US 11,934,527 B2
Devices, systems, and methods for securely initializing an embedded system
Jeffrey S. Gilton, Cincinnati, OH (US); Matthew B. Pfenninger, Cincinnati, OH (US); Douglas R. Nichols, Kentwood, MI (US); and Mark E Hingsbergen, Fairfield Township, OH (US)
Assigned to General Electric Company, Schenectady, NY (US)
Filed by General Electric Company, Schenectady, NY (US)
Filed on Sep. 24, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/030,624.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/906,348, filed on Sep. 26, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2021/0097185 A1, Apr. 1, 2021
Int. Cl. G06F 21/00 (2013.01); G06F 8/61 (2018.01); G06F 9/4401 (2018.01); G06F 21/54 (2013.01); G06F 21/57 (2013.01); G06F 21/60 (2013.01); G06F 21/10 (2013.01)
CPC G06F 21/575 (2013.01) [G06F 8/63 (2013.01); G06F 9/4406 (2013.01); G06F 21/54 (2013.01); G06F 21/602 (2013.01); G06F 21/107 (2023.08)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for initiating an engine control system of an aircraft, the method comprising:
authenticating, by one or more processors, a first stage boot loaders;
executing, by the one or more processors, the first stage boot loader in response to authentication of the first stage boot loader, wherein executing the first stage boot loader comprises:
determining, by the one or more processors, whether the engine control system is in a memory loader mode based on whether the engine control system is connected to a memory loader;
upon determination that the engine control system is not in the memory loader mode:
authenticating, by the one or more processors, a second stage boot loader; and
executing, by the one or more processors, the second stage boot loader in response to authentication of the second stage boot loader, wherein executing the second stage boot loader comprises:
loading, by the one or more processors, an operating system, a first set of machine-readable instructions, and first configuration information associated with the first set of machine-readable instructions onto a non-transitory computer-readable medium, wherein the first set of machine-readable instructions and the first configuration information are associated with one or more priority partitions;
authenticating, by the one or more processors, the operating system and the first set of machine-readable instructions; and
executing, by the one or more processors, the first set of machine-readable instructions in response to authentication of the operating system and the first set of machine-readable instructions.