Voice annunciation of data link ATC messages

• US 6,175,314 B1
• Filed: 02/25/1999
• Issued: 01/16/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc. (Rtx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc. (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Cobley, George A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Swarthout, Brent A.
• Application Number:
  US09/257,440
• Time in Patent Office: 691 Days
• Field of Search: 340/945, 340/963, 340/971, 701/3, 701/9, 701/14, 701/120, 455/73
• US Class Current: 340/945
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0013 with a ground station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0021 located in the aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 13/00 Speech synthesis; Text to speech systems

Abstract

A system for voice announcing air traffic controller to pilot data link communication messages of a type which are in conformance with predetermined industry standard message formats, the system and method including a voice annunciation to the flight crew of such messages with the aid of a database of predetermined speech files which correspond to predetermined controller pilot data link communication messages. The flight crew is able to select a language, gender, dialect, accent, etc. of the announced voice message so as to provide for enhanced communication of air traffic control messages to the flight crew.

Claims

1. An air traffic control system comprising:

a message database of predetermined message segments relating to air traffic control information;

a comparator for comparing a message, received on an aircraft from an air traffic controller, with content of said message database and providing in response thereto a format confirmed message;

a speech database of a plurality of speech files;

an input selector for providing a signal which is representative of a selection made by a flight crew member relating to predetermined voice characteristics; and

,

a speech file provider for providing a speech file from said speech database which provides information relating to said format confirmed message and further in response to said signal which is representative of said selection made by said flight crew member.

2. An air traffic control system of claim 1 wherein said comparator is a microprocessor.

3. An air traffic control system of claim 2 wherein said speech file provider is said microprocessor.

4. An air traffic control system of claim 3 further comprising a data link receiver for receiving messages transmitted from an air traffic controller.

5. An air traffic control system of claim 4 wherein said speech database is a database of analog speech files.

6. An air traffic control system of claim 4 wherein said speech database is a database of digital speech files.

7. An air traffic control system of claim 6 further including a digital to analog converter for converting one of said plurality of digital speech files to an analog audio signal.

8. An air traffic control system of claim 7 wherein said predetermined voice characteristic is a language identifier.

9. An air traffic control system of claim 8 wherein said predetermined voice characteristic further comprises a gender identifier.

10. A system for providing air traffic control information to a flight crew member comprising:

means for storing a plurality of predetermined message segments;

a means for comparing messages received on an aircraft from an air traffic controller with said predetermined message segments and generating a format confirmed message in response thereto;

means for storing a plurality of speech files;

means for generating a selection signal in response to a selection made by a flight crew member relating to predetermined message characteristics; and

,

means for providing a speech file corresponding to said format confirmed message and further in response to said predetermined message characteristic.

11. A system of claim 10 wherein said means for comparing is a microprocessor.

12. A system of claim 11 further comprising means for receiving data link messages from an air traffic controller.

13. A system of claim 12 wherein said microprocessor is a component of said means for receiving data link messages.

14. A system of claim 12 wherein said microprocessor is a component of an audio panel disposed on an aircraft.

15. A method of providing air traffic control messages to a member of a flight crew comprising the steps of:

receiving on board an aircraft a data link message from air traffic authorities;

providing a database of predetermined messages which are in accordance with predetermined industry-based characteristics;

determining if a data link message received matches a predetermined message in said message database;

providing a speech file for a data link message received which matches with a predetermined message in said message database where the speech file is chosen from a database of predetermined speech segments wherein the selection of speech segments is in response to a predetermined message characteristic provided by a flight crew member; and

,

providing a signal to an audio system on said aircraft for voice announcement of said received message to a flight crew member.

16. A method of claim 15 wherein said predetermined message characteristics relate to a gender characteristic of a preferred voice announcement.

17. A method of claim 16 wherein said predetermined message characteristics relate to a nationality characteristic of a preferred voice announcement.

18. A method of claim 17 wherein said predetermined message characteristics relate to a language characteristic of a preferred voice announcement.

19. A method of claim 18 wherein said predetermined message characteristics relate to a regional dialect characteristic of a preferred voice announcement.