Flight identification system and method of determining flight identification using mode-S address

• US 20060027651A1
• Filed: 08/06/2004
• Published: 02/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Berckefeldt, Richard R.
• Application Number:
  US10/912,854
• Publication Number:
  US 20060027651A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/384
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/781 Secondary Surveillance Radar [SSR] in general

Abstract

Methods and apparatus are provided for determination of flight identification using Mode-S transponders. A method of flight identification determination includes the steps of determining a Mode-S address within a desired range of Mode S Addresses, reverse transforming the Mode-S address to an original registration number, storing the original registration number in a memory location, and transmitting the registration number, used as an ICAO Flight ID, from the memory location upon ground interrogation.

Claims

1. A method of determining a registration number of an aircraft for use as an International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Flight Identification (ID), said method comprising the steps of:

determining if a Mode-S address is within a desired range of Mode-S addresses;

reverse transforming the Mode-S address to an original registration number;

storing the original registration number in a memory location; and

transmitting the registration number as an ICAO Flight ID from the memory location upon ground interrogation.

2. A method of determining flight identification according to claim 1, wherein said storing step comprises storing the original registration number in a register.

3. A method of determining flight identification according to claim 1, wherein said determining step comprises comparing the Mode-S address with a range of Mode-S addresses associated with a country.

4. A method of determining flight identification according to claim 2, wherein said transmitting step comprises transmitting a content of the register.

5. A method of determining flight identification according to claim 1, wherein the Mode-S address is derived from processing the registration number using a pre-determined formula that produces a value within a range of Mode-S addresses;

and

wherein said reverse transforming step comprises processing the Mode-S address using an inverse of the pre-determined formula.

6. A system for determining flight identification, said system comprising:

a data storage device;

a receiver configured to receive ground control interrogation signals;

a processor coupled to said receiver and said data storage device, said processor configured to;

read a predefined address;

derive a registration number from said predefined address; and

store said registration number in said data storage device; and

a transmitter coupled to said processor, said transmitter configured to transmit said registration number from said data storage device.

7. A flight identification determination system according to claim 6, wherein said data storage device comprises a register.

8. A flight identification determination system according to claim 6 further comprising a demodulator configured to demodulate said ground control interrogation signals and output a data segment formatted in accordance with a predefined mode of communication.

9. A flight identification determination system according to claim 8, wherein said processor is further configured to analyze said ground control interrogation signals and identify a segment corresponding to said predefined mode of communication, said predefined mode of communication using said predefined address.

10. A flight identification determination system according to claim 6, wherein said predefined address is derived from a pre-determined formula that produces a value within a range of values from a registration number;

and

wherein said processor is configured to derive said predefined address by processing said predefined address using an inverse of said pre-determined formula.

11. A flight identification determination system according to claim 6, wherein said predefined address is a Mode-S address, said Mode-S address within a range of Mode-S addresses corresponding to a country.

12. A transponder having a statically assigned Mode-S address, said transponder comprising:

a receiver configured to receive air traffic communication signals from an air traffic controller;

a processor coupled to said receiver, said processor comprising a register, said processor configured to;

read the Mode-S address;

reverse transform the Mode-S address to obtain a registration number; and

store said registration number in said register;

a modulator/demodulator configured to;

demodulate said air traffic communications signals and output a data signal formatted in accordance with a predefined mode of communication; and

modulate a transmit signal in accordance with said predefined mode of communication; and

a transmitter coupled to said processor, said transmitter configured to transmit said registration number in said transmit signal.

13. A transponder according to claim 12, wherein the Mode-S address is derived from a pre-determined formula that produces a value within a range of Mode-S addresses from a registration number.

14. A transponder according to claim 13, wherein said processor is configured to reverse transform said Mode-S address by processing said Mode-S address using an inverse of said pre-determined formula.

15. A transponder according to claim 12, wherein said predefined mode of communication uses said Mode-S address.

16. An aircraft radio having an assigned Mode-S address, said radio comprising:

a transceiver configured to transmit and receive air traffic communication signals from an interrogator;

an operating system configured to;

identify the Mode-S address; and

reverse transform the Mode-S address to obtain a registration number;

a processor coupled to said transceiver, said processor configured to execute said operating system; and

a data storage device coupled to said processor, said operating system further configured to store said registration number in said data storage device upon execution by said processor.

17. A radio according to claim 16, wherein the Mode-S address is derived from a pre-determined formula that produces a value within a range of Mode-S addresses from a registration number;

and

wherein said processor is configured to execute a reverse transform modules to process the Mode-S address using an inverse of said pre-determined formula.

18. A radio according to claim 16, wherein said transceiver is further configured to transmit said registration number in response to an interrogation from said interrogator.

19. A radio according to claim 16, wherein said transceiver is further configured to transmit said registration number as a substantially periodic unsolicited transmission.

20. A radio according to claim 16, wherein said predefined mode of communication uses the Mode-S address.

21. A radio according to claim 16, wherein said data storage device is a register.