Abstract: A display integrity system for use in a mounting adapter configured to mount a personal electronic device (PED) on an aircraft is disclosed. The display integrity system includes a transparent surface configured to overlay the display surface of a PED when the PED is mounted in the mounting adapter. The transparent surface includes one or more regions embedded with one or more coating layers that when activated with a select excitation wavelength are configured to emit visible light to annunciate a message indicating a problem with an image displayed on the PED. The display integrity system further includes a lighting source housed in the mounting adapter and configured to provide light in the select excitation wavelength when activated to illuminate the transparent surface and an imaging device mounted in the mounting adapter and configured to capture an image of the PED display for transmission to a server for integrity checking.

Abstract: A server system on an aircraft is provided. The server system is configured to allow critical aeronautical information to be displayed on a cockpit display that is not certified for displaying critical aeronautical information. The server system includes an aircraft interface device configured to interface with one or more aeronautical systems on the aircraft to retrieve critical aeronautical information; an application module configured to generate application data for display on the cockpit display wherein the application data includes at least some of the critical aeronautical information; an interface module configured to transmit the application data to the cockpit display for display; and an integrity checking module configured to retrieve image data from an image sensor trained on a display device in the cockpit display and configured to perform an integrity check on the image data from the image sensor.

Abstract: A display system configured for displaying critical aeronautical information on an aircraft display that is not certified for displaying critical aeronautical information comprises a mounting adapter and an application server. The mounting adapter is configured to mount, in an aircraft cockpit, a personal electronic device (PED) wherein the PED is not certified to display critical aeronautical information. The mounting adapter further comprises a surface with an actuatable covering that is configured to be overlaid on a PED display and an actuation source configured to actuate the covering. The application server is configured to execute a module that generates critical aeronautical information, transmit the generated critical aeronautical information to the PED for display, determine whether a problem exists with the image displayed on the PED display, and enable the actuation source to cause the covering to annunciate a message indicating a problem with the image displayed on the PED display.

Abstract: A mounting apparatus configured to mount a personal electronic device (PED) in an aircraft flight deck and provide a visible indication on the PED display when a fault condition exists includes an optical sensor positioned to view the PED display and configured to record an image of the PED display; an optically transparent surface configured to be overlaid on the PED display; an actuatable covering on the surface wherein the actuatable covering has a first optically transparent state and a second optically emissive state; an excitation source configured to cause the covering to switch from the first state to the second state; and a controller configured to transmit an image of the PED display recorded by the optical sensor to a server and command, responsive to receipt of an enable signal from the server, the actuation source to actuate the covering to indicate that the fault condition exists.

Abstract: In some examples, a first entity is configured to request weather data for a region of interest from a second entity. The second entity may transmit the requested weather data to the first entity in response to receiving the request. In some examples, the second entity only transmits the weather data to the first entity only in response to receiving a specific request for the weather data. Conversely, the first entity may only receive the weather data from the second entity in response to transmitting a request for the weather data.

Abstract: Provided are methods and systems for the automatic calculation and presentation of data on a display device alerting a pilot that a change in flight plan is desirable, possible and administratively compliant under air traffic control protocol. The methods and systems may automatically request the flight clearance over a data link or the pilot may override the data link.

Abstract: In some examples, a first entity is configured to request weather data for a region of interest from a second entity. The second entity may transmit the requested weather data to the first entity in response to receiving the request. In some examples, the second entity only transmits the weather data to the first entity only in response to receiving a specific request for the weather data. Conversely, the first entity may only receive the weather data from the second entity in response to transmitting a request for the weather data.

Abstract: A method includes selecting a first communications network from a plurality of communications networks based on one or more aircraft state inputs. The one or more aircraft state inputs include at least one of a flight phase, a flight event, an aircraft position, an aircraft trajectory, an aircraft state, and an aircraft distance from a ground station. The method further includes transmitting data over the first communication network. The method further includes selecting a second communications network from the plurality of communications networks based on a change in the one or more aircraft state inputs.

Abstract: A system to send air traffic control (ATC) data-link messages from an aircraft is provided. The system includes ATC applications in a first portion of an application layer, non-ATC applications in a second portion of the application layer; and a communication manager in the aircraft having two addresses for the aircraft. The communication manager includes a first copy of software in a first data link layer and a second copy of the software in a second data link layer. ATC data-link messages are sent from the aircraft independent of non-ATC data-link messages sent from the aircraft.

Abstract: Systems and methods communicate weather information between aircraft using low bandwidth communication transceivers. An exemplary embodiment receives weather information from a weather radar system on board a remote aircraft, processes the received weather information into weather radar image information that is displayable on at least a display, processes the weather radar image information into a reduced size dataset, and communicates the reduced size dataset to an installation aircraft over the low bandwidth communication channel, wherein the low bandwidth communication channel is generated by a low bandwidth communication transceiver on board the remote aircraft.

Abstract: A system to send air traffic control (ATC) data-link messages from an aircraft is provided. The system includes ATC applications in a first portion of an application layer, non-ATC applications in a second portion of the application layer; and a communication manager in the aircraft having two addresses for the aircraft. The communication manager includes a first copy of software in a first data link layer and a second copy of the software in a second data link layer. ATC data-link messages are sent from the aircraft independent of non-ATC data-link messages sent from the aircraft.

Abstract: Provided are methods and systems for the automatic calculation and presentation of data on a display device alerting a pilot that a change in flight plan is desirable, possible and administratively compliant under air traffic control protocol. The methods and systems may automatically request the flight clearance over a data link or the pilot may override the data link.

Abstract: Systems and methods communicate weather information between aircraft using low bandwidth communication transceivers. An exemplary embodiment receives weather information from a weather radar system on board a remote aircraft, processes the received weather information into weather radar image information that is displayable on at least a display, processes the weather radar image information into a reduced size dataset, and communicates the reduced size dataset to an installation aircraft over the low bandwidth communication channel, wherein the low bandwidth communication channel is generated by a low bandwidth communication transceiver on board the remote aircraft.

Abstract: A method includes selecting a first communications network from a plurality of communications networks based on one or more aircraft state inputs. The one or more aircraft state inputs include at least one of a flight phase, a flight event, an aircraft position, an aircraft trajectory, an aircraft state, and an aircraft distance from a ground station. The method further includes transmitting data over the first communication network. The method further includes selecting a second communications network from the plurality of communications networks based on a change in the one or more aircraft state inputs.

Abstract: A method for routing aircraft data link messages over a plurality of communications networks is disclosed. The method assigns at least one data link message routing service for an aircraft having a first message processing application based on prescribed criteria, the prescribed criteria comprising preferred networks of the plurality of communications networks. As a first preferred communications network becomes available, the method selects a first message route from the assigned routing service and transmits each of the data link messages on the first message route while the first message route satisfies the prescribed criteria. When the prescribed criteria changes over a plurality of flight phases of the aircraft, the method reassigns the at least one data link message route to continue data link message transmissions to and from the aircraft based on the latest prescribed criteria.

Abstract: Systems and methods for selecting a ground station for air-ground communications are disclosed. In an embodiment, a system includes a communications device operable to maintain bi-directional communications between an aircraft and a selected ground station, and a communications processor coupled to the device that is configured to select the ground station by executing a logical rule that is based upon a signal strength value of the ground station and at least one of an aircraft altitude and an occupancy value of the frequency channel.

Abstract: A method for providing aircraft data link network access for personal electronic devices is disclosed. The method comprises processing communications data for a personal electronic device operating within an aircraft, translating the processed data as a communications management function of the aircraft, and routing the translated data between the personal electronic device and at least one external sub-network of an aircraft data link network.

Abstract: A method for routing aircraft data link messages over a plurality of communications networks is disclosed. The method assigns at least one data link message routing service for an aircraft having a first message processing application based on prescribed criteria, the prescribed criteria comprising preferred networks of the plurality of communications networks. As a first preferred communications network becomes available, the method selects a first message route from the assigned routing service and transmits each of the data link messages on the first message route while the first message route satisfies the prescribed criteria. When the prescribed criteria changes over a plurality of flight phases of the aircraft, the method reassigns the at least one data link message route to continue data link message transmissions to and from the aircraft based on the latest prescribed criteria.

Abstract: System and method for the adaptive control of VHF communications in aircraft. In one embodiment, the invention includes an adaptive communications system for an aircraft having a communications processor that accesses a communications switching model to select a preferred ground communications station. In another embodiment, a method of communication between an aircraft and a ground station includes receiving a communications switching model and determining a flight parameter for the aircraft as the aircraft navigates along a flight route and selecting a ground station based upon the determined flight parameter. The aircraft then communicates with the selected ground station. In still another embodiment, a method for compiling a communications switching model includes receiving signals from a ground station and measuring a signal strength. A preferred ground station is selected based upon the measured signal strength value.

Abstract: An airborne telecommunications network uses airborne aircraft to route message traffic between a source and destination.