Record and playback system for aircraft

• US 6,366,311 B1
• Filed: 02/25/1999
• Issued: 04/02/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: e-Watch, Inc. (Cision Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: David A Monroe
• Inventors: Monroe, David A.
• Primary Examiner(s): DIEP, NHON THANH
• Application Number:
  US09/257,765
• Time in Patent Office: 1,132 Days
• Field of Search: H04/N.718, 348/143, 348/144, 348/151, 348/152, 348/153, 348/154, 348/156, 348/159, 701/14, 701/29, 701/35, 340/439, 340/963
• US Class Current: 348/148
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 45/0053 using visual equipment, e.g. cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 45/0056 detecting passenger or crew behavior by sensors, e.g. biometrics
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 3/8006 Multi-channel systems specially adapted for direction-finding, i.e. having a single aerial system capable of giving simultaneous indications of the directions of different signals
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 3/808 using transducers spaced apart and measuring phase or time difference between signals therefrom, i.e. path-difference systems
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19634 Electrical details of the system, e.g. component blocks for carrying out specific functions
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19645 Multiple cameras, each having view on one of a plurality of scenes, e.g. multiple cameras for multi-room surveillance or for tracking an object by view hand-over
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1965 the vehicle being an aircraft

Abstract

Multiple data and images are multiplexed and sequenced utilizing split screen technology in order to minimize the recording and monitoring hardware required to process the images, providing a detailed record of the time of an event, the altitude and geographic location of the aircraft and the type and location of the event within the aircraft, greatly enhancing event reconstruction efforts. The multi-media safety and surveillance system for aircraft incorporates a plurality of strategically spaced sensors including video imaging generators for monitoring critical components and critical areas of both the interior and the exterior of the aircraft. The captured data and images are recorded and may be transmitted to ground control stations for real time or near real time surveillance. The system is tied directly into the global positioning system of the aircraft so that the precise location of the aircraft may be determined when an event occurs.

Claims

1. A multi-media data collection, transmission, storage and playback system for reconstructing in flight events on an aircraft having on board time, altitude and geographic position monitors capable of sending a logging signal, the system comprising:

a. a plurality of sensors each adapted for monitoring a selected condition aboard the aircraft, each sensor adapted for generating a unique data signal representing the specific condition to be monitored;

b. a collector adapted for collecting the plurality of data signals from the plurality of sensors and tracking the plurality of data signals with the logging signal and generating therefrom a combined signal incorporating each of the plurality of signals into a combined output signal; and

c. a processing system for receiving and processing the combined output signal, the processing system adapted for preserving critical elements in the combined output signal specifically indicating a change in condition at any of the plurality of sensors;

d. a recording and playback system for recording the time, the altitude and geographic location of the aircraft and change in condition of each of the plurality of sensors, whereby changes in condition of the sensors can be later recalled to determine the time, altitude and geographic position of the aircraft when an event occurred, as well as the time and type of event depending on the change in condition of the plurality of sensors.

2. The system of claim 1, the plurality of sensors further comprising:

a. at least one image sensor device for generating an image signal;

b. at least one audio sensor device for generating an audio signal; and

c. at least one data sensor device for generating a data signal.

3. The system of claim 2, the collector further comprising a multiplexer network for combining the image signal, the audio signal and the data signal into said combined output signal.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said collector comprises a multiplexer for accepting all of the plurality of data signals and for generating therefrom a combined multiplex signal preserving the discrete identity of each of the plurality of data signals.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein said recording and playback system stores the combined output signal in a multiple channel, compressed format.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the recorder is a single channel, analog recorder.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the recorder is a digital random access memory device.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein said recorder is a multi-channel recorder and wherein one channel is adapted for serially recording a segmented portion of video signal in a timed, sequential, cyclical configuration, and wherein one channel is adapted for recording a plurality of the channels simultaneously in a split screen configuration.

9. The system of claim 1, the collector further includes a multiplexing system adapted for accepting a plurality of parallel data signals simultaneously and for generating therefrom a single, combination output signal.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein said multiplexing system is adapted for generating a combination output signal including a component comprising a plurality of the data signals in a split screen configuration wherein all or a selected portion of the plurality of data signals are simultaneously available.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein said single combination output signal further includes a plurality of subsets of the plurality of data signals produced in a serial, time interval repeat sequence.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein said combination output signal includes a plurality of the data signals combined in a serial, time interval repeat sequence.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein said combination output signal includes both a component comprising a plurality of the data signals in a split screen configuration wherein all of the plurality of data signals are simultaneously available and a component comprising a plurality of the data signals combined in a serial, time interval repeat sequence.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the recording and playback system comprises a flight recorder positioned in the tail section of the fuselage.

15. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a ground based monitoring unit;

a. a transmitter associated with the system and adapted for transmitting the combined output signal to the ground based monitoring unit;

b. a recording and playback system associated with the ground based monitoring unit for recording the combined output signal.