METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR UPDATING NAVIGATION INFORMATION

• US 20090024312A1
• Filed: 07/18/2007
• Published: 01/22/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Brinkman, Ron
• Granted Patent: US 8,185,254 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/200
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence

Abstract

A method and system for updating navigation information are disclosed. The method includes the steps of connecting to a navigation information update system, determining if at least one navigation information update is available from the navigation information update system, if the at least one navigation information update is available from the navigation information update system, determining if an intended recipient of the at least one navigation information update is available or unavailable for an update. If the intended recipient of the at least one navigation information update is determined to be unavailable for an update, the method downloads the at least one navigation information update to a navigation information cache onboard the intended recipient or a processing unit not onboard the intended recipient, and if the intended recipient of the at least one navigation information update is determined to be available for the update, the method downloads the at least one navigation information update to the navigation information cache onboard the intended recipient, and installs the at least one navigation information update in a navigation information system onboard the intended recipient.

Claims

1. A method for updating navigation information, comprising the steps of:

connecting to a navigation information update system;

determining if at least one navigation information update is available from the navigation information update system;

if the at least one navigation information update is available from the navigation information update system, determining if an intended recipient of the at least one navigation information update is available or unavailable for an update;

if the intended recipient of the at least one navigation information update is determined to be unavailable for an update, downloading the at least one navigation information update to a navigation information cache onboard the intended recipient or a processing unit not onboard the intended recipient; and

if the intended recipient of the at least one navigation information update is determined to be available for the update, downloading the at least one navigation information update to the navigation information cache onboard the intended recipient, and installing the at least one navigation information update in a navigation information system onboard the intended recipient.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the intended recipient comprises at least one of a manned, remotely controlled or autonomous aircraft, motor vehicle, train, subsurface craft, land craft, or spacecraft, or a system at a remote facility that controls such a craft or vehicle.

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

if the intended recipient of the at least one navigation information update is determined to be unavailable for the update, downloading the at least one navigation information update to the processing unit not onboard the intended recipient;

connecting the processing unit not onboard the intended recipient with the navigation information cache onboard the intended recipient; and

installing the at least one navigation information update in a database associated with the navigation system onboard the intended recipient.

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

if the intended recipient of the at least one navigation information update is determined to be available for the update, downloading the at least one navigation information update to the processing unit not onboard the intended recipient;

determining if the intended recipient is in service or out of service; and

if the intended recipient is out of service, connecting the processing unit not onboard the intended recipient with a navigation information database onboard the intended recipient, and installing the at least one navigation information update in the navigation information database onboard the intended recipient.

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

if the intended recipient of the at least one navigation service information update is a craft determined to be out of service, downloading the at least one navigation information update to a navigation information database onboard the intended recipient craft;

determining if the intended recipient of the at least one navigation information update is a craft determined to be in service; and

if the intended recipient of the at least one navigation information update is determined to be in service, not installing the at least one navigation service information update in the navigation information database onboard the intended recipient craft.

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

prior to determining if at least one navigation information update is available from the navigation information update system, subscribing for automated navigation database maintenance service.

7. The method of claim 3, wherein the step of connecting the processing unit not onboard the intended recipient with the navigation information database onboard the intended recipient comprises:

storing the at least one navigation information update in a removable storage device;

connecting the removable storage device with the navigation database onboard the intended recipient; and

installing the at least one navigation information update in the navigation information database onboard the intended recipient, if the intended recipient is determined to be available for the update.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the connecting step further comprises a step of connecting to the navigation information update system via the Internet.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the navigation information update system comprises a database server unit.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the processing unit not onboard the intended recipient comprises at least one of a proxy navigation information update system, a proxy server unit, and a PC.

11. A method for automatically updating navigation information, comprising the steps of:

subscribing for automated navigation database maintenance service;

polling to determine if at least one navigation information update is available for an intended recipient;

responsive to the polling step, if the at least one navigation information update is determined to be available for the intended recipient, downloading the at least one navigation information update from a navigation database information update system, and caching the at least one navigation information update;

determining if the intended recipient is available for installation of the at least one navigation information update in an onboard navigation information database; and

responsive to the determining step, if the intended recipient is available for installation of the at least one navigation information update in the onboard navigation information database, installing the at least one navigation information update in the onboard navigation information database.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the polling step comprises the steps of:

the navigation information update system polling a client'"'"'s automated navigation system; and

the client'"'"'s automated navigation system polling the navigation information update system.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the polling step comprises the steps of:

the navigation information update system polling a proxy navigation information update system; and

the proxy navigation information update system polling the navigation database information update system.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the determining step comprises determining if the intended recipient is not in service.

15. A system for updating navigation information, comprising:

a navigation database information update system, the navigation database information update system including navigation information;

a proxy navigation database information update system coupled to the navigation database information update system; and

a navigation information database onboard a craft, wherein the proxy navigation database information update system is configured to;

connect to the navigation database information update system;

determine if at least one navigation information update is available for the craft;

if the at least one navigation information update is available for the craft, determine if the craft is in service or out of service;

if the craft is determined to be out of service, the navigation database information update system is configured to;

download the at least one navigation information update to the navigation information database onboard the craft or to the proxy navigation database information update system; and

if the craft is determined to be in service, the navigation database information update system is configured to;

download the at least one navigation information update to a proxy navigation database information update system cache.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein if the craft is determined to be out of service, the navigation database information update system is further configured to:

download the at least one navigation information update to the navigation information database cache onboard the craft; and

install the at least one navigation information update in the navigation information database onboard the craft.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein if the craft is determined to be out of service, the navigation database information update system is further configured to:

download the at least one navigation information update to the proxy navigation database information update system; and

the proxy navigation database information update system is further configured to;

connect with the navigation information database onboard the craft; and

install the at least one navigation information update in the navigation information database onboard the craft.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein if the craft is determined to be in service, the navigation database information update system is further configured to:

download the at least one navigation information update to the proxy navigation database information update system; and

the proxy navigation database information update system is further configured to;

determine if the craft is out of service; and

if the craft is determined to be out of service, connect with the navigation information database onboard the craft, and install the at least one navigation information update in the navigation information database onboard the craft.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein if the craft is determined to be in service, the navigation database information update system is further configured to:

download the at least one navigation information update to the navigation information database cache onboard the craft; and

the navigation information database onboard the craft is further configured to;

determine if the craft is out of service; and

if the craft is determined to be out of service, install the at least one navigation information update.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein the proxy navigation database information update system is further configured to:

subscribe for automated navigation database maintenance service, prior to determining if the at least one navigation information update is available from the navigation database information.