Delivering data updates to an avionics device

• US 7,257,469 B1
• Filed: 11/25/2003
• Issued: 08/14/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/25/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Garmin International, Inc. (Garmin Limited), Garmin Limited
• Original Assignee: Garmin International, Inc. (Garmin Limited)
• Inventors: Pemble, Cliff A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin; Gary
• Application Number:
  US10/722,303
• Time in Patent Office: 1,358 Days
• Field of Search: 701/3, 701/200, 701/208, 701/213, 340/945, 340/995.1, 340/995.12, 340/995.18
• US Class Current: 701/3
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 23/005 Flight directors indicating arrangements specially adapted for rotary gyroscopes G01C19/32

Abstract

Systems, devices, and methods are provided for updating information resident on an avionics device. One avionics device embodiment includes a processor, a memory, and a receiver. The memory can be in communication with the processor. The receiver can receive radio signals including update information. The device can update information resident on the device based upon the update information received.

Claims

1. An avionics device, comprising;

a processor;

a memory in communication with the processor;

a receiver to receive radio signals from a remote transmitter, wherein said radio signals include digital data representing update information, the update information including updates to software rather than just data, wherein the receiver is selected from the group consisting of an ADS-B receiver and a UAT datalink receiver; and

wherein the device can update information resident on the device based upon the update information received.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the device can update global positioning system application software resident on the device.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the device can update navigational data resident on the device.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the device can update navaid data resident on the device.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the device can update operating system information resident on the device.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the receiver can receive radio frequencies in the range of 2300 and 2400 MHz.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the receiver can receive radio frequencies in the range of 500 and 1500 MHz.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the receiver includes an ADS-B receiver.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the receiver includes a UAT datalink receiver.

10. An aviation navigation system, comprising;

a remote transmitter for transmitting, via a radio signal, digital data indicative of software;

a receiver to receive the radio signal, wherein the receiver is selected from the group consisting of an ADS-B receiver and a UAT datalink receiver; and

a relay means operable to relay the radio signal to the receiver; and

an avionics device in communication with the receiver and operable to store the software on the device.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the relay means includes a transceiver positioned on the satellite.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the relay means includes a transceiver positioned on a land based structure.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the receiver includes a receiver that is located remotely from the avionics device.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the software includes update navigational application information.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the receiver includes an ADS-B receiver.

16. The system of claim 10, wherein the receiver includes a UAT datalink receiver.

17. A method for receiving data updates with an avionics device, comprising:

receiving update information in the form of digital data, via a radio signal from a remote transmitter to a receiver selected from the group consisting of an ADS-B receiver and a UAT datalink receiver, with an avionics device;

interpreting the signal to identify information to be updated; and

updating existing software resident on the avionics device with the update information.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said receiving said radio signal from a remote transmitter includes receiving a radio signal transmitted from a satellite.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein said receiving said radio signal from a remote transmitter includes receiving a radio signal transmitted from a land based remote transmitter.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein said receiving update information includes receiving information updating geographic terrain map data.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein said receiving update information includes receiving information updating navaid map data.

22. The method of claim 17, wherein said receiving update information includes receiving information updating airport map data.

23. The method of claim 17, wherein said receiving update information includes receiving information updating avionics device operating system data.

24. The method of claim 17, wherein said receiving update information includes receiving information updating global positioning system data.

25. The method of claim 17, wherein said receiving update information includes receiving information with an ADS-B receiver.

26. The method of claim 17, wherein said receiving update information includes receiving information with a UAT datalink receiver.

27. A method for delivering data updates to an avionics device, comprising:

identifying information to be transmitted as an update to said avionics device;

packaging the information for transmission; and

transmitting a radio signal to a receiver selected from the group consisting of an ADS-B receiver and a UAT datalink receiver via a remote transmitter having packaged update information therein to a number of avionics devices, thereby updating software resident on the avionics devices.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the method further includes providing an authorization code for accessing the radio signal.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein said providing said authorization code includes providing an authorization code to an avionics device that allows the avionics device to receive the update information.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein said providing said authorization code includes providing an authorization code within the radio signal that allows the avionics device to receive the update information.

31. The method of claim 28, wherein said providing said authorization code includes providing an authorization code to the device that allows the remote transmitter to transmit the update information.

32. The method of claim 27, wherein said transmitting said radio signal having update information therein includes transmitting a radio signal at a private frequency restricted to devices authorized to access the private frequency.

33. The method of claim 27, wherein the method further includes receiving the radio signal with an ADS-B receiver.

34. The method of claim 27, wherein the method further includes receiving the radio signal with a UAT datalink receiver.

35. A computer readable medium having a set of computer readable instructions, the set of computer readable instructions comprising instructions for:

receiving data, in the form of a radio signal from a remote transmitter to a receiver selected from the group consisting of an ADS-B receiver and a UAT datalink receiver, at an avionics device; and

interpreting the data to update the executable instructions on the avionics device.

36. The computer readable medium of claim 35, wherein said receiving data includes receiving software.

37. The computer readable medium of claim 36, wherein said receiving software includes receiving application software.

38. The computer readable medium of claim 35, wherein said receiving data includes receiving update information.

39. The computer readable medium of claim 35, wherein said receiving data includes receiving data in the form of radio signals transmitted in radio frequencies in the range of 2300 and 2400 MHz.

40. The computer readable medium of claim 35, wherein said receiving data includes receiving data in the form of radio signals transmitted in radio frequencies in the range of 500 and 1500 MHz.

41. The computer readable medium of claim 35, wherein said receiving data includes receiving data with an ADS-B receiver.

42. The computer readable medium of claim 35, wherein said receiving data includes receiving data with a UAT datalink receiver.