Method and apparatus for tracking aircraft and securing against unauthorized access

• US 7,158,053 B2
• Filed: 10/10/2002
• Issued: 01/02/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kelly C. Crank
• Original Assignee: Kelly C. Crank
• Inventors: Crank, Kelly C.
• Primary Examiner(s): SWARTHOUT, BRENT
• Application Number:
  US10/269,169
• Publication Number:
  US 20030130771A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,545 Days
• Field of Search: 340/5.52, 340/5.53, 340/945, 340/963, 701/3, 701/9, 701/14
• US Class Current: 340/963
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 45/0015 Devices specially adapted for the protection against criminal attack, e.g. anti-hijacking systems
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 45/0031 means for overriding or restricting access to flight controls
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 45/0056 detecting passenger or crew behavior by sensors, e.g. biometrics
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 45/0059 by communicating emergency situations to ground control or between crew members
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0013 with a ground station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0082 for monitoring traffic from a ground station radar or analogous systems specially adapted for traffic control G01S13/91
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0086 for monitoring terrain radar or analogous systems specially adapted for terrain avoidance G01S13/935

Abstract

A system for monitoring an aircraft receives navigation signals and deriving a position vector therefrom and also asserts an alert signal in the event that the altitude of the aircraft above ground level is less than a predetermined value. The system samples the position vector at a selected sample rate and outputs a succession of samples of the position vector, the sample rate depending on whether the alert signal has been asserted. Data packets that contain respective samples of the position vector are transmitted to a ground-based receiving station. The ground-based receiving station may calculate secondary data.

Claims

1. A system for controlling access to a controlled space aboard a transport vehicle, comprising:

a first means aboard the transport vehicle for sensing a biometric characteristic submitted by a person requesting access to the controlled space,

a second means aboard the transport vehicle for evaluating the biometric characteristic and determining, based on the biometric characteristic, whether the person is authorized to access the controlled space,

a third means distinct from the transport vehicle for evaluating the biometric characteristic, submitted by the person, substantially concurrently with evaluation by the second means and determining, based on the substantially concurrent evaluation of the biometric characteristic, whether the person is authorized to access the controlled space, and

a fourth means for providing wireless communication between the second and third means and, in the event that both the second means and the third means have determined that the person is authorized to access the controlled space, approving the person'"'"'s request for access and otherwise denying the request for access.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein the first means comprises at least one microphone and a means for prompting the person to utter a predetermined log-in statement.

3. A system according to claim 1, wherein in the event that both the second means and the third means have determined that the person is not authorized to access the controlled space, the fourth means unconditionally denies the person'"'"'s request for access.

4. A system according to claim 1, wherein in the event that one of the second means and the third means have determined that the person is not authorized to access the controlled space and the other of the second means and the third means have determined that the person is authorized to access the controlled space, the fourth means conditionally denies the person'"'"'s request for access.

5. A system according to claim 4, wherein the first means includes a means operative for sensing a second biometric characteristic associated with the person requesting access to the controlled space in the event that the fourth means conditionally denies the person'"'"'s request for access.

8. A system according to claim 1, including a non-volatile means for storing a database containing a record having as one field the person'"'"'s response to the prompt and as another field a code that identifies the person.

9. A system according to claim 8, including a means for receiving a list of persons authorized to access the controlled space during a predetermined time interval and for denying access to the controlled space during the predetermined time interval to any person not on the list.

10. A system according to claim 9, including a means for disabling alteration of the database during the predetermined time interval.

12. A system according to claim 1, comprising at least one microphone for acquiring sounds generated in the controlled space, a means for evaluating characteristics of the sounds acquired by the microphone, and a means for transmitting an alert in the event that the evaluation determines that the sounds originated with a person who is not authorized to be present in the controlled space.

