Method and system for tracking and prediction of aircraft trajectories
First Claim
1. A method for predicting the trajectory of an aircraft based upon specified input data regarding said aircraft and the resources with which said aircraft interacts, said method comprising the steps of:
- collecting and storing said specified data, processing, at any given initial instant, said data pertaining to said aircraft'"'"'s current position and planned flight path so as to predict an initial aircraft trajectory, calculating a first revised aircraft trajectory that includes revisions to said initial aircraft trajectory due to the effects of said specified data that pertain to environmental factors, calculating a second revised aircraft trajectory that includes revisions to said first, revised aircraft trajectory due to the effects of said specified data that pertain to Air Traffic Control factors, and calculating a third revised aircraft trajectory that includes revisions to said second revised aircraft trajectory due to the effects of said specified data that pertains to said resources with which said aircraft interacts.
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Abstract
A method for predicting the trajectory of an aircraft is disclosed. It yields the arrival/departure times for a plurality of aircraft with respect to a specified system resource and is based upon specified data and other operational factors pertaining to the aircraft and system resource. This process comprises the steps of: (a) collecting and storing the specified data and operational factors, (b) processing, at an initial instant, the specified data that is applicable at that instant to the aircraft so as to predict an initial trajectory encompassing arrival/departure times for each aircraft, (c) upgrading these initial trajectory predictions for effects of: (1) environmental factors (weather, turbulence), (2) actions of the Air traffic Control system (e.g., stacking incoming aircraft when runway demand is greater than availability), and (3) secondary assets (e.g., crew availability/legality, gate availability, maintenance requirements), (d) communicating these trajectory predictions to interested parties and (e) continuously monitoring all trajectories, and, as necessary, updating the predictions.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method for predicting the trajectory of an aircraft based upon specified input data regarding said aircraft and the resources with which said aircraft interacts, said method comprising the steps of:
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collecting and storing said specified data, processing, at any given initial instant, said data pertaining to said aircraft'"'"'s current position and planned flight path so as to predict an initial aircraft trajectory, calculating a first revised aircraft trajectory that includes revisions to said initial aircraft trajectory due to the effects of said specified data that pertain to environmental factors, calculating a second revised aircraft trajectory that includes revisions to said first, revised aircraft trajectory due to the effects of said specified data that pertain to Air Traffic Control factors, and calculating a third revised aircraft trajectory that includes revisions to said second revised aircraft trajectory due to the effects of said specified data that pertains to said resources with which said aircraft interacts. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A computer program product in a computer readable memory for predicting the trajectory of an aircraft based upon specified input data regarding said aircraft and the resources with which said aircraft interacts, said computer program comprising:
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a means for collecting and storing said specified data, a means for processing, at any given initial instant, said data pertaining to said aircraft'"'"'s current position and planned flight path so as to predict an initial aircraft trajectory, a means for calculating a first revised aircraft trajectory that includes revisions to said initial aircraft trajectory due to the effects of said specified data that pertain to environmental factors, a means for calculating a second revised aircraft trajectory that includes revisions to said first, revised aircraft trajectory due to the effects of said specified data that pertain to Air Traffic Control factors, and a means for calculating a third revised aircraft trajectory that includes revisions to said second revised aircraft trajectory due to the effects of said specified data that pertains to said resources with which said aircraft interacts. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A system, including a processor, memory, display and input device, for predicting the trajectory of an aircraft based upon specified input data regarding said aircraft and the resources with which said aircraft interacts, said system comprising:
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a means for collecting and storing said specified data, a means for processing, at any given initial instant, said data pertaining to said aircraft'"'"'s current position and planned flight path so as to predict an initial aircraft trajectory, a means for calculating a first revised aircraft trajectory that includes revisions to said initial aircraft trajectory due to the effects of said specified data that pertain to environmental factors, a means for calculating a second revised aircraft trajectory that includes revisions to said first, revised aircraft trajectory due to the effects of said specified data that pertain to Air Traffic Control factors, and a means for calculating a third revised aircraft trajectory that includes revisions to said second revised aircraft trajectory due to the effects of said specified data that pertains to said resources with which said aircraft interacts. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification