Survival emergency location transmitter tracking system

• US 10,102,736 B2
• Filed: 04/23/2018
• Issued: 10/16/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Inflight Labs LLC
• Original Assignee: Inflight Labs LLC
• Inventors: Bekanich, Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Lim, Steven
• Assistant Examiner(s): Littlejohn, Jr., Mancil
• Application Number:
  US15/959,867
• Publication Number:
  US 20180247519A1
• Time in Patent Office: 176 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 2045/0065 Black boxes, devices automatically broadcasting distress signals
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 45/00 Aircraft indicators or protectors not otherwise provided for camouflage F41H3/00
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 45/0059 by communicating emergency situations to ground control or between crew members
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 5/60 Testing or inspecting aircraft components or systems
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/005 Alarm destination chosen according to a hierarchy of available destinations, e.g. if hospital does not answer send to police station
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/006 Alarm destination chosen according to type of event, e.g. in case of fire phone the fire service, in case of medical emergency phone the ambulance
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/009 Signalling of the alarm condition to a substation whose identity is signalled to a central station, e.g. relaying alarm signals in order to extend communication range
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/014 Alarm signalling to a central station with two-way communication, e.g. with signalling back
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/016 Personal emergency signalling and security systems emergency non-personal manually actuated alarm activators G08B25/12
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/10 using wireless transmission systems G08B25/009 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0013 with a ground station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0021 located in the aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0056 in an emergency situation, e.g. hijacking
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18506 Communications with or from aircraft, i.e. aeronautical mobile service

Abstract

The invention is a service for sending and/or receiving messages in a first format intended for a recipient or authority, where the service identifies for the intended recipient a second format for receiving messages, and where the service formats a communication for delivery to the intended recipient, where the message is prepared to be presented to the recipient in the first and/or the second format.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method suitable for communicating emergency information from a user emergency location, said method comprising the steps of:

continuously monitoring user location data at a removable autonomous survival emergency location transmitter activation device, the user location data including at least one of software, text content, speech, voice, audio, video information, control signal, time, tracking signal, transmitter signal, Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) position coordinates, and geo-location data;

providing a user-accessible removable autonomous survival emergency location transmitter (ELT);

when determined by said removable autonomous survival emergency location transmitter activation device that at least one of an emergency or a technical problem is identified in monitored user location data;

processing said monitored user location data into a computer readable instruction; and

using said computer readable instruction to automatically activate and control said removable autonomous survival emergency location transmitter, said removable autonomous survival emergency location transmitter functioning to automatically trigger real-time tracking of said removable autonomous survival emergency location transmitter via satellite;

wherein monitored user location data for said real-time tracking includes at least one of software, text content, speech, voice, audio, video information, control signal, time, tracking signal, tracking signal, transmitter signal, Global Navigation Satellite System position coordinates, and geo-location data;

wherein the removable autonomous survival emergency location transmitter conforms to removable autonomous survival emergency location transmitter standards defined by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) in functioning to broadcast distinctive signals on designated frequencies, and wherein said removable autonomous survival emergency location transmitter is normally manually activated; and

wherein said removable autonomous survival emergency location transmitter activation device includes a processor configured to monitor and process data, and to automatically activate and control said removable autonomous survival emergency location transmitter when said emergency or technical problem is identified.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising the step of initiating tracking of said removable autonomous survival emergency location transmitter by at least one government authority in response to said step of using said computer readable instruction to automatically activate and control said removable autonomous survival emergency location transmitter.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising the step of enabling remote control of said removable autonomous survival emergency location transmitter by a ground-based emergency service authority in response to said step of using said computer readable instruction to automatically activate and control said removable autonomous survival emergency location transmitter.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein said autonomous survival emergency location transmitter conforms to emergency beacon used to transmit distress signals as defined by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the defined emergency beacon functioning to broadcast distinctive signals on designated frequencies.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of initiating at least one of:

an alarm, location indicator light or horn signal on said removable autonomous survival emergency location transmitter in response to said step of using said computer readable instruction to automatically activate and control said removable autonomous survival emergency location transmitter.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein said computer readable instruction comprises information about at least one of:

real-time tracking of the removable autonomous survival emergency location transmitter by Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) position coordinates, real-time tracking of the removable autonomous survival emergency location transmitter outgoing tracking signal, Global Navigation Satellite System position coordinates included in the removable autonomous survival emergency location transmitter outgoing tracking signal, geo-location information for the removable autonomous survival emergency location transmitter, a removable autonomous survival emergency location transmitter position obtained by a distress beacon signal, triangulation, and communication satellite information for the location of said removable autonomous survival emergency location transmitter.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising the step of remotely accessing said monitored user location data by at least one government authority in response to said step of using said computer readable instruction to automatically activate and control said removable autonomous survival emergency location transmitter.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising the step of remotely controlling said removable autonomous survival emergency location transmitter by at least one ground-based government authority in response to automatically activating and controlling said removable autonomous survival emergency location transmitter activation device to trigger said removable autonomous survival emergency location transmitter.

9. A computer-implemented method suitable for automatically responding to an emergency situation detected at a user location, said method comprising the steps of:

continuously monitoring user location data with a removable autonomous survival emergency location transmitter activation device for an indication that the emergency situation has been detected;

providing a user-accessible removable autonomous survival emergency location transmitter (ELT) configured to provide an outgoing tracking signal;

if the emergency situation is detected, processing monitored user location data into a computer readable instruction; and

executing said computer readable instruction by said removable autonomous survival emergency location transmitter activation device to automatically activate said removable autonomous survival emergency location transmitter so as to automatically trigger tracking of the aircraft accident location and establish a remote interface between said removable autonomous survival emergency location transmitter activation device and said removable autonomous survival emergency location transmitter;

wherein said removable autonomous survival emergency location transmitter conforms to removable autonomous survival emergency location transmitter standards defined by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) in functioning to broadcast distinctive signals on designated frequencies, and wherein said removable autonomous survival emergency location transmitter is normally manually activated; and

wherein said removable autonomous survival emergency location transmitter activation device includes a processor configured to monitor and process data, and to automatically include Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) position coordinates in said outgoing tracking signal.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 9 further comprising the steps of:

automatically generating at least one of an aural notification of the emergency situation and a visual notification of the emergency situation; and

sending said at least one of said aural notification and said visual notification to ground-based government authority via an air-to-ground communication connection.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, further comprising the step of notifying at least one ground-based government authority of activation of said removable autonomous survival emergency location transmitter.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 11 wherein said at least one ground-based government authority comprises one or more of:

the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), International Maritime Organization (IMO), the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA), the Federal Emergency Management Association (FEMA), the Office of Homeland Security, and a safety and emergency response team.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, further comprising the steps of:

in response to said step of executing said computer readable instruction to automatically activate said removable autonomous survival emergency location transmitter, sending an emergency message to at least one ground-based government authority via a satellite-to-ground communication connection;

said emergency message including real-time Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) position coordinates; and

sending at least one of

a real-time emergency signal to ground-based personnel to determine the location of the removable autonomous survival emergency location transmitter using said Global Navigation Satellite System position coordinates and

a real-time emergency signal to said ground-based personnel to enable real-time tracking of said removable autonomous survival emergency location transmitter using said Global Navigation Satellite System position coordinates.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 9 wherein said autonomous survival emergency location transmitter activation device remotely controls a location signal light independently of said removable autonomous survival emergency location transmitter when said removable autonomous survival emergency location transmitter is activated.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 9 wherein user location data from a programmable attitude sensor device functions to activate said removable autonomous survival emergency location transmitter.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 9 wherein said monitored user location data comprises data obtained from at least one of a user location, an aircraft, a seaplane, or a marine vessel and includes at least one of an alarm, a transmitter, a radar system, an automatic broadcasting surveillance system, a data recorder, a data acquisition unit, an attitude sensor, a differential pressure sensor, an analog sensor, a temperature sensor, an instability sensor, an emergency frequency sensor, a proximity sensor, and a transponder on board said aircraft, said seaplane, or said marine vessel.

17. The computer-implemented method of claim 9 further comprising the step of recording, either internally or remotely, removable autonomous survival emergency location transmitter communication, information, data, and content for transmittal to a ground-based computer database over an air-to-ground communication connection.

18. The computer-implemented method of claim 9 further comprising the step of establishing an air-to-ground communication connection using one or more of:

a control signal, a data command, text content, an e mail, voice, a real-time audio/video communication, a real-time audio/video recording, and an instant message.

19. The computer-implemented method of claim 9 wherein said emergency situation comprises one or more of:

a change in attitude greater than a specified amount;

a change in altitude greater than a specified amount;

a change in speed greater than a specified amount;

a change in cabin pressure greater than a specified amount, a change in location greater than a specified distance;

a change in a flight plan greater than a specified amount, a change in a transit plan greater than a specified amount, a change in destination location, and a variance in tracking information greater than a specified value.

20. The computer-implemented method of claim 9 wherein said emergency location transmitter conforms to emergency beacons used to transmit distress signals as defined by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the defined emergency beacon functioning to broadcast distinctive signals on designated frequencies.

21. A removable autonomous survival emergency location transmitter tracking system suitable for use at a user emergency location, said system comprising:

a removable autonomous survival emergency location transmitter activation device functioning to obtain monitored emergency location data;

a user-accessible removable autonomous survival emergency location transmitter activation device having a user interface configured to provide access to modify, monitor and control of said removable autonomous survival emergency location transmitter activation device, said removable autonomous survival emergency location transmitter activation device further configured to provide access to monitor said monitored emergency location data for identification of a possible emergency or technical problem; and

wherein said removable autonomous survival emergency location transmitter activation device further functions to obtain a determination of at least one of said emergency or technical problem, said removable autonomous survival emergency location transmitter activation device further functioning to process said emergency location data into a computer readable instruction;

