a cryptographic algorithm using one or more parameters received and cryptographic information to decrypt the one or more configuration items, wherein the cryptographic information includes a combination of received cryptographic information and previously stored cryptographic information; and 
 transfer the one or more configuration items to the engine control after applying the cryptographic algorithm. 
   
     
     
         2 . The communication adapter of  claim 1 , wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to:
 transmit a data state of the engine control and a configuration of the engine control to the offboard system with an update completion confirmation.   
     
     
         3 . The communication adapter of  claim 1 , wherein the communication adapter manages credentials and user authentication to limit access to the engine control. 
     
     
         4 . The communication adapter of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more configuration items comprise a plurality of engine control trim data, and wherein the engine control trim data comprises at least one digital signature that is validated by the engine control prior to updating the engine control. 
     
     
         5 . The communication adapter of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more configuration items comprise a plurality of fault limit data. 
     
     
         6 . The communication adapter of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more configuration items comprise executable software for the engine control. 
     
     
         7 . The communication adapter of  claim 6 , wherein the executable software comprises at least one digital signature that is validated by the engine control prior to updating the engine control. 
     
     
         8 . A method comprising:
 receiving one or more configuration items from an offboard system at a communication adapter of a gas turbine engine of an aircraft;   applying a cryptographic algorithm using one or more parameters received and cryptographic information to decrypt the one or more configuration items, wherein the cryptographic information includes a combination of received cryptographic information and previously stored cryptographic information; and   transferring the one or more configuration items to the engine control after applying the cryptographic algorithm.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 transmitting a data state of the engine control and a configuration of the engine control to the offboard system with an update completion confirmation.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the communication adapter manages credentials and user authentication to limit access to the engine control. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the one or more configuration items comprise a plurality of engine control trim data, and wherein the engine control trim data comprises at least one digital signature that is validated by the engine control prior to updating the engine control. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the one or more configuration items comprise a plurality of fault limit data. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the one or more configuration items comprise executable software for the engine control. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the executable software comprises at least one digital signature that is validated by the engine control prior to updating the engine control. 
     
     
         15 . A gas turbine engine of an aircraft, the gas turbine engine comprising:
 a fan section comprising a fan case;   an engine control configured to monitor and control operation of the gas turbine engine in real-time; and   a communication adapter mounted on the fan case, the communication adapter comprising processing circuitry configured to receive one or more configuration items from an offboard system, apply a cryptographic algorithm using one or more parameters received and cryptographic information to decrypt the one or more configuration items, wherein the cryptographic information includes a combination of received cryptographic information and previously stored cryptographic information, and transfer the one or more configuration items to the engine control after applying the cryptographic algorithm.   
     
     
         16 . The gas turbine engine of  claim 15 , wherein processing circuitry is further configured to:
 transmit a data state of the engine control and a configuration of the engine control to the offboard system with an update completion confirmation.   
     
     
         17 . The gas turbine engine of  claim 15 , wherein the one or more configuration items comprise a plurality of engine control trim data with at least one digital signature that is validated by the engine control prior to updating the engine control. 
     
     
         18 . The gas turbine engine of  claim 15 , wherein the one or more configuration items comprise a plurality of fault limit data. 
     
     
         19 . The gas turbine engine of  claim 15 , wherein the communication adapter manages credentials and user authentication to limit access to the engine control. 
     
     
         20 . The gas turbine engine of  claim 15 , wherein the one or more configuration items comprise executable software for the engine control, and wherein the executable software comprises at least one digital signature that is validated by the engine control prior to updating the engine control.