Abstract: A remotely-accessible electronic circuit is provided, which, in wireless communication with a maritime pilot's Personal Pilot Unit (PPU), or other remote computer, is able to identify a common mis-wiring of an Automatic Identification System (AIS) Pilot Port in a maritime vessel. The circuit then is remotely controlled to electronically manipulate the connections that provide raw transmit and receive signals from the AIS Pilot Port. The electronic manipulation corrects the common mis-wiring without actual physical intervention of the pilot with the AIS Pilot Port, or other mechanical interface between that port and the pilot's PPU.

Abstract: A method for using an Electronic Flight Bag (EFB) located on an aircraft to communicate Flight Operations Quality Assurance (FOQA) data to a remote aircraft flight data collection unit, is disclosed. The method may include receiving FOQA data from one or more aircraft systems while the aircraft is in-flight, and automatically transmitting the received FOQA data to a remote aircraft flight data collection unit for analysis.

Abstract: A method for using an Electronic Flight Bag (EFB) located on an aircraft to communicate with a remote aircraft system data communications unit concerning aircraft systems problems and malfunctions, is disclosed. The method may include receiving aircraft systems data from one or more aircraft systems, identifying any problems or malfunctions in the aircraft systems, automatically communicating any identified problems or malfunctions in the aircraft systems to the remote aircraft system data communications unit, receiving information concerning a solution to the identified problems or malfunctions in the aircraft systems from the remote aircraft system data communications unit, and implementing the solution to the identified problems or malfunctions in the aircraft systems.

Abstract: Methods and mark verification systems for evaluating the quality of a two-dimensional matrix dot peen mark on an object are provided. An exemplary embodiment of the methods includes scanning a two-dimensional matrix dot peen mark disposed on a surface of an object with a laser displacement sensor to generate three-dimensional scanned data for the mark, the mark including a plurality of dots disposed in a plurality of rows and columns on the surface; and determining whether the mark passes a verification test based on the scanned data.

Abstract: A remotely-accessible electronic circuit is provided, which, in wireless communication with a maritime pilot's Personal Pilot Unit (PPU), or other remote computer, is able to identify a common mis-wiring of an Automatic Identification System (AIS) Pilot Port in a maritime vessel. The circuit then is remotely controlled to electronically manipulate the connections that provide raw transmit and receive signals from the AIS Pilot Port. The electronic manipulation corrects the common mis-wiring without actual physical intervention of the pilot with the AIS Pilot Port, or other mechanical interface between that port and the pilot's PPU.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for tracking passengers at a travel facility and may include receiving captured facial recognition features of a passenger using a first facial recognition camera at a first known location, determining if the captured facial recognition features of the passenger are stored in a database, wherein if the captured facial recognition features of the passenger are not stored in the database, starting a timer, receiving captured facial recognition features of the passenger using a second facial recognition camera at a second known location, stopping the timer, determining the amount of elapsed time between the received captured facial recognition features of the passenger using the first facial recognition camera at the first known location and the receiving captured facial recognition features of the passenger using the second facial recognition camera at the second known location, outputting the determined amount of elapsed time to at least one or more.

Abstract: A method and apparatus that controls access to a secured area using an automated gate controlled secured environment is disclosed. The method may include receiving an indication that an individual attempting to pass through a clearance area has not been authorized to pass through the clearance area, automatically moving one or more gates to create a channel for the non-authorized individual to be directed to a manual screening area, determining if the non-authorized individual has passed one or more sensor; wherein if the non-authorized individual has been determined to have passed the one or more sensor, then moving a gate located behind the non-authorized individual to enable other authorized individuals to pass through the clearance area while maintaining the channel created to the manual screening area, and preventing the non-authorized individual from gaining access to the automated gate controlled secured environment once the non-authorized individual reaches the manual screening area.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for smart safety management is disclosed. The method may include receiving a request from a user to complete risk assessment form, retrieving a risk factors database from a memory and providing the risk factors database to the user, receiving risk factor information from the user concerning items in the risk factor database and any new or changed in risk factor information as defined by the user, storing the new or changed risk factor information received from the user in the risk factors database, calculating risk factor values based on the received risk factor information from the user concerning items in the risk factor database and any new or changed risk factor information as defined by the user, and outputting the risk assessment form containing the calculated risk factor values and providing the form to the user.

Abstract: A portable data link integration and communication unit and method that integrates and communicates data link information from an aircraft to a ground station is disclosed. The portable data link integration and communication unit a communication interface that facilitates communications with communication devices, and an integration and communication processing module that receives data link message information from one or more communication devices through the communication interface, integrates the received data link message information, converts integrated data link information into internet protocol information, and transmits the internet protocol information using the communication interface over a satellite network to the ground station for display to a user over a communications network.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method may be provided by which a user aboard an aircraft may use a processing device to communicate with another device, which is not located aboard the aircraft, via an air-to-ground network connection. A communication satellite may provide connectivity for the air-to-ground network connection. As the aircraft approaches an end of a satellite coverage area, the air-to-ground network connection may seamlessly transition to a second communication satellite or a second communication medium. Some communication satellites may communicate via a first frequency range and other communication satellites may communicate via a second frequency range. In one mode of operation, the air-to-ground network connection may be via a communication satellite communicating via a first frequency range. A transition to a communication medium communicating via a second frequency range may occur automatically only during the one mode of operation.

