METHOD AND SYSTEM DISPLAYING AIRCRAFT IN-TRAIL TRAFFIC

• US 20110066362A1
• Filed: 09/17/2009
• Published: 03/17/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: He, Gang
• Application Number:
  US12/561,792
• Publication Number:
  US 20110066362A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/120
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0008 with other aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0013 with a ground station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0021 located in the aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0078 for monitoring traffic from the aircraft radar or analogous systems specially adapted for traffic control G01S13/91
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/025 Navigation or guidance aids radar or analogous systems specially adapted for landing purposes G01S13/913

Abstract

A system and method for displaying in-trail traffic includes providing (402), on a display (200) of a base aircraft (202), a list (222) of identifying numbers of other aircraft (204, 206, 208, 210, 212, 214) transmitting in the ADSB system. One of the other aircraft (206) is selected (404) from the list (222) by the aircrew of the base aircraft (202) for trailing. At least a portion (204, 206, 208, 210) of the other aircraft are displayed (508) as determined (506) from flight information of each aircraft and the route of flight of the in-trail traffic. Flight information of the selected aircraft (206) is presented (512) for comparison with the base aircraft (202).

Claims

1. A method for displaying in-trail traffic, comprising:

providing on a display a base aircraft and a list of identifying numbers of other aircraft transmitting aircraft related parameters;

selecting one of the other aircraft from the list;

displaying at least a portion of the other aircraft based on flight data of each aircraft, and the selected aircraft; and

presenting flight information of the selected aircraft.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the displaying step comprises processing the altitude of the other aircraft.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the displaying step comprises processing the lateral distance between the base and other aircraft.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the displaying step comprises processing the lateral distance between the other aircraft and a flight plan segment of the base aircraft.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the displaying step includes processing flight data of other aircraft within a predefined area of the currently planned pathway.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the displaying step comprises processing the type of each of the other aircraft.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the displaying step comprises displaying the selected aircraft at an edge of a display when it is beyond the distance of the base being displayed.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the displaying step comprises displaying the selected aircraft at an edge of a display when it is beyond the distance of the base aircraft being displayed.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the displaying step comprises displaying the other aircraft as a symbol in a first format and the selected aircraft as a second format.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein the displaying step comprises displaying the base aircraft is a first format and the selected aircraft is a second format.

11. A method for displaying in-trail traffic to a base aircraft, comprising:

identifying all aircraft within a specified distance that are transmitting aircraft related parameters;

displaying a list of identifying numbers of aircraft transmitting aircraft related parameters;

selecting one of the aircraft from the list as a target aircraft;

displaying a symbol for each of the base aircraft, the target aircraft, and at least a portion of the other aircraft based on flight data of each aircraft being within a specified range; and

providing flight information of the selected aircraft.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the displaying a symbol comprising:

displaying the base aircraft in a first format, the target aircraft in a second format, and the other aircraft in a third format.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the displaying a symbol step comprises:

determining the range by comparing altitudes of the base aircraft and the other aircraft.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein the displaying a symbol step comprises:

determining the range by comparing lateral distance between the base aircraft and each of the other aircraft.

15. The method of claim 11 wherein the displaying a list step comprises:

determining the list by compiling call signs of each aircraft.

16. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

providing flight information of the base aircraft adjacent to the flight information of the target aircraft.

17. A system for displaying a base aircraft, a target aircraft in which the base aircraft is to follow, and a plurality of other aircraft, comprising:

a processor configured to;

process flight information of each of the target aircraft, the base aircraft, and the other aircraft;

provide a list of identification numbers for each of the target aircraft and the other aircraft;

process the identify of the target aircraft as selected by the base aircraft aircrew from the list;

determine a format for the display of each of the base aircraft, target aircraft, and the other aircraft based on the processed flight information; and

provide a plurality of display commands; and

a display for displaying in response to the display commands;

a list of the target aircraft and the other aircraft;

a symbol for each of the other aircraft if within a specified range, the base aircraft, and the target aircraft; and

flight information of the target aircraft and the base aircraft.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein the specified range is based on at least one of altitude and lateral distance from the base aircraft.

19. The system of claim 17 wherein flight information includes altitude, speed, and heading.

20. The system of claim 17 wherein the symbol includes a first symbol for the base aircraft, a second symbol for the target aircraft, and a third symbol for each of the other aircraft.