Air Traffic Control Patents (Class 342/36)
  • Patent number: 8190309
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method and device for detecting lateral dissymmetry of an aircraft. A control parameter determination unit is used to determine a current value of a control parameter representative of all roll control surfaces of the aircraft, and a control parameter comparison unit is used to compare the determined current value with a predetermined reference value. A current deflection angle of a lateral stick of the aircraft is also determined, and the determined current deflection angle is compared with a predetermined angle value. A visual alarm signal is output, when the current value of the roll control surfaces of the aircraft is greater than a predetermined reference value and the lateral stick is at a deflection angle that is greater than a predetermined angle value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Airbus Operations SAS
    Inventors: Regis Boe, Dominique Chatrenet
  • Patent number: 8188907
    Abstract: The present invention provides an aircraft collision alarm system and method. The method includes the steps of collecting aircraft position information for aircraft in a given area and digitally encoding this aircraft position information. This aircraft position information is then transmitted on an audio sub-carrier over the voice communications channel of a VOR to the aircraft. The aircraft receives and processes the digitally encoded information and alerts the pilot if a collision alarm situation is present.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Gary E. O'Neil
  • Patent number: 8184037
    Abstract: Radar system for providing an aircraft with a facility for in use at least detecting another aircraft in at least one monitorable zone within a region surrounding of that aircraft, wherein the system comprises for each monitorable zone at least one subsystem comprising one transmitter for sending an electro-magnetic probe signal and at least one receiver for receiving a reflection of that probe signal, wherein the transmitter is arranged to send the probe signal in a direction that is static with respect to that aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Nederlandse Organisatie voor toegepast-natuurwetenschappelijk Onderzoek TNO
    Inventors: Albert Gezinus Huizing, Ronald Nikola Huib Willem Van Gent
  • Patent number: 8169357
    Abstract: System and methods for reducing redundant messages broadcast in an Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) system. For a given target, a controller determines the relevant customers that should receive information about the target, identifies all of the ground stations that can be satisfactorily heard by the relevant customers, and then identifies a smaller subset of ground stations by selecting only those ground stations that are needed to reach all of the relevant customers. ADS-B messages are then broadcast to the relevant customers using only the smaller subset of ground stations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Exelis Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald Bruno, Boris Veytsman
  • Patent number: 8149141
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for automatically preparing an update of audio communication frequencies between aircraft and ATC stations on the ground, a method making it possible to reduce the communication time associated with the necessary frequency changes between control sectors, therefore limiting the frequency space requirement, and reducing the workload due to the manipulations and control of these frequency changes, both for the air traffic controllers and for the aircraft crews, and wherein the flight plan or the current trajectory followed by the aircraft is dynamically coupled with the geometry information of the control sectors overflown by the aircraft and that, thereby knowing the intersection points of the flight plan with the sector limits, the frequency changes and sector name are prepared before each change of sector, while warning the pilot of their imminence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Thales
    Inventors: François Coulmeau, Guy Deker
  • Patent number: 8149154
    Abstract: In certain embodiments, a method includes receiving first track information comprising data for a particular aircraft track. The method further includes receiving a first radar plot comprising first location information corresponding to first aircraft identification information and first location information corresponding to second aircraft identification information. The method further includes associating the first aircraft identification information with the particular aircraft track. The method further includes accessing historical association information comprising a first association history variable corresponding to one or more previous associations between the first aircraft identification information and the particular aircraft track and a second association history variable corresponding to one or more previous associations between the second aircraft identification information and the particular aircraft track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Wassim S. Habib, Yuchoi F. Lok
  • Patent number: 8149086
    Abstract: There is provided a method for identifying, at the moment of verification, the situation of a threat to a protected ground, airspace and/or sea limits by an approaching ground vehicle, aircraft or sea-going vessel. The method includes an authorized driver/pilot/captain to select first state in which the vehicle, aircraft or sea-going vessel is not considered to present a threat and a second state in which the vehicle, aircraft or sea-going vessel is considered to present a threat. The method further provides entering the first and second PIN codes into a smart card for generating a One Time Indicia (OTI) for each of the PIN codes and disclosing the state associated with each of the first and second OTI codes to at least one control center. Upon the control center receiving an OTI code, the control center obtains positive identification of the driver/pilot/captain and the degree of the threat that the vehicle, aircraft or sea-going vessel presents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Elbit Systems Ltd.
    Inventors: Dan Klein, Relu Rosenberg
  • Patent number: 8138967
    Abstract: A multilateration system and method includes a plurality of receiver stations for receiving signals from an aircraft, and a controller that derives the position of the aircraft by applying a multilateration process to outputs from the receiver stations. For this purpose, the controller determines the altitude of the aircraft and selects a multilateration process that is to be used for position determination, based on the determined altitude.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Roke Manor Research Limited
    Inventor: Robert J. Weedon
  • Patent number: 8130135
    Abstract: A system and technique to derive a position of a non-ADSB equipped aircraft using ADS-B information provided from an ADSB equipped aircraft and bi-static radar processing techniques.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventor: Timothy P. Donovan
  • Publication number: 20120019407
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for monitoring targets on a runway, wherein emitting modules and receiving modules are alternately distributed along each one of longitudinal sides of the runway. Orthogonal signals are emitted in a narrowband by the emitting modules and coherently received in a coherent manner by the receiving modules. An object is detected on the runway on the basis of a distribution of the modules into meshes each including three pairs of neighbouring emitting modules and receiving modules and on the basis of a radio location of the object through triangulation and interferometry in at least one mesh. The modules are also used for analyzing a target moving on the runway, and for monitoring the trajectographies of an air target in the surroundings of the runway.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2010
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Inventor: Marc Lesturgie
  • Patent number: 8102302
    Abstract: A receiver in a mode 5 air traffic control system provides amplitude and phase signal outputs a digital data stream containing preamble and flight information from data transmitted from an aircraft. A signal splitter divides the amplitude and phase signal outputs between an odd channel and an even channel that carry odd-numbered pulses and even-numbered pulses, respectively. An odd channel data decoder connected to the signal splitter extracts signals encoded in the odd channel and forms an odd data stream and an even channel data decoder connected to the signal splitter extracts signals encoded in the even channel and forming an even data stream. A preamble correlator correlates the odd and even data streams with a predefined preamble mask to detect potential valid preambles, and preamble decision logic processes signals output from the preamble correlator to identify which of the preambles actually are actually valid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Guidance & Electronics Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Yair Alon
  • Patent number: 8102301
    Abstract: Techniques are described that allow information to be acquired by an ADS-B system of an aircraft without the installation of ADS-B dedicated flight crew controls or wired data interfaces in the aircraft. In one or more implementations, a receiver is associated with the ADS-B system in the aircraft. The receiver is configured to receive transmissions from a transponder of the aircraft, such as a radar transponder of a Traffic Collision Avoidance System (TCAS), or the like. Information used by the ADS-B system is extracted from the received transmissions and furnished to the ADS-B transceiver for broadcast over the ADS-B datalink.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Garmin International, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas L. Mosher
  • Patent number: 8077073
    Abstract: A pulse detecting equipment includes a log compression processor (105) for logarithm-converting signal levels of a reception signal received at an antenna and input therefrom, with maintained frequency components of the reception signal as input, an AD converter (106) for converting the reception signal as logarithm-converted in signal level, from an analog form into a digital form, a first detector (110) for limiting the reception signal as converted into the digital form to a band of a prescribed first frequency, to obtain a signal, to detect signal levels thereof, a second detector (111) for limiting the reception signal as converted into the digital form to a band of a prescribed second frequency smaller than the first frequency, to obtain a signal, to detect signal levels thereof, and a pulse detector (113) for use of a result of comparison between signal levels detected at the first detector and signal levels detected at the second detector, to detect pulses of a prescribed frequency as a signal transmi
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Hisashi Ootomo, Yoshirou Aoki
  • Patent number: 8068039
    Abstract: Described is a system and method for displaying flight track data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: PASSUR Aerospace, Inc.
