Open Group Standard 
Technical Standard for 
Future Airborne Capability Environment (FACE™), Edition 2.1 
 
You have a choice: you can either create your own future, or you can become the victim of a future 
that someone else creates for you. By seizing the transformation opportunities, you are seizing the 
opportunity to create your own future. 
 
Vice Admiral (ret.) Arthur K. Cebrowski 
 
 
 
Distribution Statement A –“Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited” 
NAVAIR Public Release 2014-256 
 
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Technical Standard 
Future Airborne Capability Environment (FACE™), Edition 2.1 
ISBN: 
1-937218-52-2 
Document Number: 
C145 
 
Published by The Open Group, May 2014. 
Comments relating to the material contained in this document may be submitted to: 
The Open Group, 8 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803, United States 
or by electronic mail to: 
ogface-admin@opengroup.org 
ii 
 
Open Group Standard (2014) 
 
Contents 
1 
2 
3 
Introduction ..................................................................................................... 1 
1.1 
Objectives ........................................................................................ 1 
Overview ......................................................................................... 1 
1.2 
Conformance ................................................................................... 1 
1.3 
1.4 
Requirements Terminology ............................................................. 2 
Architectural Overview ................................................................................... 3 
The FACE Strategy.......................................................................... 3 
2.1 
Portable Components ....................................................................... 3 
2.1.1 
2.2 
Barriers to Application Portability ................................................... 3 
Tight-Coupling ................................................................................ 3 
2.2.1 
Packaging ......................................................................................... 6 
2.2.2 
Interface Categories ......................................................................... 8 
2.3 
2.3.1 
Vertical Interfaces ............................................................................ 8 
Horizontal Interfaces ....................................................................... 9 
2.3.2 
Permitted and Prohibited Vertical Interfaces ................................. 10 
2.4 
Cases for FACE Components ........................................................ 10 
2.4.1 
2.5 
FACE Architectural Segments ...................................................... 12 
Overview of the FACE Reference Architecture Segments............ 14 
2.5.1 
Reference Architecture Segment Example .................................... 16 
2.5.2 
FACE Data Architecture ................................................................ 17 
2.6 
2.6.1 
Overview ....................................................................................... 18 
Approach ....................................................................................... 20 
2.6.2 
Governance .................................................................................... 21 
2.6.3 
Operating System Partitioning ....................................................... 21 
2.7 
2.8 
FACE Profiles ................................................................................ 22 
The Security Profile ....................................................................... 23 
2.8.1 
The Safety Profile .......................................................................... 24 
2.8.2 
2.8.3 
The General-Purpose Profile ......................................................... 24 
FACE Software Computing Architecture ..................................................... 25 
Operating System Segment ............................................................ 26 
3.1 
Operating System Segment Requirements .................................... 28 
3.1.1 
3.2 
Device Drivers ............................................................................... 31 
I/O Services Segment .................................................................... 31 
3.3 
I/O Services Segment Definitions ................................................. 32 
3.3.1 
I/O Services Segment Requirements ............................................. 32 
3.3.2 
3.3.3 
I/O Service Management Capability Requirements ...................... 33 
I/O Data Movement Capability Requirements .............................. 34 
3.3.4 
Device Driver Normalization Adaptation Requirements ............... 34 
3.3.5 
3.4 
I/O Services Interface .................................................................... 34 
I/O Services Interface and Messages ............................................. 34 
3.4.1 
Technical Standard for FACE™, Edition 2.1 
 
iii 
 
3.4.2 
3.5 
3.5.1 
3.5.2 
3.5.3 
3.5.4 
3.5.5 
3.5.6 
3.6 
3.6.1 
3.6.2 
3.6.3 
3.6.4 
3.7 
3.7.1 
3.7.2 
3.7.3 
3.7.4 
3.7.5 
I/O Services Interface Requirements ............................................. 36 
Platform-Specific Services Segment ............................................. 37 
PSSS External Interfaces ............................................................... 38 
Platform-Specific Device Services ................................................ 39 
Platform-Specific Common Services Requirements ..................... 39 
Platform-Specific Graphics Services ............................................. 42 
Distributed PSSS Components ...................................................... 42 
Platform-Specific Services Segment Requirements ...................... 42 
FACE Data Architecture Specification.......................................... 43 
Introduction ................................................................................... 43 
Data Architecture Requirements .................................................... 43 
Data Model Language Description ................................................ 44 
Language Bindings ........................................................................ 86 
Transport Services Interface .......................................................... 97 
Transport Protocol ......................................................................... 98 
Transport Services Interface Requirements ................................... 98 
TSS Definitions ............................................................................. 98 
Transport Services Interface Descriptions ..................................... 99 
Transport Services Segment Message and Internal Data 
Structure Requirements ............................................................... 100 
Transport Services Interface FACE Data Architecture 
Requirements ............................................................................... 104 
3.8 
Transport Services Segment ........................................................ 104 
3.8.1 
Introduction ................................................................................. 104 
3.8.2 
Transport Services Segment Definitions ..................................... 106 
3.8.3 
Transport Services Segment Requirements ................................. 107 
3.8.4 
Distribution Capability Requirements ......................................... 108 
3.8.5 
Transport Services Configuration Capability Requirements ....... 109 
3.8.6 
QoS Management Capability Requirements ................................ 110 
3.8.7  Message Association Management Capability Requirements ..... 110 
Data Transformation Capability Requirements ........................... 110 
3.8.8 
Paradigm Translation Capabilities Requirements ........................ 111 
3.8.9 
3.9 
Portable Components Segment .................................................... 111 
3.9.1 
Definition and Scope of Portable Components Segment ............. 111 
3.9.2  Meaning of “Application Portability”.......................................... 112 
3.9.3 
3.7.6 
Libraries, Language Run-Times, and Application 
Frameworks ................................................................................. 112 
3.9.4 
FACE Component Interfaces to Other FACE Entities ................ 114 
3.9.5 
Portable Components Configuration ........................................... 115 
3.9.6 
Portable Components Segment Requirements ............................. 115 
3.10 
Unit of Portability ........................................................................ 115 
3.10.1  UoPs Defined ............................................................................... 117 
3.10.2  UoP-Related Requirements ......................................................... 120 
3.10.3  UoP Characterization ................................................................... 125 
3.11 
Operating System Interface Requirements: FACE Operating 
System API Standards ................................................................. 128 
FACE Security Operating System API Requirements ................ 129 
FACE Safety Operating System API Requirements .................... 131 
FACE General-Purpose Operating System API Requirements ... 133 
3.11.1 
3.11.2 
3.11.3 
iv 
 
Open Group Standard (2014) 
 
3.12.3 
3.12.4 
3.11.4  Time Management ....................................................................... 134 
3.12 
FACE Language Run-Time Interface .......................................... 134 
3.12.1  Language Run-Time Description................................................. 134 
3.12.2 
FACE General-Purpose Profile Programming Language 
Requirements ............................................................................... 136 
FACE Safety Profiles – Portable Programming Language 
Definitions ................................................................................... 137 
FACE Security Profiles – Portable Programming Language 
Definitions ................................................................................... 140 
3.13 
FACE Framework Interface ........................................................ 141 
3.13.1  Component Framework ............................................................... 141 
3.13.2 
FACE General-Purpose Profile – Component Framework 
Definitions ................................................................................... 141 
FACE Safety Profiles – Component Framework Definitions ...... 141 
3.13.3 
3.14 
Platform-Specific Graphics Services ........................................... 142 
3.14.1  OpenGL – 2D and 3D Imaging ................................................... 142 
3.14.2  ARINC 739-1 and 739A-1 ........................................................... 145 
3.14.3  ARINC 661 .................................................................................. 147 
3.14.4  Relationship to the FACE Reference Architecture ...................... 148 
3.15 
Configuration Services ................................................................ 149 
3.15.1  Centralized Configuration Service .............................................. 150 
3.15.2  Common Configuration Schema Requirements .......................... 151 
Health Monitoring and Fault Management .................................. 151 
3.16 
3.16.1 
Introduction ................................................................................. 152 
3.16.2  HMFM Requirements .................................................................. 153 
3.16.3  Operating System Segment Health Monitoring Requirements .... 153 
Internet Standards Description .................................................... 154 
3.17 
3.17.1 
Internet Standards Requirements ................................................. 155 
4 
5 
Security ....................................................................................................... 156 
4.1 
4.2 
4.2.1 
4.2.2 
4.3 
4.4 
Scope156 
Guiding Concepts ........................................................................ 157 
Separation and Partitioning of Security Functions ...................... 157 
Common Criteria ......................................................................... 158 
FACE Security Profile ................................................................. 159 
FACE Security Boundary ............................................................ 160 
Safety Assurance ......................................................................................... 162 
5.1 
5.2 
5.2.1 
5.2.2 
5.3 
Scope162 
Guiding Concepts ........................................................................ 163 
Separation and Partitioning of Safety Functions ......................... 163 
Process ......................................................................................... 163 
FACE Safety Profile .................................................................... 164 
A 
Operating System POSIX Interface ............................................................ 166 
A.1 
POSIX API Rules ........................................................................ 206 
B 
FACE API Common Elements ................................................................... 208 
Technical Standard for FACE™, Edition 2.1 
 
v 
C 
D 
 
B.1 
B.2 
Introduction ................................................................................. 208 
FACE API Common Elements Type Definitions ........................ 208 
FACE HMFM Interface .............................................................................. 210 
C.1 
Introduction ................................................................................. 210 
HMFM Services API and Message Definitions .......................... 210 
C.2 
HMFM Initialization Service ....................................................... 213 
C.3 
Create Fault Handler Service ....................................................... 214 
C.4 
C.5 
Report Application Message Service ........................................... 214 
Obtain Fault Status Service ......................................................... 215 
C.6 
C.7 
Raise Application Fault Service .................................................. 216 
I/O Services Interface .................................................................................. 217 
Introduction ................................................................................. 217 
D.1 
I/O Services Interface and Message Definitions .......................... 217 
D.2 
D.3 
Initialize Function ........................................................................ 221 
Open Function ............................................................................. 222 
D.4 
Register Function ......................................................................... 223 
D.5 
Unregister Function ..................................................................... 223 
D.6 
D.7 
Read Function .............................................................................. 224 
Write Function ............................................................................. 225 
D.8 
Get_Status Function..................................................................... 226 
D.9 
Close Function ............................................................................. 227 
D.10 
D.11 
I/O Services Interface Message Set ............................................. 228 
D.11.1 
I/O Service Message Payload Format .......................................... 229 
D.11.2  MIL-STD-1553 Message Payload Format .................................. 231 
D.11.3  ARINC 429 Message Payload Format......................................... 232 
D.11.4  Serial Message Payload Format ................................................... 233 
D.11.5  Discrete Message Payload Format ............................................... 234 
D.11.6  Analog Message Payload Format ................................................ 235 
D.11.7  Synchro Message Payload Format ............................................... 236 
D.11.8  High Precision Synchro Message Payload Format ...................... 237 
D.11.9  VME Service Message Payload Format ...................................... 238 
D.11.10  Generic Data Message Payload Format ....................................... 239 
D.11.11  User-Defined Bus Data Message Payload Format ...................... 240 
D.12 
I/O Services Segment Configuration Information ....................... 240 
D.12.1  General Configuration Data ......................................................... 240 
D.12.2  MIL-STD-1553 Configuration Data ............................................ 241 
D.12.3  ARINC 429 Configuration Data .................................................. 241 
D.12.4  Serial Port Configuration Data .................................................... 241 
D.12.5  Discrete I/O Configuration Data .................................................. 242 
D.12.6  Analog I/O Configuration Data ................................................... 242 
D.12.7  Synchro I/O Configuration Data .................................................. 242 
D.12.8  High Precision Synchro I/O Configuration Data ......................... 242 
D.12.9  Generic I/O Configuration Data .................................................. 243 
D.12.10  User-Defined Bus I/O Configuration Data .................................. 243 
E 
Transport Services Interface ....................................................................... 244 
vi 
 
Open Group Standard (2014) 
 
E.1 
E.2 
E.2.1 
E.2.2 
E.2.3 
E.3 
E.3.1 
E.3.2 
E.3.3 
E.3.4 
E.3.5 
E.3.6 
E.3.7 
E.3.8 
E.4 
E.5 
Introduction ................................................................................. 244 
Data Types and Interfaces ........................................................... 244 
FACE_TS_common.idl ............................................................... 244 
FACE_TypeAbstraction_TS.idl .................................................. 246 
FACE_TS.idl ............................................................................... 248 
Example API Implementations .................................................... 250 
Initialize Function ........................................................................ 250 
Create_Connection Function ....................................................... 250 
Destroy_Connection Function ..................................................... 254 
Receive_Message Function ......................................................... 255 
Send_Message Function .............................................................. 257 
Register_Callback Function ......................................................... 258 
Unregister_Callback Function ..................................................... 259 
Get_Connection_Parameters Function ........................................ 259 
Function Calls Restricted to the Transport Services Segment 
and I/O Services Segment ............................................................ 260 
Transport Services Segment Configuration Information ............. 264 
F 
G 
Internet Standards ....................................................................................... 266 
F.1 
Network Protocol Requirements Summary ................................. 266 
Data Model Language ................................................................................. 271 
Introduction ................................................................................. 271 
G.1 
G.2 
EMOF Metamodel ....................................................................... 271 
H 
Glossary ...................................................................................................... 284 
I 
Acronyms .................................................................................................... 290 
Technical Standard for FACE™, Edition 2.1 
 
vii 
 
Table of Figures 
Figure 1: FACE Components ......................................................................................................... 3 
Figure 2: Traditional Application Coupling ................................................................................... 4 
Figure 3: FACE Component Coupling ........................................................................................... 6 
Figure 4: Platform-Unique Interfaces ............................................................................................. 6 
Figure 5: Traditional Use of Platform-Unique Interfaces .............................................................. 7 
Figure 6: Traditional Problem of Application Portability .............................................................. 7 
Figure 7: Component Portability with FACE Computing Environment ........................................ 8 
Figure 8: Vertical Interfaces ........................................................................................................... 9 
Figure 9: Horizontal Interfaces ....................................................................................................... 9 
Figure 10: Permitted and Prohibited Interfaces ............................................................................ 11 
Figure 11: FACE 3D Architectural Segments Diagram ............................................................... 14 
Figure 12: Architectural Segments Example ................................................................................ 16 
Figure 13: Data Model Language ................................................................................................. 19 
Figure 14: FACE Data Architecture Approach ............................................................................ 21 
Figure 15: Platform-Specific Services in Multiple Operating System Partitions ......................... 22 
Figure 16: FACE Profile Diagram ............................................................................................... 23 
Figure 17: FACE 3D Architectural Segment Diagram ................................................................ 25 
Figure 18: Notional FACE Architecture and Interfaces ............................................................... 26 
Figure 19: Operating System Segment Interfaces ........................................................................ 28 
Figure 20: I/O Services Segment .................................................................................................. 32 
Figure 21: I/O Message Model ..................................................................................................... 35 
Figure 22: Notional Platform-Specific Services Segment ............................................................ 38 
Figure 23: Notional FACE Architecture and Interfaces ............................................................... 39 
Figure 24: DPM and Media Services Notional Example ............................................................. 41 
Figure 25: FACE Metamodel “face” Package .............................................................................. 44 
Figure 26: FACE Metamodel “face.conceptual” Package ........................................................... 47 
Figure 27: FACE Metamodel “face.logical” Package .................................................................. 52 
Figure 28: FACE Metamodel “face.logical” Package: Logical Basis .......................................... 53 
Figure 29: FACE Metamodel “face.logical” Package: Logical Value Types .............................. 54 
Figure 30: FACE Metamodel “face.platform” Package ............................................................... 69 
Figure 31: FACE Metamodel “face.platform” Package: Platform Value Types .......................... 70 
Figure 32: FACE Metamodel “face.uop” Package ....................................................................... 81 
Figure 33: Data Model Language Bindings ................................................................................. 87 
Figure 34: Data Model Language Binding Specification ............................................................. 88 
Figure 35: Transport Services Interface Message and Internal Data Structure .......................... 100 
Figure 36: Transport Services Segment External and Internal Capabilities ............................... 105 
Figure 37: TS Type Abstraction and Interfaces Examples ......................................................... 106 
Figure 38: Portable Components Segment Example .................................................................. 113 
Figure 39: Transport Services Segment Example ...................................................................... 114 
Figure 40: Standardization and Constraint on UoP Interfaces ................................................... 116 
Figure 41: UoP Examples with Standard Frameworks and Language Run-Times .................... 117 
Figure 42: UoP Examples with Non Standard Frameworks and Language Run-Times ............ 118 
viii 
 
Open Group Standard (2014)