METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR REMOTE E-ENABLED AIRCRAFT SOLUTION MANAGEMENT USING AN ELECTRONIC FLIGHT BAG (EFB)

• US 20130124034A1
• Filed: 11/14/2012
• Published: 05/16/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ARINC Incorporated (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Original Assignee: ARINC Incorporated (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Inventors: LENTZ, Robert Lewis
• Granted Patent: US 9,087,419 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/31.4
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 5/60 Testing or inspecting aircraft components or systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 17/00 Testing of vehicles testing fluid tightness G01M3/00; testing elastic properties of bodies or chassis, e.g. torsion-testing, G01M5/00; testing alignment of vehicle headlight devices G01M11/06; testing of engines G01M15/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/008 on air- or spacecraft, railway rolling stock or sea-going vessels
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/006 Indicating maintenance
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0808 Diagnosing performance data testing of vehicles G01M17/00; testing of electrical installation on vehicles G01R31/005

Abstract

A method for using an Electronic Flight Bag (EFB) located on an aircraft to communicate with a remote aircraft system data communications unit concerning aircraft systems problems and malfunctions, is disclosed. The method may include receiving aircraft systems data from one or more aircraft systems, identifying any problems or malfunctions in the aircraft systems, automatically communicating any identified problems or malfunctions in the aircraft systems to the remote aircraft system data communications unit, receiving information concerning a solution to the identified problems or malfunctions in the aircraft systems from the remote aircraft system data communications unit, and implementing the solution to the identified problems or malfunctions in the aircraft systems.

Claims

1. A method for using an Electronic Flight Bag (EFB) located on an aircraft to communicate with a remote aircraft system data communications unit concerning aircraft systems problems and malfunctions, comprising:

receiving aircraft systems data from one or more aircraft systems;

identifying any problems or malfunctions in the aircraft systems;

automatically communicating any identified problems or malfunctions in the aircraft systems to the remote aircraft system data communications unit;

receiving information concerning a solution to the identified problems or malfunctions in the aircraft systems from the remote aircraft system data communications unit; and

implementing the solution to the identified problems or malfunctions in the aircraft systems.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein implementing the solution to the identified problems or malfunctions in the aircraft systems includes outputting the solution to at least one of the aircraft'"'"'s pilot and crewmembers.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein implementing the solution to the identified problems or malfunctions in the aircraft systems includes automatically implementing the solution to the identified problems or malfunctions in the aircraft systems.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more aircraft systems include the EFB.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein any problems or malfunctions in the EFB are identified by a self-diagnostic check.

6. An Electronic Flight Bag (EFB) located on an aircraft to communicate with a remote aircraft system data communications unit concerning aircraft systems problems and malfunctions, comprising:

a communication interface; and

an aircraft systems interface unit that receives aircraft systems data from one or more aircraft systems, identifies any problems or malfunctions in the aircraft systems, automatically communicates any identified problems or malfunctions in the aircraft systems to the remote aircraft system data communications unit through the communication interface, receives information concerning a solution to the identified problems or malfunctions in the aircraft systems from the remote aircraft system data communications unit through the communication interface, and implements the solution to the identified problems or malfunctions in the aircraft systems.

7. The EFB of claim 6, wherein the aircraft systems interface unit implements the solution to the identified problems or malfunctions in the aircraft systems by outputting the solution to at least one of the aircraft'"'"'s pilot and crewmembers.

8. The EFB of claim 6, wherein the aircraft systems interface unit implements the solution to the identified problems or malfunctions in the aircraft systems by automatically implementing the solution to the identified problems or malfunctions in the aircraft systems.

9. The EFB of claim 6, wherein the one or more aircraft systems include the EFB.

10. The EFB of claim 9, further comprising:

a self-diagnostic unit that identifies any problems or malfunctions in the EFB.

11. A method for using a remote aircraft system data communications unit to communicate with an Electronic Flight Bag (EFB) located on an aircraft concerning aircraft systems problems and malfunctions, comprising:

receiving aircraft systems data from one or more aircraft, the received aircraft information including identified problems or malfunctions in the aircraft systems of the at least one of the aircraft;

sending the identified problems or malfunctions in the aircraft systems of the aircraft to at least one of an aircraft systems technician and an automated aircraft system diagnostic unit;

receiving information concerning a solution to the identified problems or malfunctions in the aircraft systems from at least one of one or more aircraft technicians and the automated aircraft system diagnostic unit; and

sending the information concerning a solution to the identified problems or malfunctions in the aircraft systems to the EFB on the aircraft for implementation.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein implementation of the solution to the identified problems or malfunctions in the aircraft systems includes outputting the solution to at least one of the aircraft'"'"'s pilot and crewmembers.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein implementation of the solution to the identified problems or malfunctions in the aircraft systems includes automatically implementing the solution to the identified problems or malfunctions in the aircraft systems.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the one or more aircraft systems include the EFB.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the method is performed by one of a server, a computer, a processing device, and a personal digital assistant.

16. An aircraft data communications unit that communicates with an Electronic Flight Bag (EFB) located on an aircraft concerning aircraft systems problems and malfunctions, comprising:

a communication interface;

an aircraft systems analysis management unit that receives aircraft systems data from one or more aircraft through the communication interface, the received aircraft information including identified problems or malfunctions in the aircraft systems of the at least one of the aircraft, sends the identified problems or malfunctions in the aircraft systems of the aircraft to at least one of an aircraft systems technician and an automated aircraft system diagnostic unit, receives information concerning a solution to the identified problems or malfunctions in the aircraft systems from at least one of one or more aircraft technicians and the automated aircraft system diagnostic unit, and sends the information concerning a solution to the identified problems or malfunctions in the aircraft systems to the EFB on the aircraft for implementation through the communication interface.

17. The aircraft data communications unit of claim 16, wherein implementation of the solution to the identified problems or malfunctions in the aircraft systems includes outputting the solution to at least one of the aircraft'"'"'s pilot and crewmembers.

18. The aircraft data communications unit of claim 16, wherein implementation of the solution to the identified problems or malfunctions in the aircraft systems includes automatically implementing the solution to the identified problems or malfunctions in the aircraft systems.

19. The aircraft data communications unit of claim 16, wherein the one or more aircraft systems include the EFB.

20. The aircraft data communications unit of claim 16, wherein the aircraft data communications unit one of a server, a computer, a processing device, and a personal digital assistant.