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Method of altitude track initialization in an aircraft tracking system

  • US 5,317,316 A
  • Filed: 12/22/1992
  • Issued: 05/31/1994
  • Est. Priority Date: 12/22/1992
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A method of processing a plurality of replies of target aircraft provided in response to interrogation signals from a surveillance aircraft during surveillance periods to determine whether an altitude track may be initialized for use in a traffic alert and collision avoidance system, said method comprising the steps of:

  • selecting three replies, one from each of three consecutive surveillance periods, said replies having binary or coded altitude data of high or low confidence;

    comparing the binary or coded altitude data of non-adjacent and adjacent replies of the selected replies and generating an altitude difference value for each of the comparisons;

    discarding further efforts to initialize a track if any of the altitude difference values are greater than first predetermined separated altitudes if and only if such non-adjacent and adjacent replies have binary or coded altitude data of high confidence; and

    further comparing the binary or coded altitude data of the non-adjacent and the adjacent replies whether or not the replies have binary data of low or high confidence to determine whether an altitude track may be initialized.

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