Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090245116 | METHOD FOR MOBILE NETWORK OPERATIONAL STATE INDICATION - A method to indicate a transitional operational state of a communication link is provided. The method includes indicating the operational state of the communication link is operable, transmitting data between a communication management unit and an endpoint via the communication link, and determining if the transmitted data is received at the endpoint. The method also comprises continuing to indicate the operational state of the communication link is operable when the transmitted data is received at the endpoint and determining if a transport layer has timed out when the transmitted data is not received at the endpoint within a pre-selected time. The method also comprises indicating the operational state of the communication link is transitional when the transport layer has not timed out and the transmitted data is not received at the endpoint within the pre-selected time. | 10-01-2009 |
20090258643 | METHOD FOR ACCESSING AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL COMMUNICATIONS - A method for accessing datalink communications for an aircraft is provided. The method comprises providing a pre-selected datalink service provider for aircraft communications, detecting a datalink service provider supplying air traffic control (ATC) communication services, and determining whether the detected datalink service provider is the same as the pre-selected datalink service provider. If the detected datalink service provider is not the same as the pre-selected datalink service provider, a communication link is established with the detected datalink service provider for ATC messages, while a communication link is maintained with the pre-selected datalink service provider for non-ATC messages. If the detected datalink service provider is the same as the pre-selected datalink service provider, a communication link is maintained with the pre-selected datalink service provider for both ATC messages and non-ATC messages. | 10-15-2009 |
20100277292 | METHOD FOR AUTOMATIC STANDBY RESPONSE TO REDUCE PILOT WORKLOAD - A method of communication comprises receiving a text message, starting a response timer, and monitoring transmission of a response message. If the response message has not been transmitted, it is determined whether the response timer has reached a timing threshold. If not, monitoring for transmission of the response message continues. If the response timer reaches the timing threshold without the response message being sent, it is determined whether an automatic standby message mode is enabled. If the automatic standby message mode is enabled, a STANDBY message is automatically transmitted and the response timer is restarted. Monitoring for response message transmission then continues. If a response message has not been transmitted, it is determined whether the response timer expired. If response timer has not expired, then monitoring response message transmission continues. If the response timer has expired without the response message being sent, transmission of subsequent response messages is disabled. | 11-04-2010 |
20110032123 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR GENERATING DATA LINK AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL CENTER MENUS - Methods and systems for generating a data link air traffic control center menu are provided. In one implementation, a method comprises associating individual air traffic control center objects with at least one geographic area. Each air traffic control center object represents an air traffic control center having a name, and each geographic area has a name. The method further includes displaying the names of each geographic area and receiving a first input. The first input selects one of the geographic areas having a plurality of geographic sub-areas, with each geographic sub-area having a name. The method further includes displaying the names of the geographic sub-areas and receiving a second input. The second input selects one of the geographic sub-areas including one or more air traffic control centers. The method further includes displaying the names of the air traffic control centers and receiving a third input. The third input selects one of the air traffic control centers. | 02-10-2011 |
20110093749 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR TROUBLESHOOTING A COMPUTER SYSTEM - An apparatus for troubleshooting a computer system of a vehicle is disclosed. In one embodiment, an apparatus for accumulating information pertaining to a computer for use in diagnostic evaluation comprises: a computer having an operating system controlling at least one process; a memory coupled to the computer, the memory containing stored program instructions executable by the computer, the instructions comprising: monitoring the at least one process; and obtaining software diagnostic data regarding the at least one process; and a wireless device coupled to the memory and configured to connect to an network, and configured to transmit the software diagnostic data over the network. | 04-21-2011 |
20110118904 | METHOD AND SYSTEM TO REDUCE IMPACT OF NON-ATC DATALINK MESSAGES ON ATC DATALINK MESSAGES ON A SHARED AIR-GROUND COMMUNICATION LINK - A system to send air traffic control (ATC) data-link messages from an aircraft is provided. The system includes ATC applications in a first portion of an application layer, non-ATC applications in a second portion of the application layer; and a communication manager in the aircraft having two addresses for the aircraft. The communication manager includes a first copy of software in a first data link layer and a second copy of the software in a second data link layer. ATC data-link messages are sent from the aircraft independent of non-ATC data-link messages sent from the aircraft. | 05-19-2011 |
20110133980 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS INTEGRATED AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL MANAGEMENT - Systems and methods for integrated air traffic control management are provided. In one embodiment, a system comprises a first processing system including a FANS application for implementing a CPDLC and AFN system; a second processing system including an ATN application for implementing a PM-CPDLC and CM system; a third processing system implementing a HMI, the HMI configured to provide access to a first set of pages driven by the FANS application and a second set of pages driven by the ATN application; and an ATC Manager accessed from the HMI, the HMI configured to provide access to a third set of pages driven by the ATC manager, wherein the third set of pages selectively directs a user of the HMI to either the first set of pages or the second set of pages based on a selected ATC center. | 06-09-2011 |
20110210870 | METHOD FOR AUTOMATIC DELAY OF STANDBY MESSAGE TO MAXIMIZE TIME FOR RESPONSE TO ELECTRONIC TEXT MESSAGE - A method for electronic communications comprises transmitting an electronic text message from a sender to a receiver, starting a sender timer when the text message is transmitted that monitors an initial time period to accept a response message from the receiver, and starting a receiver timer when the text message is received that monitors an initial time period to respond. If a STANDBY message is selected after the text message is received, an automatic timing delay is initiated to send the STANDBY message. The STANDBY message is transmitted when the automatic timing delay has reached a predetermined timing threshold. The receiver timer is restarted when the STANDBY message is transmitted to give the receiver an additional time period to respond. The sender timer is restarted when the STANDBY message is received to give the sender an additional time period to accept a response message from the receiver. | 09-01-2011 |
20110270992 | ENHANCED FLIGHT CREW DISPLAY FOR SUPPORTING MULTIPLE CONTROLLER/PILOT DATA LINK COMMUNICATIONS (CPDLC) VERSIONS - An avionics system comprising a human machine interface configured to display a user interface and a control device is provided. The control device coupled to the human machine interface, wherein the control device is configured to send and receive controller/pilot data link communications (CPDLC) messages and adjust the user interface based on a first CPDLC version of an established first CPDLC session. | 11-03-2011 |
20120026872 | METHOD FOR MAINTAINING DATALINK NETWORK THROUGHPUT BY DELAYING LOWER PRIORITY MESSAGES - A method of maintaining datalink network throughput in a communications channel by delaying lower priority messages is provided. The method comprises receiving periodic channel occupancy data from a radio, and updating channel occupancy status from the channel occupancy data. A determination is then made whether the channel occupancy has reached a first predetermined occupancy threshold. If the first predetermined occupancy threshold has been reached, high priority messages are transmitted, and medium and low priority messages are stored. If the first predetermined occupancy threshold has not been reached, a determination is made whether the channel occupancy has reached a second predetermined occupancy threshold that is less than the first predetermined occupancy threshold. If the second predetermined occupancy threshold has been reached, high and medium priority messages are transmitted, and low priority messages are stored. If the second predetermined occupancy threshold has not been reached, messages of all priorities are transmitted. | 02-02-2012 |
20120066617 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CONTROLLER PILOT DATA LINK COMMUNICATION (CPDLC) MESSAGE PROCESSING USING DYNAMIC ON-DEMAND SCREEN GENERATION FOR MESSAGE RESPONSE AND COMPOSITION - Systems and methods for CPDLC message processing using dynamic on-demand screen generation for message response and composition are provided. In one embodiment, a method for processing received CPDLC messages comprises: receiving a CPDLC message having a plurality of message elements; extracting the plurality of message elements from the CPDLC message; generating a first display screen at a user display interface for a first extracted message element, wherein the first display screen includes a user response field corresponding to a message-type attribute associated with the first extracted message element; generating a second display screen at the user display interface for a second extracted message element, wherein the second display screen includes a user response field corresponding to a message-type attribute associated with the second extracted message element; composing a response CPDLC message from a first user responses received via the first and second display screens; and sending the response CPDLC message. | 03-15-2012 |
20120078447 | AUTOMATIC PRESENTATION OF A SHORTCUT PROMPT TO VIEW A DOWNLINK REQUEST MESSAGE RESPONSIVE TO A CONFIRM-RESPONSE MESSAGE - A system to reduce head-down time for a flight crew is provided. The system includes a functional module including a set of screens used to receive and send controller pilot data link communications (CPDLC) messages between an aircraft and a ground system; a message composition screen communicatively coupled to the functional module; and a shortcut interface communicatively coupled to the functional module, wherein a shortcut prompt is automatically displayed when a confirm-response message received responsive to a previously-sent downlink request message is viewed, and wherein the previously-sent downlink request message is displayed when the shortcut interface is implemented. | 03-29-2012 |
20120079398 | AUTOMATIC PRESENTATION OF A "WHEN CAN WE..." MESSAGE COMPOSITION SCREEN RESPONSIVE TO A NEGATIVE RESPONSE MESSAGE - A system to reduce head-down time for a flight crew member is provided. The system includes a functional module that includes a set of screens used to receive and send controller pilot data link communications (CPDLC) messages between an aircraft and a ground-based system; a message composition screen communicatively coupled to the functional module; and a shortcut interface communicatively coupled to the functional module, wherein a shortcut prompt is displayed when one of a response timer expires or a negative uplink response message is received responsive to a previously-sent downlink request message, wherein an implementation of the shortcut interface generates a “when can we expect . . . ” message related to the previously-sent downlink request message. | 03-29-2012 |
20120190306 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DETECTING A LOSS OF COMMUNICATION USING STATISTICAL ANALYSIS - Systems and methods for detecting a loss of communications between an aircraft and a ground station are provided. In one embodiment, a system for detecting a loss of communication for an aircraft comprises: a communication detection software module resident as an application on an aircraft communication management unit (CMU); a CMU message router in communication with the communication detection software module; at least one radio coupled to the communication management unit; a statistical model of communications traffic density for an RF zone associated with a ground station; wherein the communication detection software module performs a statistical analysis of a current communications traffic density of radio communications observed by the at least one radio to determine when the aircraft has a lost a communications link with the ground station. | 07-26-2012 |
20120235833 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR GENERATING DATA LINK AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL CENTER MENUS - Methods and systems for generating a data link air traffic control center menu are provided. In one implementation, a method includes calculating a distance between each of a plurality of air traffic control centers and an aircraft during flight. The method further includes displaying a sorted list of the plurality of air traffic control centers, wherein the list is sorted by the calculated distance, from closest to the aircraft to farthest from the aircraft. The method further includes receiving an input, the input selecting one of the air traffic control centers. | 09-20-2012 |
20130141254 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR AN ACTIVE PROMPT FOR TIMED RESPONSE CONTROLLER PILOT DATA LINK COMMUNICATION (CPDLC) MESSAGES - Systems and methods for providing an active prompt for a timed response are provided. In one embodiment, a system comprises a human machine interface that presents controller pilot data link communication (CPDLC) information to a user, and a CPDLC computer configured to process received CPDLC messages. In certain embodiments, the CPDLC computer comprises a memory device that stores received CPDLC messages, and a processing unit that starts a timer when a CPDLC message is received, wherein the timer counts a response period for responding to the CPDLC message. Further the processing unit instructs the human machine interface to display a time remaining in the response period when the timer reaches a message expiration warning period. | 06-06-2013 |
20150089392 | METHOD TO FACILITATE RETRIEVING AN ALL READY REVIEWED DATALINK MESSAGE FOR REVIEW AGAIN - A data messaging system is provided. The data messaging system includes means for displaying a message log on a human-machine-interface (HMI) device; means for selecting at least one message identified for quick retrieval at a later time; means for storing the at least one selected message identified for quick retrieval in at least one save-selected-message log in one of a functional module and a computer, wherein a number of messages in the at least one save-selected-message log is much less than a number of messages in the message log by an end of a trip; means for displaying titles of the messages in the at least one save-selected-message log on the HMI device in place of the message log; and means for displaying a selected message associated with a title selected from the displayed titles of the messages in the at least one save-selected-message log. | 03-26-2015 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080316057 | METHOD FOR AUTOMATED STANDBY MESSAGE RESPONSE TO REDUCE PILOT AND AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER WORKLOAD - A method for communicating an automatic standby message in response to an electronic text message in a network is provided. The method comprises receiving a text message, starting a response timer for a first time period to respond, and monitoring whether a response message has been transmitted. If the response message has not been transmitted, a determination is made whether the response timer has reached a predetermined timing threshold. If the response