Aircraft communication system

• US 6,720,890 B1
• Filed: 03/15/2001
• Issued: 04/13/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ehud Ezroni, Gilad Dafna
• Original Assignee: Ehud Ezroni, Gilad Dafna
• Inventors: Ezroni, Ehud, Dafna, Gilad
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Benjamin C.
• Application Number:
  US09/743,322
• Time in Patent Office: 1,125 Days
• Field of Search: 340/988, 340/945, 340/971, 340/975, 701/301, 701/302, 701/120, 704/220, 704/235, 704/260, 704/274, 704/275, 345/327, 345/8, 345/73, 455/79, 455/151.1, 455/151.2, 379/52, 379/93.18, 379/93.27, 342/30, 375/142
• 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: H04B 1/46 by voice-frequency signals; by pilot signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18506 Communications with or from aircraft, i.e. aeronautical mobile service

Abstract

A system and method for providing unambiguous communication between a pilot of an aircraft (18) and at least one other communicator. The system includes a communication link (14, 16) enabling communication between the pilot and the at least one other communicator, and a visually sensible display (12, 20) providing a visually sensible output indication to at least one of the pilot and the at least one other communicator voice and data information communicated along said communication link.

Claims

1. A system for providing unambiguous communication between an aircraft pilot and at least one other communicator, the system comprising:

a communication link enabling communication between said at least one pilot and said at least one other communicator, said communication link having at least one transmit side and at least one receive side;

at least one speech recognizer located at said at least one transmit side for receiving speech and transmitting digital data representing said speech along said communication link to said receive side;

a visually sensible display at said receive side for receiving, over said communication link, said digital data and utilizing said digital data for providing a visually sensible output indication to at least one of the other communicator and the pilot of information communicated along said communication link; and

a speech output device associated with said display for providing a natural speech output generally simultaneously with said visually sensible output indication to at least one of the other communicator and the pilot of information communicated along said communication link.

2. A system according to claim 1 and wherein the display is located within a field of view of a pilot and is operative to display information communicated from an aircraft controller to said pilot.

3. A system according to claim 1 and wherein the display is located within a field of view of a pilot and is operative to display information communicated from another pilot to said pilot.

4. A system according to claim 1 and wherein the display is located within a field of view of an aircraft controller and is operative to display information communicated from a pilot to said aircraft controller.

5. A system according to claim 1 and also comprising a microphone for receiving a voice input to be transmitted over said communication link.

6. A system according to claim 1 and also comprising a speech synthesizer associated with said display for providing a synthesized speech output generally simultaneously with said visually sensible output indication to at least one of the other communicator and the pilot of information communicated along said communication link.

7. A system according to claim 1 and also comprising a speech synthesizer associated with said display for providing a synthesized voice output generally simultaneously with said visually sensible output indication to at least one of the other communicator and the pilot of information communicated along said communication link, said speech synthesizer receiving an input in data form from said communication link.

8. A system according to claim 1 and also comprising a speech synthesizer associated with said display for providing a synthesized voice output generally simultaneously with said visually sensible output indication to at least one of the aircraft controller and the pilot of information communicated along said communication link, said speech synthesizer receiving a digital information output from said speech recognizer.

9. A system according to claim 1 and wherein said communication link also carries speech.

10. A system according to claim 1 and also comprising a memory for storing at least part of the information communicated along said communication link.

11. A system according to claim 1 and also comprising interface apparatus linking said system to external aviation-related systems for at least one of monitoring and control of the operation thereof.

12. A system according to claim 1 and wherein said communication link comprises a multiple channel link and said display is capable of displaying information received simultaneously along multiple channels.

13. A system according to claim 1 and also comprising a post flight analyzer utilizing at least part of the information communicated along said communication link.

14. A system according to claim 1 and also comprising a post event analyzer utilizing at least part of the information communicated along said communication link.

15. A system for providing unambiguous communication between an aircraft pilot and at least one other communicator along a communication link having at least one transmit side and at least one receive side, the system comprising:

an interface with said communication link;

a visually sensible display receiving information transmitted between said aircraft pilot and said at least one other communicator along said communication link via said interface and providing a visually sensible output indication to at least one of the other communicator and the pilot of information communicated along said communication link, which said visually sensible output indication utilizes data prepared at said at least one transmit side of said communication link; and

a speech output device associated with said display for providing a natural speech output generally simultaneously with said visually sensible output indication to at least one of the other communicator and the pilot of information communicated along said communication link.

16. A system according to claim 15 and wherein the display is located within a field of view of a pilot and is operative to display information communicated from an aircraft controller to said pilot.

17. A system according to claim 15 and wherein the display is located within a field of view of a pilot and is operative to display information communicated from another pilot to said pilot.

18. A system according to claim 15 and wherein the display is located within a field of view of an aircraft controller and is operative to display information communicated from a pilot to said aircraft controller.

19. A system according to claim 15 and also comprising a microphone for receiving a voice input to be transmitted over said communication link.

20. A system according to claim 19 and also comprising a speech recognizer at said at least one transmit side for deriving information from said voice input received by said microphone.

21. A system according to claim 20 and also comprising a speech synthesizer associated with said display for providing a synthesized voice output generally simultaneously with said visually sensible output indication to at least one of the aircraft controller and the pilot of information communicated along said communication link, said speech synthesizer receiving a digital information output from said speech recognizer.

22. A system according to claim 15 and also comprising a speech synthesizer associated with said display for providing a synthesized speech output generally simultaneously with said visually sensible output indication to at least one of the other communicator and the pilot of information communicated along said communication link.

23. A system according to claim 15 and also comprising a speech synthesizer associated with said display for providing a synthesized voice output generally simultaneously with said visually sensible output indication to at least one of the other communicator and the pilot of information communicated along said communication link, said speech synthesizer receiving an input in data form from said communication link.

24. A system according to claim 15 and wherein said communication link also carries speech.

25. A system according to claim 15 and also comprising a memory for storing at least part of the information communicated along said communication link.

26. A system according to claim 15 and also comprising interface apparatus linking said system to external aviation-related systems for at least one of monitoring and control of the operation thereof.

27. A system according to claim 15 and wherein said communication link comprises a multiple channel link and said display is capable of displaying information received simultaneously along multiple channels.

28. A system according to claim 15 and also comprising a post flight analyzer utilizing at least part of the information communicated along said communication link.

29. A system according to claim 15 and also comprising a post event analyzer utilizing at least part of the information communicated along said communication link.

30. A system for providing unambiguous communication between an aircraft pilot and at least one other communicator along a communication link comprising at least one transmit side and at least one receive side, in an environment including a display, the system comprising:

an interface with said communication link;

circuitry operating a visually sensible display receiving information transmitted between said aircraft pilot and said at least one other communicator along said communication link via said interface and providing a visually sensible output indication, utilizing data prepared at said at least one transmit side, to at least one of the other communicator and the pilot of information communicated along said communication link; and

a speech output device associated with said display for providing a natural speech output generally simultaneously with said visually sensible output indication to at least one of the other communicator and the pilot of information communicated along said communication link.

31. A system according to claim 30 and wherein the display is located within a field of view of a pilot and is operative to display information communicated from an aircraft controller to said pilot.

32. A system according to claim 30 and wherein the display is located within a field of view of a pilot and is operative to display information communicated from another pilot to said pilot.

33. A system according to claim 30 and wherein the display is located within a field of view of an aircraft controller and is operative to display information communicated from a pilot to said aircraft controller.

34. A system according to claim 30 and also comprising a microphone for receiving a voice input to be transmitted over said communication link.

35. A system according to claim 34 and also comprising a speech recognizer at said at least one transmit side for deriving information from said voice input received by said microphone.

36. A system according to claim 35 and also comprising a speech synthesizer associated with said display for providing a synthesized voice output generally simultaneously with said visually sensible output indication to at least one of the aircraft controller and the pilot of information communicated along said communication link, said speech synthesizer receiving a digital information output from said speech recognizer.

37. A system according to claims 30 and also comprising a speech synthesizer associated with said display for providing a synthesized speech output generally simultaneously with said visually sensible output indication to at least one of the other communicator and the pilot of information communicated along said communication link.

38. A system according to claim 30 and also comprising a speech synthesizer associated with said display for providing a synthesized voice output generally simultaneously with said visually sensible output indication to at least one of the other communicator and the pilot of information communicated along said communication link, said speech synthesizer receiving an input in data form from said communication link.

39. A system according to claim 30 and wherein said communication link also carries speech.

40. A system according to claim 30 and also comprising a memory for storing at least part of the information communicated along said communication link.

41. A system according to claim 30 and also comprising interface apparatus linking said system to external aviation-related systems for at least one of monitoring and control of the operation thereof.

42. A system according to claim 30 and wherein said communication link comprises a multiple channel link and said display is capable of displaying information received simultaneously along multiple channels.

43. A system according to claim 30 and also comprising a post flight analyzer utilizing at least part of the information communicated along said communication link.

44. A system according to claim 30 and also comprising a post event analyzer utilizing at least part of the information communicated along said communication link.

45. A method for providing unambiguous communication between an aircraft pilot and at least one other communicator, the method comprising:

enabling communication between said pilot and said at least one other communicator along a communication link comprising at least one transmit side and at least one receive side;

preparing data for a visually sensible output indication of said communication at said at least one transmit end;

providing said visually sensible output indication on a display to at least one of the other communicator and the pilot of information communicated along said communication link, based on said data; and

providing a natural speech output generally simultaneously with said visually sensible output indication to at least one of the other communicator and the pilot of information communicated along said communication link.

46. A method according to claim 45 and wherein the display is located within a field of view of a pilot and is operative to display information communicated from an aircraft controller to said pilot.

47. A method according to claim 45 and wherein the display is located within a field of view of an aircraft controller and is operative to display information communicated from a pilot to said aircraft controller.

48. A method according to claim 45 and wherein the display is located within a field of view of a pilot and is operative to display information communicated from another pilot to said pilot.

49. A method according to claim 45 and also comprising receiving a voice input to be transmitted over said communication link.

50. A method according to claim 49 and also comprising deriving information from said voice input at said transmit side.

51. A method according to claim 50 and also comprising providing a synthesized voice output generally simultaneously with said visually sensible output indication to at least one of the aircraft controller and the pilot of information communicated along said communication link in response to digital information output from a speech recognizer at said transmit side.

52. A method according to claim 45 and also comprising providing a synthesized speech output generally simultaneously with said visually sensible output indication to at least one of the other communicator and the pilot of information communicated along said communication link.

53. A method according to claim 45 and also comprising providing a synthesized voice output generally simultaneously with said visually sensible output indication to at least one of the other communicator and the pilot of information communicated along said communication link, in response to a received input in data form from said communication link.

54. A method according to claim 45 and wherein said communication link also carries speech.

55. A method according to claim 45 and also comprising a memory for storing at least part of the information communicated along said communication link.

56. A method according to claim 45 and also comprising linking said communication link to external aviation-related systems for at least one of monitoring and control of the operation thereof.

57. A method according to claim 45 and wherein said communication link comprises a multiple channel link and said display is capable of displaying information received simultaneously along multiple channels.

58. A method according to claim 45 and also comprising utilizing at least part of the information communicated along said communication link for post-flight analysis.

59. A method according to claim 45 and also comprising utilizing at least part of the information communicated along said communication link for post-event analysis.

60. A method for providing unambiguous communication between an aircraft pilot and at least one other communicator along a communication link having at least one transmit side and at least one receive side, the method comprising:

interfacing with said communication link;

preparing data for a visually sensible display of information transmitted, at said at least one transmit end;

providing said visually sensible display of information transmitted between said aircraft pilot and said at least one other communicator along said communication link to at least one of the other communicator and the pilot of information communicated along said communication link, based on said data; and

providing a natural speech output generally simultaneously with said visually sensible output indication to at least one of the other communicator and the pilot of information communicated along said communication link.

61. A method according to claim 60 and wherein the display is located within a field of view of a pilot and is operative to display information communicated from an aircraft controller to said pilot.

62. A method according to claim 60 and wherein the display is located within a field of view of an aircraft controller and is operative to display information communicated from a pilot to said aircraft controller.

63. A method according to claim 60 and wherein the display is located within a field of view of a pilot and is operative to display information communicated from another pilot to said pilot.

64. A method according to claim 60 and also comprising receiving at least a voice input to be transmitted over said communication link.

65. A method according to claim 64 and also comprising deriving information from said voice input at said transmit side.

66. A method according to claim 65 and also comprising providing a synthesized voice output generally simultaneously with said visually sensible output indication to at least one of the aircraft controller and the pilot of information communicated along said communication link in response to a digital information output from a speech recognizer at said transmit side.

67. A method according to claim 60 and also comprising providing a synthesized speech output generally simultaneously with said visually sensible output indication to at least one of the other communicator and the pilot of information communicated along said communication link.

68. A method according to claim 60 and also comprising providing a synthesized voice output generally simultaneously with said visually sensible output indication to at least one of the other communicator and the pilot of information communicated along said communication link, in response to a received input in data form from said communication link.

69. A method according to claim 60 and wherein said communication link also carries speech.

70. A method according to claim 60 and also comprising a memory for storing at least part of the information communicated along said communication link.

71. A method according to claim 60 and also comprising linking said communication link to external aviation-related systems for at least one of monitoring and control of the operation thereof.

72. A method according to claim 60 and wherein said communication link comprises a multiple channel link and said display is capable of displaying information received simultaneously along multiple channels.

73. A method according to claim 60 and also comprising utilizing at least part of the information communicated along said communication link for post-flight analysis.

74. A method according to claim 60 and also comprising utilizing at least part of the information communicated along said communication link for post-event analysis.

75. A method for providing unambiguous communication between an aircraft pilot and at least one other communicator along a communication link having at least one transmit side and at least one receive side, in an environment including a display, the method comprising:

interfacing with said communication link;

preparing data for a visually sensible output indication of information to be transmitted over said communication link, at said at least one transmit end;

operating a visually sensible display receiving information transmitted between said aircraft pilot and said at least one other communicator along said communication link and providing said visually sensible output indication to at least one of the other communicator and the pilot of information communicated along said communication link, based on said data; and

providing a natural speech output generally simultaneously with said visually sensible output indication to at least one of the other communicator and the pilot of information communicated along said communication link.

76. A method according to claim 75 and wherein the display is located within a field of view of a pilot and is operative to display information communicated from an aircraft controller to said pilot.

77. A method according to claim 75 and wherein the display is located within a field of view of an aircraft controller and is operative to display information communicated from a pilot to said aircraft controller.

78. A method according to claim 75 and wherein the display is located within a field of view of a pilot and is operative to display information communicated from another pilot to said pilot.

79. A method according to claim 75 and also comprising receiving at least a voice input to be transmitted over said communication link.

80. A method according to claim 79 and also comprising deriving information from said voice input at said transmit side.

81. A method according to claim 80 and also comprising providing a synthesized voice output generally simultaneously with said visually sensible output indication to at least one of the aircraft controller and the pilot of information communicated along said communication link in response to a digital information output from a speech recognizer at said transmit side.

82. A method according to claim 75 and also comprising providing a synthesized speech output generally simultaneously with said visually sensible output indication to at least one of the other communicator and the pilot of information communicated along said communication link.

83. A method according to claim 75 and also comprising providing a synthesized voice output generally simultaneously with said visually sensible output indication to at least one of the other communicator and the pilot of information communicated along said communication link, in response to a received input in data form from said communication link.

84. A method according to claim 75 and wherein said communication link also carries speech.

85. A method according to claim 75 and also comprising a memory for storing at least part of the information communicated along said communication link.

86. A method according to claim 75 and also comprising linking said communication link to external aviation-related systems for at least one of monitoring and control of the operation thereof.

87. A method according to claim 75 and wherein said communication link comprises a multiple channel link and said display is capable of displaying information received simultaneously along multiple channels.

88. A method according to claim 75 and also comprising utilizing at least part of the information communicated along said communication link for post-flight analysis.

89. A method according to claim 75 and also comprising utilizing at least part of the information communicated along said communication link for post-event analysis.