CHECKLIST SYSTEM

• US 20070150119A1
• Filed: 11/24/2004
• Published: 06/28/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Mitchell, Bradley, Aimar, Jeffrey, Poier, James
• Granted Patent: US 7,289,890 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/40 Business processes related to the transportation industry shipping G06Q10/083

Abstract

A system is provided which provides an indication of checklist items, for example, in an aircraft. The system monitors aircraft systems and automatically prioritizes information gathered from those systems and selects and arms the appropriate checklist. The pilot may select and/or arm a checklist via a pilot-VCS (voice checklist system) interface. The system provides checklist prompting and step verification.

Claims

1. A system for facilitating a checklist procedure for use in a vehicle comprising:

a processor that runs a software program;

a memory accessible by the processor;

an output device;

a user interface device, and

at least one sensor for sensing a condition of the vehicle and providing an input to the software program;

wherein the memory contains a checklist, including one or more checklist items and control logic,

wherein the software program accesses the memory, prioritizes the checklists and indicates a first checklist item over the output device,

wherein conditions of the vehicle are monitored via the at least one sensor and a second checklist item is indicated over the output device based on the input from the at least one sensor indicating the first checklist item is complete.

2. The system of claim 1, also including an electronic display.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the electronic display is one of a touch screen display, a cathode ray tube (CRT), a plasma screen display, a liquid crystal display (LCD), or other type of electronic display commonly found in vehicles.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the user interface device is the electronic display.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the user interface device is a switch.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is part of another vehicle system.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is separate from other vehicle systems.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor detects the condition of at least one of a vehicle system, an engine, a vehicle control and an environment in which the vehicle is operating.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the vehicle is an aircraft.

11. The system of claim 10, including an input from an engine indication and crew alerting system (EICAS).

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the checklist is armed based on an input from the at least one sensor.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the checklist is armed based on an input from the user.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the output device is part of an interphone system.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the output device is part of an aircraft flight deck interphone system.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the first checklist item is indicated over the output device in a computer generated synthetic voice.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein the first checklist item is indicated over the output device in a pre-recorded voice.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein the output device is a speaker.

20. The system of claim 1, including a microphone for receiving a pilots voice commands and voice recognition software.

8. (canceled)

16. (canceled)

21. A method for audibly indicating a checklist procedure in a vehicle, the method comprising:

receiving a first input;

prioritizing a first checklist;

indicating the first checklist item with an output device,

receiving a second input which indicates the first checklist item is complete from a sensor which senses a condition of the vehicle;

indicating a second checklist item with the output device based on the second input.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the first input is received from a vehicle sensor.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the vehicle sensor is part of an engine indication and crew alerting system (EICAS).

24. The method of claim 21, including the step of displaying the first checklist item on an electronic display.

25. The method of claim 21, wherein the first input is generated by a user interface device.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the user interface device is an electronic display which includes touchscreen technology.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the electronic display is one of a touch screen display, a cathode ray tube (CRT), a liquid crystal display (LCD) and a plasma display.

28. The method of claim 21, including the step of prioritizing more than one checklist.

30. The method of claim 21, wherein the indication of the first checklist item is repeated if the second input is not received within a pre-determined time period.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein a feature of the repetition of the indication of the first checklist item is distinctly different from a feature of the first indication of the first checklist item.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the feature is the volume of an audible broadcast.

33. The method of claim 31, wherein the feature is the inflection of an audible broadcast.

34. The method of claim 21, wherein the vehicle is an aircraft.

35. The method of claim 21, wherein the output device is a speaker.

29. (canceled)

36. A system for audibly broadcasting a checklist procedure comprising:

a processor that runs a software program;

a memory accessible by the processor;

an ouput device;

a user interface device; and

at least one sensor for sensing a condition of the vehicle and providing an input to the software program;

wherein the memory contains a checklist, including one or more checklist items,

wherein a user controls the system through the user interface device, and

wherein the software program accesses the memory, prioritizes the checklists and

provides a first checklist item indication via the output device, and

wherein conditions of the vehicle are monitored via the at least one sensor and a second checklist item is indicated over the output device based on the input from the at least one sensor indicating the first checklist item is complete.

37. The system of claim 36, including an electronic display.

38. The system of claim 37, wherein the user interface device is the electronic display.

39. The system of claim 36, wherein the user interface device is a switch.

40. The system of claim 36, wherein the processor is part of another system.

41. The system of claim 36, wherein the processor is separate from other systems.

42. The system of in claim 36, wherein the first checklist item is broadcast over a speaker in a computer generated synthetic voice.

43. The system of claim 36, wherein the first checklist item is broadcast over a speaker in a pre-recorded voice.