Methods and apparatus for assisting in the maintenance of aircraft and other mobile platforms
First Claim
1. A computer-implemented method for assisting with maintenance of an aircraft, the method comprising:
- detecting an event on the aircraft;
generating additional information associated with the event and storing the additional information in computer-readable medium onboard the aircraft;
transmitting, from the aircraft, an advisory message relating to the event;
receiving, at the aircraft, a query message via a first communication protocol, the query message requesting the additional information associated with the event; and
upon receiving the query message, automatically transmitting, from the aircraft to a ground facility and while the aircraft is in flight, a response message via a second communication protocol different from the first communication protocol, the response message comprising the additional information associated with the event and being larger in size than the advisory message.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present disclosure relates to health monitoring and maintenance of mobile platforms such as aircraft. In particular, onboard apparatus and methods and also ground-based apparatus and methods that cooperate in assisting with the maintenance of mobile platforms by facilitating diagnosis of events detected onboard mobile platforms while such mobile platforms are in operation (e.g., transit, flight) are disclosed. In various aspects, the present disclosure discloses apparatus and methods for handling and reporting the detection of events onboard mobile platforms, reporting predefined additional information associated with the event upon request from a ground facility, identifying one or more potential causes for the detected event and determining the occurrence probability for each potential cause identified.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method for assisting with maintenance of an aircraft, the method comprising:
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detecting an event on the aircraft; generating additional information associated with the event and storing the additional information in computer-readable medium onboard the aircraft; transmitting, from the aircraft, an advisory message relating to the event; receiving, at the aircraft, a query message via a first communication protocol, the query message requesting the additional information associated with the event; and upon receiving the query message, automatically transmitting, from the aircraft to a ground facility and while the aircraft is in flight, a response message via a second communication protocol different from the first communication protocol, the response message comprising the additional information associated with the event and being larger in size than the advisory message. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An apparatus for installation onboard an aircraft and for assisting with maintenance of the aircraft, the apparatus comprising:
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a communication terminal for receiving messages and for transmitting messages from the aircraft, the communication terminal being configured for communication using a first communication protocol and a second communication protocol different from the first communication protocol; and a monitoring unit coupled to the communication terminal and also coupled to a monitored system of the aircraft, the monitoring unit comprising a data processor and a non-transitory computer-readable medium containing instructions readable and executable by the data processor to perform a method comprising; detecting an event associated with the monitored system; generating additional information associated with the event and storing the additional information; commanding transmission, from the aircraft, of an advisory message relating to the event on the aircraft; upon receipt, via the first communication protocol, of a query message requesting the additional information associated with the event, automatically commanding transmission, from the aircraft to a ground facility and while the aircraft is in flight, a response message via the second communication protocol, the response message comprising the additional information associated with the event and being larger in size than the advisory message. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification