That's a good question, one example I can think of is the TV channel on some aircraft that displays positional and airspeed information to passengers.
I assume this data comes somewhere from the flight computers.
I assume this data comes somewhere from the flight computers.
It would also seem sensible that any interaction the pilots might want to perform on the cabin computer systems could be done by giving them a terminal on that network.
The level of scrutiny that IPC (inter-processor communication) channel got was insane. It is probably one of the safest IPC channels in existence!
Unfortunately I didn't fully grasp what systems it was connecting, aviation is full of its own parallel set of jagon that I didn't fully learn in my short time at Boeing!
Doesn't sound at all odd -- quite sensible actually. Though I would probably have suggested a pairing more along the lines of OpenBSD/x64 and Linux/ARM or some-such. It depends on what the remainder of the systems is using. This is a perfect example of where ecosystem diversity is a Good Thing.
Try attaching your cell phone to a rocket travelling over 1200 mph or above 60,000 feet, you'll find that your GPS unit basically shuts down. That's not to say that your GPS hardware is incapable of operating under those parameters, it's just designed to shut down so it can't be used to guide ICBMs. Commercial airplanes typically operate at half the altitude and speed which would trigger the condition.
The limits are 1,200 mph speed and 18,000 m altitude. Google tells me a 747's limits are around 615 mph and 14,000 m; Concorde's limits were closer to 1,350 mph and 18,300 m. Still, I'm sure if you're making an airliner you can get access to GPS receivers that will work even at maximum speed and altitude!
[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=CoCom&oldid=608893...