Intelligent selectively-targeted communications systems and methods for aircraft

• US 7,053,797 B2
• Filed: 03/05/2003
• Issued: 05/30/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Lance G. Taylor
• Inventors: Taylor, Lance G.
• Primary Examiner(s): SWARTHOUT, BRENT
• Application Number:
  US10/383,211
• Publication Number:
  US 20030169185A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,182 Days
• Field of Search: 340/945, 340/961, 340/963, 340/969, 340/970, 340/979, 701/3, 701/8, 701/11, 701/14, 701/120, 342/29, 342/30, 342/36, 342/38
• US Class Current: 340/961
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/00 Traffic control systems for road vehicles arrangement of road signs or traffic signals E01F9/00 ; automatic vehicle control B62D
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0965 responding to signals from another vehicle, e.g. emergency vehicle

Abstract

There is disclosed a system and method wherein precise geographical location information such as Global Positioning System coordinate data is utilized as a principal criterion for implementing other wireless transmitted instructions and communications advising aircraft of nearby restricted areas, the proximity of a hazardous condition, or virtually any other situation which is relevant to the intended recipient because of their location. The system and method further can involve intervention and control of a vehicle, such as an aircraft or automobile, which comes into a predetermined location or area, or under other circumstances. The system and method use transmitting units and receiving units, both of which can receive geographical positioning information and which may sound or otherwise output an appropriate advisory, warning or other communication selected based on their positions, heading, and/or speed.

Claims

1. A system for output of advisory information for aircraft, comprising:

a stationary transmitting unit for transmitting advisory data, the transmitting unit including;

a transmitter for transmitting the advisory data to at least a geographical target footprint of interest; and

a processor for controlling transmission of the advisory data; and

a receiving unit coupled to an aircraft, the receiving unit including;

a positioning subsystem for determining a geographical location of the receiving unit;

a receiver for receiving the advisory data from the transmitting unit;

an output device for selectively outputting advisory information based on the advisory data and the geographical location of the receiving unit; and

a transmitter for transmitting the geographical location of the receiving unit to the transmitting unit;

wherein the advisory data relates to potential or actual entry of the aircraft into a protected area defined by the target footprint, with the proviso that the protected area not relate to position of the aircraft in relation to a second aircraft,

wherein the transmitting unit selects the advisory data for output based at least in part on the geographic position of the receiving unit.

2. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the advisory information is output based additionally on at least one of a heading, speed, and altitude of the aircraft.

3. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the transmitting unit is capable of initiating at least a partial disablement of pilot control of the aircraft upon occurrence of a prespecified condition.

4. A system as recited in claim 3, wherein an auto-flight system on the aircraft at least partially disables the pilot control of the aircraft, the auto-flight system taking at least partial control of the aircraft.

5. A system as recited in claim 3, wherein the at least partial disablement of pilot control is initiated after a predetermined amount of time has elapsed from output of the advisory information.

6. A system as recited in claim 3, wherein an override code is sent from the transmitting unit to a pilot of the aircraft, the override code allowing the pilot to regain control of the aircraft.

7. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the receiving unit transmits at least one of a geographical location, altitude, speed and heading to the transmitting unit;

the transmitting unit instructing the receiving unit to output the advisory information, wherein the transmitting unit selects advisory data for transmission based on at least one of the geographical location, altitude, speed and heading of the receiving unit.

8. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the advisory data includes at least one of:

coordinates of the protected area;

a warning library containing advisory information;

an advisory transmission library;

a cockpit advisory library;

control intervention scheme preferences and priorities;

processing instructions for the receiving unit; and

an auto-flight system override code.

9. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the advisory data includes data allowing the receiving unit to calculate at least one of a no fly zone, a protected ground zone, a vertical extension zone, and the target footprint;

wherein the receiving unit performs a predetermined action based on the at least one of the calculated no fly zone, the protected ground zone, the vertical extension zone, and the target footprint, the predetermined action being selected from a group consisting of outputting the advisory information and taking at least partial control of the aircraft.

10. A system as recited in claim 9, wherein the advisory data transmitted by the transmitting unit includes at least one of a location of the aircraft, a time period until the aircraft enters the protected area, an altitude of the aircraft, and a point of intersection of the aircraft in relation to the protected area.

11. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the receiving unit includes data storage for storing advisory information, wherein the receiving unit selects advisory information based on the advisory data received from the transmitting unit.

12. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one of the transmitting unit and the receiving unit transmits a status advisory to a third party, the status advisory indicating at least one of a projected heading and velocity of the aircraft, a violation of protected airspace by the aircraft, and an instructed course change transmitted to the aircraft.

13. A method for output of advisory information for an aircraft comprising:

transmitting advisory data from a stationary transmitting unit to at least a geographical reception footprint of interest, the advisory data including advisory information for direct output in human-comprehensible form;

determining a geographical location of an aircraft;

selectively outputting advisory information based on the advisory data and a potential or actual entry of the aircraft into a protected area defined by a reception footprint, with the proviso that the reception footprint not relate to position of the aircraft in relation to a second aircraft;

initiating at least a partial disablement of pilot control of the aircraft upon occurrence of a prespecified condition; and

initiating at least partial disablement of pilot control after a predetermined amount of time has elapsed from output of the advisory information.

14. A method as recited in claim 13, wherein the advisory information is output based additionally on at least one of a heading, speed, and altitude of the aircraft.

15. A method as recited in claim 13, wherein an auto-flight system on the aircraft at least partially disables the pilot control of the aircraft, the auto-flight system taking at least partial control of the aircraft.

16. A method as recited in claim 13, further comprising sending an override code to a pilot of the aircraft, the override code allowing the pilot to regain control of the aircraft.

17. A method as recited in claim 13, wherein the advisory data includes at least one of:

coordinates of the protected area;

a warning library containing advisory information;

an advisory transmission library;

a cockpit advisory library;

control intervention scheme preferences and priorities;

processing instructions for the receiving unit; and

an auto-flight system override code.

18. A method as recited in claim 13, wherein the advisory data includes data allowing calculation of at least one of a no fly zone, a protected ground zone, a vertical extension zone, and the reception footprint;

wherein a predetermined action is performed based on the at least one of the calculated no fly zone, the protected ground zone, the vertical extension zone, and the reception footprint, the predetermined action being selected from a group consisting of outputting the advisory information and taking at least partial control of the aircraft.

19. A method as recited in claim 18, wherein the advisory data includes at least one of a location of the aircraft, a time period until the aircraft enters the protected area, an altitude of the aircraft, and a point of intersection of the aircraft and the protected area.

20. A method as recited in claim 13, wherein the advisory information is retrieved from local storage.

21. A method as recited in claim 13, further comprising sending a status advisory to a third party, the status advisory indicating at least one of a projected heading and velocity of the aircraft, a violation of protected airspace byte aircraft, and an instructed course change transmitted to the aircraft.

22. A system for output of advisory information for aircraft, comprising:

a stationary transmitting unit for transmitting advisory information, the transmitting unit including;

a portable transmitter for transmitting advisory data to at least a geographical target footprint of interest, the transmitter being readily transportable to a physical location, the transmitter being stationary when in use; and

a processor for controlling transmission of the advisory data; and

a receiving unit coupled to an aircraft the receiving unit including;

a positioning subsystem for determining a geographical location of the receiving unit;

a receiver for receiving the advisory data from the transmitting unit;

an output device for selectively outputting advisory information based on the advisory data; and

a transmitter for transmitting the geographical location of the receiving unit to the transmitting unit;

wherein the advisory data relates to potential or actual entry of the aircraft into a stationary protected area defined by the target footprint, with the proviso that the protected area not relate to position of the aircraft in relation to a second aircraft;

wherein the receiving unit includes data storage for storing advisory information,

wherein the transmitting unit selects the advisory data for output based at least in part on the geographic position of the receiving unit.

23. A method for preventing an aircraft from entering a protected area, comprising:

transmitting advisory data from a stationary transmitting unit to at least a geographical reception footprint of interest, the advisory data including advisory information for direct output in human-comprehensible form;

selectively outputting advisory information based on the advisory data and a potential or actual entry of the aircraft into a protected area defined by a reception footprint, with the proviso that the reception footprint not relate to position of the aircraft in relation to a second aircraft;

determining a geographical location of an aircraft,

determining whether a prespecified condition occurs, the condition being at least one of a time period until the aircraft enters a protected area, an altitude of the aircraft, and a point of intersection of the aircraft in relation to the protected area; and

initiating at least a partial disablement of pilot control of the aircraft based on the at least one of the geographical location of the aircraft, the projected flight plan of the aircraft into or through the protected area, the time period until the aircraft enters the protected area, the altitude of the aircraft, and the point of intersection, of the aircraft and the protected area;

initiating at least partial disablement of pilot control alter a predetermined amount of time has elapsed from output of the advisory information;

wherein the advisory data relates to potential or actual entry of the aircraft into a protected area defined by the target footprint, with the proviso that the protected area not relate to position of the aircraft in relation to a second aircraft.