Method and Apparatus for Building a Taxiing Route

• US 20160328977A1
• Filed: 05/08/2015
• Published: 11/10/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Lueck, Scott Allen, Jacobson, Aaron John
• Granted Patent: US 9,799,225 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 2045/0075 Adaptations for use of electronic flight bags in aircraft; Supports therefor in the cockpit
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 23/00 Combined instruments indicating more than one navigational value, e.g. for aircraft; Combined measuring devices for measuring two or more variables of movement, e.g. distance, speed or acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 23/005 Flight directors indicating arrangements specially adapted for rotary gyroscopes G01C19/32
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0237 using prediction or retrieval techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/945 User interactive design; Environments; Toolboxes
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/32 Digital ink
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0013 with a ground station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0021 located in the aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0034 Assembly of a flight plan
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0047 Navigation or guidance aids for a single aircraft details of equipment G08G5/0017
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/065 Navigation or guidance aids, e.g. for taxiing or rolling

Abstract

A method and apparatus for building a route for moving an aircraft within an on-ground environment by identifying route elements. Input that is entered by an operator of an aircraft based on route instructions provided by a controller is received through a character input section of a graphical user interface. Route information is generated based on the input using character recognition. The route for moving the aircraft within the on-ground environment is built based on the route information.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a graphical user interface that includes a character input section for receiving input that is entered by an operator of an aircraft based on route instructions provided by a controller; and

a route manager in communication with the graphical user interface, wherein the route manager receives the input entered through the character input section, generates route information based on the input using character recognition, and builds a route for moving the aircraft within an on-ground environment based on the route information.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the graphical user interface comprises:

a route display area for displaying at least a portion of a plurality of route elements that form the route as the route is being built.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the graphical user interface comprises:

a map area, wherein the route manager updates a map within the map area based on the route information.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the route manager generates the route information using a digital map of the on-ground environment.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the graphical user interface comprises:

an input area that includes the character input section and a set of control objects.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the set of control objects includes at least one of a next button, a previous button, a clear button, a left turn button, a right turn button, or a hold short button.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a display system, wherein the graphical user interface is displayed on the display system; and

an input system integrated with the display system that enables the operator to enter the input in the character input section of the graphical user interface using at least one of a finger of the operator, a stylus, or a digital pen.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a database in communication with at least one of the route manager or the graphical user interface, wherein the database stores at least one of map data, a plurality of element identifiers, and reference data.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the plurality of element identifiers identify at least one of a parking location, a terminal, a gate, a taxiway, a runway, a holding area, or a deicing area.

10. A route management system comprising:

a display system;

a graphical user interface displayed on the display system, wherein the graphical user interface comprises;

an input area that includes a character input section and a set of control objects; and

a route manager that receives input through the character input section and at least one control object in the set of control objects, generates route information based on the input using character recognition, and builds a route for taxiing an aircraft at an airport based on the route information.

11. The route management system of claim 10, wherein the graphical user interface includes a map area for displaying an airport map and wherein the route manager updates the airport map as the route is being built.

12. A method for building a route for moving an aircraft within an on-ground environment, the method comprising:

receiving, through a character input section of a graphical user interface, input entered by an operator of the aircraft based on route instructions provided by a controller;

generating route information based on the input using character recognition; and

building the route for moving the aircraft within the on-ground environment based on the route information.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein building the route comprises:

performing at least one of adding a new route element to the route, removing a route element from the route, or modifying the route element of the route.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein receiving the input comprises:

receiving the input through the character input section of the graphical user interface as touch input generated by at least one of a finger of the operator, a stylus, or a digital pen.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein generating the route information comprises:

identifying a route element for the route based on character input in the input using the character recognition.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein identifying the route element comprises:

identifying a character set based on the character input using the character recognition; and

identifying the route element for the route, based on the character set.

17. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

receiving selection input through at least one control object in a set of control objects displayed in the graphical user interface.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising:

building the route based on selection input.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein building the route based on the selection input comprises:

performing at least one of adding a new turn direction to the route or removing a turn direction from the route.

20. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

displaying a map in a map area of the graphical user interface; and

updating the map based on the route information as the route is being built.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein updating the map comprises:

displaying a number of graphical elements in the map to identify at least one of a terminal, a gate, a runway, a taxiway, or a holding area.