Aural/visual interactive aircraft communications module, system and methods
First Claim
1. An aircraft controller-pilot data link communications module comprising:
- a multi-line display that visually presents a list of CPDLC messages which can be scrolled to display any portion of the list of messages, wherein the list of messages can be scrolled from a top of the display to a bottom of the display such that the most recent message presented is located at the top of the display or scrolled from the bottom of the display to the top of the display such that the most recent message presented is located at the bottom of the display.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention provides a Controller-Pilot Data Link Communication (CPDLC) module that can be operatively connected to a cockpit audio system to aurally provide a pilot messages the module receives from ground control and to allow the pilot to operate the module with spoken commands. The module includes an enunciator circuit for playing out a string of digital audio data associated with a message and a voice recognition component for recognizing spoken commands and performing tasks in response to the commands. Thus, the pilot can use CPDLC protocols to exchange information with ground control yet communicate with ground control by listening and talking as if he was communicating with a voice radio. The module can also visually present messages and other information and receive input from programmable buttons and a knob. The functions of the buttons and knob change as the operational state of the module changes. For example, when the module displays current messages, pushing a button causes the module to perform a task, and when the module displays possible responses to a message, pushing the same button causes the module to perform a different task. Furthermore, the module can include, visually present and/or aurally provide a checklist of tasks to be completed when a message associated with the checklist is received or sent by the module.
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Citations
34 Claims
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1. An aircraft controller-pilot data link communications module comprising:
a multi-line display that visually presents a list of CPDLC messages which can be scrolled to display any portion of the list of messages, wherein the list of messages can be scrolled from a top of the display to a bottom of the display such that the most recent message presented is located at the top of the display or scrolled from the bottom of the display to the top of the display such that the most recent message presented is located at the bottom of the display. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
- 4. An aircraft controller-pilot data link communications module comprising a display that visually presents a list of uplink messages wherein a displayed uplink message includes a response tag that identifies a selected response to the uplink message.
- 7. An aircraft controller-pilot data link communications module comprising a display that, when an uplink message is received, displays identifiers for one or more possible responses appropriate to the uplink message and does not display identifiers of other possible responses appropriate to other possible uplink messages.
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9. An aircraft controller-pilot data link communications module for handling CPDLC messages, comprising:
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a memory containing a plurality of digital audio data strings; and
a digital audio enunciator circuit that plays out a string of digital audio data from the memory corresponding to a CPDLC message selected from a plurality CPDLC messages. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20)
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18. An aircraft controller-pilot data link communications module for handling CPDLC messages, comprising:
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an audio input that receives spoken audio voice data; and
a speech recognition component that identifies commands in the spoken audio voice data.
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21. An aircraft controller-pilot data link communications module comprising:
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a memory storing a checklist corresponding to an uplink message and a possible response to the uplink message; and
a display that, when a user confirms the possible response to the uplink message, automatically displays the checklist. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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25. An aircraft controller-pilot data link communications module comprising:
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one or more programmable buttons to input data into the module and a display that visually presents a label corresponding to each programmable button, wherein the label indicates the function of the corresponding programmable button;
for a given button, two or more functions can be performed by the button and the function that will be performed if the button is pressed at a particular time is indicated by the label associated with the button at that time; and
wherein CPDLC messages can be displayed and selected and, when a CPDLC message is selected, the one or more programmable buttons are automatically programmed to receive input that is appropriate to the content of the selected message and the labels automatically and correspondingly change to indicate the function of the corresponding programmable button.
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26. An aircraft controller-pilot data link communications module comprising:
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a display that visually presents a list of possible CPDLC response messages to an uplink message; and
a knob operable by a user to confirm selection of a possible response.
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32. A method in a controller-pilot data link communications module for selecting and confirming a response to an uplink message, comprising:
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receiving an uplink message requiring a response;
visually presenting one or more possible responses appropriate to the content of the uplink message;
receiving from a user a selection of a response from the one or more possible responses presented; and
receiving from a user a confirmation of the selected response before issuing the response. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34)
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Specification