Traffic Analysis Or Control Of Aircraft Patents (Class 701/120)
  • Patent number: 9965961
    Abstract: A method for en-route flight path optimization is disclosed. A plurality of alternate flight paths between an origin and a destination of the aircraft in flight is determined based on real-time weather data, air traffic conflict data, and air space constraint data. Further, flight time savings and fuel savings for each of the plurality of alternate flight paths with respect to an actual path is computed. Furthermore, an optimal flight path from the plurality of alternate flight paths is determined based on the computed flight time savings, fuel savings, and a priority for the flight time savings and the fuel savings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: AIRBUS GROUP INDIA PRIVATE LIMITED
    Inventor: Ashutosh Agrawal
  • Patent number: 9928747
    Abstract: A method for calculating a fuel consumption differential corresponding to an aircraft changing from an original trajectory (which incorporates the cost model of the airline through speed and altitude parameters within the flight plan) to a revised trajectory, the method including (1) calculating a first total excess energy associated with flying the aircraft at the original trajectory beginning at an execution time, the first total excess energy including excess energy due to climb and excess energy due to deviation of the original trajectory from an efficiency curve of the aircraft; (2) calculating a second total excess energy associated with flying the aircraft at the revised trajectory beginning at the execution time, the second total excess energy including excess energy due to climb and excess energy due to deviation of the revised trajectory from the efficiency curve; (3) comparing the first and second total excess energies to obtain a total excess energy differential; and (4) calculating the fuel consu
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Karl J. Rein-Weston, Colette A. Posse
  • Patent number: 9922571
    Abstract: A small aircraft includes a computer system configured to determine its own location, establish a datalink with a ground station and send the location information to the ground station in an ADS-B compliant format. The ground station then transmits the ADS-B compliant small aircraft information as a virtual ADS-B signal from the small aircraft to air traffic controllers and local ADS-B capable aircraft. Likewise, a ground station incorporates a virtual ADS-B In function to receive ADS-B information in a non-ADS-B datalink channel. The ground station performs ADS-B In applications without the burden of the small aircraft carrying the actual ADS-B equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: William T. Greenleaf, Daniel J. Clark, Phillip L. Ellery
  • Patent number: 9916764
    Abstract: A common operating environment (COE) display system for vehicle operations, such as for air transport provides coordination of logistics information with dispatch or a controller. An operational plan, such as a flight plan or other operational plan describing vehicle deployment is stored, and a map visualization system displays a map region. An in-vehicle display depicts the operational plan, providing displays of current and projected operational conditions of the vehicle within different time phases of the operational plan. Communication as either text or other data allows transmission can be performed as text, attachments or a combination of text and attachments. Messages (text) and attachments (files) are exchanged only through the server, and the items exchanged are recorded for analysis and forensic purposes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: WXPOS, INC.
    Inventors: Scott T. Shipley, Mark D. Spence
  • Patent number: 9911339
    Abstract: Systems and methods for enhancing aircraft performance are provided. In one example, a method can include accessing an initial model that defines operating cost of an aircraft at a series of model operating states. The method also can include identifying one or more sample operating states for analyzing aircraft cost during flight. The method also can include receiving one or more real-time flight performance parameters indicative of aircraft operating cost while the aircraft is operating at the identified sample operating states. The method also can include generating an updated model that defines operating cost of the aircraft using the initial model as well as data defined by the real-time flight performance parameters. The method also can include determining an enhanced operating state based at least in part on the updated model and outputting the enhanced operating state for control of the aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: GE AVIATION SYSTEMS LLC
