SPATIAL SOURCE COLLECTION AND SERVICES SYSTEM

• US 20090285491A1
• Filed: 05/19/2008
• Published: 11/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Wiesemann, Thorsten, Ravenscroft, Donald L.
• Granted Patent: US 8,255,156 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/203
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/06 for control when on the ground

Abstract

A method is provided for obtaining data about spatial objects. The data is received from a set of adaptable and programmable sensor units associated with a set of spatial objects in real time to form received data, wherein the data is generated in response to a change in a measurement or time of a sensor unit in the set of sensor units. A collection of data for spatial objects is updated with the received data.

Claims

1. A method for obtaining data about spatial objects, the method comprising:

receiving the data from a set of sensor units associated with a set of spatial objects in real time to form received data, wherein the data is generated in response to a change in a measurement made by a sensor unit in the set of sensor units; and

updating a collection of data for spatial objects with the received data.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the data comprises a unique identifier, position information, and a time stamp for a spatial object in the set of spatial objects.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

generating additional data, by the set of sensor units, based on a policy used to report a sensor state; and

sending the additional data to update the collection of data.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein a portion of the set of sensor units has a spatial relationship that describes the shape of the spatial object.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the spatial object is a runaway at an airport and wherein the portion of the set of sensor units is located along a perimeter of the runway.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the portion of the set of sensor units is associated with each other.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

aggregating portions of the received data associated with the portion of the set of sensor units.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

sending the collection of data for the spatial objects with updates to a client.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the client is a data processing system located on one of an aircraft and a ship.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the change in a position of the sensor unit in the set of sensor units is an unauthorized change in the position of the sensor.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the collection of data is for an aerodrome mapping database.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

converting the received data into a geographic information systems format prior to storing the received data in the data processing system.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensor unit in the set of sensor units comprises a set of sensors, a global positioning system receiver, a processor unit, a communications unit, and a housing.

14. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

providing a service to a set of clients using the collection of data with updates.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the service comprises at least one of aeronautical charts, airport assessments updates, monitoring and alerts regarding spatial objects, security services, emergency landing sites, an identification, home land defense emergency landing sites, home land defense temporary operation sites, aggregation and filtering of spatial object data, notice to airman real time alerting, data for cogitated applications requiring time variant information, visual flight rules object identification, and visual flight rules aerial identification.

16. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

generating the data in response to the change in the measurement for a parameter other than a change in a position of the sensor unit.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the set of spatial objects comprises at least one of a runway, a taxiway, a barrier, a building, a crane, a control tower, and a vehicle.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the set of sensor units may change a pattern of reporting data in response to the change in position or time.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the measurement is at least one of a position of the sensor and a state of an associated spatial object.

20. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

changing how a sensor unit in the set of sensor units makes measurements.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensor unit is self aware about the spatial environment.

22. An apparatus comprising:

a set of wireless sensor units associated with a set of spatial objects, wherein the set of wireless sensor units are capable of generating location information identifying a set of locations for the set of wireless sensor units and transmitting the location information over a network; and

a server system capable of receiving the location information for the set of wireless sensor units, updating a collection of data for the set of spatial objects, and providing services to a set of clients using the collection of data for the set of spatial objects with updates.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein a wireless sensor unit in the set of wireless sensor units comprises a global positioning system receiver, a processor unit, a communications unit, and a housing.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the wireless sensor unit further comprises a set of sensors.