Aircraft operations information recording and processing system
First Claim
1. ) A method and apparatus to record and process aircraft operations information comprising:
- a) a means to sense operational conditions and situations as a variety of signals, b) a means to convert the sensed signals to digital data using both intelligent processes and non-intelligent processes, c) and a means to process the digital data into a form that can be stored temporarily in the available memory aboard the airplane.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus to record and process operations information from aircraft for the purpose of improving maintenance processes, improving security, and accident investigation is described. Information recorded from aircraft operations includes equipment operational data, images of people and equipment, and sound information. This digital information that is recorded is a result of, in some cases, sampling an analog signal. In other cases, the digital information is a result of many information processing steps to improve the usefulness of the information while using a minimum quantity of data. This invention includes steps to compress the quantity of data while producing the most useful information. The digital information may be recorded aboard the aircraft in any of several data storage media, or the information may be transmitted from the aircraft, or a combination of storage aboard the aircraft and transmission may be used. The processes to reduce the quantity of data required to accurately represent the original signals and information are required to use transmission means that include limited bandwidth, and to use data storage aboard the aircraft where the storage is limited in size. The invention includes processes to encrypt or “hide” the digital information from an unauthorized individual or agency that comes into possession of the storage module aboard the aircraft or that receives the transmission from the aircraft. This invention includes processes that may be used to modify recorded images so that individuals or equipment that is deemed private are digitally removed from the digital image that is recorded.
29 Citations
48 Claims
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1. ) A method and apparatus to record and process aircraft operations information comprising:
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a) a means to sense operational conditions and situations as a variety of signals, b) a means to convert the sensed signals to digital data using both intelligent processes and non-intelligent processes, c) and a means to process the digital data into a form that can be stored temporarily in the available memory aboard the airplane. - View Dependent Claims (4, 7, 10, 13, 16, 19, 22, 25, 34, 37, 40, 43, 46)
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2. ) A method and apparatus to record and process aircraft operations information comprising:
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a) a means to sense operational conditions and situations as a variety of signals, b) a means to convert the sensed signals to digital data using both intelligent processes and non-intelligent processes, c) and a means to process the digital data into a form that can be transmitted using wireless communications conforming to the available bandwidth. - View Dependent Claims (5, 8, 11, 14, 17, 20, 23, 26, 28, 30, 32, 35, 38, 41, 44, 47)
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3. ) A method and apparatus to record and process aircraft operations information comprising:
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a) a means to sense operational conditions and situations as a variety of signals, b) a means to convert the sensed signals to digital data using both intelligent processes and non-intelligent processes, c) a means to process the digital data into a form that can be stored temporarily in the available memory aboard the airplane, d) and a means to process the digital data into a form that can be transmitted using wireless communications conforming to the available bandwidth. - View Dependent Claims (6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27, 29, 31, 33, 36, 39, 42, 45, 48)
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Specification