    Inventors: David Michael Lax, Sridhar Adibhatla, Szabolcs Andras Borgyos, Mark Lawrence Darnell
  • Patent number: 9898932
    Abstract: Mechanisms are provided for monitoring an area utilizing an unmanned vehicle. These mechanisms identify an area to be monitored by an unmanned vehicle and identify an unmanned vehicle assigned to monitoring the identified area. The mechanisms further generate, for the unmanned vehicle, a travel path to be traversed by the unmanned vehicle using a function to randomize generation of the travel path. Moreover, the mechanisms program the unmanned vehicle to traverse the generated travel path and initiate operation of the unmanned vehicle to collect data about the area while traversing the generated travel path. In addition, the mechanisms monitor the area utilizing the unmanned vehicle based on the data collected by the unmanned vehicle while traversing the generated travel path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Jay A. Brown, Thomas J. Watson
  • Patent number: 9884683
    Abstract: In a method for producing a light program (22) for controlling lighting in an interior (80) of an aircraft (82) during a flight, a sequence list (2a, b) of phases of the day (4a-l) for a full day is set, wherein a time of day (6), a phase duration (8) and lighting data (La-l) for the lighting are assigned to each phase of the day (4a-l), the appropriate phase of the day (4a-l) is selected from the sequence list (2a, b) as first program section (14a) of a flight program (10) on the basis of the local time (12a) at which the flight starts and the proportional associated phase duration (8) is assigned to the first program section as section duration (16a), the appropriate phase of the day (4a-l) is selected from the sequence list (2a, b) as last program section (14b-e) of the flight program on the basis of the local time (12b) at which the flight lands and the proportional associated phase duration (8) is assigned to the last program section (14b-e) as section duration (16b-e), the flight program (10) between fi
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: DIEHL AEROSPACE GMBH
    Inventor: Sebastian Fehringer
  • Patent number: 9877296
    Abstract: An electronic tag, e.g. for use as a tracker tag or combined tracker and data tag, with a cellular communication module is disclosed. The cellular communication module is configured to transmit an indication of a current geographical location to an external data server. The electronic tag can optionally receive tag data from an external tag reader and optionally comprises an output means configured to output the tag data. The tag's microprocessor is configured to switch off at least a transmitter part of the cellular communication module in response to first data contained in a Mode S signal of an aircraft transponder. Said transmitter part may be switched on again depending on data in signals from external source(s) as received in the tag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: EC SOLUTION GROUP B.V.
    Inventor: Graham Michael Kelly
  • Patent number: 9852638
    Abstract: A device moving in a space determines one or more zones around it, wherein the one or more zones are linked to the device and move together with the device through the space. The device detects if a border of a first of the one or more zones starts to intersect or stops to intersect with a border of an area inside the space. If the detecting is affirmative, the device transmits information related to the intersection. An apparatus receives this information from the device and adapts a status value of the area in dependence of the received information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON(PUBL)
    Inventors: Branko Djordjevic, Tim Lauterbach, Frank Sell
  • Patent number: 9846437
    Abstract: A preexisting FMS system may be upgraded to increase its functionality by optimizing the control of autopilot and auto-throttle functions and replacing other preexisting components with different components for enhancing the functionality of the FMS system. The preexisting IRU, CADC, DME receiver and DFGC in the upgraded FMS system are in communication with the legacy AFMC but, instead of employing the legacy EFIS, the EFIS is replaced by a data concentrator unit as well as the display control panel and integrated flat panel display, and a GPS receiver. The upgraded FMS system is capable of iteratively controlling the autopilot and auto-throttle during all phases of flight and of such increased functionality as increased navigation database storage capacity, RNP, VNAV, LPV and RNAV capability utilizing a GPS based navigation solution, and RTA capability, while still enabling the legacy AFMC to exploit its aircraft performance capabilities throughout the flight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: Innovative Solutions & Support, Inc.
    Inventors: Geoffrey S. M. Hedrick, Shahram Askarpour
  • Patent number: 9836979
    Abstract: A method and system for identifying demand in a transportation system. A boarding count model is determined based upon passenger arrival information, and a geographic and time-specific generalized boarding model is determined based upon the boarding count model as well as information related to a plurality of stops on a route in the transportation system. For each of the plurality of stops, an approximated uniform arrival model is determined based upon the generalized arrival model and a time period between arriving vehicles at a specific stop, an instantaneous demand model is determined based upon the uniform arrival model, and a probability of no demand model is determined based upon the uniform arrival model. A report including the instantaneous demand and the probability of no demand determined can be generated. Based upon the report, various operational parameters for the transportation system can be manually or automatically adjusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: Conduent Business Services, LLC
    Inventor: John C. Handley
  • Patent number: 9836467
    Abstract: A database which receives input from a data streaming application may include in-flight streamed data within the scope of a command which alters database data. Preferably, the streaming application produces data tuples for input to at least one table of the database. A user submitting modify data commands to apply to multiple tuples meeting some specified logical parameters may define the command scope to include in-flight data in the streaming application, causing the database manager to forward the command to the streaming application. A streaming application manager invokes database agents in respective nodes of the streaming application, which identify in-flight data meeting the specified logical parameters of the command, and apply the modify data operation to such data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Company
    Inventors: Eric L. Barsness, Daniel E. Beuch, Alexander Cook, John M. Santosuosso
  • Patent number: 9824567
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer-readable storage media provide for selective Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) notifications to be made to the crew of an aircraft according to the relevance of the NOTAM to a selected phase of flight of the aircraft. According to embodiments described herein, NOTAMs are received and parsed for subject and status codes. The subject and status codes are used with the selected phase of flight to determine a relevance code each NOTAM according to a set of relevance rules. The relevance rules provide a level of relevance of the NOTAM to the phase of flight and trigger a type of notification according to that level of relevance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Nico Zimmer, Keyvan Bayram
  • Patent number: 9802716
    Abstract: An identification system and method are provided for aircraft equipped with electric taxi systems for autonomous ground movement that enables airport ground personnel and others outside the aircraft to safely and easily identify the aircraft moving on ground surfaces at an airport as equipped with a pilot-controlled electric taxi system and to distinguish these aircraft from aircraft not moved by electric taxi systems. The identification system may be mounted with nose or main landing gear drive wheels supporting the electric taxi system. The identification system includes an identifying lighting system with lighting elements of a selected number, shape, color, or arrangement positioned on at least a visible face of one or more landing gear wheels. Automatic or manual controls may actuate the identification system to identify electric taxi system-equipped aircraft when the aircraft are moved with the electric taxi system or are stopped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: Borealis Technical Limited
    Inventors: Jan Vana, Joseph J. Cox, Isaiah W. Cox, Jonathan S. Edelson
  • Patent number: 9792108
    Abstract: Methods, systems, computer-readable media, and apparatuses for providing a scheme for managing Last-Modified information for resource requests are described herein. In some embodiments, a computing device may determine whether to round up or down an update time of a resource respectively based on whether a request from a client device for the resource is received within a window. In some embodiments, a computing device may receive, from a client device, a first validation request for a resource and a second validation request for the resource. In response to determining that the first validation request was received within a window, the computing device may round down an update time of the resource. In response to determining that the second validation request was received outside of the window, the computing device may determine whether to round up the update time of the resource.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications, LLC
    Inventor: Jonathan Moore
  • Patent number: 9784586
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods and apparatus for determining a path (4) for a vehicle (2). The method comprises providing starting and final positions for the vehicle (2), and using the provided positions, determining an ordered sequence of points, thereby providing the path (4) for the vehicle (2). Performing the optimisation process comprises: minimising a distance between the final position and a last point in the sequence; for each point other than a last point in the sequence, constraining a distance between that point and the next point to be equal to a predefined distance; and, for each path point other than the first and last points, constraining an angle between a line that connects that point to the point that precedes it and a line that connects that point to the next point to be greater than or equal to a predefined angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: BAE SYSTEMS plc
    Inventor: Markus Deittert
  • Patent number: 9740200
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for an unmanned aerial system inspection system. One of the methods is performed by a UAV and includes obtaining, from a user device, flight operation information describing an inspection of a vertical structure to be performed, the flight operation information including locations of one or more safe locations for vertical inspection. A location of the UAV is determined to correspond to a first safe location for vertical inspection. A first inspection of the structure is performed is performed at the first safe location, the first inspection including activating cameras. A second safe location is traveled to, and a second inspection of the structure is performed. Information associated with the inspection is provided to the user device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: UNMANNED INNOVATION, INC.
    Inventors: Brett Michael Bethke, Hui Li, Bernard J. Michini
  • Patent number: 9728093
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for presenting contextual weather information with respect to a predetermined route of a vehicle. Routing data for a vehicle is integrated with weather data for an area to generate contextual weather information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Thorsten Wiesemann, Theo Hankers, Cindy Dorfmann, Andreas Sindlinger
  • Patent number: 9715831
    Abstract: A permanent wireless onboard to ground operations communications system is provided for an aircraft equipped with a pilot-controllable drive wheel drive system for autonomous ground movement without reliance on the aircraft's engines or external tow vehicles, including an onboard wireless communications link installed to remain permanently with the aircraft designed to interface wirelessly with ground personnel at any airport, aerodrome, or airfield where the aircraft lands immediately upon landing. The permanent wireless onboard to ground operations communications system provides a substantially instantaneous connection between a pilot and ground personnel to facilitate guidance of pilot-controlled autonomous ground movement during taxi, parking in nose-in and parallel orientations, and pushback without reliance on visual signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: Borealis Technical Limited
    Inventors: Isaiah W. Cox, Joseph J. Cox, Joseph Goldman, Jan Vana
  • Patent number: 9696795
    Abstract: The technology disclosed relates to a method of realistic rotation of a virtual object for an interaction between a control object in a three-dimensional (3D) sensory space and the virtual object in a virtual space that the control object interacts with. In particular, it relates to detecting free-form gestures of a control object in a three-dimensional (3D) sensory space and generating for display a 3D solid control object model for the control object during the free-form gestures, including sub-components of the control object and in response to detecting a two e sub-component free-form gesture of the control object in the 3D sensory space in virtual contact with the virtual object, depicting, in the generated display, the virtual contact and resulting rotation of the virtual object by the 3D solid control object model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Leap Motion, Inc.
    Inventors: Alex Marcolina, David S. Holz, Paul A. Durdik
  • Patent number: 9691276
    Abstract: A method, apparatus, computer program product, and device with various means are disclosed for determining the time it takes to a traverse a transportation structure by enclosing a representation of a transportation structure with a bounding polygon, specifying a plurality of gates which represent legitimate entry or exit points of the transportation structure as one or more edges of the bounding polygon, and computing the travel time for a probe traveling through the bounding polygon via the gates. Computing the probe's travel time comprises generating a location trace of movement of the probe, determining an entry and exit time, and calculating the difference between the exit time and the entry time. Determining the entry and exist time can be done by interpolation. An average of a set of computations can be used to get an average of the time it takes traverse the transportation structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: HERE Global B.V.
    Inventors: Bo Xu, Matei Nicolae Stroila, Jane Macfarlane
  • Patent number: 9669941
    Abstract: A weather indicator system and method for generating and presenting weather indicator(s) are disclosed. The weather indicator may include two or more ceiling indicators for presenting minimum and reported ceilings, two or more visibility indicators for presenting minimum and reported visibilities, and at least one scale from which the ceiling and visibility information may be presented to a viewer by the ceiling and visibility indicators, respectively. An indicator generating system could include a source(s) of weather data and an image generator configured to acquire weather data from the source(s) of weather data and generate presentation data representative of the weather indicator as a function of the weather data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Jod Viengngern Oudom, Jillian Cae Whitaker
  • Patent number: 9672747
    Abstract: A common operating environment (COE) display system for vehicle operations, such as for air transport provides coordination of logistics information with dispatch or a controller. An operational plan, such as a flight plan or other operational plan describing vehicle deployment is stored, and a map visualization system displays a map region. An in-vehicle display depicts the operational plan, providing displays of current and projected operational conditions of the vehicle within different time phases of the operational plan. Transfer of updates of the operational plan is performed without replacing substantial portions of the stored data for the operational plan, allowing synchronization of the operational plan with a remotely located facility. The system permits a controller or dispatcher to screen share the in-vehicle display based on information previously stored, as updated by the updates, and permits review of the modified operational plan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: WXOPS, INC.
