Aircraft Tracking Method and Device and Method of Installation
First Claim
1. An apparatus comprising:
- a satellite navigation system receiver configured to identify a position of an aircraft using navigation signals received from a satellite navigation system;
a satellite communications transceiver;
a number of antennas for the satellite navigation system receiver and the satellite communications transceiver;
a processor configured to generate position information identifying the position of the aircraft as identified by the satellite navigation system receiver and send the position information to a receiving station via a communications satellite in a low Earth orbit using the satellite communications transceiver, wherein the processor is configured to generate and send the position information automatically at a rate; and
a housing attached to the aircraft on an outside of the aircraft, wherein the satellite navigation system receiver, the satellite communications transceiver, the number of antennas, and the processor are hermetically sealed within the housing.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for tracking the position of an aircraft. A tracking device comprises a satellite navigation system receiver, a satellite communications transceiver, and a processor hermetically sealed within a housing attached on an outside of the aircraft. The satellite navigation system receiver is used to identify the position of the aircraft using navigation signals received from a satellite navigation system. The processor generates position information identifying the position of the aircraft as identified using the navigation system receiver. The processor sends the position information to a receiving station via a communications satellite in a low Earth orbit using the satellite communications transceiver. The position information is automatically generated by the processor and sent to the receiving station at a desired rate.
7 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An apparatus comprising:
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a satellite navigation system receiver configured to identify a position of an aircraft using navigation signals received from a satellite navigation system; a satellite communications transceiver; a number of antennas for the satellite navigation system receiver and the satellite communications transceiver; a processor configured to generate position information identifying the position of the aircraft as identified by the satellite navigation system receiver and send the position information to a receiving station via a communications satellite in a low Earth orbit using the satellite communications transceiver, wherein the processor is configured to generate and send the position information automatically at a rate; and a housing attached to the aircraft on an outside of the aircraft, wherein the satellite navigation system receiver, the satellite communications transceiver, the number of antennas, and the processor are hermetically sealed within the housing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of tracking a position of an aircraft, comprising:
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identifying, using a satellite navigation system receiver, the position of the aircraft using navigation signals received from a satellite navigation system; generating, by a processor, position information identifying the position of the aircraft as identified using the satellite navigation system receiver; sending, by the processor, the position information to a receiving station via a communications satellite in a low Earth orbit using a satellite communications transceiver; wherein the processor generates and sends the position information automatically at a rate; and wherein the satellite navigation system receiver, the processor, and the satellite communications transceiver are hermetically sealed within a housing attached to the aircraft on an outside of the aircraft. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of attaching a tamper-proof tracking device to an aircraft, comprising:
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removing an antenna for an emergency locator transmitter from a location on a skin of the aircraft where the antenna for the emergency locator transmitter is attached to the skin of the aircraft; and attaching the tamper-proof tracking device to the skin of the aircraft at the location on the skin of the aircraft where the antenna for the emergency locator transmitter was attached to the skin of the aircraft, wherein the tamper-proof tracking device comprises; a satellite navigation system receiver configured to identify a position of the aircraft using navigation signals received from a satellite navigation system; a satellite communications transceiver; a number of antennas for the satellite navigation system receiver and the satellite communications transceiver; a processor configured to generate position information identifying the position of the aircraft as identified by the satellite navigation system receiver and send the position information to a receiving station via a communications satellite in a low Earth orbit using the satellite communications transceiver; and a housing containing the satellite navigation system receiver, the satellite communications transceiver, the number of antennas, and the processor, wherein the satellite navigation system receiver, the satellite communications transceiver, the number of antennas, and the processor are hermetically sealed within the housing. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification