Harmonizing code from independent airborne aircraft identification systems
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) system for positioning in an aircraft comprising:
- a transponder decoder comprising an input configured to receive a mode A/C transponder transmission, a decoder decoding the mode A/C transponder transmission, and an output outputting the decoded mode A/C transponder transmission, wherein the mode A/C transponder transmission comprises a squawk code;
a message formatter configured to generate a message based on data received from the transponder decoder output, the message including data identifying the squawk code, wherein the transponder decoder and message formatter are configured to verify that the received mode A/C transponder transmission is a squawk code from the aircraft in which the ADS-B system is installed; and
a wireless transmitter in communication with the message formatter, wherein the wireless transmitter wirelessly broadcasts the message.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) system, and method of harmonizing a transponder Squawk code and an ADS-B system, ensures that a Squawk code broadcast by the ADS-B system matches the transponder Squawk code. The transponder Squawk code is transmitted from a transponder positioned onboard an aircraft, and the transmitted transponder Squawk code is received by a device positioned onboard the aircraft in which the transponder is installed. The ADS-B system is updated with the received transmitter squawk code. The squawk code is transmitted using the ADS-B system.
18 Citations
46 Claims
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1. An Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) system for positioning in an aircraft comprising:
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a transponder decoder comprising an input configured to receive a mode A/C transponder transmission, a decoder decoding the mode A/C transponder transmission, and an output outputting the decoded mode A/C transponder transmission, wherein the mode A/C transponder transmission comprises a squawk code; a message formatter configured to generate a message based on data received from the transponder decoder output, the message including data identifying the squawk code, wherein the transponder decoder and message formatter are configured to verify that the received mode A/C transponder transmission is a squawk code from the aircraft in which the ADS-B system is installed; and a wireless transmitter in communication with the message formatter, wherein the wireless transmitter wirelessly broadcasts the message. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) system for positioning in an aircraft comprising:
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a transponder decoder comprising an input receiving a mode A/C transponder transmission from a transponder positioned in the aircraft in which the ADS-B system is positioned, a decoder decoding the mode A/C transponder transmission, and an output outputting the decoded mode A/C transponder transmission, a first transmitter sending an interrogation signal to activate the transponder positioned aboard the aircraft to send the received mode A/C transponder transmissions; and a second transmitter coupled to the transponder decoder output and configured to wirelessly broadcast the decoded mode A/C transponder transmission data; wherein the second transmitter and the first transmitter are a combined transmitter that transmits at a lower power level when transmitting the interrogation signal than when transmitting the mode A/C transponder transmission. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. An Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) system for positioning in an aircraft having a transponder comprising:
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a transponder decoder comprising a directional coupler receiving a transponder transmission via at least one antenna, a decoder decoding the transponder transmission, and an output outputting the decoded transponder transmission, wherein the transponder transmission comprises a squawk code; a logic device generating a message based on data received from the transponder decoder output, the message including data identifying the squawk code, wherein the transponder transmission is received in response to transmitting an interrogation signal from the logic device via the at least one antenna, wherein the transponder decoder and the logic device are configured to verify the received transponder transmission is a squawk code from the aircraft in which the ADS-B is installed; and a wireless transmitter in communication with the logic device, wherein the wireless transmitter wirelessly broadcasts the message via the directional coupler and the at least one antenna. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. A method of automatically harmonizing a transponder squawk code and an Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) system such that a squawk code broadcast by the ADS-B system matches the transponder squawk code, the method comprising:
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transmitting the transponder squawk code from a transponder positioned onboard an aircraft in which the ADS-B system is installed; receiving, with the ADS-B system, transponder squawk codes that include the transmitted transponder squawk code transmitted by the transponder; verifying that the received transponder squawk code is a squawk code from the transponder positioned onboard the aircraft; updating the ADS-B system with the received transponder squawk code; and broadcasting, with the ADS-B system, the squawk code. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46)
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Specification