Satellite based commercial and military intercity and intercontinental air traffic control
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An air traffic control (ATC) system, comprising:
- a global-coverage satellite communications network;
a control center in communication with said satellite communications network; and
an aircraft comprising an airborne navigation location reporting system device which provides capability for transmitting and receiving voice and data messages to and from said control center via said satellite communications network independent of a positional location of said aircraft and a location of said control center, wherein said airborne navigation location reporting system device includes a sensor/control array which monitors aircraft control and sensor information, an aircraft navigation system for providing navigational information, and a satellite communications controller for detecting and receiving incoming messages from said satellite communications network and for transmitting outgoing messages, in response to said aircraft control and sensor information, said navigational information or said incoming messages, to said satellite communications network.
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Abstract
A satellite-based air traffic control system utilizes global-coverage satellite communications network to provide voice and data communication between an air traffic control center and one or more aircraft worldwide. Each aircraft is provided with an airborne navigation location reporting system device which has the capability of determining positional information of the aircraft and to transmit and receive voice and data messages to and from the ATC center via the satellite communications network.
119 Citations
38 Claims
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1. An air traffic control (ATC) system, comprising:
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a global-coverage satellite communications network; a control center in communication with said satellite communications network; and an aircraft comprising an airborne navigation location reporting system device which provides capability for transmitting and receiving voice and data messages to and from said control center via said satellite communications network independent of a positional location of said aircraft and a location of said control center, wherein said airborne navigation location reporting system device includes a sensor/control array which monitors aircraft control and sensor information, an aircraft navigation system for providing navigational information, and a satellite communications controller for detecting and receiving incoming messages from said satellite communications network and for transmitting outgoing messages, in response to said aircraft control and sensor information, said navigational information or said incoming messages, to said satellite communications network. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. An airborne navigation location reporting system device for an aircraft under control of a satellite based air traffic control system comprising a satellite communications network and control center, said aircraft and said control center in communication via said satellite communications network, comprising:
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a sensor/control array which monitors aircraft control and sensor information; an aircraft navigation system for providing navigational information; and a satellite communications controller for detecting and receiving incoming voice and data messages from said control center via said satellite communications network and for transmitting outgoing voice and data messages, in response to said aircraft control and sensor information, said navigational information or said incoming voice and data messages, to said control center via said satellite communications network. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A method for providing seamless global air traffic control in an air traffic control system comprising at least one air traffic control (ATC) center, an aircraft supplied with an airborne navigation location reporting system device, and a global-coverage satellite communications network, said method comprising the steps of:
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generating air traffic control (ATC) messages at said ATC center, said ATC messages containing a unique identification code corresponding to said airborne navigation location reporting system device; transmitting said ATC messages to said satellite communications network; routing said ATC messages through said satellite communications network to said airborne navigation location reporting system device; receiving said ATC messages at said airborne navigation location reporting system device; and generating aircraft messages at said airborne navigation location reporting system device; transmitting said aircraft messages to said satellite communications network; routing said aircraft messages through said satellite communications network to said ATC center; receiving said aircraft messages at said ATC center. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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Specification