Abstract: A voice radio communication system prioritizes radio voice communications so that higher priority voice transmission is given precedence. The communication system comprises a transmitter that inserts a digital watermark into a voice communication. Software in a receiver decodes the digital watermark to determine a priority requested by the sender, and other information about the sender and the message. The software determines the message priority based on multiple factors. Voice transmissions are digitally recorded and played in order of priority. Options exist for the user to control the playback.

Abstract: Methods and systems for presenting a current position of a vehicle on a moving map display are provided. The method includes determining a current position and a path of travel of the vehicle, determining a current position of at least one of a second vehicle, an object, and an area of interest wherein determining a current position of the second vehicle includes determining a path of travel of the second vehicle, and displaying a depiction of the vehicle and at least a portion of the at least one of the second vehicle, the object, and the area of interest at a first range setting. The method further includes automatically changing from the first range setting to a second range setting based on at least one of an approach autorange activation, an offscale traffic activation, and an offscale object or area of interest autorange activation, and displaying the ownship depiction and at least a portion of the at least one of the second vehicle, the object, and the area of interest at the second range setting.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing pre-flight dispatching are disclosed. In one embodiment, a system for on-board dispatching of an aircraft includes a flight dispatching apparatus positioned within the aircraft that is configured to perform one or more flight dispatching tasks. A communications apparatus is configured to exchange wireless signals between the dispatching apparatus and one or more ground-based facilities. In another embodiment, a method of dispatching an aircraft includes designating a person to perform predetermined dispatching tasks, and establishing a wireless data connection between the aircraft and at least one ground-based facility. Information obtained from the at least one ground-based facility is then processed to perform the one or more dispatching tasks, and at least a portion of the processed information is communicated to the at least one ground-based facility using the wireless data connection.

Abstract: A voice radio communication system prioritizes radio voice communications so that higher priority voice transmission is given precedence. The communication system comprises a transmitter that inserts a digital watermark into a voice communication. Software in a receiver decodes the digital watermark to determine a priority requested by the sender, and other information about the sender and the message. The software determines the message priority based on multiple factors. Voice transmissions are digitally recorded and played in order of priority. Options exist for the user to control the playback.

Abstract: A voice radio communication system prioritizes radio voice communications so that higher priority voice transmission is given precedence. The communication system comprises a transmitter that inserts a digital watermark into a voice communication. Software in a receiver decodes the digital watermark to determine a priority requested by the sender, and other information about the sender and the message. The software determines the message priority based on multiple factors. Voice transmissions are digitally recorded and played in order of priority. Options exist for the user to control the playback.

Abstract: Methods and systems for presenting a current position of a vehicle on a moving map display are provided. The method includes determining a current position and a path of travel of the vehicle, determining a current position of at least one of a second vehicle, an object, and an area of interest wherein determining a current position of the second vehicle includes determining a path of travel of the second vehicle, and displaying a depiction of the vehicle and at least a portion of the at least one of the second vehicle, the object, and the area of interest at a first range setting. The method further includes automatically changing from the first range setting to a second range setting based on at least one of an approach autorange activation, an offscale traffic activation, and an offscale object or area of interest autorange activation, and displaying the ownship depiction and at least a portion of the at least one of the second vehicle, the object, and the area of interest at the second range setting.

Abstract: Systems and methods for runway status indication and related traffic information displays and filtering are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method for displaying runway status includes defining a monitored volume for each of one or more runways, determining a runway status for each of the one or more runways based on at least one of a state of at least one traffic vehicle and a monitoring vehicle state with respect to each monitored volume. The method continues with selecting at least one runway status for display based on the state of the monitoring vehicle. The method then presents the at least one runway status within the monitoring vehicle. In an additional embodiment, each monitored volume is based on a length of a corresponding runway, a width of the corresponding runway, and a predetermined altitude above the corresponding runway.