    Inventors: James Cole, Matthew Marcella, Ron Dunsky
  • Patent number: 8063816
    Abstract: A system is delineated comprising a TCAS receiver having one or more filters, one or more amplifiers and one or more A/D converters, the one or more A/D converters for digitizing analog data into digital data for decoding one or more of an ADS-B message and a TIS-B message; and circuitry for receiving the digital data and decoding the one or more of an ADS-B message and a TIS-B message, wherein the circuitry includes two or more paths for the decoding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Aviation Communication&Surveillance Systems LLC
    Inventor: James Roy Troxel
  • Patent number: 8054215
    Abstract: A precision radar registration (PR2) system and method that employs highly accurate geo-referenced positional data as a basis for correcting registration bias present in radar data. In one embodiment, the PR2 method includes sample collection and bias computation function processes. The sample collection process includes ADS-B sample collection, radar sample collection, and time alignment sub-processes. The bias computation function process includes bias computation, quality monitoring and non-linear effects monitoring sub-processes. The bias computation sub-process results in a bias correction solution including range bias b?, azimuth bias b?, and time bias bT parameters. The quality monitoring sub-process results in an estimate of solution quality. The non-linear effects monitoring sub-process results in detection of the presence of non-linear bias, if any, in the bias correction solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Michael R. Abbett, Sergio Torres
  • Patent number: 8046165
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for assisting in the navigation of an aircraft in an airport zone comprising a surface navigation system and means of acquiring in real time, while navigating on the ground or in flight, new information or temporary information relating to the navigation in the airport zone. The surface navigation system uses information relating to the navigation in the airport zone. The information is previously stored in a database on board the aircraft. The device includes means for decoding and analysing the new or temporary information relating to the navigation in the airport zone, means of filtering the information according to the airport concerned and the validity date of the information, means of correlating the information with the information previously stored, and means of displaying the information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Thales
    Inventors: Jérôme Sacle, François Coulmeau
  • Publication number: 20110248878
    Abstract: Methods of protecting location privacy of air traffic communications from unauthorized monitoring of aircraft locations in an uncontrolled airspace include designating a bounded region of uncontrolled airspace; ceasing transmission of a traffic beacon by each aircraft of a plurality of aircraft upon the aircraft entering the bounded region; and updating a unique identifier associated with each of the aircraft while the aircraft is traversing the bounded region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2010
    Publication date: October 13, 2011
    Applicant: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Radhakrishna G. SAMPIGETHAYA, Radha POOVENDRAN
  • Patent number: 8035547
    Abstract: A system and method of providing aerial navigation. Techniques are described for receiving global positioning system data, receiving local positioning system data such as instrument landing system data, generating a virtual target flight path using the global positioning system data and the local positioning system data, and presenting a virtual target flight path indicator corresponding to the virtual target flight path. In one implementation, the system includes a user interface, a global positioning component, a local positioning component, and a processing system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Garmin Switzerland GmbH
    Inventors: Daniel Keegan Flanigan, Jay R. Flatland, Merlin R. James, Eric D. Schlef
  • Patent number: 8031105
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention disclose systems and methods for providing an enhanced data link using overlaid modulation. Through embodiments of the present invention, existing ATC (or other) modulated signals using existing standard frequencies may be utilized to transmit (e.g., from an aircraft transponder) additional information in a manner that does not render the transmitted signal unrecognizable by legacy ATC equipment. Legacy equipment will be able to demodulate and decode information that was encoded in the transmitted signal in accordance with preexisting standard modulation formats, and updated equipment can also extract the additional information that was overlaid on transmitted signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Aviation Communication & Surveillance Systems LLC
    Inventor: Gregory T. Stayton
  • Publication number: 20110227780
    Abstract: System and methods for reducing redundant messages broadcast in an Automatic Dependent Surveillance—Broadcast (ADS-B) system. For a given target, a controller determines the relevant customers that should receive information about the target, identifies all of the ground stations that can be satisfactorily heard by the relevant customers, and then identifies a smaller subset of ground stations by selecting only those ground stations that are needed to reach all of the relevant customers. ADS-B messages are then broadcast to the relevant customers using only the smaller subset of ground stations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2011
    Publication date: September 22, 2011
    Applicant: ITT MANUFACTURING ENTERPRISES, INC.
    Inventors: Ronald Bruno, Boris Veytsman
  • Patent number: 8004427
    Abstract: In a method of dynamically guiding an aircraft the intended path of the aircraft may be broadcast along at least one of a runway and a taxiway. The broadcasted intended path of the aircraft along the at least one runway and taxiway may be received. The lighting characteristics of an airport lighting device along the at least one runway and taxiway may be dynamically changed to dynamically guide the aircraft along the broadcasted and received intended path of the at least one runway and taxiway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: William L. Goodman, Syed Taji Shafaat
  • Patent number: 8004452
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for an ADS-B system having a single link for communication and/or ADS-B/Mode-S coordination. With this arrangement, the system communication is efficiently used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Eric G. Rolfe, Peter R. Drake, Peter L. Hoover
  • Patent number: 7979200
    Abstract: Systems and methods that coordinate assignments of aircraft operating within a controlled airspace to ground radios are provided. In one embodiment, such a system includes an air traffic control (ATC) facility (12), a plurality of ground radios (16A-16C), and a network manager (20) communicatively coupled to the air traffic control facility (12) and the ground radios (16A-16C). The air traffic control facility is responsible for controlling aircraft (14A-14I) operating within the airspace (10) and providing ATC information to the network manager (20). The ground radios (16A-16C) are operable to provide communications between the air traffic control facility (12) and the aircraft (14A-14I). The network manager (20) is operable to assign each aircraft (14A-14I) to one of the ground radios (16A-16C) based on network management considerations using the ATC information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: FM Bay, David E. Walton
  • Publication number: 20110163908
    Abstract: A method for validating received positional data in vehicle surveillance applications wherein vehicles transmit positional data indicating their own position to surrounding vehicles. A a radio direction finding antenna arrangement of a receiving unit receives a signal carrying positional data indicating an alleged position of a vehicle, transmitted from a radio source. The bearing from the receiving unit to the radio source is estimated utilizing the radio direction finding antenna arrangement and the received signal. The distance between the receiving unit and the radio source is estimated based on the time of flight for a signal travelling there between at known speed. An estimated position of the radio source is calculated based on the estimated bearing and the estimated distance. A deviation value indicating the deviation/coincidence between the alleged position of a vehicle is determined according to the received positional data and the estimated position of the radio source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2009
    Publication date: July 7, 2011
    Applicant: SAAB AB
    Inventors: Svante Andersson, Andreas Persson
  • Patent number: 7974745
    Abstract: An avionic aviation system including: a ground station that is linked to an aircraft via a wireless interface; wherein the ground station includes, a receiver that receives, via a wireless interface, a transmission from a detection device integrated in avionics of the aircraft, said transmission including a parameter regarding at least one of takeoff and landing of the aircraft, and a counter module that increments a value based on the parameter regarding at least one of takeoff or landing for the aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Swiss Reinsurance Company
    Inventors: Marcel Fok, Shinji Shirai
  • Patent number: 7970507
    Abstract: This invention provides a system and method for autonomously tracking a moving target from unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) with a variety of airframe and sensor payload capabilities so that the target remains within the vehicle's sensor field of view regardless of the specific target motion patterns. The invention uses information about target location, UAV platform type and states, sensor payload capability, and ratio of target-to-UAV speeds to select from a suite of sub-algorithms, each of which generates desired platform positions (in form of waypoints) and/or sensor orientation commands to keep the target in view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Kingsley O C Fregene, Peter Lommel
  • Patent number: 7970410
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for remotely downloading data from a selected one of a plurality of avionics line replaceable units (LRUs) on an aircraft. In one configuration, a method includes transmitting a message wirelessly to a receiver on the aircraft identifying an LRU having data to be downloaded; selectively switching a communication path from the identified LRU to an aircraft data services link (ADSL) dependent upon the identified LRU; and wirelessly downloading data from the identified LRU utilizing the selectively switched communication path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Roger R. Brinkley, Timothy M. Mitchell, Jerry L. Price, David R. Lee
  • Patent number: 7965223
    Abstract: A present novel and non-trivial system, module, and method for generating and/or presenting airport surface traffic information presenting using a forward-looking aircraft radar system are disclosed. A runway awareness zone is established and traffic data is acquired by a forward-looking aircraft radar system. In one embodiment, a runway awareness zone is own-ship-based. In another embodiment, a runway awareness zone is based upon data received from a navigation reference data source. An advisory data set is generated using track alignment correction information and airport surface traffic located within the runway awareness zone. Navigation data is used to determine the location of airport surface traffic. Track alignment correction information may be calculated using traffic data or navigation data. Advisory data set is provided to one or more avionics systems including a presentation system and an external communication system. Advisory data set could include visual, aural, and/or tactile information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventor: Patrick D. McCusker
  • Patent number: 7961135
    Abstract: A collision avoidance system according to one aspect of the present invention comprises a user interface, a plurality of sensors, and a computer system in communication with the user interface and the plurality of sensors. The computer system includes a processor and a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to receive data pertaining to a target from one or more sensors of the plurality of sensors, determine a position of the target based on the data from the one or more sensors, and present (through the user interface) the position of the target using one or more visual indicators that identify the one or more sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Aviation Communication & Surveillance Systems LLC
    Inventors: Mark D. Smith, Michael F. Tremose
  • Patent number: 7961136
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Arinc Incorporated
    Inventors: Rolf R. Stefani, James Gary Cooper, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7956795
    Abstract: System and methods for reducing redundant messages broadcast in an Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) system. For a given target, a controller determines the relevant customers that should receive information about the target, identifies all of the ground stations that can be satisfactorily heard by the relevant customers, and then identifies a smaller subset of ground stations by selecting only those ground stations that are needed to reach all of the relevant customers. ADS-B messages are then broadcast to the relevant customers using only the smaller subset of ground stations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: ITT Manufacturing Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald Bruno, Boris Veytsman
  • Patent number: 7940205
    Abstract: Using a radar to detect a known target likely to be positioned at approximately a predetermined height close to other targets, these other targets also being positioned at approximately the predetermined height. A first phase of detecting the known target is carried out by performing an azimuth scan. When the known target has been detected at a certain distance Di at a certain azimuth angle ?az, a second detection phase is carried out at said azimuth angle ?az and at an elevation angle ?EL corresponding to that of an object situated at said distance Di at the predetermined height. The target is said to be detected if it is detected at the elevation angle ?EL at a distance D approximately equal to the distance Di.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Thales
    Inventors: Pascal Cornic, Eric Barraux, Patrick Garrec
  • Patent number: 7932853
    Abstract: An aircraft weather radar system for displaying an indication of a threat level presented by an obstacle to the aircraft on an electronic display. The weather radar system includes a radar antenna configured to receive radar returns from a radar sweep. The weather radar system additionally includes processing electronics configured to determine a movement vector of the obstacle using the radar returns. The processing electronics are further configured to determine the threat level of the obstacle to the aircraft based on the determined movement vector, to generate parameters for an indication based on the determined threat level and to cause the indication to be displayed on an electronic display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel L. Woodell, Patrick D. McCusker, Richard D. Jinkins
  • Patent number: 7908042
    Abstract: A method for wirelessly communicating data between a plurality of avionics units on an aircraft and a data communication apparatus. The method includes wirelessly communicating download data for one avionics unit from the data communication apparatus to an aircraft data services link in the aircraft; automatically switching a communication path from the aircraft data services link to the avionics unit responsive to the download data; and electronically communicating the download data from the data communication apparatus to the avionics unit via the automatically switched communication path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Roger R Brinkley, Timothy M Mitchell, Jerry L Price, David R Lee
  • Publication number: 20110057830
    Abstract: A method for group travel and group communications, wherein the group travel parameters and group communications are combined for verifying and validating ADS-B data on aircraft. The full connectivity within a navigating group of aircraft allows all the group members to communicate spatial/temporal observations and collaborate in group protocols, e.g., majority voting protocol, which can determine if a received ADS-B message is corrupted or from a false target aircraft. Well-established distributed protocols based on group communications and majority voting exist for (1) detecting compromised members, i.e., false target aircraft, and (2) verifying message integrity, i.e., ADS-B data, given a minority fraction of members are compromised/colluding. Such protocols can be based on IP multicast communications over the IP networking data links available on the aircraft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2010
    Publication date: March 10, 2011
    Applicant: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Radhakrishna G. SAMPIGETHAYA, Radha Poovendran, Linda Bushnell
  • Patent number: 7904082
    Abstract: A system in a method are provided for sending and receiving messages between a point located on the ground and a point located on an aircraft via an Iridium Short Burst Data Service. The messages may conform to Airlines Electronic Engineering Committee (AEEC) Specification 618. The messages may be ground-to-air messages or air-to-ground messages. The messages may be ACARS messages and at least some of the messages may have a length exceeding a maximum payload of the Iridium Short Burst Data Service. ACARS messages, which exceed the maximum payload of the Iridium Short Burst Data Service may be segmented and each of the segments may be sent in respective Iridium Short Burst Data messages via the Iridium Short Burst Data Service. When the separate Iridium Short Burst Data messages are received, the segments may be combined to reconstruct the ACARS message for delivery to an intended destination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: ARINC Incorporated
    Inventors: Debra J. Graves, Rolf Stefani, William Brian Pemberton, Alan Martin Williard, Ernest Joseph Siegrist
  • Patent number: 7904081
    Abstract: A system in a method are provided for sending and receiving messages between a point located on the ground and a point located on an aircraft via an Iridium Short Burst Data Service. The messages may conform to Airlines Electronic Engineering Committee (AEEC) Specification 618. The messages may be ground-to-air messages or air-to-ground messages. The messages may be ACARS messages and at least some of the messages may have a length exceeding a maximum payload of the Iridium Short Burst Data Service. ACARS messages, which exceed the maximum payload of the Iridium Short Burst Data Service may be segmented and each of the segments may be sent in respective Iridium Short Burst Data messages via the Iridium Short Burst Data Service. When the separate Iridium Short Burst Data messages are received, the segments may be combined to reconstruct the ACARS message for delivery to an intended destination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: ARINC Incorporated
    Inventors: Debra J. Graves, Rolf Stefani, William Brian Pemberton, Alan Martin Williard, Ernest Joseph Siegrist
  • Patent number: 7898467
    Abstract: The device (405) for behavior simulation of a radio navigation system, without the latter being installed on an aircraft, comprising a means (410) for determining a position of the aircraft, characterized in that it further comprises: a means (415) for automatically determining at least one radio navigation beacon of a station on the ground depending on said position of the aircraft, and for selecting a radio navigation beacon of an automatically determined station on the ground, a means (420) for calculating at least one physical quantity value linked to the relative position of the aircraft relative to the selected beacon and a means (425) for presenting, on a display means of the aircraft cockpit, each calculated physical quantity value and the identifier of the selected beacon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: AIRBUS France
    Inventors: Diane Rambach, Pierre Durel, Gilles Tatham
  • Patent number: 7889114
    Abstract: Systems and methods for reducing radar target processing. The systems include a processor configured to receive a first input from a cooperative surveillance source and a second input from a radar device. The first input includes cooperative target information, the second input includes cooperative and non-cooperative target information, and the processor is configured to process the first and second inputs to remove cooperative target information from the second input based on the first input to generate a modified radar output for use by an output device. The methods include receiving a first input including cooperative target information from a cooperative surveillance source, receiving a second input including cooperative and non-cooperative target information from a radar device, processing the first and second inputs to remove cooperative target information from the second input based on the first input, and generating a modified radar output based on the processed first and second inputs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: David W. Meyers, Christine Haissig, David C. Vacanti
  • Publication number: 20110030538
    Abstract: Embodiments of an apparatus and method for defending a physical zone from airborne and ground-based threats are disclosed. In the various embodiments, an apparatus includes a detection component configured to detect and track a ground-based or airborne threat proximate to the physical zone, an integration component to receive data from the detection component and process the data to determine a threat assessment. A defensive component receives the determined threat assessment and disables the ground-based and airborne threat based upon the determined threat assessment. A method includes detecting an object proximate to the physical zone to be protected, identifying the object as a hostile threat, determining at least one of a path and a point-of-origin for the object, and actuating a defensive system in response to the hostile threat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2010
    Publication date: February 10, 2011
    Inventors: Frederick A. Ahrens, Jay A. Stern, Timothy K. Kirchhoff, Mark P. Slivinski, Terrence J. Wolfe, Vernon A. Mickle, Arthur D. Dilley, Daniel F. Cheeseman, Timothy M. Minahen
  • Patent number: 7880667
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for preventing spoofing of targets, such as aircraft, in an air traffic control system. In one embodiment, first and second antennas at respective ground stations can be used to receive a signal transmitted by an aircraft from which a phase signal can be generated. A position of the aircraft generate can be generated from peaks and troughs in the phase signal due to movement of the aircraft. The determined position can be compared to a position reported by the aircraft to identify spoofing of the target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventor: Paul J. Lanzkron
  • Patent number: 7876259
    Abstract: An air traffic control automatic dependent, WAAS/GPS based, surveillance system (ADS), for operation in the TRACON airspace. The system provides encryption protection against unauthorized reading of ADS messages and unauthorized position tracking of aircraft using multilateration techniques. Each aircraft has its own encryption and long PN codes per TRACON and transmit power is controlled to protect against unauthorized ranging on the ADS-S aircraft transmission. The encryption and PN codes can be changed dynamically. Several options which account for available bandwidth, burst data rates, frequency spectrum allocations, relative cost to implement, complexity of operation, degree of protection against unauthorized users, system capacity, bits per aircraft reply message and mutual interference avoidance techniques between ADS-S, ADS-B Enroute and Mode S/ATCRBS TRACON are disclosed. ADS messages are only transmitted as replies to ATC ground terminal interrogations (no squittering).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Inventor: Leonard Schuchman
  • Patent number: 7868813
    Abstract: A method (400), a system and a computer program product are disclosed for graphically displaying air traffic control information in an air traffic control system. Information about objects in an air traffic control environment is compiled and calculated (410). Tokens (e.g., text, icons, images, or other symbols) corresponding to the objects in the air traffic control environment are displayed (420). At least two objects are selectively designated (430) in combination as a source object and a target object connected by a bearing and range line token (210, 220, 230, 240). Air traffic control information (212, 222, 232, 242) about the combination of objects associated with the bearing and range line token dependent upon the combination of objects designated in the combination is displayed (440). The displayed air traffic control information is required decision making information to enable an air traffic controller to manage air traffic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: Thales Australia Limited
    Inventors: Mark James O'Flynn, Lillian Chang, Virginie Bernard Blond
  • Patent number: 7868817
    Abstract: A radar system comprises a transmitter antenna configured to transmit a radio frequency (RF) signal, a first receiver antenna, and a second receiver antenna. Each of the first and second receiver antennas are configured to receive a reflection of the RF signal, wherein the first and second receiver antennas are synchronized and separated by a vertical distance. The radar system also comprises radar processing circuitry configured to control transmission of the RF signal from the transmitter antenna and to determine an elevation of an object reflecting the RF signal based on the phase difference between the reflected RF signal received by the first receiver antenna and the reflected RF signal received by the second receiver antenna; wherein the transmit antenna, first receiver antenna, and second receiver antenna are operable to continuously rotate 360 degrees along an azimuth angle without rotating along an elevation angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: David W. Meyers, Long Bui, Yi-Chi Shih
  • Patent number: 7855675
    Abstract: A radar unit on board an aircraft scans a scan area of surrounding space relative to a runway to detect any nearby aircraft and a unit presents to a pilot an indication of such detection of the presence of at least one nearby aircraft. The technique involves determining: a heading of the aircraft, positions of thresholds of the runway, an orientation of the runway, a maximum relative bearing, a minimum relative bearing, a maximum elevation, a minimum elevation, a slant range for scanning the scan area from the heading, thresholds and orientation, predetermined vertical and horizontal angles of an approach center line of the runway, a predetermined length of edges of the scan area, and the scan commands enabling the radar to scan said scan area using the maximum relative bearing, the minimum relative bearing, the maximum elevation, the minimum elevation and the slant range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2010
    Assignee: Airbus France
    Inventor: Guillaume Fouet
  • Patent number: 7847722
    Abstract: Provided is a secondary surveillance radar with an improved capability of eliminating an unnecessary Mode A/C target report, which includes a transmission unit transmitting interrogations, a reception unit receiving replies, from a transponder, corresponding respectively to the interrogations, and a signal processing unit generating a Mode S target report and a Mode A/C target report from the replies. The radar also includes a combiner generating a Mode S track and a Mode A/C track respectively from the Mode S and the Mode A/C reports, and then judging whether the Mode S report and the Mode A/C report are of the same target on the basis of the Mode S and the Mode A/C tracks. When the Mode S and the Mode A/C reports are of the same target, the combiner rejects the Mode A/C report.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Masami Ino
  • Publication number: 20100295719
    Abstract: In certain embodiments, a method includes receiving first track information comprising data for a particular aircraft track. The method further includes receiving a first radar plot comprising first location information corresponding to first aircraft identification information and first location information corresponding to second aircraft identification information. The method further includes associating the first aircraft identification information with the particular aircraft track. The method further includes accessing historical association information comprising a first association history variable corresponding to one or more previous associations between the first aircraft identification information and the particular aircraft track and a second association history variable corresponding to one or more previous associations between the second aircraft identification information and the particular aircraft track.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2009
    Publication date: November 25, 2010
    Applicant: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Wassim S. Habib, Yuchoi F. Lok
  • Publication number: 20100265120
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for a first radar; identifying a blind spot in coverage of the first radar; providing a second radar to illuminate the blind spot, and merging data from the first and second radars using target classification prior to tracking to reduce false targets. In one embodiment, polarimetric data is used to classify targets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2010
    Publication date: October 21, 2010
    Applicant: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Peter R. Drake, Yuchoi F. Lok
  • Patent number: 7813845
    Abstract: A method and system for providing taxiway navigational information to a crewmember of an airplane taxiing at an airport. An airport taxiway navigation system (“ATNS”) that executes on an onboard computer system that displays a map of the taxiways of an airport, receives the name of each taxiway of the taxi route specified by the taxi clearance, and highlights the taxiways on a displayed map to provide a visual indication of the cleared taxi route for the crewmembers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Reagan Doose, Richard W. Ellerbrock, Glade L. Hulet, John M. Jaugilas, Matthew T. Majka