Method and apparatus for simulating aircraft data processing systems
A method, apparatus, and computer program product for simulating mobile platforms. In one advantageous embodiment, a method is used to performing operations with a virtual aircraft network. A data processing system with the virtual aircraft network is connected to a ground network. The operations are performed with the virtual aircraft network connected to the ground network.
1. A method for simulating a mobile platform, the method comprising:
identifying a plurality of components for a network for the mobile platform to form a plurality of identified components;
designing a set of virtual versions of components for at least a portion of the plurality of identified components;
placing the set of virtual versions of components on a data processing system to form a virtual network for the mobile platform; and
configuring a set of physical network connections on the data processing system.
2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
connecting the set of physical network connections to another network, wherein the virtual network is connected to the another network; and
performing operations with the virtual network and the another network.
3. The method of claim 2 further comprising:
collecting data from performing the operations to form collected data; and
changing the other network in response to the collected data.
4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the performing step comprises:
performing operations with the virtual network and the another network to train a set of users on how to perform the operations.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the virtual network is a virtual aircraft network and the another network is a ground network.
6. The method of claim 2 further comprising:
utilizing a physical component of one of the plurality of components.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the physical component is a line replaceable unit.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the network is selected from one of a network in an aircraft, a network in an automobile, a network in a tank, a network in a ship, a network in spacecraft, a network in a submarine, and a network in missile.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein a selected component in the plurality of components is a software aircraft part in a line replaceable unit.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the designing step comprises:
designing a virtual machine for the line replaceable unit to execute the software aircraft part.
11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the designing step comprises:
designing a virtual machine for the line replaceable unit with a software component capable of simulating inputs and outputs to the software aircraft part.
12. A computer program product for simulating a mobile platform, the computer program product comprising:
a non-transitory computer readable medium; and
program code, stored on the non-transitory computer readable medium, for:
identifying a plurality of components for a network for the mobile platform to form a plurality of identified components;
designing a set of virtual versions of components for at least a portion of the plurality of identified components;
placing the set of virtual versions of components on a data processing system to form a virtual network for the mobile platform; and
configuring a set of physical network connections on the data processing system.
13. The computer program product of claim 12 further comprising:
program code, stored on the non-transitory computer readable medium, for:
connecting the set of physical network connections to another network, wherein the virtual network is connected to the another network; and
performing operations with the virtual network and the another network.
14. The computer program product of claim 13 further comprising:
program code, stored on the non-transitory computer readable medium, for:
collecting data from performing the operations to form collected data; and
changing the other network in response to the collected data.
15. The computer program product of claim 13 , wherein the virtual network is a virtual aircraft network and the another network is a ground network.
16. The computer program product of claim 12 , wherein a selected component in the plurality of components is a software aircraft part in a line replaceable unit.
17. An apparatus for simulating a mobile platform, the apparatus comprising a data processing system configured to:
identify a plurality of components for a network for the mobile platform to form a plurality of identified components;
design a set of virtual versions of components for at least a portion of the plurality of identified components;
place the set of virtual versions of components on the data processing system to form a virtual network for the mobile platform; and
configure a set of physical network connections on the data processing system.
18. The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the data processing system is configured to:
connect the set of physical network connections to another network, wherein the virtual network is connected to the another network; and
perform operations with the virtual network and the another network.
19. The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the data processing system is configured to:
collect data from performing the operations to form collected data; and
change the other network in response to the collected data.
20. The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the virtual network is a virtual aircraft network and the another network is a ground network.
21. The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein a selected component in the plurality of components is a software aircraft part in a line replaceable unit.