Electronic flight kit and method

• US 6,606,544 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2001
• Issued: 08/12/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CHI Systems, Inc. (Conduent, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: CHI Systems, Inc. (Conduent, Inc.)
• Inventors: Popp, Edward, Glenn, Floyd A. III, Barba, Charles, Donmoyer, Jason, Schremmer, Serge
• Primary Examiner(s): ARTHUR JEANGLAUDE, GERTRUDE
• Application Number:
  US10/026,049
• Publication Number:
  US 20020165647A1
• Time in Patent Office: 599 Days
• Field of Search: 701/1, 701/3, 701/14, 701/16, 701/24, 244/75.R, 244/158.R
• US Class Current: 701/3
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces

Abstract

A flight kit having a process and a set of software tools for: marking up and restructuring of flight information content such as manuals, checklists, aerodynamic data, and alerting information; converting and storing this content in an electronic form; dynamically generating a user interface based on the specific data; and delivering this to a flight crew. The flight kit can provide remote data updates and management of flight kit applications via Internet connectivity.

Claims

1. A method in a computer system of generating a cockpit information management and application system comprising:

structuring content of a flight kit;

generating an executable software application to produce a cockpit information management aid;

dynamically generating a user interface based on the flight kit content;

delivering the structured flight kit content to a user.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein generating an executable software application comprises:

converting the structured flight kit content into an electronic form; and

storing the converted structured flight kit content.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the electronic form is XML.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein structuring the flight kit content comprises:

defining a structure by identifying top-level components and sub components of flight kit content structure;

identifying the information that will be included in the flight kit content;

creating a document type definition file based on the defined structure; and

applying a style sheet to the structured flight kit content of each document type definition file.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the document type definition file defines components that create document structure, associated component attributes and rules for how the components can be nested.

6. The method of claim 4 further comprising after applying the style sheet to the structured flight kit content:

converting the files into a markup language; and

creating attributes for each structure component to provide a unique identification number and title for creation of the user interface.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising, via a global network system, remotely performing one or more tasks selected from the group consisting of, updating data and managing applications.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the tasks are performing continuously.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising dynamically regenerating the user interface at system run time.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

dynamically regenerating data by detecting data change;

parsing existing data; and

regenerating the user interface to match the parsed data.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising tracking at least a portion of system use to generate usage data.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising analyzing the usage data to provide a basis for system improvements.

13. The method of claim 1 further comprising processing raw data via the cockpit information management and application system.

14. A cockpit information system comprising:

a markup software component to markup flight kit content;

a storage software content to store marked up flight kit content;

a delivery software component to deliver flight kit content to a user; and

a cockpit information navigation software component to apply flight kit content.

15. The cockpit information system of claim 14 wherein the system is portable.

16. The cockpit information system of claim 15 wherein the system is wearable.

17. The computer system of claim 15 wherein structuring the flight kit content comprises:

defining a structure by identifying top-level components and sub components of flight kit content structure;

identifying the information that will be included in the flight kit content;

creating a document type definition file based on the defined structure; and

applying a style sheet to the structured flight kit content of each document type definition file.

18. The computer system of claim 17 wherein the document type definition file defines components that create document structure, associated component attributes and rules for how the components can be nested.

19. The computer system of claim 17 further comprising after applying the style sheet to the structured flight kit content:

converting the files into a markup language; and

creating attributes for each structure component to provide a unique identification number and title for creation of the user interface.

20. The computer system of claim 15 further comprising, via a global network system, remotely performing one or more tasks selected from the group consisting of, updating data and managing applications.

21. The computer system of claim 20 wherein the tasks are performing continuously.

22. The computer system of claim 15 further comprising dynamically regenerating the user interface at system run time.

23. The computer system of claim 15 further comprising:

dynamically regenerating data by detecting data change;

parsing existing data; and

regenerating the user interface to match the parsed data.

24. The computer system of claim 15 further comprising tracking at least a portion of system use to generate usage data.

25. The computer system of claim 24 further comprising analyzing the usage data to provide a basis for system improvements.

26. The computer system of claim 15 further comprising processing raw data via the cockpit information management and application system.

27. The computer system of claim 15 wherein the system is portable.

28. The computer system of claim 27 wherein the system is wearable.

30. The computer system of claim 15 wherein generating an executable software application comprises:

converting the structured flight kit content into an electronic form, and

storing the converted structured flight kit content.

31. The computer system of claim 30 wherein the electronic form is XML.

29. A computer system configured to manage and apply cockpit information by a method comprising:

structuring content of a flight kit;

generating an executable software application to produce a cockpit information management aid;

dynamically generating a user interface based on the flight kit content;

delivering the structured flight kit content to a user.

32. A computer readable medium programmed to manage and apply cockpit information by a method comprising:

structuring content of a flight kit;

generating an executable software application to produce a cockpit information management aid;

dynamically generating a user interface based on the flight kit content;

delivering the structured flight kit content to a user.

33. The computer readable medium of claim 32 wherein generating an executable software application comprises:

converting the structured flight kit content into an electronic form (or markup language?); and

storing the converted structured flight kit content.

34. The computer readable medium of claim 33 wherein the electronic form is XML.

35. The computer readable medium of claim 32 wherein structuring the flight kit content comprises:

defining a structure by identifying top-level components and sub components of flight kit content structure;

identifying the information that will be included in the flight kit content;

creating a document type definition file based on the defined structure; and

applying a style sheet to the structured flight kit content of each document type definition file.

36. The computer readable medium of claim 35 wherein the document type definition file defines components that create document structure, associated component attributes and rules for how the components can be nested.

37. The computer readable medium of claim 35 further comprising after applying the style sheet to the structured flight kit content:

converting the files into a markup language; and

creating attributes for each structure component to provide a unique identification number and title for creation of the user interface.

38. The computer readable medium of claim 32 further comprising, via a global network system, remotely performing one or more tasks selected from the group consisting of, updating data and managing applications.

39. The computer readable medium of claim 38 wherein the tasks are performing continuously.

40. The computer readable medium of claim 32 further comprising dynamically regenerating the user interface at system run time.

41. The computer readable medium of claim 32 further comprising:

dynamically regenerating data by detecting data change;

parsing existing data; and

regenerating the user interface to match the parsed data.

42. The computer readable medium of claim 32 further comprising tracking at least a portion of system use to generate usage data.

43. The computer readable medium of claim 42 further comprising analyzing the usage data to provide a basis for system improvements.

44. The computer readable medium of claim 32 further comprising processing raw data via the cockpit information management and application system.