Aircraft N-number control system

• US 5,703,591 A
• Filed: 06/03/1996
• Issued: 12/30/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Oracle America, Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sun Microsystems Incorporated (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Tognazzini, Bruce
• Primary Examiner(s): Eldred, J. Woodrow
• Application Number:
  US08/657,262
• Time in Patent Office: 575 Days
• Field of Search: 342/182, 342/36, 342/176, 342/30, 342/38, 364/439
• US Class Current: 342/30
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/91 for traffic control G01S13/93 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/913 for landing purposes
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0027 of actual mobile position, i.e. position determined on mobile
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/06 Cathode-ray tube displays or other two dimensional or three-dimensional displays
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/062 in which different colours are used
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/22 Producing cursor lines and indicia by electronic means

Abstract

An aircraft N-number control system includes a receiver for receiving aircraft identification information signals representing alphanumeric characters corresponding to an aircraft. A microprocessor operating in accordance with stored programming instructions processes the received aircraft identification information signals into alphanumeric codes, determines whether there is a substantial similarity between the alphanumeric codes representing two aircraft and generates an output signal representing the alphanumeric codes only if there is no substantial similarity. The alphanumeric codes representing the aircraft are displayed on a air traffic controller'"'"'s radar screen in response to the output signal.

Claims

1. An air traffic control system, comprising:

a receiver configured to receive first and second aircraft identification information signals representing respective first and second groups of alphanumeric characters corresponding to first and second aircraft, said second aircraft identification information signal being received subsequent to said first aircraft identification information signal; and

a processor configured to process said first aircraft identification information signal into a first code signal representing a first alphanumeric code and said second aircraft identification information signal into a second code signal representing a second alphanumeric code, to determine whether said second alphanumeric code exceeds a specified degree of similarity to said first alphanumeric code, and to generate, as an output signal, either said second code signal if said second alphanumeric code does not exceed said specified degree of similarity to said first alphanumeric code or said second aircraft identification information signal if said second alphanumeric code exceeds said specified degree of similarity.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein said system further comprises an operator display configured to display said first group of alphanumeric characters and the alphanumeric characters represented by said output signal.

3. A system according to claim 2, wherein said receiver is configured to further receive first and second aircraft position information signals respectively representing positions of said first and second aircrafts, said processor is configured to process said first and second aircraft position information signals and to generate first and second output signals indicative of the relative positions of said first and second aircrafts, and said display is configured to display said first group of alphanumeric characters at or near the relative position of said first aircraft and the alphanumeric characters represented by said output signal at or near the relative position of said second aircraft.

4. A system according to claim 3, wherein said display comprises a touch screen display and, when an operator touches the screen at a location at which said second group of alphanumeric characters is displayed, said processor processes said second aircraft identification information signal into a second code signal representing a second alphanumeric code, determines whether said second alphanumeric code exceeds a specified degree of similarity to said first alphanumeric code and generates said output signal at the relative position of said second aircraft.

5. A system according to claim 4, wherein said second group of alphanumerics is displayed in a first color before the operator touches the screen and, after the operator touches the screen, said alphanumeric characters represented by the output signal is displayed in a second color different than the first color.

6. A system according to claim 5, wherein when an operator touches the screen at a location at which said second group of alphanumeric characters is displayed, said processor also processes said first aircraft identification information signal into a first code signal representing a first alphanumeric code, and if said second alphanumeric code exceeds a specified degree of similarity to said first alphanumeric code, said first alphanumeric code is also displayed in said second color.

7. A system according to claim 2, wherein when said processor processes said second aircraft identification information signal into a second code signal representing a second alphanumeric code and determines that said second alphanumeric code exceeds a specified degree of similarity to said first alphanumeric code, the first group of alphanumeric characters and the alphanumeric characters represented by said output signal flash for a predetermined period of time.

8. A system according to claim 1, wherein said first and second alphanumeric codes consist of the alphanumeric characters located at predetermined positions in the first and second groups of alphanumeric characters.

9. A system according to claim 8, further comprises a display configured to display, if the second alphanumeric code does not exceed a specified degree of similarity to said first alphanumeric code, only the alphanumeric characters located at the predetermined positions in the first and second groups are displayed.

10. A system according to claim 8, further comprises a display configured to display, if the second alphanumeric code exceeds a specified degree of similarity to said first alphanumeric code, the alphanumeric characters located at the predetermined positions in the first and second groups at a higher intensity than the alphanumeric characters located at other positions.

11. A system according to claim 1, wherein the processor determines if the second alphanumeric code has any one of a sequential similarity, a dyslexic similarity and a phonetic similarity with the first alphanumeric code to a specified degree.

12. A system according to claim 2, wherein the system further comprises a transponder and an alphanumeric display located in the first or second aircraft and wherein said alphanumeric display is changed in conjunction with the operator display.

13. A system according to claim 12, wherein data for controlling the alphanumeric display is transmitted to the alphanumeric display via the transponder.

14. A system according to claim 13, wherein the operator display and the alphanumeric display are changed if the transponder frequency is changed.

15. A method for controlling air traffic comprising the steps of:

receiving first and second aircraft identification information signals representing respective first and second groups of alphanumeric characters corresponding to first and second aircraft, said second aircraft identification information signal being received subsequent to said first aircraft identification information signal;

processing said first aircraft identification information signal into a first code signal representing a first alphanumeric code and said second aircraft identification information signal into a second code signal representing a second alphanumeric code;

determining whether said second alphanumeric code exceeds a specified degree of similarity to said first alphanumeric code, and

generating as an output signal, either said second code signal if said second alphanumeric code does not exceed a specified degree of similarity to said first alphanumeric code or said second aircraft identification information signal if said second alphanumeric code is substantially similar to said first alphanumeric code.

16. A method according to claim 15, wherein said method further comprises the step of displaying said first group of alphanumeric characters and the alphanumeric characters represented by said output signal on an operator display.

17. A method according to claim 16, comprising the further steps of receiving first and second aircraft position information signals respectively representing positions of said first and second aircrafts, processing said first and second aircraft position information signals, generating first and second output signals indicative of the relative positions of said first and second aircrafts, and displaying said first group of alphanumeric characters at or near the relative position of said first aircraft and the alphanumeric characters represented by said output signal at or near the relative position of said second aircraft.

18. A method according to claim 17, wherein, when an operator touches the display screen at a location at which said second group of alphanumeric characters is displayed, a processor processes said second aircraft identification information signal into a second code signal representing a second alphanumeric code, determines whether said second alphanumeric code exceeds a specified degree of similarity to said first alphanumeric code and generates said output signal at the relative position of said second aircraft.

19. A method according to claim 18, wherein said second group of alphanumerics is displayed in a first color before the operator touches the screen and, after the operator touches the screen, said alphanumeric characters represented by the output signal is displayed in a second color different than the first color.

20. A method according to claim 19, wherein when an operator touches the screen at a location at which said second group of alphanumeric characters is displayed, said processor also processes said first aircraft identification information signal into a first code signal representing a first alphanumeric code, and if said second alphanumeric code exceeds a specified degree of similarity to said first alphanumeric code, said first alphanumeric code is also displayed in said second color.

21. A method according to claim 16, wherein when said second aircraft identification information signal is processed into a second code signal representing a second alphanumeric code and said second alphanumeric code exceeds a specified degree of similarity to said first alphanumeric code, the first group of alphanumeric characters and the alphanumeric characters represented by said output signal flash on the display for a predetermined period of time.

22. A method according to claim 15, wherein said first and second alphanumeric codes consist of the alphanumeric characters located at predetermined positions in the first and second groups of alphanumeric characters.

23. A method according to claim 22, wherein if the second alphanumeric code does not exceed a specified degree of similarity to said first alphanumeric code, only the alphanumeric characters located at the predetermined positions in the first and second groups are displayed.

