Method and system for obtaining and presenting turbulence data via communication devices located on airplanes

• US 10,580,312 B2
• Filed: 01/11/2019
• Issued: 03/03/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Yamasee Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Yamasee Ltd.
• Inventors: Hampel, Oran, Nedivi, Zivi, Shitrit, Moshe
• Primary Examiner(s): Hilgendorf, Dale W
• Application Number:
  US16/245,540
• Publication Number:
  US 20190147755A1
• Time in Patent Office: 417 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 43/00 Arrangements or adaptations of instruments arrangements of cameras B64D47/08; aeronautical measuring instruments per se G01C
• CPC Class Codes: G01W 1/10 Devices for predicting weather conditions computers per se G06; display devices G09
• CPC Class Codes: G01W 2001/003 Clear air turbulence detection or forecasting, e.g. for aircrafts
• CPC Class Codes: G01W 2001/006 Main server receiving weather information from several sub-stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/909 using geographical or spatial information, e.g. location spatiotemporally dependent retrieval from the web G06F16/9537
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0008 with other aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0013 with a ground station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0021 located in the aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0091 for monitoring atmospheric conditions radar or analogous systems specially adapted for meteorological use G01S13/95; meteorology G01W
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/027 using movement velocity, acceleration information

Abstract

A device, system and method is provided for obtaining and processing turbulence data via communication devices located on-board airplanes. Turbulence data obtained by a plurality of communication devices may be received during flights on-board respective ones of a plurality of airplanes. Turbulence map data may be generated by super-positioning the turbulence data received from the plurality of communication devices onto a single tempo-spatial frame of reference. The turbulence map data may be distributed to one or more of the communication devices. A device, system and method is also provided for generating turbulence map data that may reduce or eliminate “false positive” turbulence events. A device, system and method is also provided for communicating with on-board communication devices operating in a “flight crew mode” or a “passenger mode.”

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving turbulence data including multiple different turbulence levels within each of one or more regions of a turbulence map obtained by a plurality of communication devices during flights on-board respective ones of a plurality of airplanes, wherein the turbulence data is received from one or more primary communication devices and one or more supplemental communication devices on-board the same one or more of the plurality of airplanes;

wherein the received turbulence data is obtained by;

obtaining spatial acceleration data affecting each of the plurality of communication devices and converting the spatial acceleration data into turbulence data based on a conversion process;

generating turbulence map data including accumulated tempo-spatial turbulence information of a single turbulence level for each of the one or more regions by super-positioning onto a single tempo-spatial frame of reference the turbulence data including the multiple different turbulence levels within each of the one or more regions received from the plurality of communication devices;

distributing the turbulence map data including the accumulated tempo-spatial turbulence information to one or more of the plurality of communication devices; and

displaying the turbulence map data.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the turbulence data is received from one or more hand-held user communication devices.

3. The method according to claim 1 comprising generating tempo-spatial turbulence information for each of one or more of the plurality of airplanes by combining data received from two or more types of communication devices on-board the same airplane selected from the group consisting of:

a hand-held user communication device, an embedded airplane communication device, and a supplemental communication device.

4. The method according to claim 1 comprising generating tempo-spatial turbulence information for each of one or more of the plurality of airplanes using position and/or turbulence data from the supplemental communication device to generate the turbulence map data only when the position and/or turbulence data from the primary communication device on-board the same airplane is detected to have sub-optimal accuracy.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the turbulence data comprises:

intensity level of the turbulence;

position of the turbulence;

altitude of the turbulence; and

time of the turbulence.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the conversion process comprises obtaining a spatial orientation of each of the plurality of communication devices and determining acceleration variations for each of the plurality of communication devices given the obtained spatial orientation thereof.

7. The method according to claim 6, further comprising:

using the measured spatial orientation over time to rule out non-turbulence events.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the obtaining of the turbulence data is carried out responsive to manual input by respective users of one or more of:

the plurality of communication devices on-board the airplanes and devices located remotely from the airplanes.

9. A method comprising:

obtaining turbulence data including one or more turbulence levels within one or more regions of a turbulence map obtained during a flight on-board an airplane, wherein the turbulence data is received from one or more primary communication devices and one or more secondary communication devices on-board the same airplane;

wherein obtaining turbulence data comprises;

obtaining spatial acceleration data affecting each of the primary and secondary communication devices and converting the spatial acceleration data into turbulence data based on a conversion process;

transmitting the turbulence data from one or more of the primary and secondary communication devices to a remote location;

receiving turbulence map data including accumulated tempo-spatial turbulence information of a single turbulence level for each of the one or more regions generated at the remote location by super-positioning onto a single tempo-spatial frame of reference the turbulence data including the one or more turbulence levels within the one or more regions received from the one or more primary and secondary communication devices with turbulence data including one or more different turbulence levels within the one or more regions received from one or more other communication devices during flights on-board other airplanes;

displaying the accumulated tempo-spatial turbulence information associated with the one or more regions surrounding the airplane and the other airplanes.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the accumulated tempo-spatial turbulence information is displayed in a visual representation comprising a plurality of indicators superimposed on a map according to the respective locations at which the turbulence data was obtained.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the indicators visually distinguish between different levels of turbulence intensity.

12. The method according to claim 10, wherein the visual representation is altered responsive to user selection to only show the visual indicators of at least one of:

a specified altitude range, a specified time range, and a specified range of turbulence level.

13. The method according to claim 9, wherein the transmitting of the turbulence data by the one or more of the primary and secondary communication devices is delayed to whenever a communication channel becomes available.

14. A device comprising:

one or more processors;

one or more memories; and

one or more instructions stored in the memory and executable by the processor, which, when executed, configure the one or more processors to;

receive turbulence data including multiple different turbulence levels within each of one or more regions of a turbulence map obtained by a plurality of communication devices during flights on-board respective ones of a plurality of airplanes,

wherein the turbulence data is received from one or more primary communication devices and one or more supplemental communication devices on-board the same one or more of the plurality of airplanes,

wherein the one or more processors are configured to receive turbulence data by;

obtaining spatial acceleration data affecting each of the plurality of communication devices and converting the spatial acceleration data into turbulence data based on a conversion process,

generate turbulence map data including accumulated tempo-spatial turbulence information of a single turbulence level for each of the one or more regions by super-positioning onto a single tempo-spatial frame of reference the turbulence data including the multiple different turbulence levels within each of the one or more regions received from the plurality of communication devices, and

distribute the turbulence map data including the accumulated tempo-spatial turbulence information to one or more of the plurality of communication devices.

15. The device according to claim 14, wherein the plurality of communication devices include one or more hand-held user communication devices or embedded airplane communication devices.

16. The device according to claim 14, wherein the primary communication devices include hand-held user communication devices and the supplemental communication devices include mounted or embedded devices that provide position and/or turbulence data to supplement the position and/or turbulence received from the primary hand-held user communication device on-board the same airplane.

17. The device according to claim 14, wherein the one or more processors are configured to execute the conversion process by obtaining a spatial orientation of each of the plurality of communication devices and determining acceleration variations for each of the plurality of communication devices given the measured spatial orientation thereof.

18. A communication device comprising:

one or more processors;

one or more memories; and

one or more instructions stored in the memory and executable by the processor, which, when executed, configure the one or more processors to;

obtain turbulence data including one or more turbulence levels within one or more regions of a turbulence map obtained during a flight on-board an airplane, wherein the turbulence data is received from one or more primary communication devices and one or more secondary communication devices on-board the same airplane, wherein the one or more processors are configured to obtain turbulence data by;

obtaining spatial acceleration data affecting each of the primary and secondary communication devices and converting the spatial acceleration data into turbulence data based on a conversion process,

transmit the turbulence data from one or more of the primary and secondary communication devices to a remote location,

receive turbulence map data including accumulated tempo-spatial turbulence information of a single turbulence level for each of the one or more regions generated at the remote location by super-positioning onto a single tempo-spatial frame of reference the turbulence data including the one or more turbulence levels within the one or more regions received from the one or more primary and secondary communication devices with turbulence data including one or more different turbulence levels within the one or more regions received from one or more other communication devices during flights on-board other airplanes, and

display the accumulated tempo-spatial turbulence information associated with the one or more regions surrounding the airplane and the other airplanes.

19. The communication device according to claim 18, wherein the communication device on-board the airplane and the one or more other communication devices on-board other airplanes include one or more hand-held user communication devices.

20. The communication device according to claim 18, wherein the accumulated tempo-spatial turbulence information is displayed in a visual representation comprising a plurality of indicators superimposed on a map according to the respective locations at which the turbulence data was obtained.