METHOD FOR ACCESSING AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL COMMUNICATIONS

• US 20090258643A1
• Filed: 04/09/2008
• Published: 10/15/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: McGuffin, Thomas F.
• Application Number:
  US12/100,283
• Publication Number:
  US 20090258643A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/431
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0013 with a ground station
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18506 Communications with or from aircraft, i.e. aeronautical mobile service

Abstract

A method for accessing datalink communications for an aircraft is provided. The method comprises providing a pre-selected datalink service provider for aircraft communications, detecting a datalink service provider supplying air traffic control (ATC) communication services, and determining whether the detected datalink service provider is the same as the pre-selected datalink service provider. If the detected datalink service provider is not the same as the pre-selected datalink service provider, a communication link is established with the detected datalink service provider for ATC messages, while a communication link is maintained with the pre-selected datalink service provider for non-ATC messages. If the detected datalink service provider is the same as the pre-selected datalink service provider, a communication link is maintained with the pre-selected datalink service provider for both ATC messages and non-ATC messages.

Claims

1. A method for accessing datalink communications for an aircraft, the method comprising:

(a) providing a pre-selected datalink service provider for aircraft communications;

(b) detecting a datalink service provider supplying air traffic control (ATC) communication services;

(c) determining whether the detected datalink service provider is the same as the pre-selected datalink service provider;

(d) if the detected datalink service provider is not the same as the pre-selected datalink service provider, establishing a communication link with the detected datalink service provider for ATC messages, while maintaining a communication link with the pre-selected datalink service provider for non-ATC messages; and

(e) if the detected datalink service provider is the same as the pre-selected datalink service provider, maintaining a communication link with the pre-selected datalink service provider for both ATC messages and non-ATC messages.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the method is implemented as part of communication protocols for an avionics software module.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the method is implemented as part of communication protocols for a future air navigation controller pilot data link communication (CPDLC) system.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the method is implemented as part of communication protocols for an aeronautical telecommunication network CPDLC system.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising waiting for a change in the datalink service provider for the aircraft following steps (d) or (e).

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising repeating steps (c) to (e) when a new datalink service provider is detected that provides ATC communication services.

7. A computer program product, comprising:

a computer readable medium having instructions stored thereon for a method of accessing datalink communications for an aircraft, the method comprising;

(a) detecting a datalink service provider supplying air traffic control (ATC) communication services;

(b) determining whether the detected datalink service provider is the same as a pre-selected datalink service provider for aircraft communications;

(c) if the detected datalink service provider is not the same as the pre-selected datalink service provider, establishing a communication link with the detected datalink service provider for ATC messages, while maintaining a communication link with the pre-selected datalink service provider for non-ATC messages; and

(d) if the detected datalink service provider is the same as the pre-selected datalink service provider, maintaining a communication link with the pre-selected datalink service provider for both ATC messages and non-ATC messages.

8. The computer program product of claim 7, wherein the instructions are implemented as part of communication protocols for an avionics software module.

9. The computer program product of claim 7, wherein the instructions are implemented as part of communication protocols for a future air navigation controller pilot data link communication (CPDLC) system.

10. The computer program product of claim 7, wherein the instructions are implemented as part of communication protocols for an aeronautical telecommunication network CPDLC system.

11. The computer program product of claim 7, wherein the method further comprises waiting for a change in the datalink service provider for the aircraft following steps (c) or (d).

12. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein the method further comprises repeating steps (b) to (d) when a new datalink service provider is detected that provides ATC communication services.

13. A computer comprising:

a computer readable medium for storing an avionics software module including instructions for accessing datalink communications for an aircraft, the instructions comprising;

(a) program code to detect a datalink service provider supplying air traffic control (ATC) communication services;

(b) program code to determine whether the detected datalink service provider is the same as a pre-selected datalink service provider for aircraft communications;

(c) program code to establish a communication link with the detected datalink service provider for ATC messages, while maintaining a communication link with the pre-selected datalink service provider for non-ATC messages, if the detected datalink service provider is not the same as the pre-selected datalink service provider; and

(d) program code to maintain a communication link with the pre-selected datalink service provider for both ATC messages and non-ATC messages if the detected datalink service provider is the same as the pre-selected datalink service provider.

14. The computer of claim 13, wherein the computer comprises a special purpose computer for managing air-ground data communications.

15. The computer of claim 13, wherein the computer comprises a communication management unit, or a communication management function in an integrated avionics system.

16. The computer of claim 13, wherein the instructions are implemented as part of communication protocols for a future air navigation controller pilot data link communication (CPDLC) system.

17. The computer of claim 13, wherein the instructions are implemented as part of communication protocols for an aeronautical telecommunication network CPDLC system.

18. The computer of claim 13, wherein the instructions further comprise program code to wait for a change in the datalink service provider for the aircraft following instructions (c) or (d).

19. The computer of claim 18, wherein the instructions further comprise program code to repeat instructions (b) to (d) when a new datalink service provider is detected that provides ATC communication services.

20. The computer of claim 13, wherein the computer is onboard an aircraft.