ANTI-HIJACKING SYSTEM OPERABLE IN EMERGENCIES TO DEACTIVATE ON-BOARD FLIGHT CONTROLS AND REMOTELY PILOT AIRCRAFT UTILIZING AUTOPILOT
First Claim
1. A method for preventing hijacking of an aircraft, comprising operations of:
- providing a hijacking intervention module aboard an aircraft having an autopilot system;
the module sensing a predetermined override input;
responsive to the sensing of the predetermined override input, the module performing operations comprising;
deactivating on-board control of predetermined aircraft flight systems;
deactivating on-board control of the autopilot system;
directing the autopilot system to fly the aircraft to a landing.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
In an anti-hijacking system for autopilot equipped aircraft, a transceiver communicates with at least one remote guidance facility. A panic button is activated by flight crew in case of hijacking. A manager is coupled to the transceiver and the panic button, as well as existing avionics including the aircraft'"'"'s master computer and autopilot. Optionally, a relay is coupled between the pilot controls and selected aircraft flight systems. The manager recognizes predetermined override inputs, such as activation of the panic button or receipt of override signals from the remote guidance facility. Responsive to the override input, the manager deactivates on-board control of selected aircraft flight systems and the autopilot system, and directs the autopilot to fly the aircraft to a safe landing. Flight routing and landing instructions are obtained from the remote guidance facility, or by self-evaluating nearby airports in view of the aircraft'"'"'s position and various preestablished criteria.
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Citations
55 Claims
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1. A method for preventing hijacking of an aircraft, comprising operations of:
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providing a hijacking intervention module aboard an aircraft having an autopilot system;
the module sensing a predetermined override input;
responsive to the sensing of the predetermined override input, the module performing operations comprising;
deactivating on-board control of predetermined aircraft flight systems;
deactivating on-board control of the autopilot system;
directing the autopilot system to fly the aircraft to a landing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A signal-bearing medium tangibly embodying a program of machine-readable instructions executable by a hijacking intervention module aboard an aircraft having an autopilot system to perform a method for preventing hijacking of the aircraft, the operations comprising:
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sensing a predetermined override input, responsive to the sensing of the predetermined override input, performing operations comprising;
deactivating on-board control of predetermined aircraft flight systems;
deactivating on-board control of the autopilot system;
directing the autopilot system to fly the aircraft to a landing at a landing site. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A logic circuit of multiple interconnected electrically conductive elements configured to perform operations to prevent hijacking of an aircraft by operating a hijacking intervention module aboard the aircraft, the operations comprising:
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sensing a predetermined override input;
responsive to the sensing of the predetermined override input, performing operations comprising;
deactivating on-board control of predetermined aircraft flight systems;
deactivating on-board control of the autopilot system;
directing the autopilot system to fly the aircraft to a landing.
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34. An anti-hijacking system for use in an aircraft having an autopilot system, comprising:
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a transceiver to communicate with remote stations;
a manual panic input;
a manager, coupled to the transceiver and the manual panic input, programmed to perform operations comprising;
sensing a predetermined override input comprising one or more of the following;
activation of the manual panic input, receipt of a predetermined override signal from a remote guidance facility via the transceiver;
responsive to the sensing of the predetermined override input, the manager performing operations comprising;
deactivating on-board control of predetermined aircraft flight systems;
deactivating on-board control of the autopilot system;
directing the autopilot system to fly the aircraft to a landing. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54)
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55. An anti-hijacking system for use in an aircraft having an autopilot system, comprising:
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first means for communicating with remote stations;
second means for receiving manual panic input;
processing means, coupled to the first and second means, for operations comprising;
recognizing occurrence of one or more predetermined override signals arising from one or more of the following;
activation of the second means, receipt of predetermined override signals from one or more remote stations via the first means;
responsive to the receiving of one or more predetermined override signals, the processor to performing operations comprising;
deactivating on-board control of aircraft flight systems;
deactivating on-board control of the autopilot system;
directing the autopilot system to fly the aircraft to a landing at a landing site.
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Specification