Simulation server capable of interacting with a plurality of simulators to perform a plurality of simulations

Abstract

A simulation server capable of interacting with a plurality of simulators to perform a plurality of simulations. The simulation server comprises a communication interface for exchanging data with other entities. The processing server also comprises a processing unit for executing at least one simulation. The processing unit also generates simulator simulation data and transmits the simulator simulation data to at least one simulator via the communication interface. The simulator simulation data are representative of the execution of the at least one simulation. The processing unit also receives simulator interaction data from the at least one simulator via the communication interface. The processing unit further processes the simulator interaction data and controls the execution of the at least one simulation based on the processed simulator interaction data. The simulation server may also interact with one or more of portable computing devices to perform the plurality of simulations.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A simulation server comprising:
 a communication interface for exchanging data with other entities;   a processing unit for:
 executing at least one simulation; 
 generating simulator simulation data and transmitting the simulator simulation data to at least one simulator via the communication interface, the simulator simulation data being representative of the execution of the at least one simulation; 
 receiving simulator interaction data from the at least one simulator via the communication interface; and 
 processing the simulator interaction data and controlling the execution of the at least one simulation based on the processed simulator interaction data. 
   
     
     
         2 . The simulation server of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the processing unit executes a plurality of simulations; and   for each specific simulation among the plurality of simulations, the processing unit:
 generates simulator simulation data and transmits the simulator simulation data to a specific simulator, 
 receives simulator interaction data from the specific simulator, 
 processes the simulator interaction data, and 
 controls the execution of the specific simulation based on the processed simulator interaction data. 
   
     
     
         3 . The simulation server of  claim 1 , wherein the processing unit further generates and transmits simulator Instructor Operating Station (IOS) control and monitoring data to a specific simulator among the at least one simulator, the simulator IOS control and monitoring data allowing the generation of the simulator interaction data by the specific simulator via interactions of a user with the specific simulator when the simulator IOS control and monitoring data are displayed on the specific simulator. 
     
     
         4 . The simulation server of  claim 1 , wherein the processing unit further generates and transmits simulator graphical data to a specific simulator among the at least one simulator, the simulator graphical data allowing the generation of the simulator interaction data by the specific simulator via interactions of a user with the specific simulator when the simulator graphical data are displayed on the specific simulator. 
     
     
         5 . The simulation server of  claim 1 , wherein the processing unit further:
 generates portable computing device simulation data and transmits the portable computing device simulation data to at least one portable computing device via the communication interface, the portable computing device simulation data being representative of the execution of the at least one simulation;   receives portable computing device interaction data from the at least one portable computing device via the communication interface; and   processes the portable computing device interaction data and controls the execution of the at least one simulation based on the processed portable computing device interaction data.   
     
     
         6 . The simulation server of  claim 5 , wherein:
 the processing unit executes a plurality of simulations; and   for each specific simulation among the plurality of simulations, the processing unit:
 generates portable computing device simulation data and transmits the portable computing device simulation data to a specific portable computing device, 
 receives portable computing device interaction data from the specific portable computing device, 
 processes the portable computing device interaction data, and 
 controls the execution of the specific simulation based on the processed portable computing device interaction data. 
   
     
     
         7 . The simulation server of  claim 5 , wherein the processing unit further executes at least one rendering function, the rendering function processing at least some of the portable computing device simulation data transmitted to a specific portable computing device to generate portable computing device simulation data adapted for rendering on the specific portable computing device. 
     
     
         8 . The simulation server of  claim 7 , wherein the rendering function uses characteristics of the portable computing device for generating the portable computing device simulation data adapted for rendering on the specific portable computing device, the characteristics including at least one of the following: processing power, memory size, display resolution, data throughput of a communication interface, and available user interfaces. 
     
     
         9 . The simulation server of  claim 7 , wherein the portable computing device simulation data comprise at least one simulation image and generating portable computing device simulation data adapted for rendering on the specific portable computing device comprises at least one of the following: encoding the simulation image in a particular format, applying a particular compression algorithm to the simulation image, applying a particular image sampling algorithm to the simulation image, and applying a particular algorithm for lowering an image resolution of the simulation image. 
     
     
         10 . The simulation server of  claim 5 , wherein the processing unit further generates and transmits portable computing device IOS control and monitoring data to a specific portable computing device among the at least one portable computing device, the portable computing device IOS control and monitoring data allowing the generation of the portable computing device interaction data by the specific portable computing device via interactions of a user with the specific portable computing device when the portable computing device IOS control and monitoring data are displayed on the specific portable computing device. 
     
     
         11 . The simulation server of  claim 5 , wherein the processing unit further generates and transmits portable computing device graphical data to a specific portable computing device among the at least one portable computing device, the portable computing device graphical data allowing the generation of the portable computing device interaction data by the specific portable computing device via interactions of a user with the specific portable computing device when the portable computing device graphical data are displayed on the specific portable computing device. 
     
     
         12 . The simulation server of  claim 1 , wherein for each of the at least one simulation, executing the simulation by the processing unit comprises executing at least one simulation functionality corresponding to a specific simulator by the processing unit, and the simulator simulation data generated by the execution of the at least one simulation functionality are transmitted to the specific simulator. 
     
     
         13 . The simulation server of  claim 1 , wherein the simulation data comprise at least one of the following: a static simulation image and a flow of simulation images. 
     
     
         14 . The simulator of  claim 1 , wherein the simulation data comprise a static simulation image consisting in a static map. 
     
     
         15 . The simulator of  claim 1 , wherein the simulation data comprise a flow of simulation images consisting in a real time streaming of a map. 
     
     
         16 . The simulation server of  claim 1 , wherein the communication interface supports at least one of the following communication protocols: Wi-Fi, and Ethernet. 
     
     
         17 . The simulation server of  claim 1 , wherein the simulation consists in a simulation of an aircraft.