Systems and methods for creating aerial messages

• US 7,082,706 B1
• Filed: 06/05/2001
• Issued: 08/01/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Skytypers Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Skytypers Incorporated
• Inventors: Stinis, Gregory, Stinis, Stephen G., Stinis, Curtiss T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Eisen, Alexander
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, KIMNHUNG T
• Application Number:
  US09/874,565
• Time in Patent Office: 1,883 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156, 343/35, 701/33, 402/13, 318/16
• US Class Current: 40/213
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 21/16 Sky-writing

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed for creating aerial messages using multiple aircraft. Each of the aircraft includes a control box located in the aircraft for receiving data from and transmitting data to a software program running on a main computer. The systems and methods employ a wireless network to transmit and receive data between the aircraft and the software program, with each aircraft (or its respective control box) representing a node on the wireless network. Additionally, the systems and methods may operate on remote controlled devices, such as miniature remote controlled aircraft, and may be used to produce colored aerial messages. The systems and methods may be used to create an aerial vapor screen capable of displaying projected images. Also disclosed are various methods, systems and user interfaces for creating character libraries (including graphical image libraries and various language libraries), printing aerial messages, tracking system parameters (including message, system and/or aircraft parameters) and accounting of the messages created and printed.

Claims

1. A system for creating aerial messages using a plurality of aircraft, the system comprising:

a logic and processing unit configured to provide a user interface for creating aerial messages using a plurality of aircraft, wherein the logic and processing unit is located in a master aircraft and sends data to and receives data from a master controller;

a master controller located in the master aircraft, wherein the master controller is a node on a wireless local area network (LAN) and is configured to transmit data over the LAN to a plurality of slave controllers and to receive data from each of the plurality of slave controllers;

a plurality of slave controllers, each slave controller designed to be located in one of a plurality of slave aircraft, wherein each of the slave controllers is a node on the wireless LAN and is configured to receive data from and transmit data to the master controller; and

a plurality of vapor puff creation systems, each vapor puff system designed to be located in one of the plurality of aircraft.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the master controller transmits data using a single frequency.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the master controller transmits data using unlicensed spread spectrum radio frequencies.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein master controller transmits data using a frequency hopping spread spectrum system.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein master controller transmits data using a direct sequence spread spectrum system.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of slave controllers is assigned a unique network address.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the unique network address of each slave controller is dynamically assigned by the logic and processing unit.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of aircraft fly in a frontline formation.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of aircraft fly in an echelon formation.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of aircraft fly in a V-shaped formation.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of aircraft fly in a wedge formation.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of aircraft fly in a vertically descending echelon formation.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless LAN is an Ethernet network.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the logic and processing unit is further configured to determine when one of the plurality of slave aircraft travels out of a receiving range.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the logic and processing unit is further configured to notify a user of the computer when one of the plurality of slave aircraft travels out of the receiving range.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the aerial message is an alphanumeric message.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the aerial message is a graphical image.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein the aerial message is a symbol.

19. A method for producing aerial messages, the method comprising:

transmitting puff data from a computer to a plurality of controllers located in a plurality of aircraft, the puff data including an indication of whether each of the plurality of aircraft is to emit a vapor puff; and

receiving status data at the computer from each of the plurality of controllers, the status data indicating whether the vapor puff was emitted by each of the plurality of aircraft.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the computer is a laptop device.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the computer is a handheld device.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein the puff data includes a time delay indicating how long to wait before emitting the vapor puff.

23. The method of claim 19, wherein the puff data includes a duration measurement indicating how wide to make the vapor puff.

24. The method of claim 19, wherein the vapor puff is a visible fog.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the vapor puff is colored.

26. The method of claim 19, wherein the status data includes an indication of the vapor level remaining in a vapor tank located in each of the plurality of aircraft.

27. A system for producing aerial messages using a plurality of aircraft, the system comprising:

a main computer configured to provide a user interface for use in producing aerial messages using a plurality of aircraft, wherein the main computer operates as a node on a wireless network to transmit data to and receive data from a plurality of controllers;

a plurality of controllers, each controller designed to be located in one of the plurality of aircraft, wherein each controllers is a node on the wireless network and wherein each controllers is configured to process data received from the main computer; and

a plurality of vapor puff creation systems, each vapor puff creation system designed to be located in one of the plurality of aircraft.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the main computer is located in one of the plurality of aircraft.

29. The system of claim 27, wherein the main computer is located at a ground control station.

30. A system for creating aerial messages using a plurality of aircraft, the system comprising:

a master controller, wherein the master controller is a node on a wireless local area network (LAN) and is configured to transmit data over the LAN to a plurality of slave controllers and to receive data from each of the plurality of slave controllers; and

a plurality of slave controllers, each slave controller designed to be located in one of a plurality of aircraft, wherein each of the slave controllers is a node on the wireless LAN and is configured to receive data from and transmit data to the master controller;

each of said slave controllers having at least one output control line for operating a vapor puff creation system;

wherein the data transmitted by said master controller to said slave controller comprises instructions to control vapor puff creation systems and the data received from said plurality of slave controllers comprises status information.

31. The system of claim 30 further comprising a logic and processing unit configured to provide a user interface for creating aerial messages using a plurality of aircraft, wherein the logic and processing unit is located in the master aircraft and sends data to and receives data from the master controller.

32. The system of claim 30 wherein the data indicates whether a puff was emitted by the aircraft.

33. The system of claim 30 wherein the data indicates an amount of vapor material remaining in the aircraft.

34. The system of claim 30 wherein the data indicates whether the aircraft is actively on the network.

35. The system of claim 30 wherein the data indicates whether a pump was turned on.

36. The system of claim 30 wherein the data indicates whether a pump was turned off.

37. The system of claim 30 wherein the data indicates a puff is to be produced.

38. The system of claim 30 wherein the data indicates a time delay.

39. The system of claim 30 wherein the data indicates a pump is to be turned on.

40. The system of claim 30 wherein the data indicates a pump is to be turned off.