SMART AVIONICS SYSTEM

• US 20160176538A1
• Filed: 03/06/2015
• Published: 06/23/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/2011
• Status: Active Application

• Current Assignee: Joseph Bekanich
• Original Assignee: Joseph Bekanich
• Inventors: Bekanich, Joseph
• Application Number:
  US14/641,299
• Publication Number:
  US 20160176538A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 2045/0065 Black boxes, devices automatically broadcasting distress signals
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 45/00 Aircraft indicators or protectors not otherwise provided for camouflage F41H3/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/085 using electronic data carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0021 located in the aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18506 Communications with or from aircraft, i.e. aeronautical mobile service
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1895 for short real-time information, e.g. alarms, notifications, alerts, updates
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/04 for emergency applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/15 Information service where the information is dependent on the location of the subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/30 Determination of the location of a subscriber

Abstract

An aircraft communication network comprises: avionics monitoring software in communication with aircraft avionics, the aircraft avionics including a flight data recorder and an emergency location transmitter; the avionics monitoring software functioning to acquire real-time aircraft operating parameters from the flight data recorder; the avionics monitoring software further functioning to activate the emergency location transmitter upon detection of an anomaly in the aircraft operating parameters, a processor/compiler in communication with the avionics monitoring software; and a transmitter in communication with the processor/compiler, the processor/compiler functioning to transmit real-time data obtained from the aircraft flight data recorder to the transmitter for transmission to ground-based facilities.

Claims

1. An aircraft communication network suitable for providing two-way communication between an aircraft in flight and ground-based facilities, said aircraft communication network comprising:

avionics monitoring software in communication with aircraft avionics, said aircraft avionics including a flight data recorder and an emergency location transmitter;

said avionics monitoring software functioning to acquire real-time aircraft operating parameters from said flight data recorder;

said avionics monitoring software further functioning to activate said emergency location transmitter upon detection of an anomaly in said aircraft operating parameters;

a processor/compiler in communication with said avionics monitoring software; and

a transmitter in communication with said processor/compiler, said processor/compiler functioning to provide real-time data from said aircraft avionics to said transmitter for transmission to the ground-based facilities using two-way ground-to-air communication methodology so as to enable immediate viewing and reporting by the ground-based facilities.

2. An aircraft communication network as in claim 1, wherein said two-way ground-to-air communication methodology functions to provide two-way communication among an aircraft in flight;

the ground-based facilities, and at least one search and rescue satellite system.

3. An aircraft communication network as in claim 1 wherein said two-way ground-to-air communication methodology functions to provide communication access by the ground-based facilities to said flight data recorder.

4. An aircraft emergency communication network suitable for providing two-way communication among aircraft, ground-based facilities, and search and rescue satellite systems, said network comprising:

avionics monitoring hardware and software in communication with aircraft avionics, said aircraft avionics including an emergency location transmitter;

said avionics monitoring hardware and software functioning to acquire real-time aircraft operating parameters from said aircraft avionics;

said avionics monitoring hardware and software further functioning to activate said emergency location transmitter upon detection of an anomaly in said real-time aircraft operating parameters,

a processor/compiler in communication with said avionics monitoring hardware and software; and

a transmitter in communication with said processor/compiler, said processor/compiler functioning to transmit said real-time aircraft operating parameters to said emergency location transmitter for transmission to at least one of the ground-based facilities and the search and rescue satellite system.

5. An aircraft emergency communication network as in claim 4, wherein said emergency location transmitter is activated by at least one avionics device, aircraft instrument, or avionics system in communication with said avionics monitoring hardware and software.

6. An aircraft emergency communication network as in claim 4, wherein said emergency location transmitter is activated when a programmable digital gyroscope'"'"'s yaw, pitch or roll operating parameters are breached.

7. An aircraft emergency communication network as in claim 4, wherein said emergency location transmitter is activated when a programmable accelerometer operating parameters are breached.

8. An aircraft emergency communication network as in claim 4, wherein said emergency location transmitter is activated by a secondary aircraft tracking system in communication with a global positioning system.

9. An aircraft emergency communication network as in claim 4, wherein said emergency location transmitter is activated upon detection of at least one of a power interruption to, a device tampering of, or failure of an aircraft avionics component during flight.

10. An aircraft emergency communication network as in claim 9, wherein said aircraft avionics component comprises one of a transponder, an automatic dependent surveillance broadcast system, or an aircraft communication addressing and reporting system.

11. An aircraft emergency communication network as in claim 4, wherein said emergency location transmitter is activated upon a critical warning indication from at least one of a terrain awareness warning system or an engine indicating crew alerting system.

12. An aircraft emergency communication network as in claim 4, wherein said emergency location transmitter is activated upon receiving a warning from a smoke detector.

13. An aircraft emergency communication network as in claim 4, wherein said emergency location transmitter is activated upon detection of a malfunction of either of an automatic dependent surveillance broadcast or an automatic dependent surveillance communication.

14. An aircraft emergency communication network as in claim 4, wherein said emergency location transmitter is activated upon aircraft deviation from an original flight plan.

15. An aircraft communication network as in claim 4, wherein said emergency location transmitter is remotely activated by air traffic authorities using a ground-based web interface over a communication methodology.

16. An aircraft communication network in claim 15, wherein said communication methodology comprises a ground-based web interface in communication with a satellite network.

17. An aircraft communication network as in claim 4, wherein said emergency location transmitter is in communication with said avionics monitoring hardware and software such that said emergency location transmitter can be remotely reset by said air traffic authorities through a ground-based web interface in communication with a satellite network.

18. An aircraft communication network in claim 4, wherein said avionics monitoring hardware and software is in two-way communication with said ground-based aviation facilities and search and rescue personnel such that messages sent by said avionics monitoring hardware and software through available communication methodologies include at least one of a GPS location of the aircraft, a geo-location of the aircraft, and an identification of the aircraft.

19. An aircraft communication system suitable for providing two-way communication between an aircraft in flight and ground-based facilities, said aircraft communication system comprising:

avionics monitoring software in communication with aircraft avionics, said aircraft avionics including a flight data recorder and an emergency location transmitter;

said avionics monitoring software functioning to acquire real-time aircraft operating parameters from said flight data recorder;

said avionics monitoring software further functioning to activate said emergency location transmitter upon detection of an anomaly in said aircraft operating parameters;

a processor/compiler in communication with said avionics monitoring software;

a transmitter in communication with said processor/compiler, said processor/compiler functioning to transmit real-time data from said aircraft avionics to said transmitter for transmission and reporting to the ground-based facilities for immediate viewing using two-way ground-to-air communication methodology; and

a waterproof crash-survivable enclosure with floating capability, said enclosure containing said flight data recorder, said emergency location transmitter, and said transmitter.

20. The enclosure as in claim 19 comprising an embedded antenna for remote activation over a satellite network by said air traffic authorities after an aircraft crash on land or in water.