    Inventors: Scott T. Shipley, Mark D. Spence
  • Patent number: 9654200
    Abstract: Embodiments include a dynamic wireless aerial mesh network having aerial nodes that provides real-time persistent wide area communications service to provide communications in response to an incident. Typically, the area services is a wide area that is physically inaccessible via ground transportation. In addition, embodiments include the formation of a decentralized mesh supernetwork comprising two or more dynamic wireless aerial mesh networks where each dynamic wireless aerial mesh network is owned by a different agency (e.g., a secure community). A member of a first dynamic wireless aerial mesh network may send a request to a member of a second dynamic wireless aerial mesh network for the first dynamic wireless aerial mesh network to join the second dynamic wireless aerial mesh network to form a mesh supernetwork, and receive an acceptance from the member of the second dynamic wireless aerial mesh network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: Mutualink, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph R. Mazzarella, Michael S. Wengrovitz
  • Patent number: 9651950
    Abstract: A system and methods for mission re-planning are presented. Vehicles are monitored in real-time, and an incapacitated vehicle from among the vehicles that performs an incomplete task is detected. A remaining coverage set comprising a remaining coverage area for each of the vehicles is determined. A travel distance from a task completion location of each of the vehicles to a stopped point of the incapacitated vehicle is calculated to provide a travel set. An extra coverage set is determined based on the travel set and the remaining coverage set, and an incomplete coverage area for the incomplete task is calculated. The extra coverage set is compared to the incomplete coverage area and the remaining coverage area to provide a sufficiency list, and an assigned vehicle is selected from the vehicles based on the sufficiency list.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Jung Soon Jang, Matthew A. Vavrina, John L. Vian, Meng Hiot Lim, Caishun Chen
  • Patent number: 9612120
    Abstract: A route planning apparatus is provided. The apparatus may include a display, a user interface, a caution information reader, and a route verifier. The display displays a user-scheduled route on a map. The user interface accepts an input of time and date to travel on the route. The caution information reader reads caution information having influence on the travel and associated with position, and time and date. The route verifier verifies whether the travel on the route is available based on one or more positions, and times and dates at which the caution information read by the caution information reader indicates, one or more positions on the route, and the inputted travel time and date.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: Furuno Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryu Shimizutani, Masato Okuda, Masami Tagawa, Tomihiko Oda, Takatoshi Morita
  • Patent number: 9613534
    Abstract: Systems and methods for creating a network cloud based hierarchical architecture for supporting unmanned aircraft are disclosed. A system may include a higher level server, one or more lower level server in direct communication with the higher level server, and one or more control station in direct communication with the lower level server. Each control station may be configured to: control flight operations of an unmanned aircraft; acquire flight information and position information of the unmanned aircraft; and provide updates to the lower level server regarding the flight information and position information of the unmanned aircraft. Each lower level server may be configured to: process the flight information and position information received from the control station; and provide updates to the higher level server regarding the flight information and position information received from the control station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: George F. Elmasry, Rolf Stefani, James Gary Cooper, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9598591
    Abstract: Provided is an ink set having excellent curing properties under LED light, providing printed matter that does not fade or discolor due to a photopolymerization initiator, suppressing color bleeding during image forming, exhibiting favorable adhesion towards a polyvinyl chloride sheet, enabling cock ring to be efficiently suppressed, and demonstrating an extremely low viscosity, high flash point and low skin irritation. The present invention pertains to an ink set containing at least two compositions selected from the group consisting of a yellow ink composition, a magenta ink composition, a cyan ink composition, a black ink composition, a white ink composition, and a clear ink composition, the compositions having the predetermined structure as specified in claim 1, wherein the flash point of the ink compositions is 70° C. or higher, and the viscosity (25° C.) is 5 mPa-s or lower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: SAKATA INX CORP.
