SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR NOTIFICATIONS RELATING TO FLIGHT TRACKING OR PLANNING

• US 20100191754A1
• Filed: 01/26/2009
• Published: 07/29/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Flightaware LLC (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Original Assignee: Flightaware LLC (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Inventors: Baker, Daniel, McNett, David Cameron, Lehenbauer, Karl
• Granted Patent: US 8,296,281 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/758
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/109 Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting

Abstract

A computer-implemented system and method processes flight position information and provides a notification to a remote user in response to a triggering event. Typically, flight position data is received over a digital network. The service accepts requests for notification based upon the position of a specified flight and subsequently provides that notification based upon the flight position data. Upon receiving a user query, a server retrieves a result set from the flight position data and determines if the triggering criteria has been met. In one form, the requested notification may be presented to the user in the form of an e-mail, telephone call, text message or the like. Also disclosed is a system for flight tracking or planning which includes photographs supplied by remote users of the aircraft for which the tracking or planning is associated, for use by other remote users that see the association of the supplied photos with the tracked or planned flight. Still further disclosed is a social system for use with flight tracking or planning which allows affiliated users to share information to the exclusion of other non-affiliated users.

Claims

1. A method facilitating the combination of user-contributed individual aircraft images to data about the proximate arrival or departure of that aircraft comprising:

obtaining electronic data from recent FAA filed flight plan data as to an aircraft arriving to or leaving from a user specified airport; and

querying, by using the electronic data obtained, an electronic database containing aircraft images contributed through an automated, user-accessible system, to select an aircraft image corresponding to said aircraft.

2. A method for providing user-contributed individual aircraft images in association with provided flight tracking information, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving a plurality of digital images of individual aircraft from a plurality of remote users;

storing said plurality of images within an electronic database, wherein each image within said plurality is associated with an aircraft characteristic;

receiving a request from a remote user for flight tracking data;

selecting a digital image from said electronic database, wherein said image has an associated aircraft characteristic matching aircraft represented by the requested flight tracking data; and

transmitting said selected digital image and the requested flight tracking data to said remote user over said digital network.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said storing associates some of the images with the corresponding tail numbers of each aircraft shown.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein said storing associates some of the images with the corresponding classes of the aircraft shown.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein said storing associates some of the images with the corresponding models of the aircraft shown.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein said receiving of images is over the Internet.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein said receiving of a request is over the Internet.

8. A method for use when seeking information in association with flight tracking or flight planning that selectively provides geographically linked information supplied by other affiliated users comprising:

receiving over the Internet from numerous supplying remote users, desired affiliations of each with other users and a content segment associated with a corresponding content location;

receiving over the Internet from a querying remote user, a request for information associated with flight tracking or flight planning linked with a query location;

selectively sending over the Internet to said querying remote user, at least one content segment geographically linked to said query location and received from a supplying remote user having an affiliation with the querying user.

9. The method of claim 8 which provides privacy in said method by requiring, as a condition for said selectively sending, a prior confirmation of permission to affiliate.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said at least one content segment is a review of a service provider located within or servicing said geographic location.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein said geographic location is an airport.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said at least one content segment is a review of an FBO located at said airport.

13. A method for electronically notifying a user in response to a time or position associated with an arriving flight prior to its arrival, in response to an electronic request received from a remote user over the Internet, comprising:

receiving via the Internet, a request from a remote user seeking an initial notification based upon either a user specified time interval before projected flight arrival time determined shortly before the time to send the notification, or upon or a user specified distance from a flight destination;

automatically receiving en route flight data at least 5 minutes after the departure of a flight associated with the requested flight information, while the flight is still more than 3 miles from any destination; and

automatically sending the electronic notification to the remote user in response to the user specification.

14. The method of claim 13 in which said sending includes sending the electronic notification in response to the user specified time interval.

15. The method of claim 14 in which said sending is by way of a text message or a telephone call.

16. The method of claim 14 in which said receiving comprises receiving data originating from an air traffic control authority.

17. The method of claim 13 in which said sending includes sending the electronic notification in response to the user specified distance.

18. The method of claim 17 in which said transmitting is by way of a text message or a telephone call.

19. The method of claim 17 in which said receiving comprises receiving data originating from an air traffic control authority.

20. The method of claim 13 which additionally includes sending a confirmation of the users request for notification prior to sending the initial notification.