Method and system to dynamically configure and load platform-specific maintenance software

1. A platform-specific maintenance software configuration system for a plurality of platforms, the system comprising:

an image building engine comprising a processor and a memory, having maintenance software, and located at a ground system, the image building engine configured to

receive a user-selected initiated test, defined as a specific maintenance test or System test for a platform of the plurality of platforms,

process the initiated test with certification maintenance requirements (CMR) data for the initiated test, and

generate a binary image file (BIF) that is customized, comprising encoded instructions for the initiated test and the platform; and

a maintenance engine comprising a processor and a memory, embedded in a flight control system of the platform;

the maintenance engine is configured to:

establish an authenticated wireless communication link to the image building engine;

receive and execute the BIF to thereby obtain fault data pertaining to the initiated test during operation of the platform; and

transmit the fault data to the image building engine via the authenticated wireless communication link; and

delete the BIF from the maintenance engine after executing the BIF;

the image building engine is further configured to:

receive the fault data;

provide the fault data at a user input/output for review by maintenance operator;

generate the BIF responsive to processing the received fault data; and

transmit the BIF via the authenticated wireless communication link.

2. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a server referred to as a cloud, the cloud located remotely from the platform, and wherein the image building engine is further configured to store the BIF in the cloud.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the maintenance engine is further configured to receive the BIF from the cloud via the authenticated wireless communication link.

4. The system of claim 3 , further comprising a central maintenance computer (CMC) at the platform, and wherein:

the maintenance engine is further configured to encode and store the fault data in the CMC; and

transmit the fault data stored in the CMC to the image building engine via the authenticated wireless communication link.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the fault data comprises one or more detected faults, and detected faults comprise in flight faults and on-ground faults.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the BIF comprises a periodically performed maintenance test based on elapsed flight hours.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the BIF further comprises a periodically performed maintenance test based on usage of a line replacement unit (LRU).

8. The system of claim 5 , wherein:

the maintenance engine is further configured to transmit to the image building engine, a connection request; and

the image building engine is further configured to accept the connection request from the maintenance engine, responsive to performing an authentication procedure.

9. The system of claim 5 , further comprising a certificate maintenance requirements database, and wherein the BIF includes certificate maintenance requirements from the certificate maintenance requirements database for the initiated test.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the image building engine is further configured to retrieve the certificate maintenance requirements based on referencing a fleet profile for the platform.

11. A processor-implemented method for platform-specific maintenance software configuration for a platform of a plurality of platforms, the method comprising:

at the platform,

establishing an authenticated wireless communication link to an image building engine in a ground system;

receiving a first customized binary image file (BIF), the first customized BIF having coded instructions to perform a first specific maintenance test or System test on the platform;

executing the first customized BIF during operation of the platform to obtain fault data pertaining to the first specific maintenance test or System test;

transmitting the fault data to the image building engine via the authenticated wireless communication link; and

deleting the first customized BIF upon completion of the execution of the first customized BIF;

at the ground system, in the image building engine including maintenance software;

receiving the fault data;

receiving a user-selected initiated test, defined as a specific maintenance test or System test for the platform;

processing the fault data, user-selected initiated test, and certification maintenance requirements (CMR) data for the initiated test, to generate therefrom a second customized BIF; and

transmitting the second customized BIF to the platform, via the authenticated wireless communication link.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising, storing the second customized BIF in a cloud located remotely from the platform.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the fault data comprises one or more detected faults, and detected faults comprise in flight faults and on-ground faults.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the first customized BIF comprises, selectively, a combination of: a periodically performed maintenance test based on elapsed flight hours; a periodically performed maintenance test based on usage of a line replacement unit (LRU); and, certificate maintenance requirements.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising retrieving the certificate maintenance requirements data based on referencing a fleet profile in a memory at the ground system.

16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:

(a) at the ground system, providing the fault data at a user input/output, for review by a maintenance operator.

17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising:

receiving additional initiated tests from the maintenance operator subsequent to (a);

executing the additional initiated tests;

storing the additional initiated tests and their results in the cloud; and

providing formatted initiated test results at the user input/output, for review by the maintenance operator.