    Inventors: Shinya Mizutani, Tadashi Hirose, Takuya Myose
  • Patent number: 9558670
    Abstract: A dynamic constraint avoidance route system automatically analyzes routes of aircraft flying, or to be flown, in or near constraint regions and attempts to find more time and fuel efficient reroutes around current and predicted constraints. The dynamic constraint avoidance route system continuously analyzes all flight routes and provides reroute advisories that are dynamically updated in real time. The dynamic constraint avoidance route system includes a graphical user interface that allows users to visualize, evaluate, modify if necessary, and implement proposed reroutes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: The United States of America as Represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Kapil S. Sheth, B. David McNally, Heinz Erzberger, Alexander R. Morando, Alexis A. Clymer, Fu-tai Shih
  • Patent number: 9536435
    Abstract: Systems and methods of the present invention are provided to generate a plurality of flight trajectories that do not conflict with other aircraft in a local area. Interventions by an air traffic control system help prevent collisions between aircraft, but these interventions can also cause an aircraft to substantially deviate from the pilot's intended flight trajectory, which burns fuels, wastes time, etc. Systems and methods of the present invention can assign a standard avoidance interval to other aircraft in the area such that a pilot's aircraft does not receive an intervention by an air traffic control system. Systems and methods of the present invention also generate a plurality of conflict-free flight trajectories such that a pilot or an automated system may select the most desirable flight trajectory for fuel efficiency, speed, and other operational considerations, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Double Black Aviation Technology L.L.C.
    Inventor: Richard Shay
  • Patent number: 9533617
    Abstract: This disclosure is directed to systems and methods for aircraft collision avoidance with speed-based collision alert time thresholds. In one example, a system is configured to determine predicted trajectories for an own aircraft and a target aircraft. The system is further configured to determine whether a violation of protected airspace is predicted between the own aircraft and the target aircraft. The system is further configured to determine whether a predicted time to closest approach between the own aircraft and the target aircraft is less than an alert threshold time based on a speed of the own aircraft. The system is further configured to generate an alert output, in response to determining that a violation of protected airspace is predicted and that the predicted time to closest approach between the own aircraft and the target aircraft is less than the alert threshold time based on the speed of the own aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Vernon J. Van Steenkist, Ruy C. Brandao, Kevin S. Wilson
  • Patent number: 9501937
    Abstract: A method of controlling airport traffic is provided. The method includes routing a plurality of aircraft towards a runway and selecting a runway approach vector for each of the plurality of aircraft. First approach legs of each runway approach vector are separated from each other by a distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Jeffery Leon Bruce, Andrew David McDowell
  • Patent number: 9499098
    Abstract: This disclosure is directed to systems and methods for aircraft collision avoidance with speed-based collision alert time thresholds. In one example, a system is configured to determine predicted trajectories for an own aircraft and a target aircraft. The system is further configured to determine whether a violation of protected airspace is predicted between the own aircraft and the target aircraft. The system is further configured to determine whether a predicted time to closest approach between the own aircraft and the target aircraft is less than an alert threshold time based on a speed of the own aircraft. The system is further configured to generate an alert output, in response to determining that a violation of protected airspace is predicted and that the predicted time to closest approach between the own aircraft and the target aircraft is less than the alert threshold time based on the speed of the own aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Vernon J. Van Steenkist, Ruy C. Brandao, Kevin S. Wilson
  • Patent number: 9482552
    Abstract: A method of simulating a real-time aircraft system input to an avionics component for an aircraft includes receiving the simulation input and providing the simulated input to the avionics component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: GE AVIATION SYSTEMS LLC
    Inventor: Stephen Dabrowski
  • Patent number: 9471176
    Abstract: Touch or proximity sensors are integrated into control devices such as knobs, dials or wheels incorporated in a user control panel. A control output processor detects whether any of the sensors are outputting signals indicating that a control device is being touched (or nearly touched) by a user. The control output processor causes an associated display area to be highlighted or otherwise modified on a display screen to indicate to the user which control device is being touched. This feature allows for “no-look” interaction with control panels, and keeps the user's eyes focused on the relevant displays where the control devices produce effects. This allows users to preview and verify that the correct control device is being manipulated prior to taking any (potentially erroneous) control actions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Mark Ivan Nikolic, Stephen Minarsch
  • Patent number: 9396663
    Abstract: A particular method includes sending a taxiing routing message from a device to a vehicle. The taxiing routing message indicates a route assignment associated with an airport. The method also includes in response to receiving an acknowledgment of the taxiing routing message from the vehicle, indicating a status at a graphical user interface. The status is associated with the taxiing routing message.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Nico Zimmer, Bo Vaaben, Krzysztof Pytel, Brian A. Azcuenaga
  • Patent number: 9384590
    Abstract: A method, apparatus, computer program product, and device with various means are disclosed for determining the time it takes to a traverse a transportation structure by enclosing a representation of a transportation structure with a bounding polygon, specifying a plurality of gates which represent legitimate entry or exit points of the transportation structure as one or more edges of the bounding polygon, and computing the travel time for a probe traveling through the bounding polygon via the gates. Computing the probe's travel time comprises generating a location trace of movement of the probe, determining an entry and exit time, and calculating the difference between the exit time and the entry time. Determining the entry and exist time can be done by interpolation. An average of a set of computations can be used to get an average of the time it takes traverse the transportation structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: HERE Global B.V.