Abstract: A aircraft traffic display system, aircraft including the display system and a method of displaying aircraft and vehicle traffic in the display system. The system includes an ownship location finder determining ownship location and maps, including airport maps stored in map storage. A traffic information collector collecting information on airport and other traffic. A local display displays ownship on a moving map at a selected range and all airport traffic within range, or a filtered subset thereof. An off-scale traffic processor monitors off-scale traffic beyond the selected range and identifies of-interest off-scale traffic. The local display also provides an indication of any of interest off-scale traffic. The indication may visibly indicate status (e.g., air or ground) of respective said off-scale traffic and may include traffic specific information.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing pre-flight dispatching are disclosed. In one embodiment, a system for on-board dispatching of an aircraft includes a flight dispatching apparatus positioned within the aircraft that is configured to perform one or more flight dispatching tasks. A communications apparatus is configured to exchange wireless signals between the dispatching apparatus and one or more ground-based facilities. In another embodiment, a method of dispatching an aircraft includes designating a person to perform predetermined dispatching tasks, and establishing a wireless data connection between the aircraft and at least one ground-based facility. Information obtained from the at least one ground-based facility is then processed to perform the one or more dispatching tasks, and at least a portion of the processed information is communicated to the at least one ground-based facility using the wireless data connection.

Abstract: A aircraft traffic display system, aircraft including the display system and a method of displaying aircraft and vehicle traffic in the display system. The system includes an ownship location finder determining ownship location and maps, including airport maps stored in map storage. A traffic information collector collecting information on airport and other traffic. A local display displays ownship on a moving map at a selected range and all airport traffic within range, or a filtered subset thereof. An off-scale traffic processor monitors off-scale traffic beyond the selected range and identifies of-interest off-scale traffic. The local display also provides an indication of any of interest off-scale traffic. The indication may visibly indicate status (e.g., air or ground) of respective said off-scale traffic and may include traffic specific information.

Abstract: Methods and systems for presenting a current position of a vehicle on a moving map display are provided. The method includes determining a current position and a path of travel of the vehicle, determining a current position of at least one of a second vehicle, an object, and an area of interest wherein determining a current position of the second vehicle includes determining a path of travel of the second vehicle, and displaying a depiction of the vehicle and at least a portion of the at least one of the second vehicle, the object, and the area of interest at a first range setting. The method further includes automatically changing from the first range setting to a second range setting based on at least one of an approach autorange activation, an offscale traffic activation, and an offscale object or area of interest autorange activation, and displaying the ownship depiction and at least a portion of the at least one of the second vehicle, the object, and the area of interest at the second range setting.

Abstract: A voice radio communication system prioritizes radio voice communications so that higher priority voice transmission is given precedence. The communication system comprises a transmitter that inserts a digital watermark into a voice communication. Software in a receiver decodes the digital watermark to determine a priority requested by the sender, and other information about the sender and the message. The software determines the message priority based on multiple factors. Voice transmissions are digitally recorded and played in order of priority. Options exist for the user to control the playback.

Abstract: Systems and methods for runway status indication and related traffic information displays and filtering are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method for displaying runway status includes defining a monitored volume for each of one or more runways, determining a runway status for each of the one or more runways based on at least one of a state of at least one traffic vehicle and a monitoring vehicle state with respect to each monitored volume. The method continues with selecting at least one runway status for display based on the state of the monitoring vehicle. The method then presents the at least one runway status within the monitoring vehicle. In an additional embodiment, each monitored volume is based on a length of a corresponding runway, a width of the corresponding runway, and a predetermined altitude above the corresponding runway.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for the efficient entry and display of ground taxi routes on an electronic airport map display. The system may include a touchscreen entry device, a display device, a computer, a map database, a vehicle position sensor and a transmitter/receiver. The system may be configured to check the ground taxi entries to ensure that each successive segment is contiguous with the last or next segment, and any gaps or discontinuities in the displayed taxi instructions may be annunciated. An intelligent display of next possible segments may be incorporated into the system.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for the efficient entry and display of ground taxi routes on an electronic airport map display. The system may include a touchscreen entry device, a display device, a computer, a map database, a vehicle position sensor and a transmitter/receiver. The system may be configured to check the ground taxi entries to ensure that each successive segment is contiguous with the last or next segment, and any gaps or discontinuities in the displayed taxi instructions may be annunciated. An intelligent display of next possible segments may be incorporated into the system.