Aircraft surface state event track system and method

• US 10,235,892 B1
• Filed: 05/05/2017
• Issued: 03/19/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Architecture Technology Corporation
• Original Assignee: Architecture Technology Corporation
• Inventors: Colligan, William, Chartier, Eric R., Davis, Paul, Murphy, Andrew, Sweet, Douglas
• Primary Examiner(s): To, Tuan C
• Application Number:
  US15/588,574
• Time in Patent Office: 683 Days
• Field of Search: 701120
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 2045/0075 Adaptations for use of electronic flight bags in aircraft; Supports therefor in the cockpit
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 45/00 Aircraft indicators or protectors not otherwise provided for camouflage F41H3/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0008 with other aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0013 with a ground station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0026 located on the ground
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0043 Traffic management of multiple aircrafts from the ground G08G5/003 takes precedence; data processing specially designed for resource management, e.g. scheduling or allocating time, human or machine resources G06Q10/06
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0078 for monitoring traffic from the aircraft radar or analogous systems specially adapted for traffic control G01S13/91
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0082 for monitoring traffic from a ground station radar or analogous systems specially adapted for traffic control G01S13/91

Abstract

A method, executed by a processor, includes the processor receiving signals information from a device located on a departing airplane; verifying an identification of the airplane and identifying an expected departure sequence of aircraft surface states; monitoring and identifying additional signals information received from the mobile device, including comparing the additional signals information to known data; logging the additional signals information, and processing the additional signals information, and determining the logged data corresponds to events indicative of an aircraft surface state; sending an aircraft surface state reached message to Local and Center flight management; and executing a statistical routine and providing statistical data from the execution relating to an occurrence of upcoming aircraft surface state event and sending the statistical data with the aircraft surface state message.

Claims

1. A method, executed by a processor, for autonomous monitoring and reporting of aircraft surface state for aircraft operating at an airport, comprising:

the processor receiving digital signals information from sensors located on a mobile device onboard an airplane departing the airport;

the processor verifying an identification of the airplane and flight and identifying an expected departure sequence of aircraft surface states;

the processor monitoring, identifying, and analyzing additional digital signals information received from the mobile device, comprising;

identifying aircraft movement events, comprising;

receiving aircraft sound signature data from and collected by the mobile device;

comparing the aircraft sound signature data to known data;

determining aircraft movement events based on the comparison,

receiving aircraft motion data from and collected by the mobile device;

analyzing the aircraft motion data; and

determining aircraft movement events based on the analysis,

logging the aircraft movement events, and

determining the logged aircraft movement events correspond to events indicative of an aircraft surface state;

the processor directing transmission of an aircraft surface state reached message to Local and Center flight management; and

the processor executing a statistical routine and providing statistical data from the execution relating to an occurrence of expected upcoming aircraft surface state events and directing transmission of the statistical data with the aircraft surface state reached message.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the processor receives an OFF indication and in response stores the data associated with the identified flight and airplane.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the processor determines the departing airplane is scheduled as a tactical departure.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the processor determines a confidence interval for a coordinated release time of the tactical departure.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the processor identifies aircraft surfaces states comprising gate pushback, runway entry and takeoff, and computes a confidence interval for one or more confidence levels for each surface state.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the additional digital signals information includes digital audio signals indicative of aircraft exit door closing.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the additional signals information includes aircraft acceleration, speed and direction information.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the processor computes a Bayesian probability that a future aircraft surface state will occur on schedule based on occurrence of a current aircraft surface state.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile device:

computes aircraft information indicative of the aircraft movement event, and

sends the aircraft information to the processor; and

wherein the processor;

processes the aircraft information to determine an aircraft surface state corresponding to the indicated aircraft movement event.

10. A non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium having encoded thereon machine instructions for autonomous monitoring and reporting of aircraft surface state for aircraft operating at an airport, the instructions when executed by a processor, causing the processor to:

receive digital signals information from sensors located on a mobile device onboard an airplane departing the airport;

verify an identification of the airplane and flight and identify an expected departure sequence of aircraft surface states;

monitor, identify, and analyze additional digital signals information received from the mobile device, wherein the processor;

identifies aircraft movement events, comprising;

receiving aircraft sound signature data from and collected by the mobile device;

comparing the sound signature data to known data;

determining the aircraft movement events based on the comparison;

receiving aircraft motion data from the mobile device;

analyzing the aircraft motion data; and

determining the aircraft movement events based on the analysis

logs the aircraft movement events, and

determines the logged aircraft movement events correspond to events indicative of an aircraft surface state;

direct transmission of an aircraft surface state reached message to Local and Center flight management; and

execute a statistical routine and provides statistical data from the execution relating to an occurrence of expected upcoming aircraft surface state event and direct the transmission of the statistical data with the aircraft surface state reached message.

11. The non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein the processor receives an OFF indication and in response stores the data associated with the identified flight and airplane.

12. The non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein the processor determines the departing airplane is scheduled as a tactical departure.

13. The non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium of claim 12, wherein the processor determines a confidence interval for a coordinated release time of the tactical departure.

14. The non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein the processor identifies aircraft surfaces states comprising gate pushback, runway entry and takeoff, and computes a confidence interval for one or more confidence levels for each surface state.

15. The non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein the additional signals information includes audio signals indicative of aircraft exit door operation.

16. The non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein the additional signals information includes aircraft acceleration, speed and direction information.

17. The non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein the processor computes a Bayesian probability that a future aircraft surface state will occur on schedule based on occurrence of a current aircraft surface state.

18. An autonomous aircraft surface state event track system, comprising;

a mobile device installed on an aircraft, the mobile device comprising sensors to record, process, and transmit digital signals information indicating operation of the aircraft on a surface of an airport; and

a processor external to the aircraft and in communication with the mobile device, the processor executing machine instructions to;

receive the digital signals information from the mobile device,

identify the digital signals information received from the mobile device,

compare the identified digital signals information to known data for the aircraft,

based on the comparison, determine the aircraft is at a defined aircraft surface state, comprising;

comparing digital audio data recorded at the mobile device with known sound profiles for the aircraft at the defined surface state;

comparing aircraft motion data recorded at the mobile device with known motion data for the aircraft at the defined surface state; and

designating a defined surface state reached status based on the comparisons,

direct transmission of an aircraft surface state reached message to Local and Center flight management; and

execute a statistical routine and provide statistical data from the execution relating to an occurrence of an expected upcoming aircraft surface state and direct transmission of the statistical data with the aircraft surface state reached message.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the mobile device is a Portable Electronic Flight Bag.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein:

the machine instructions are stored on a non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium,

the non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium is a component of a flight management center cloud storage device, and

the processor is a thin client processor installed at the flight management center.