    Inventors: Bo Xu, Matei Nicolae Stroila, Jane Macfarlane
  • Patent number: 9378471
    Abstract: Generally, an airline operations computing system accomplishes rule checking in an efficient and useful manner and provides functionality that allows multiple different users to accomplish schedule changes in a manner that minimizes conflicts between different schedulers. In addition, an airline operations computing system includes a common rules engine that is used by multiple different optimizer and decision support systems of the airline operations computing system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignees: GE AVIATION SYSTEMS TALERIS LTD, GE FLIGHT EFFICIENCY SERVICES, INC
    Inventors: Julian Pachon, Marc Anderson, David Staheli
  • Patent number: 9354078
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for displaying visually distinguishing characteristics if an aircraft is below a minimum altitude or beyond a maximum distance when executing a procedure turn. A procedure turn icon, an aircraft icon indicating the aircraft's present location, terrain/obstacles, and the visually distinguishing characteristics are displayed on a moving map.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Roger W. Burgin, Dave Pepitone, Blake Wilson
  • Patent number: 9329083
    Abstract: A mobile apparatus is provided for measuring photometric characteristics of airport marker lights. The mobile apparatus includes a measuring rod configured to be moved above the marker lights to be checked, in light beams emitted by these marker lights, and a device for measuring the distance between the measuring rod and the marker lights to be checked. The measuring rod carries at least one photometric sensor and includes a device for acquiring and processing the signals emitted by the photometric sensor or sensors during its movement, as a function of the distance measured between the measuring rod and the marker lights to be checked. The device for acquisition and processing is configured to generate a set of data representing photometric characteristics of each marker light checked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: FB TECHNOLOGY
    Inventor: Lionel Le Cam
  • Patent number: 9330573
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Ruy C. Brandao, Rosa Maria Nicole Weber, Willard R. True, Michael L. Olive, Christine Marie Haissig
  • Patent number: 9310204
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing routes is disclosed. An area of interest associated with a number of routes for a number of aircraft and an identification of a number of weightings for a number of characteristics for the number of routes are identified. The number of characteristics includes at least one of a number of environmental characteristics or a number of economic characteristics. A number of new routes are generated based on information about the number of routes associated with the area of interest. Values are identified for characteristics in the number of characteristics for each new route in the number of new routes and for each route in the number of routes based on the information. A performance value is identified for the each new route and for the each route based on the values and the number of weightings for the number of characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Daniel Lee McGregor, Abigail Maxine Diocares, Paul Henry Bent
  • Patent number: 9311820
    Abstract: A device receives aviation information associated with aviation in a geographical region, and receives configurability options associated with the aviation information. The device analyzes the aviation information based on the configurability options to generate analyzed information, and receives a request for a flight path for a UAV to travel from a first location to a second location in the geographical region. The device calculates the flight path from the first location to the second location based on the analyzed information and capability information associated with the UAV, and generates flight path instructions for the flight path. The device provides the flight path instructions to the UAV to permit the UAV to travel from the first location to the second location via the flight path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: VERIZON PATENT AND LICENSING INC.
