Airline cockpit security system
First Claim
1. A vehicle security system in a propelled, controllable vehicle having at least one station for a human vehicle operator, the at least one station comprising vehicle controls and at least one place for the vehicle operator to occupy while operating the vehicle controls, from which at least one station the vehicle operator operates the vehicle using the vehicle controls, the vehicle security system comprising:
- at least one person sensor configured to detect at least one of the presence and absence of a person occupying the at least one station;
at least one person identification verifier responsive to the at least one person sensor, configured to determine if the presence of a person occupying the at least one station is authorized; and
at least one station securer configured to secure the at least one station responsive to at least one of the person sensor and the person identification verifier.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention is directed to preventing a hijacker from gaining sufficient flight control of an airliner to use it to do harm. One embodiment of the invention detects when the pilot is not seated and verifies the authorization for the seat to be empty. If the required authorization is not timely provided, a processor executes a hijacking response that includes locking out the flight controls, uninterruptibly and autonomously communicating events on-board the aircraft to ground controllers and others, and uninterruptibly and autonomously navigating the aircraft to a safe landing without control inputs from the cockpit. The present invention, a vehicle security system, is also useful on other vehicles. An embodiment for an automobile is described.
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Citations
48 Claims
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1. A vehicle security system in a propelled, controllable vehicle having at least one station for a human vehicle operator, the at least one station comprising vehicle controls and at least one place for the vehicle operator to occupy while operating the vehicle controls, from which at least one station the vehicle operator operates the vehicle using the vehicle controls, the vehicle security system comprising:
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at least one person sensor configured to detect at least one of the presence and absence of a person occupying the at least one station;
at least one person identification verifier responsive to the at least one person sensor, configured to determine if the presence of a person occupying the at least one station is authorized; and
at least one station securer configured to secure the at least one station responsive to at least one of the person sensor and the person identification verifier. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
at least one person sensor configured to detect at least one of the presence and absence of a person positioned at the door;
at least one person identification verifier responsive to the at least one person sensor, configured to determine if the person detected is authorized to open the door; and
at least one door securer configured to secure the door responsive to the at least one person identification verifier.
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39. The vehicle security system of claim 38 wherein the aircraft comprises a plurality of compartments and avenues of access between the compartments.
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40. The vehicle security system of claim 39 wherein the door securer comprises an automatic door lock, an uninterruptible autonomous communicator, at least one video camera deployed to regard the area that would be occupied by a person positioned to open the door, and a video display in the cockpit configured to receive video from the at least one video camera.
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41. The vehicle security system of claim 40 wherein the uninterruptible autonomous communicator is configured to send data to at least one predetermined law enforcement services provider, alerting the provider that an unauthorized person has attempted entry and providing data to assist in the investigation.
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42. The vehicle security system of claim 38 comprising at least one timing device responsive to the at least one person sensor and the at least one person identification verifier, configured to count an interval of time beginning responsive to the at least one person sensor and ending responsive to the person identification verifier and to a predetermined time limit.
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43. A method for preventing a hijacker from gaining control of the flight of an aircraft, the aircraft having at least one station for a human pilot, the station comprising a set of flight control input devices and a pilot'"'"'s seat to occupy, from which at least one station the pilot flies the aircraft using the flight control input devices, the method comprising:
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detecting changes in the occupancy state of the at least one pilot'"'"'s seat;
interrogating for at least one authorization data input in response to a change in the occupancy state of the at least one pilot'"'"'s seat;
determining whether the change in the occupancy state of the at least one pilot'"'"'s seat is authorized or unauthorized, in response to receiving an input; and
responding to the state of authorization of the state of occupancy of the at least one pilot'"'"'s seat by at least one of continuing normal flight and executing a hijack response. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45, 46, 47, 48)
securing the flight control input devices associated with the at least one pilot'"'"'s seat for which the occupancy state change is unauthorized; and
executing uninterruptible autonomous communication.
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46. The method of claim 45 wherein executing a hijack response further comprises:
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detecting the state of each set of flight control input devices and detecting that all the sets of flight control input devices have been secured; and
executing uninterruptible autonomous navigation.
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47. The method of claim 43 wherein detecting changes in the occupancy state of the pilot'"'"'s seat comprises:
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providing at least one person sensor configured to sense at least one of a person occupying the at least one pilot'"'"'s seat and no person occupying the pilot'"'"'s seat;
sensing at least one of occupancy and vacancy of the pilot'"'"'s seat;
observing the sensed state of the pilot'"'"'s seat for changes; and
signaling the changes in the occupancy state of the pilot'"'"'s seat.
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48. The method of claim 43 wherein determining whether the change in the occupancy state of the at least one pilot'"'"'s seat is authorized or unauthorized comprises:
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comparing any input to at least one authorization data item to find a match;
reporting the person as authorized if the input made within the pre-determined time matches at least one authorization data item; and
reporting the person as unauthorized if the input is not made within the pre-determined time or if the input made within the pre-determined time does not match the at least one authorization data item.
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Specification