timer has not reached the threshold, then the method continues to monitor whether the response message has been transmitted. If the response timer has reached the threshold without the response message being sent, a STANDBY message is transmitted automatically and the response timer is restarted for a second time period. The method then monitors whether the response message has been transmitted during the second time period. If the response message has not been transmitted during the second time period, a determination is made whether the response timer has expired. If the response timer has not expired, then the method continues to monitor whether the response has been transmitted during the second time period. If the response timer has expired without the response message being sent, the method disables any subsequent response message from being sent. | 12-25-2008 |
20090012674 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR TROUBLESHOOTING A COMPUTER SYSTEM - An apparatus for troubleshooting a computer system of a vehicle is disclosed. The apparatus includes a controller for controlling an aspect of operation of the vehicle with at least one process. The apparatus also includes a diagnostic system configured to monitor the at least one process and configured to obtain diagnostic data regarding the at least one process. Additionally, the apparatus includes a wireless device coupled to the diagnostic system and configured to connect to an Internet Protocol (IP) based network, and configured to transmit the diagnostic data over the network. | 01-08-2009 |
20090040963 | GATELINK STARTUP CONTROLLED BY ACARS CMU - Methods and apparatus' for operating a communication system between an aircraft and a communication center are provided. One method includes using an aircraft communication addressing and reporting system (ACARS) of an aircraft to control a gatelink communication system of the aircraft. | 02-12-2009 |
20090117895 | METHOD FOR MAINTAINING DATALINK NETWORK THROUGHPUT BY DELAYING LOWER PRIORITY MESSAGES - A method of maintaining datalink network throughput in a communications channel by delaying lower priority messages is provided. The method comprises receiving periodic channel occupancy data from a radio, and updating channel occupancy status from the channel occupancy data. A determination is then made whether the channel occupancy has reached a first predetermined occupancy threshold. If the first predetermined occupancy threshold has been reached, high priority messages are transmitted, and medium and low priority messages are stored. If the first predetermined occupancy threshold has not been reached, a determination is made whether the channel occupancy has reached a second predetermined occupancy threshold that is less than the first predetermined occupancy threshold. If the second predetermined occupancy threshold has been reached, high and medium priority messages are transmitted, and low priority messages are stored. If the second predetermined occupancy threshold has not been reached, messages of all priorities are transmitted. | 05-07-2009 |
20100172328 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DATALINK GROUND STATION SELECTION - A method for selecting a ground station for communication with an aerial vehicle is provided. The method comprises receiving at an aerial vehicle one or more messages from one or more ground stations. The method includes storing one or more signal strength values corresponding to the one or more received messages in a data structure for each respective one or more ground stations received during a predefined time period. The data structures for each of the one or more ground stations is updated. The average of the signal strength values stored in each data structure is calculated. The method compares the average signal strength of each of the one or more ground stations and selects which ground station the aerial vehicle is to communicate with based on predefined criteria. | 07-08-2010 |
20100188266 | METHOD OF FORMULATING RESPONSE TO EXPIRED TIMER FOR DATA LINK MESSAGE - A method for communicating a data link message is provided. The method comprises transmitting a data link message from a sender to a receiver, storing the trasmitted data link message, and starting a message timer when the data link message is transmitted. The method further comprises determining whether a response to the data link message has been received, and determining whether the message timer has expired if the response has not been received. The sender is notified when the message timer has expired and the response has not been received. Input is requested from the sender whether or not to retransmit the data link message. If input is received from the sender to retransmit, the data link message is displayed to the sender for review and edit. The data link message is then retransmitted from the sender to the receiver. | 07-29-2010 |
20100234024 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR GROUND STATION SELECTION - A communication system comprises a radio to transmit and receive communication signals to and from a selected ground station; and a management unit coupled to the radio and operable to dynamically set a threshold value for selecting another ground station based on a signal strength corresponding to the selected ground station. The management unit is operable to select another ground station when a signal strength corresponding to the other ground station exceeds the signal strength corresponding to the selected ground station by more than the threshold value set by the management unit. | 09-16-2010 |