SATCOM distressed aircraft tracking system

• US 10,163,328 B2
• Filed: 04/23/2018
• Issued: 12/25/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• 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:
  US15/959,620
• Publication Number:
  US 20180240324A1
• Time in Patent Office: 246 Days
• Field of Search: 340963, 340541, 34082572, 340937, 340945, 340988, 340990
• 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 system and method for communicating emergency information from an aircraft in response to an emergency or technical problem detected by monitoring avionics data at an onboard autonomous aircraft SATCOM transceiver activation device, the emergency detection functioning to automatically activate and control an aircraft SATCOM transceiver which then (i) automatically triggers real-time tracking of the aircraft via satellite, (ii) provides aircraft positioning on broadcast distinctive signals and data in designated frequencies; and (iii) monitors, processes, and automatically communicates the avionics data in conformance with ICAO standards for GADSS.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method suitable for communicating emergency information from an aircraft having on-board avionics, said method comprising the steps of:

continuously monitoring avionics data from the aircraft avionics at an autonomous aircraft Satellite Communications (SATCOM) transceiver activation device, the avionics data including at least one of software, text content, speech, voice, audio, video information, time, Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) data and geo-location data;

providing an aircraft Satellite Communications (SATCOM) transceiver;

when determined by said aircraft SATCOM transceiver activation device that at least one of an emergency or a technical problem is identified in monitored avionics data, processing said monitored avionics data into a computer readable instruction; and

using said computer readable instruction to automatically activate and control said aircraft SATCOM transceiver, said aircraft SATCOM transceiver functioning to automatically trigger real-time tracking of the aircraft via Satellite;

wherein the aircraft SATCOM transceiver conforms to aircraft SATCOM transceiver standards defined by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) for Global Aeronautical Distress Safety Systems (GADSS) in functioning to provide aircraft positioning on broadcast distinctive signals and data in designated frequencies; and

wherein said autonomous aircraft Satellite Communications (SATCOM) transceiver activation device includes a processor configured to monitor, process, and automatically communicate the avionics data, and to automatically activate and control said aircraft SATCOM transceiver, when said emergency or technical problem is identified.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising the step of initiating tracking of the aircraft by at least one government authority in response to said step of using said computer readable instruction to automatically activate and control said aircraft Satellite Communications (SATCOM) transceiver.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising the step of enabling remote control of said on-board aircraft avionics by a ground-based emergency service authority in response to said step of using said computer readable instruction to automatically activate and control said aircraft Satellite Communications (SATCOM) transceiver.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein said monitored avionics data comprises information from at least one of:

aircraft avionics, an aircraft computer, an aircraft sensor, and an aircraft instrument, said monitored avionics data further including real-time tracking information.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising the step of initiating an on-board alarm in response to said step of using said computer readable instruction to automatically activate and control said aircraft Satellite Communications (SATCOM) transceiver.

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 aircraft by Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) data, real-time tracking of the aircraft by Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) data included in the aircraft Satellite Communications (SATCOM) transceiver signal, Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) location and coordinates for the aircraft, geo-location information for the aircraft, an aircraft position obtained by triangulation, and communication satellite information for the location of the aircraft.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising the step of remotely accessing said monitored avionics data by at least one government authority in response to said step of using said computer readable instruction to automatically activate and control said aircraft Satellite Communications (SATCOM) transceiver.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising the step of remotely controlling at least one of an aircraft instrument, an aircraft device, and an aircraft avionics component by at least one ground-based government authority in response to said step of using said computer readable instruction to automatically activate and control said aircraft Satellite Communications (SATCOM) transceiver.

9. A computer-implemented method suitable for automatically responding to an emergency detected from aircraft avionics data, said method comprising the steps of:

providing an autonomous aircraft Satellite Communications (SATCOM) transceiver;

providing an aircraft Satellite Communications (SATCOM) transceiver activation device;

continuously monitoring the aircraft avionics data at said autonomous aircraft SATCOM transceiver activation device for an indication of an inflight emergency situation;

if said inflight emergency situation is determined, processing the avionics data into a computer readable instruction; and

executing said computer readable instruction by said aircraft Satellite Communications (SATCOM) transceiver activation device to automatically activate said aircraft location Satellite Communications (SATCOM) transceiver so as to automatically trigger real-time tracking of the aircraft and establish a remote interface with said aircraft Satellite Communications (SATCOM) transceiver activation device;

wherein said aircraft Satellite Communications (SATCOM) transceiver conforms to aircraft Satellite Communications (SATCOM) transceiver standards defined by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) for Global Aeronautical Distress Safety Systems (GADSS) in functioning to broadcast distinctive signals and data on designated frequencies; and

wherein said aircraft Satellite Communications (SATCOM) transceiver activation device includes a processor configured to monitor, process, and automatically communicate the avionics data, and to automatically activate and control said aircraft Satellite Communications (SATCOM) transceiver when said emergency or technical problem is identified.

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 detected from aircraft avionics data and a visual notification of the emergency detected from aircraft avionics data; and

sending said at least one of said aural notification and said visual notification to ground-based air traffic personnel 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 aircraft Satellite Communications (SATCOM) transceiver.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, 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), Air-Sea Rescue (ASR), 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 automatically activating said aircraft Satellite Communications (SATCOM) transceiver, sending an inflight emergency message to at least one ground-based government authority via an air-to-ground communication connection; and

sending a real-time Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) data and or geo-location data for the aircraft to said ground-based air traffic personnel to enable tracking of said aircraft location.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, wherein said step of sending said real-time Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) data and or geo-location data for the aircraft comprises the step of using satellite positioning to determine aircraft airspeed, altitude, latitude and longitude.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, wherein the autonomous aircraft Satellite Communications (SATCOM) activation device comprises a programmable attitude sensor device functioning to activate in-flight said aircraft Satellite Communications (SATCOM) transceiver.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, wherein the aircraft avionics comprises at least one of:

an aircraft sensor, an aircraft alarm, an aircraft transmitter, an aircraft radar system, a surveillance system, an automatic broadcasting surveillance system, a flight data recorder, a flight data acquisition unit, an attitude sensor, a differential pressure sensor, an analog sensor, a temperature sensor, an aircraft instability sensor, an emergency frequency sensor, a cockpit door sensor, a proximity sensor, a transponder, and an aircraft gauge.

17. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, further comprising the step of remotely recording inflight aircraft 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 at least one of:

text content, 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 or technical problem identified in monitored avionics data comprise at least one of:

a change in aircraft attitude greater than a specified amount;

a change in aircraft altitude greater than a specified amount;

a change in aircraft speed greater than a specified amount;

a change in cabin pressure greater than a specified amount;

a change in aircraft location greater than a specified distance;

a change in the flight plan greater than a specified amount;

a change in aircraft destination location; and

a variance in aircraft tracking information greater than a specified value.

20. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, further comprising the step of populating a flight information display panel with aircraft data including at least one of:

a flight destination of the aircraft, a flight origin of the aircraft, an aircraft flight number, and a category of emergency information from the aircraft.

21. An aircraft tracking system suitable for use onboard an aircraft, said system comprising:

an autonomous aircraft Satellite Communications (SATCOM) transceiver activation device functioning to obtain monitored aircraft avionics data;

an aircraft Satellite Communications (SATCOM) transceiver activation device user interface configured to provide access to modify, monitor and control of said aircraft Satellite Communications (SATCOM) transceiver activation device and configured to provide access to monitor at least one of aircraft avionics, aircraft gauges and aircraft devices for identification of possible inflight emergency or inflight technical problems;

wherein said aircraft Satellite Communications (SATCOM) transceiver activation device functions to obtain a determination of at least one said inflight emergency or technical problem in said monitored avionics data, said aircraft Satellite Communications (SATCOM) transceiver activation device further functioning to process said monitored avionics data into a computer readable instruction, such that said aircraft Satellite Communications (SATCOM) transceiver activation device functions to automatically activate an aircraft Satellite Communications (SATCOM) transceiver in the aircraft to continuously communicate with a satellite tracking system and to track, in real-time, and report geo-location of the aircraft, in specified and designated time intervals in response to said determination of at least one said inflight technical problem, via said computer readable instruction;

wherein said aircraft Satellite Communications (SATCOM) transceiver conforms to aircraft Satellite Communications (SATCOM) transceiver standards defined by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) for Global Aeronautical Distress Safety Systems (GADSS) in functioning to broadcast distinctive signals and data on designated frequencies; and

wherein said aircraft Satellite Communications (SATCOM) transceiver activation device includes a processor configured to monitor, process, and automatically communicate said avionics data, and to

automatically activate and control said aircraft Satellite Communications (SATCOM) transceiver when said emergency or technical problem is identified.

