Flight navigation sequencing system and method
First Claim
1. A navigation system for an aircraft, the navigation system comprising:
- a sequencing system, the sequencing system evaluating a plurality of segments in a flight plan to determine which of the plurality of segments meets a control criterion, the sequencing system controlling to selected segments from the plurality of segments as the selected segments meet the control criterion.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A flight management system and method is provided that determines segment sequencing during entry into holding patterns and the holding patterns themselves. The flight management system and method monitors the aircraft'"'"'s progress along the active segment of the flight plan to determine what is the appropriate next segment and when to switch control from the active segment to the next segment. The flight management system can determine the appropriate next segment for the aircraft based on a variety of factors. These factors including aircraft position relative to a wayline, the existence of any cross track error, and whether or not the projected aircraft track will intersect an active segment. Preferably, the flight management system evaluates the aircraft state parameters at each wayline crossing to determine which segment is appropriate to control to next. If none of the segments are appropriate, then the control is defaulted to a default segment.
39 Citations
30 Claims
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1. A navigation system for an aircraft, the navigation system comprising:
a sequencing system, the sequencing system evaluating a plurality of segments in a flight plan to determine which of the plurality of segments meets a control criterion, the sequencing system controlling to selected segments from the plurality of segments as the selected segments meet the control criterion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A navigation system, the navigation system comprising:
a sequencing system, the sequencing system monitoring aircraft progress along an active segment of a flight plan and determining an inbound delta to a hold orientation, the sequencing system determining a hold entry type from the inbound delta, the sequencing system evaluating a plurality of segments in a holding pattern entry algorithm corresponding to the determined hold entry type to determine if the plurality of segments meets a control criterion, the sequencing system controlling to selected segments from the plurality of segments as the selected segments meet the control criterion. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A navigation method for an aircraft, the navigation method comprising the steps of:
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a) monitoring progress of the aircraft along an active segment;
b) determining an inbound delta to a hold orientation;
c) determining a hold entry type from the inbound delta;
d) evaluating a plurality of segments in a holding pattern entry algorithm corresponding to the determined hold entry type to determine if the plurality of segments meets a control criterion; and
e) sequencing to selected segments from the plurality of segments as the selected segments meet the control criterion. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification