Surveillance system and method for aircraft approach and landing
First Claim
1. A system for measuring and predicting information on the position of approaching aircraft, comprising:
- a processor for scheduling interrogations and suppression pulses;
an interrogating antenna in signal communication with the processor for transmitting interrogations to a plurality of approaching aircraft, at least some of the interrogations including suppression pulses;
a receiving antenna in signal communication with the processor for receiving replies from each of the plurality of approaching aircraft and communicating the replies to the processor, wherein the receiving antenna comprises at least three fixed, broad azimuth, array elements, wherein the processor determines a state for each of the plurality of approaching aircraft based on the replies; and
a data link in signal communication with the processor for communicating information on the state of each of the plurality of approaching aircraft from the processor.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for measuring and predicting information on the position of approaching aircraft are disclosed. The system features a processor, an interrogating antenna, a receiving antenna, and a data link. The processor schedules interrogations and suppression pulses. Both of the antennas and the data link are in signal communication with the processor. The interrogating antenna transmits interrogations to a plurality of approaching aircraft. At least some of the interrogations include suppression pulses. The receiving antenna comprises at least three fixed, broad azimuth, array elements. The receiving antenna receives replies from each of the plurality of approaching aircraft and communicates the replies to the processor. The processor determines a state for each of the plurality of approaching aircraft based on the replies. The data link communicates information on the state of each of the plurality of approaching aircraft from the processor.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A system for measuring and predicting information on the position of approaching aircraft, comprising:
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a processor for scheduling interrogations and suppression pulses;
an interrogating antenna in signal communication with the processor for transmitting interrogations to a plurality of approaching aircraft, at least some of the interrogations including suppression pulses;
a receiving antenna in signal communication with the processor for receiving replies from each of the plurality of approaching aircraft and communicating the replies to the processor, wherein the receiving antenna comprises at least three fixed, broad azimuth, array elements, wherein the processor determines a state for each of the plurality of approaching aircraft based on the replies; and
a data link in signal communication with the processor for communicating information on the state of each of the plurality of approaching aircraft from the processor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A system for collecting and calculating information on the position of a plurality of approaching aircraft:
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a memory buffer for storing surveillance data on a plurality of aircraft within a first volume;
a processor in signal communication with the memory buffer for running a plurality of modules, the plurality of modules comprising;
a filtering module for identifying a target list of aircraft within a zone of interest from the surveillance data, the zone of interest at least partially defined by characteristics of a receiving antenna comprising at least three fixed, broad azimuth, array elements;
a scheduling module for scheduling interrogations based on the target list, at least some of the interrogations including suppression pulses;
a tracking module for calculating state information based on replies to interrogations from each of a plurality of aircraft on the target list; and
an output device in signal communication with the processor for communicating state information for each of the plurality of aircraft on the target list. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of measuring and predicting information on the position of approaching aircraft, comprising:
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receiving surveillance data on a plurality of aircraft within a first volume;
filtering the surveillance data to identify a target list of aircraft, the target list of aircraft determined by location within a volume at least partially defined by characteristics of a receiving antenna comprising at least three fixed, broad azimuth, array elements;
scheduling interrogations for the target list of aircraft;
storing the schedule of interrogations;
transmitting interrogations, at least some of the interrogations including suppression pulses;
receiving replies to the interrogations from each aircraft on the target list of aircraft; and
determining the state of each aircraft on the target list of aircraft based on the replies and the schedule of interrogations. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification