Abstract: Systems and methods for providing air traffic control center data to aircraft is provided. In certain embodiments an avionics system includes a communication device configured to communicate with a data center and an air traffic control center; and a processing unit configured to execute machine readable instructions. In at least one embodiments, the machine readable instructions cause the processing unit to manage communications associated with the flight of an aircraft, wherein the communications are communicated through the communication device with the data center; distinguish identifying information received through the communication device, wherein the identifying information identifies at least one of the air traffic control center and associated aeronautical telecommunications network address; and establish a communication session with the air traffic control center using the identifying information received through the communication device.

Abstract: A method of ensuring secure and cost effective communication of aeronautical data to and from an aircraft is provided. The method includes uplinking air-ground aircraft data communications via an aeronautical safety data link and downlinking air-ground aircraft data communications via a consumer data link separated from the aeronautical safety data link by a one-way firewall.

Abstract: A method of ensuring secure and cost effective communication of aeronautical data to and from an aircraft is provided. The method includes uplinking air-ground aircraft data communications via an aeronautical safety data link and downlinking air-ground aircraft data communications via a consumer data link separated from the aeronautical safety data link by a one-way firewall.

Abstract: A graphical in-flight message representation system comprises a sensor configured to measure a characteristic of a flight of an aircraft and a communication device configured to send and receive in-flight messages. An in-flight message is a message communicated during the flight of the aircraft. The system also comprises a display unit configured to display a graphical flight progress indicator and one or more message icons, each of the one or more message icons corresponding to a respective in-flight message. The graphical flight progress indicator is representative of the characteristic of the flight measured by the sensor. Each of the one or more message icons are displayed in location relative to the graphical flight progress indicator based on the measured characteristic of the flight when the respective in-flight message was communicated.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for implementing a non-integrated CPDLC solution is provided. The method includes monitoring a datalink router for messages from a first CPDLC application in a first one or more execution partitions, wherein the first one or more execution partitions are configured to implement a first CPDLC application and wherein messages from the first CPDLC application and a second CPDLC application in a second one or more execution partitions use the datalink router to interface with one or more radio transceivers. The method also includes when the second CPDLC application has an active current data authority (CDA) air traffic control (ATC) connection, inhibiting communication between the first CPDLC application and an ATC ground station by discarding downlink messages of the first CPDLC application from the datalink router.

Abstract: A system to reduce head-down time for a flight crew member is provided. The system includes a functional module that includes a set of screens used to receive and send controller pilot data link communications (CPDLC) messages between an aircraft and a ground-based system; a message composition screen communicatively coupled to the functional module; and a shortcut interface communicatively coupled to the functional module, wherein a shortcut prompt is displayed when one of a response timer expires or a negative uplink response message is received responsive to a previously-sent downlink request message, wherein an implementation of the shortcut interface generates a “when can we expect . . . ” message related to the previously-sent downlink request message.

Abstract: Methods and systems for generating a data link air traffic control center menu are provided. In one implementation, a method includes calculating a distance between each of a plurality of air traffic control centers and an aircraft during flight. The method further includes displaying a sorted list of the plurality of air traffic control centers, wherein the list is sorted by the calculated distance, from closest to the aircraft to farthest from the aircraft. The method further includes receiving an input, the input selecting one of the air traffic control centers.

Abstract: A method to generate a clearance request to deviate from a flight plan is provided. The method includes receiving at one or more processors in an airborne vehicle input from at least one automatic flight-plan-relevant source, at least one of the one or more processors independently determining a revised flight route based on the received input, at least one of the one or more processors independently generating a preconfigured clearance request message to deviate from the flight plan for a flight crew user based on the determining. The method further includes providing an audible prompt to the flight crew user for one of approval and rejection of the clearance request to deviate from the flight plan. When an approval of the clearance request to deviate from the flight plan is received from the flight crew user, the preconfigured clearance request message is downlinked.

Abstract: Systems and methods for a non-integrated CPDLC solution are provided. In one embodiment, the system includes: a first and second computing system for respectively executing a first and second CPDLC application; a Human Machine Interface coupled to the first and second computing systems, the Human Machine Interface providing access to display screens generated by both the first and second CPDLC applications; and a data authority function that determines a data authority application from the first and second CPDLC applications based on which of the first and second CPDLC applications has a current data authority (CDA) session. The data authority function prevents the first CPDLC application from establishing a concurrent current data authority session when the second CPDLC application is the data authority application. The data authority function prevents the second CPDLC application from establishing a concurrent current data authority session when the first CPDLC application is the data authority application.

Abstract: A method for prompting an operator to reply to a first data link message before it expires includes receiving the first data link message, storing the first data link message, starting a timer at an initial timer value when the first data link message is received, determining whether a response to the first data link message has been input, determining whether the timer will expire in less than a predefined amount of time, requesting an input from the operator before the timer expires, determining whether the input has been received since requesting input, and determining whether the timer has expired before the input is received. In cases where the input is received before the timer expires, a second data link message is sent. In cases where the input is not received before the timer expires, a status for the first data link message is set to expired.

Abstract: A computing-platform emulator for use on a vehicle is provided. The computing-platform emulator includes a display, a processor communicatively coupled to the display, a data-entry interface communicatively coupled to the processor, and at least one electronic interface to interface a host system in the vehicle to the processor. The host system implements at least one application and at least one protocol for use on the computing-platform emulator. The display, the data-entry interface, and the at least one electronic interface function as a multifunction control display unit.

Abstract: A method for communicating a data link message is provided. The method comprises transmitting a data link message from a sender to a receiver, storing the transmitted data link message, and starting a message timer when the data link message is transmitted. The method further comprises determining whether a response to the data link message has been received, and determining whether the message timer has expired if the response has not been received. The sender is notified when the message timer has expired and the response has not been received. Input is requested from the sender whether or not to retransmit the data link message. If input is received from the sender to retransmit, the data link message is displayed to the sender for review and edit. The data link message is then retransmitted from the sender to the receiver.

Abstract: Methods and systems for generating a data link air traffic control center menu are provided. In one implementation, a method includes calculating a distance between each of a plurality of air traffic control centers and an aircraft during flight. The method further includes displaying a sorted list of the plurality of air traffic control centers, wherein the list is sorted by the calculated distance, from closest to the aircraft to farthest from the aircraft. The method further includes receiving an input, the input selecting one of the air traffic control centers.

Abstract: Systems and methods for integrated air traffic control management are provided. In one embodiment, a system comprises a first processing system including a FANS application for implementing a CPDLC and AFN system; a second processing system including an ATN application for implementing a PM-CPDLC and CM system; a third processing system implementing a HMI, the HMI configured to provide access to a first set of pages driven by the FANS application and a second set of pages driven by the ATN application; and an ATC Manager accessed from the HMI, the HMI configured to provide access to a third set of pages driven by the ATC manager, wherein the third set of pages selectively directs a user of the HMI to either the first set of pages or the second set of pages based on a selected ATC center.

Abstract: A method to generate a clearance request to deviate from a flight plan is provided. The method includes receiving at one or more processors in an airborne vehicle input from at least one automatic flight-plan-relevant source, at least one of the one or more processors independently determining a revised flight route based on the received input, at least one of the one or more processors independently generating a preconfigured clearance request message to deviate from the flight plan for a flight crew user based on the determining. The method further includes providing an audible prompt to the flight crew user for one of approval and rejection of the clearance request to deviate from the flight plan. When an approval of the clearance request to deviate from the flight plan is received from the flight crew user, the preconfigured clearance request message is downlinked.

Abstract: Methods and systems for generating a data link air traffic control center menu are provided. In one implementation, a method comprises associating individual air traffic control center objects with at least one geographic area. Each air traffic control center object represents an air traffic control center having a name, and each geographic area has a name. The method further includes displaying the names of each geographic area and receiving a first input. The first input selects one of the geographic areas having a plurality of geographic sub-areas, with each geographic sub-area having a name. The method further includes displaying the names of the geographic sub-areas and receiving a second input. The second input selects one of the geographic sub-areas including one or more air traffic control centers. The method further includes displaying the names of the air traffic control centers and receiving a third input. The third input selects one of the air traffic control centers.

Abstract: A system to reduce head-down time for a flight crew member is provided. The system includes a functional module that includes a set of screens used to receive and send controller pilot data link communications (CPDLC) messages between an aircraft and a ground-based system; a message composition screen communicatively coupled to the functional module; and a shortcut interface communicatively coupled to the functional module, wherein a shortcut prompt is displayed when one of a response timer expires or a negative uplink response message is received responsive to a previously-sent downlink request message, wherein an implementation of the shortcut interface generates a “when can we expect . . . ” message related to the previously-sent downlink request message.

Abstract: Systems and methods for implementing non-integrated FANS/ATN CPDLC solutions are provided. In one embodiment a system comprises: a first computing system executing a first CPDLC application; a second computing system executing a second CPDLC application; at least one Human Machine Interface (HMI) coupled to the first computing system and the second computing system, the HMI configured to display screens generated by the first CPDLC application and the second CPDLC application; and a manager function that arbitrates HMI access to the screens generated by the first and second CPDLC applications. The manager function restricts access to one or more of the screens generated by the first CPDLC application based on a logon status of the second CPDLC application. The manager function restricts access to one or more of the screens generated by the second CPDLC application based on a logon status of the first CPDLC application.

Abstract: An apparatus for troubleshooting a computer system of a vehicle is disclosed. In one embodiment, an apparatus for accumulating information pertaining to a computer for use in diagnostic evaluation comprises: a computer having an operating system controlling at least one process; a memory coupled to the computer, the memory containing stored program instructions executable by the computer, the instructions comprising: monitoring the at least one process; and obtaining software diagnostic data regarding the at least one process; and a wireless device coupled to the memory and configured to connect to an network, and configured to transmit the software diagnostic data over the network.

Abstract: An avionics system comprising a human machine interface configured to display a user interface and a control device is provided. The control device coupled to the human machine interface, wherein the control device is configured to send and receive controller/pilot data link communications (CPDLC) messages and adjust the user interface based on a first CPDLC version of an established first CPDLC session.