Cabin Systems
Subcommittee
Last Update:
July 24, 2008
Chairman: Dale Freeman - Northwest Airlines
APIM: 3rd Generation Cabin Network
APIM: Update ARINC 485 Part 2 Extended Capability for In-Seat Network
APIM: Additional New Seat Integration Work Scope to be initiated in 2003 (pdf, 24K)
APIM: Cabin Telecommunication Unit with Ethernet Capabilities and Support for
On-Board Mobile Phones (pdf, 18K)
APIM: 4th Generation Cabin Network as an Enhancement to 3GCN with Focus
on Robustness, Reliability, and Reconfiguration
Goal: Passenger entertainment equipment is subject to frequent upgrades on the airplane. The objective of this AEEC activity is to define cost effective and valuable network infrastructure for the airlines to cope with the rapid and evolving electronics/infotainment industry that will meet or exceed passenger expectations. This includes interface standards to allow airlines to implement their preferred systems for their passengers. Cabin interface protocols and connector standardization are also a part of this activity.
Project: Document 2nd, 3rd and 4th generation cabin equipment interfaces.
Scope: The scope of this project is to develop 3rd and 4th generation standard interfaces that will provide airlines with freedom of choice in the installation and expansion of cabin equipment. Cabin telecommunications, mobile phones, interface protocols, and connector standardization are also a part of this activity. Standards being developed by the Cabin Systems Subcommittee (CSS) are embodied in the following areas, listed by tasks.
- ARINC Specification 628 Part 0 provides an introduction and overview of the ARINC 628 series of Specifications (updated periodically).
- A supplement to ARINC Specification 628 Part 1 will provide digital camera and video Ethernet interfaces.
- Supplements to 628 Part 2 improves seat interfaces and integration standards (for more details, see SIWG WPF).
- Supplements to 628 Part 4A includes a standard in-seat power network definition and add a standard IFE system to Master Control Unit (MCU) interfaces definition.
- ARINC Specification 628 Part 9 broadens the distribution system to a standard internetworking communications definition for email, intranet and internet access, high speed data exchange, etc.
- ARINC Characteristic 765 includes a standard wired network connection between equipment in the cabin and cockpit.
- ARINC Specification 485 Part 2 complements Part 1 by adding standard electrical characteristics and protocol and data content for a data bus used with seat end electronics.
- ARINC Specification 808 defines a standard 3rd generation aircraft backbone wiring system to support plug and play installations of IFE systems.
- Project Paper 809 defines a standard 3rd generation aircraft backbone wiring system seat associated equipment. A standard ARINC 809 connector definition is provided as an attachment.
- Project Paper 820 defines a standard 3rd generation aircraft backbone wireless system (recently placed on hold and is awaiting user requirements).
- Project Paper 824 will define a standard mobile phone system.
Benefit: Cabin systems provide entertainment and service improvements to the passenger. To keep up with passenger’s desire for better accommodations, systems are becoming more sophisticated and complex. Home entertainment and office type computing systems and peripherals are finding applications in the cabin to facilitate data handling and data link to the ground. These growing complexities and scope of cabin equipment has resulted in the expansion of ARINC 628 to eight parts. New series of specifications are added as new concepts and next generation systems and networks are developed. The benefits of the cabin standards are numerous. They provide the airlines freedom of choice, unit price reduction through increased volume, interchangeable spares, more upgradeable options, and creation of more sub- markets for integrators and software/hardware suppliers. These benefits are being realized on the A380, B787, A350, possibly regional and business jets, and retrofit aircraft programs.
AEEC General Session (October 2006) Update:
AEEC adopted the following document:
Draft 8 of Project Paper 808: Cabin Equipment Interfaces (CEI) 3rd Generation Cabin Management and Entertainment System – Cabin Distribution System
AEEC approved new APIMs 06-008 4th Generation Cabin Network, as an enhancement to the 3GCN standard. This standardization combines the advantage of the wired and wireless 3GCN with a focus on robustness, reliability, and reconfigurability.
AEEC endorsed the 2007 CSS Work Program consisting of these projects:
- Complete Project Paper 809, the Seat Wired Network and additional Seat integration tasks such as the Seat Integration Workshop
- Complete Project Paper 820, the 3GCN Wireless Distribution System to support plug and play IFE systems.
- Develop digital camera and video interfaces in ARINC 628 Part 1
- Develop the 4GCN definition Project Paper 8XX
- Develop the Cabin Mobile Phone definition in Project Paper 824
- Extend the seat software protocols to add control of seat actuation, reading lights, software downloads, etc. in a supplement to ARINC 485 Part 2 and clean up some discrepancies found in ARINC 485 Part 1
- Update ARINC 628 Part 0, the Cabin Systems Overview document (It has been nearly 2 yrs since update)
- We anticipate a possible update to ARINC 808, the 3GCN Head End Network, to correct any implementation discrepancies
- Add a QoS metric to ARINC 628 Part 8 based upon airline request
- The Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) will remain on hold awaiting user requirements
Current Drafts:
Circulation Prior to Adoption Action
Draft 1 of Supplement 1 to ARINC Specification 485: Cabin Equipment Interfaces (CEI), Part 1, Head End Equipment Protocol
Adoption Notification (pdf, 22K)
Circulation Prior to Adoption Action
Draft 4 of Supplement 2 to ARINC Specification 485: Cabin Equipment Interfaces (CEI), Part 2, Physical Layer - In-Seat Protocol
Adoption Notification (pdf, 22K)
Draft 2 of Supplement 2 to ARINC Specification 628: Cabin Equipment Interfaces (CEI), Part 0, Cabin Management and Entertainment System - Overview
Draft 3 of Supplement 4 to ARINC Specification 628: Cabin Equipment Interfaces (CEI), Part 1, Cabin Management and Entertainment System - Peripherals
Circulation Prior to Adoption Action
Draft 4 of Supplement 2 to ARINC Specification 628: Cabin Equipment Interfaces (CEI), Part 9, Cabin Information Network
Adoption Notification (pdf, 22K)
Draft 2 of Supplement 1 to ARINC Specification 808: 3GCN Cabin Distribution
Draft 2 of Supplement 1 to ARINC Specification 809: 3GCN Seat Distribution
Draft 2 of Project Paper 820: 3rd Generation Cabin Network - Wireless, In-Flight Entertainment System
Draft 1 of ARINC Project Paper 824: Onboard Mobile Telephony System (OMTS)
Next Meeting Announcement:
Joint Meeting Announcement Cabin Systems Subcommittee, Cabin Mobile Phone/Wireless Distribution (CMP/WD) TWG, and Connector Technical Working Group (CWG) Meetings (pdf, 36K)
August 12-15, 2008; Dublin, Ireland
Register On Line
Working Papers:
Last Meeting Report:
Cabin
Systems Subcommittee (CSS)
May 13-16, 2008; Annapolis, Maryland
Associated Handouts
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