Abstract: A low-cost display unit that displays wayfinding information to a traveler in a public travel-related area is disclosed and may include a communication interface that facilitates receiving of travel-related information, a machine-readable marking reader that determines the presence of a travel document having one or more machine readable markings, scans the one or more machine-readable markings, and decodes the scanned one or more machine-readable markings, wherein the one or more machine-readable markings contain encoded traveled-related information pertaining to the traveler; and a display control unit that receives the decoded one or more machine-readable marking, determines the traveler's destination in the public travel-related area from the decoded one or more machine-readable markings, determines the path that the traveler should travel to reach the destination, and displays the determined path to the traveler on the low-cost display unit.

Abstract: A low-cost display unit that displays travel-related information to a traveler in a public travel-related area is disclosed and may include a communication interface that facilitates receiving of travel-related information, a machine-readable marking reader that determines the presence of a travel document having one or more machine readable markings, scans the one or more machine-readable markings, and decodes the scanned one or more machine-readable markings, wherein the one or more machine-readable markings contain encoded traveled-related information pertaining to the traveler, and a display control unit that receives the decoded one or more machine-readable marking, and displays the travel-related information contained in the decoded one or more machine-readable markings to the traveler on the low-cost display unit.

Abstract: Methods and mark verification systems for evaluating the quality of a two-dimensional matrix dot peen mark on an object are provided. An exemplary embodiment of the methods includes scanning a two-dimensional matrix dot peen mark disposed on a surface of an object with a laser displacement sensor to generate three-dimensional scanned data for the mark, the mark including a plurality of dots disposed in a plurality of rows and columns on the surface; and determining whether the mark passes a verification test based on the scanned data.

Abstract: A single compact multi-aircraft flight simulator processing unit is disclosed and may include a single chassis, a memory, and a flight simulator control unit housed within the single chassis that operates using a single processor that receives the user's selection of aircraft type, aircraft-type configuration, and start-up parameters to be simulated, retrieves the simulation of the user's selected aircraft type, aircraft-type configuration and start-up parameters from the memory, presents the simulation of the user's selected aircraft type, aircraft-type configuration and start-up parameters to the user, receives a signal from the user to begin the flight simulation experience using the selected aircraft type, aircraft-type configuration and start-up parameters, presents the flight simulation experience to the user, wherein the flight simulation experience displays simulated cockpit window views, displays interactive flight instrument panel views and permits the user to control the flight simulation experienc

Abstract: A method and apparatus for restraining cargo items on an aircraft is disclosed. The apparatus may include a base that attaches to the cargo item, a lever coupled to the base, and a foot coupled to the lever, wherein the foot is placed into a seat track attached to the aircraft, the seat track having a cutout portion and a cavity beneath the cutout portion, and the lever is moved to turn the foot within the cavity to lock down the cargo item to the seat track to restrain its movement.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating electronic training jackets is disclosed. The method may include receiving a request from a user to generate an electronic training jacket for an individual, retrieving qualification information for the individual from at least one of one or more remote qualification databases and one or more local qualification databases, generating the electronic training jacket from the retrieved qualification information, and automatically outputting the generated electronic training jacket to the user using an output device. The qualification information may be aviation-related and shipboard-related qualification information and the aviation-related and the shipboard-related qualification information may include at least one of medical qualification information, job training qualification information, and education information.

Abstract: A method and system that receives and processes ADS-B data from one or more aircraft is disclosed. The system may include one or more ground stations that receives data from one or more aircraft and converts the received aircraft ADS-B data to XML format, determines the lowest cost communication mode available, and transmits the XML data over TCP/IP to an aircraft data server. The aircraft data server receives the aircraft ADS-B data in XML format from the one or more ground stations, processes the received ADS-B data to extract aircraft data and eliminate duplicate aircraft data; determines aircraft data missing from the processed aircraft data, receives supplemental aircraft data from other sources to provide aircraft data missing from the processed aircraft data, and outputs the processed aircraft data and the received supplemental aircraft data to one or more processing devices for processing and display.

Abstract: A multi-modal portable communications gateway for operation in an airport environment is disclosed.

Abstract: A low-cost display bank that displays travel-related information in a public travel-related area and includes one or more slave low-cost display units, and a master low-cost display unit that includes a communication interface that receives travel-related information, a display bank control unit that sends identification information to a display bank data management unit through the communication interface, receives a display bank unit profile containing display parameters based on the identification information through the communication interface, receives travel-related information from the display bank data management unit in accordance with the received display parameters through the communication interface, sends the received travel-related information intended to be displayed on the one or more slave low-cost display units to the one or more slave low-cost display units, and displays the received travel-related information on the master low-cost display unit and the one or more slave low-cost display un

Abstract: A method and apparatus that generates a 4D flight plan that takes in account weather, metrological data, and safety of flight information for 360 degree horizontal layer at all relevant altitudes and times is disclosed. The method may include receiving a flight plan request from a user, the flight plan including user preferences, receiving meteorological information and safety-of-flight information based on the user's origin, destination and preferences, generating a 4D flight plan based on the meteorological information, safety-of-flight information, and user preferences, and outputting the 4D flight plan for the user.