    Inventors: Hani Batla, Ashok N. Srivastava, Douglas M. Pasko, Igor Kantor, Gurpreet Ubhi
  • Patent number: 9305269
    Abstract: Methods and systems for determining routes in a Collaborative Trajectory Options Program (CTOP) enabled Air Traffic Management system are disclosed. A first trajectory with a lowest Network Cost and having an assumed ground delay is identified. A Relative Trajectory Cost of zero is assigned to the first trajectory. A second trajectory is identified and the assumed ground delay of the first trajectory is iteratively incremented until a Network Cost for the second trajectory is approximately equivalent to the Network Cost of the first trajectory. A Relative Trajectory Cost for the second trajectory is determined based at least in part on the iteratively incremented assumed ground delay of the first trajectory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Bo Vaaben, Krzysztof Pytel
  • Patent number: 9299340
    Abstract: A system and method for recognizing speech on board an aircraft that compensates for different regional dialects over an area comprised of at least first and second distinct geographical regions, comprises analyzing speech in the first distinct geographical region using speech data characteristics representative of speech in the first distinct geographical region, detecting a change in position from the first distinct geographical region to the second geographical region, and analyzing speech in the second distinct geographical region using speech data characteristics representative of speech in the second distinct geographical region upon detecting that the aircraft has transitioned from the first distinct geographical region to the second distinct geographical region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Satyanarayan Kar, Kiran Gopala Krishna, Jitender Kumar Agarwal, Robert E. De Mers
  • Patent number: 9296480
    Abstract: In a craft such as an aircraft, a lavatory unit may be powered by the various outputs of a fuel cell system, including by-products that typically become waste. For example, but not limited to, a combination of the water, oxygen-depleted air, thermal energy and/or electrical energy generated by the fuel cell system may be used to supply water to the faucet and the toilet of the lavatory unit, to supply the lavatory unit with its electrical needs, and to heat and/or disinfect and/or dry the lavatory unit and its surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: MAG Aerospace Industries, LLC
    Inventor: Razmik Boodaghians
  • Patent number: 9286806
    Abstract: A device for revising a low-altitude flight phase of a flight path of an aircraft includes an input unit configured to allow an operator to input parameters to define an intermediate flight section (Si) which has to be inserted into a low-altitude flight phase, and a processing unit configured to calculate a profile relating to the intermediate flight section (Si) using input parameters, and to automatically insert this profile into the flight phase between a first upstream part (P1) and a second downstream part (P2) so as to establish a revised flight phase (PR).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: Airbus Operations SAS
    Inventors: Thomas Koebel, Nicolas Albert
  • Patent number: 9280758
    Abstract: A method and system is provided that may be used to dynamically modify membership of a collaboration group participating in a collaboration session using dynamic situational information associated with collaboration session and/or collaboration group member candidates. The dynamic situational information may include collaboration session information, environmental information and context information. A change in collaboration session purpose may trigger a modification of group membership in accordance with a concomitant change in group membership criteria. A change of situational information associated with any group member candidate may trigger the modification of group membership, to add or delete the candidate from the group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: AVAYA INC.
    Inventors: Thomas Chmara, Guy M. Duxbury, Alan Graves, Brian Vezza
  • Patent number: 9262930
    Abstract: Systems and methods for generating arrival traffic schedules incorporating equipage-dependent in-trail spacing (time or distance). An arrival management system has a ground-based scheduling tool that applies customized spacing buffers between in-trail aircraft depending on the types of FMS equipage onboard aircraft sequence pairs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Johan De Prins
  • Patent number: 9254802
    Abstract: A method for operating a safety system of a motor vehicle includes the steps of determining a target trajectory of the motor vehicle to be realized with the safety system after an unavoidable collision, wherein the target trajectory is assigned to a target position of the motor vehicle, which target position is safe with regard to secondary collisions, and performing at least one autonomous and/or supporting driving intervention in the form of at least one of a longitudinally guiding intervention and a transverse guiding intervention after the collision for realizing the target trajectory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Oliver Brenneis, Jörn Freyer, Christopher Hantschke