22. The aircraft tracking system of claim 21, wherein said user interface comprises hardware and software to enable access to at least one of:

said aircraft avionics, said aircraft gauges, and said aircraft devices.

23. The aircraft tracking system of claim 21, further comprising an onboard Satellite Communications (SATCOM) device, said onboard Satellite Communications (SATCOM) device functioning to activate said aircraft tracking system in response to said identification of a possible inflight technical problem or inflight emergency.

24. The aircraft tracking system of claim 21, wherein said aircraft avionics comprises a digital programmable attitude sensor device, said programmable attitude sensor device functioning to activate in-flight said aircraft-to-satellite tracking system in response to said identification of a possible inflight technical problem or inflight emergency.

25. The aircraft tracking system of claim 21, wherein said aircraft-to-satellite tracking system is configured for at least one of:

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

said activation by remote control and said deactivation by remote control are initiated by one of a ground station or air traffic control via a web interface and a satellite communication system.

26. The aircraft tracking system of claim 21, wherein said automatic activation of said aircraft-to-satellite tracking system is initiated by at least one of:

an aircraft sensor, an aircraft avionic component, an aircraft alarm, an aircraft transmitter, an aircraft transponder, an aircraft radar system, a surveillance system, an automatic dependent surveillance system, a pressurization system, an engine indicating and crew alerting system, an aircraft flight data recorder, an aircraft flight data acquisition unit, an aircraft attitude sensor, a differential pressure sensor, an analog sensor, a temperature sensor, an aircraft instability sensor, an emergency frequency sensor, a cockpit door sensor, an aircraft gauge, and a proximity sensor.

27. The aircraft tracking system of claim 21, wherein said automatic activation of said aircraft-to-satellite tracking system tracks the aircraft by at least one of;

Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) data, aircraft geo-location information or aircraft Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) location coordinates to automatically track the aircraft by acquiring at least one of;

time-stamped Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) data, aircraft geo-location information or time-stamped aircraft Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) location coordinates, a distress beacon signal or Air-Sea Rescue (ASR) data and satellite coordinates.

28. The aircraft tracking system of claim 21, wherein said activation by said aircraft Satellite Communications (SATCOM) transceiver activation device comprises activation of at least one:

Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) location coordinates, Emergency Location Transmitter (ELT) or Emergency Location Transmitter Distress Tracker (ELT-DT), Automatic Dependent Surveillance System (ADS) concurrent to activation of said aircraft Satellite Communications (SATCOM) transceiver for real-time aircraft tracking.

29. The aircraft tracking system of claim 21, wherein said activation by said aircraft Satellite Communications (SATCOM) transceiver activation device comprises activation in response to at least one of:

a change in aircraft attitude greater than a specified amount;

a change in aircraft location greater than a specified distance;

a change in aircraft altitude greater than a specified amount;

a change in aircraft speed greater than a specified amount;

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

30. A method suitable for communicating emergency information from an aircraft having on-board aircraft avionics, the method comprising:

continuously receiving aircraft avionics data at an autonomous aircraft Satellite Communications (SATCOM) transceiver activation device;

automatically monitoring avionics device information obtained from said aircraft avionics data;

when determined from said monitored avionics device information that an emergency or technical problem is identified;

triggering said aircraft Satellite Communications (SATCOM) transceiver activation device to automatically trigger real-time tracking of the aircraft via satellite by activating an aircraft Satellite Communications (SATCOM) transceiver in the aircraft;

wherein said aircraft Satellite Communications (SATCOM) transceiver conforms to aircraft Satellite Communications (SATCOM) transceiver standards defined by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) for Global Aeronautical Distress Safety Systems (GADSS) in functioning to broadcast distinctive signals and data on designated frequencies; and

wherein said aircraft Satellite Communications (SATCOM) transceiver activation device includes a processor configured to monitor, process, and automatically communicate the avionics data, and to automatically activate and control said aircraft Satellite Communications (SATCOM) transceiver when said emergency or technical problem is identified.