24. A method according to claim 22, wherein if the second alphanumeric code exceeds a specified degree of similarity to said first alphanumeric code, the alphanumeric characters located at the predetermined positions in the first and second groups are displayed at a higher intensity than the alphanumeric characters located at other positions.

25. A method according to claim 15, wherein the step of determining comprises determining if the second alphanumeric code has any one of a sequential similarity, a dyslexic similarity and a phonetic similarity with the first alphanumeric code to a specified degree.

26. A method according to claim 16, further comprising the step of changing an alphanumeric display located in the first or second aircraft in conjunction with the operator display.

27. A method according to claim 26, comprising the further step of transmitting data for controlling the alphanumeric display via the transponder.

28. A method according to claim 27, comprising the step of changing the operator display and the alphanumeric display if the transponder frequency is changed.

29. An article of manufacture for controlling aircraft N-numbers, comprising:

a computer readable storage medium; and

computer programming stored on said storage medium;

wherein said stored computer programming is configured to cause said computer to operate to;

detect first and second groups of alphanumeric characters respectively identifying said first and second aircraft from received first and second aircraft identification information signals;

compute first and second alphanumeric codes corresponding to said first and second groups of alphanumeric characters;

compare said first alphanumeric code with said second alphanumeric code to determine whether said first and second alphanumeric codes exceed a specified degree of similarity; and

generate, as an output signal, either said second alphanumeric code if it does not exceed a specified degree of similarity to said first alphanumeric code or said second aircraft identification information signal if said second alphanumeric code exceeds said specified degree of similarity to said first alphanumeric code.

30. An article of manufacture according to claim 29, wherein said stored computer programming is configured to be readable from said computer readable storage medium by the computer to thereby cause said computer to operate so as to:

process said second aircraft identification information signal into a second code signal representing a second alphanumeric code, determine whether said second alphanumeric code exceeds a specified degree of similarity to said first alphanumeric code and generate said output signal at the relative position of said second aircraft in response to an operator touching a touch screen display at a location at which said second group of alphanumeric characters is displayed.

31. An article of manufacture according to claim 29, wherein said stored computer programming is configured to be readable from said computer readable storage medium by the computer to thereby cause said computer to operate so as to:

determine if the second alphanumeric code has any one of a sequential similarity, a dyslexic similarity and a phonetic similarity with the first alphanumeric code to a specified degree.

32. A programmed control system for controlling aircraft N-numbers, comprising:

a processor configured to (i) process a first aircraft identification information signal representing the N-number of a first aircraft into a first code signal representing a first N-number code and a second aircraft identification information signal representing the N-number of a second aircraft into a second code signal representing a second N-number code, (ii) determine whether said second N-number code exceeds a specified degree of similarity to said first N-number code, and (iii) generate, as an output signal, either said second code signal if said second N-number code does not exceed a specified degree of similarity to said first N-number code or said second aircraft identification information signal if said second N-number code exceeds said specified degree of similarity to said first N-number code;

a storage medium configured to store information corresponding to said first and second N-numbers and N-number codes; and

a transmitter configured to transmit the output signal to said second aircraft.

33. A programmed control system according to claim 32, wherein:

said processor is configured to determine if the second alphanumeric code has any one of a sequential similarity, a dyslexic similarity and a phonetic similarity with the first alphanumeric code to a specified degree.

34. A control system for controlling aircraft N-numbers comprising one or more aircraft each equipped with:

a. an alphanumeric color display for displaying the N-number of the aircraft with different display attributes, and

b. a transponder for transmitting information on a selected radio frequency and for receiving information about the display attributes from a centralized control station and providing said information to said alphanumeric color display.

35. The control system according to claim 34 wherein said centralized control station comprises a processor configured to output said information about the display attributes and a transmitter transmitting said information about the display attributes to said one or more aircraft.