On-Demand Flight Data Service

• US 20080228330A1
• Filed: 03/14/2007
• Published: 09/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Srinivasan, Thiru, Abbott, Mike, Reagan, Scott, Gilliss, Samuel
• Granted Patent: US 8,255,094 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/3
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 23/00 Combined instruments indicating more than one navigational value, e.g. for aircraft; Combined measuring devices for measuring two or more variables of movement, e.g. distance, speed or acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0034 Assembly of a flight plan
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0043 Traffic management of multiple aircrafts from the ground G08G5/003 takes precedence; data processing specially designed for resource management, e.g. scheduling or allocating time, human or machine resources G06Q10/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18506 Communications with or from aircraft, i.e. aeronautical mobile service

Abstract

A flight data service subscription system allows personnel to subscribe to flight data services using an electronic devices such as a multifunctional display (MFD) onboard an aircraft. The MFD is used to select regional areas of coverage and generate requests for subscriptions to flight data services. Flight data application software running on the MFD manages flight data and the subscription requests. A server operated by a flight data service provider receives the subscription requests from the MFD and dispatches flight data responsive to the requests for the selected region. A wireless local area network on the ground transfers flight data and subscription requests between the MFD and the flight data subscription server.

Claims

1. A method of installing flight data in a cockpit device on-board an aircraft, comprising the steps of:

(A) transmitting a request for flight data from the aircraft to a local area network on the ground;

(B) transmitting the request from the local area network to a flight data service provider;

(C) transmitting the flight data from the flight data service provider to the local area network; and

,

(D) transmitting the flight data transmitted in step (C) to the cockpit device using the local area network.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein steps (A) and (D) are each performed using a wireless data link conforming to IEEE 802.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

(E) selecting a geographic region to which the flight data pertains, and

wherein the request transmitted in step (A) includes an identification of the geographic region selected in step (E).

4. The method of claim 3, wherein step (E) is performed on-board the aircraft.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein step (E) is performed using a geographic map presented by an electronic display.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein step (B) is performed using the Internet.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein step (A) is performed using one of a multi-functional display device and a portable personal computer.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

(E) registering the cockpit device with the service provider;

(F) installing flight data service software application on the registered cockpit device; and

,

(G) using the software application to generate the request transmitted in step (A).

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

(E) registering a user with the flight data service provider;

(F) log-in by the user to request use of the flight data transmitted in step (D); and

,

(G) verifying that the user logging on in step (F) has been registered in step (A).

10. The method of claim 8, wherein step (F) is performed by the original equipment manufacturer of the cockpit device.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein step (F) is performed by the original equipment manufacturer of the aircraft in which the cockpit device is installed.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein step (E) includes providing the service provider with an identification number associated with the cockpit device.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein step (E) is performed using the cockpit device.

14. A method of providing flight data subscription service to aircraft, comprising the steps of:

(A) registering a device on-board an aircraft with a flight data service provider;

(B) using the device to generate a request for flight data;

(C) transmitting the request generated in step (B) to a local area network on the ground;

(D) forwarding the request from the local area network to the flight data service provider;

(E) transmitting, in response to the request forwarded in step (D), the requested flight data from the flight data service provider to the local area network; and

,

(F) transmitting the requested flight data from the local area network to the device.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the device is a multifunctional display.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein step (A) is performed by the original equipment manufacturer of the device.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein step (A) is performed by the manufacturer of the aircraft.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein steps (C) and E) are each performed using a wireless data link.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein step (D) is performed using the Internet.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein step (B) includes:

displaying a geographic map on the device,

selecting an area on the displayed map for which data services are desired, and

including an identification of the selected map area in the request.

21. The method of claim 14, including the steps of:

(G) installing a flight data service software application on the registered device; and

,

(H) using the software application to generate the request in step (B).

22. A flight data service subscription system, comprising:

a device on-board an aircraft for displaying flight data and for generating requests for subscriptions to flight data services;

flight data application software running on the device for managing flight data and flight data subscription requests;

a flight data service server controlled by a flight data service provider for receiving subscription requests from the device and for dispatching flight data responsive to the requests; and

,

a wireless local area network on the ground for transferring flight data and subscription requests between the device and the flight data subscription server.

23. The flight data service subscription system of claim 22, wherein the device is a multifunctional cockpit display.

24. The flight data service subscription system of claim 22, wherein the device is a portable personal computer.

25. The flight data service subscription system of claim 22, including a ground based server on the local area network and coupled with the flight data service server through the Internet.

26. The flight data service subscription system of claim 25, wherein the local area network includes a wireless data link conforming to IEEE 802 and connecting the device with the ground based server.

27. The flight data service subscription system of claim 22, wherein the device includes:

stored maps,

means for recalling and displaying the maps,

means for selecting regions on the maps for which flight data is desired, and,

means for generating subscription requests for flight data corresponding to the selected regions.