Correlation of flight track data with other data sources

• US 7,123,192 B2
• Filed: 04/23/2004
• Issued: 10/17/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/29/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Harris Corporation (L3Harris Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Rannoch Corporation (General Dynamics Corporation)
• Inventors: Smith, Alexander E., Cohen, Bennett
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAN, DAO LINDA
• Application Number:
  US10/830,444
• Publication Number:
  US 20050007272A1
• Time in Patent Office: 907 Days
• Field of Search: 342/32, 342/37, 342/455, 342/456, 342/457, 701/117, 701/120, 701/121
• US Class Current: 342/455
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/781 Secondary Surveillance Radar [SSR] in general
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/86 Combinations of radar systems with non-radar systems, e.g. sonar, direction finder
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0284 Relative positioning
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/06 Position of source determined by co-ordinating a plurality of position lines defined by path-difference measurements G01S5/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0013 with a ground station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/006 in accordance with predefined flight zones, e.g. to avoid prohibited zones
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0082 for monitoring traffic from a ground station radar or analogous systems specially adapted for traffic control G01S13/91

Abstract

The surveillance system provides a means to augment Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) with “look alike ADS-B” or “pseudo ADS-B” surveillance transmissions for aircraft which may not be ADS-B equipped. The system uses ground based surveillance to determine the position of aircraft not equipped with ADS-B, then broadcasts the identification/positional information over the ADS-B data link. ADS-B equipped aircraft broadcast their own position over the ADS-B data link. The system enables aircraft equipped with ADS-B and Cockpit Display of Traffic Information (CDTI) to obtain surveillance information on all aircraft whether or not the proximate aircraft are equipped with ADS-B.

Claims

1. A method of tracking aircraft, comprising the steps of:

detecting, using an ACARS signal, whether an aircraft is arriving or departing, and determining aircraft intent,

determining, using an aircraft surveillance system, physical position of an aircraft,

fusing ACARS data with aircraft surveillance data to provide a combined data stream,

transmitting the combined data stream to at least one user, and

displaying position of the aircraft to the at least one user along with the aircraft intent.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said aircraft surveillance system comprises at least one of a multilateration system and a radar system.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said step of displaying position of the aircraft to the at least one user along with the aircraft intent comprises the step of displaying position of the aircraft and aircraft intent on an in-cockpit display.

4. A system for tracking aircraft, comprising:

means for detecting from using an ACARS signal, whether an aircraft is arriving or departing to determine aircraft intent;

an aircraft surveillance system for determining physical position of an aircraft;

means for fusing ACARS data with aircraft surveillance data to provide a combined data stream;

means for transmitting the combined data stream to at least one user; and

means for displaying position of the aircraft to the at least one user along with the aircraft intent.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein said aircraft surveillance system comprises at least one of a multilateration system and a radar system.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein said means for displaying position of the aircraft to the at least one user along with the aircraft intent comprises an in-cockpit display.