such that said removable autonomous survival emergency location transmitter activation device automatically activates a removable autonomous survival emergency location transmitter (ELT) to continuously communicate with a satellite tracking system and to track and report geo-location of said removable autonomous survival emergency location transmitter in specified and designated time intervals in response to said determination of at least one of said emergency or technical problem, via said computer readable instruction;

wherein said removable autonomous survival emergency location transmitter conforms to removable autonomous survival emergency location transmitter standards defined by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) in functioning to broadcast distinctive signals on designated frequencies, and wherein said removable autonomous survival emergency location transmitter is normally manually activated; and

wherein said removable autonomous survival emergency location transmitter activation device includes a processor configured to monitor and process said emergency location data, and to automatically activate and control said removable autonomous survival emergency location transmitter when said at least one of said emergency or technical problem is identified.

22. The removable autonomous survival emergency location transmitter tracking system of claim 21 wherein said user interface comprises hardware and software to enable at least one of local access or remote access to at least one of said removable autonomous survival emergency location transmitter activation device and said removable autonomous survival emergency location transmitter.

23. The removable autonomous survival emergency location transmitter tracking system of claim 21 wherein said removable autonomous survival emergency location transmitter activation device functions;

in response to said identification of a possible emergency or technical problem, to activate said removable autonomous survival emergency location transmitter to transmit, via said satellite tracking system, said monitored emergency location data sent for said real-time tracking, said monitored emergency location data including at least one of software, text content, speech, voice, audio, video information, control signal, time, tracking signal, transmitter signal, Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) position coordinates, and geo-location data.

24. The removable autonomous survival emergency location transmitter tracking system of claim 21 wherein said removable autonomous survival emergency location transmitter confirms to emergency beacons used to transmit distress signals as defined by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the defined emergency location transmitter functioning to broadcast distinctive signals on designated frequencies, wherein said distress signals and emergency location transmissions include Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) position coordinates included in an outgoing tracking signal.

25. The removable autonomous survival emergency location transmitter tracking system of claim 21 wherein said removable autonomous survival emergency location transmitter activation device comprises a digital programmable passenger personal telemetry sensor device, said programmable passenger personal telemetry sensor device functioning to activate said removable autonomous survival emergency location transmitter to communicate with said satellite tracking system in response to said identification of said possible technical problem or emergency.

26. The removable autonomous survival emergency location transmitter tracking system of claim 21 wherein said removable autonomous survival emergency location transmitter is configured for at least one of:

manual activation, manual deactivation, automatic activation, automatic deactivation, activation by remote control, and deactivation by remote control.

27. The removable autonomous survival emergency location transmitter tracking system of claim 21 wherein said automatic activation of said removable autonomous survival emergency location transmitter is initiated on an amphibious aircraft, a seaplane, or a marine vessel by at least one of:

an alarm, a transmitter, a radar system, an automatic broadcasting surveillance system, a pressurization system, an engine indicating and crew alerting system, a data recorder, a data acquisition unit, an attitude sensor, a differential pressure sensor, an analog sensor, a temperature sensor, an instability sensor, an emergency frequency sensor, a proximity sensor, transponder, an amphibious aircraft gauge, a seaplane gauge, and a marine vessel gauge.

28. The removable autonomous survival emergency location transmitter tracking system of claim 21 wherein said removable autonomous survival emergency location transmitter responds to activation by remote control and to deactivation by remote control initiated by at least one of a ground station or air traffic control via at least one of a web interface or a satellite communication system.

29. The removable autonomous survival emergency location transmitter tracking system of claim 21 wherein said activation by said removable autonomous survival emergency location transmitter activation device comprises activation in response to at least one of:

passenger position indicating beacon, a lost passenger, a passenger personal telemetry signal, a passenger parachute deployment, a passenger raft, a passenger seat, a passenger vest, a passenger vessel emergency or technical problem, a vehicle roll-over, a vehicle attitude change, and a variance in removable autonomous survival emergency location transmitter activation device tracking information different from a specified value.

30. A method suitable for communicating emergency information from a user emergency location, said method comprising:

continuously receiving user location data at a removable autonomous survival emergency location transmitter activation device;

automatically monitoring user location data information obtained from said received aircraft data, said monitored aircraft data for said real-time tracking including at least one of software, text content, speech, voice, audio, video information, control signal, time, tracking signal, transmitter signal, Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) position coordinates, and geo-location data;

when determined from said monitored user location data that an emergency or technical problem is identified, triggering said removable autonomous survival emergency location transmitter activation device to automatically initiate real-time tracking of the removable autonomous survival emergency location transmitter via satellite by activating a removable autonomous survival emergency location transmitter (ELT);

wherein said removable autonomous survival emergency location transmitter conforms to emergency beacons used to transmit distress signals as defined by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the defined emergency location transmitter functioning to broadcast distinctive signals on designated frequencies, and

wherein said removable autonomous survival emergency location transmitter activation device includes a processor configured to monitor and process data, and to automatically activate and control said removable autonomous survival emergency location transmitter when said emergency or technical problem is identified.