AIRCRAFT-CENTERED GROUND MANEUVERING MONITORING AND ALERTING SYSTEM
First Claim
1. A monitoring system for notifying an operator that an aircraft is approaching a geographical feature of interest;
- the system comprising;
a database containing geo-referenced charts, wherein each geo-referenced chart contains information related to at least one geographical feature of interest;
a processor;
a positioning system configured to identify at least one of the position, heading, track, altitude, and velocity of the aircraft; and
a display unit configured to display the geo-referenced airport chart and at least one of the present position of the aircraft and the at least one geographical feature of interest on the chart;
wherein the processor utilizes the at least one of aircraft position, heading, track, altitude, and velocity data from the positioning system to define a containment area encompassing at least the aircraft and an area surrounding the aircraft, determines whether the at least one geographical feature of interest is at least partially located within the containment area, and provides a notification signal upon determining that the at least one geographical feature is at least partially located within the containment area.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A monitoring system for alerting operators of aircraft or other vehicles when they are approaching a geographical feature of interest, such as a runway, taxiway or other aircraft. The system includes a database having at least one geo-referenced chart, a processor, a positioning system configured to identify a number of aircraft or other vehicle operational parameters and transmit that data to the processor, and a display unit configured to display the present position of the aircraft on the geo-referenced chart. After receiving the operational parameters, the processor identifies a virtual containment zone centered about the aircraft or vehicle. The processor further monitors the position of the aircraft or other vehicle relative to any geographical features of interest and determines whether at least a portion of a geographical feature is located within the containment area. If such a condition is detected, a notification is generated and presented to the operator who may respond accordingly.
65 Citations
27 Claims
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1. A monitoring system for notifying an operator that an aircraft is approaching a geographical feature of interest;
- the system comprising;
a database containing geo-referenced charts, wherein each geo-referenced chart contains information related to at least one geographical feature of interest; a processor; a positioning system configured to identify at least one of the position, heading, track, altitude, and velocity of the aircraft; and a display unit configured to display the geo-referenced airport chart and at least one of the present position of the aircraft and the at least one geographical feature of interest on the chart; wherein the processor utilizes the at least one of aircraft position, heading, track, altitude, and velocity data from the positioning system to define a containment area encompassing at least the aircraft and an area surrounding the aircraft, determines whether the at least one geographical feature of interest is at least partially located within the containment area, and provides a notification signal upon determining that the at least one geographical feature is at least partially located within the containment area. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
- the system comprising;
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15. A monitoring system for notifying an operator that an aircraft is approaching a geographical area of interest, the system comprising:
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a database including geo-referenced airport chart data, wherein the airport chart data includes information on runways from a plurality of airports; a processor; a positioning system configured to identify at least one of the position, heading, track, altitude, and velocity of the aircraft; and wherein operator selected departure runway information is received by the processor;
wherein the processor defines a containment area encompassing the aircraft; and
wherein the size of the containment area is a function of the velocity of the aircraft. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method for notifying an operator that an aircraft is approaching a geographical feature of interest, the method comprising:
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retrieving a geo-referenced chart and containment area data from a database; displaying the geo-referenced chart on a display unit; determining at least one of position, heading, track, and velocity of the aircraft; transmitting data corresponding to at least one of the position, heading, track, and velocity of the aircraft to a processor; displaying visual indicia corresponding to least one of the position, heading, track, and velocity of the aircraft on the geo-referenced chart; determining whether a geographical feature of interest is at least partially located within a containment area; and upon determining that a geographical feature of interest is at least partially located within a containment area, providing a visible notification to the operator. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27)
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Specification