14 DAY TRIAL // On May 3rd, Microsoft announced the signing of a patent licensing agreement with Aspen Avionics, through which the latter receives broad access to the latest Extended File Allocation Table (exFAT).
Microsoft’s exFAT modern file system was designed to facilitate large files for audiovisual media, and also to provide seamless data portability, along with easy interchange between desktop PCs and other electronic devices.
This is the latest agreement that Microsoft signed for exFAT, but it is the first of them in the avionics and commercial sector.
exFAT builds on its successor, the FAT file system, but brings along a wide range of improvements, while also expanding the size of files that can be handled by flash memory devices. On top of that, the file system was meant to increase the speed at which these files can be accessed.
“exFAT file system not only facilitates large files for use of audiovisual media, it enables seamless data portability and an easy interchange between desktop PCs and a variety of electronic devices,” the Redmond-based software giant explains.
Aspen is a company with expertise in delivering advanced technology and capability into general aviation cockpits.
Through its products, situational awareness is increased, while the pilot workload is decreased, thus offering increased safety to flights.
Aspen is known for its flagship product Evolution Flight Display system, which is a glass cockpit system certified for general aviation aircraft.
“Innovative avionics requires a modern file system, such as exFAT, that can handle significantly larger file sizes to display richer data than legacy file systems could handle,” said David Kaefer, general manager of Intellectual Property (IP) Licensing at Microsoft.
“This agreement with Aspen Avionics highlights how exFAT can help directly address the specific needs of customers in the aviation industry, and we’re delighted to make exFAT available to the company through our intellectual property licensing program.”
According to Microsoft, the new agreement also proves the importance of intellectual property in bringing innovation and improving industry standards, while offering companies the possibility to greatly improve customer experiences.