6. A system for controlling access to a controlled space aboard a transport vehicle, comprising:

a first means aboard the transport vehicle for sensing a biometric characteristic associated with a person requesting access to the controlled space,

a second means aboard the transport vehicle for evaluating the biometric characteristic and determining, based on the biometric characteristic, whether the person is authorized to access the controlled space,

a third means distinct from the transport vehicle for evaluating the biometric characteristic and determining, based on the biometric characteristic, whether the person is authorized to access the controlled space, and

a fourth means for providing wireless communication between the second and third means and, in the event that both the second means and the third means have determined that the person is authorized to access the controlled space, approving the person'"'"'s request for access and otherwise denying the request for access

and wherein the first means comprises at least one microphone and a means for prompting the person to utter a first predetermined log-in statement, and in the event that the fourth means conditionally denies the request for access, for prompting the person to utter a second log-in statement.

7. A system according to claim 6, wherein the second means includes a means for determining authenticity of the person'"'"'s response to the prompt to utter the second log-in statement, the third means includes a means for determining authenticity of the person'"'"'s response to the prompt to utter the second log-in statement, and the fourth means include a means for transmitting an alert in the event that both the second means and the third means determine that the person'"'"'s response to the prompt to utter the second log-in statement is not authentic.

16. A system according to claim 6, further comprising a fifth means for storing a record of biometric characteristics associated with individuals who are currently authorized to access the controlled space of the vehicle.

17. A system according to claim 16, further comprising a sixth means for continual monitoring of current biometric conditions within the controlled space and for comparing the monitored biometric conditions with the record stored by the fifth means and transmitting an alert signal upon detection of any monitored biometric condition that does not match the record stored by the fifth means.

11. A system for controlling access to a controlled space aboard a transport vehicle, comprising:

a first means aboard the transport vehicle for sensing a biometric characteristic associated with a person requesting access to the controlled space,

a second means aboard the transport vehicle for evaluating the biometric characteristic and determining, based on the biometric characteristic, whether the person is authorized to access the controlled space,

a third means distinct from the transport vehicle for evaluating the biometric characteristic and determining, based on the biometric characteristic, whether the person is authorized to access the controlled space, and

a fourth means for providing wireless communication between the second and third means and, in the event that both the second means and the third means have determined that the person is authorized to access the controlled space, approving the person'"'"'s request for access and otherwise denying the request for access

and wherein the controlled space includes an outer space and an inner space, and the system includes a means for temporarily approving access to the inner space by a person approved for access to the outer space.

13. A system for monitoring a condition within a controlled space of a transport vehicle, comprising:

a storage means aboard the vehicle for storing a record of speech characteristics of persons who are currently authorized to access the controlled space of the vehicle,

a second means aboard the transport vehicle for continuously detecting audio biometric conditions within the controlled space,

a third means for continuous storing of a record of the audio detected within the controlled space of the transport vehicle,

a fourth means for comparing the audio detected by the second means with the record stored by the storage means,

a fifth means aboard the transport vehicle for dynamically indexing the recorded audio with current position vectors and time, corresponding to the recording of audio, and

a sixth means aboard the transport vehicle for transmitting an alert signal and stored audio and position vectors and time data to a ground based facility in response to the fourth means detecting that audio detected by the second means does not match the record stored by the storage means.

14. A system according to claim 13, wherein the second means is a microphone for acquiring an audio signal representing utterances of persons seeking access to the controlled space.

15. A system according to claim 13, further comprising:

a first ground based means for receiving signals transmitted from the transport vehicle,

a second ground based processing means for compiling spectrograms from signals acquired by the first ground based means,

a third ground based means for extracting positional vector and time data acquired by the first ground based means,

a fourth ground based processing means for combining output of the second and third ground based means in a combined audio and graphic medium, correlating acquired audio to positional vectors and time indexed spectrograms, and

a fifth ground based means for transmitting an electronic signal representative of the fourth ground based means, to remote locations, where analysis of correlated spectrograms, audio, position vector and time may be conducted.