Computer-readable media, methods, and systems for computer tactical operation

• US 7,272,471 B1
• Filed: 03/08/2004
• Issued: 09/18/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Palich, Mark E., Gieske, Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): ARTHUR JEANGLAUDE, GERTRUDE
• Application Number:
  US10/795,613
• Time in Patent Office: 1,289 Days
• Field of Search: 701 23- 25, 701200-201, 701207-213, 701/14, 701120-122, 701/3, 701/36, 340988-991, 340/995.1, 340/995.12, 340/995.14, 340/995.17, 340/995.19, 340/995.24, 340/996
• US Class Current: 701/3
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 23/00 Combined instruments indicating more than one navigational value, e.g. for aircraft; Combined measuring devices for measuring two or more variables of movement, e.g. distance, speed or acceleration
• 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

Abstract

Computer-readable media, methods, and systems for computer tactical operation are provided. First computer program code to facilitate a communication with a remote station. Second computer program code to identify from the communication a position of the remote station associated with the communication. Third computer program code to present a map of an area around the position and display a symbol on the map representing the position. Fourth computer program code to present a message interface showing at least a portion of additional content of the communication associated with the position.

Claims

1. A computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon, the computer-readable medium comprising:

a first computer program portion to facilitate communications with a remote station;

a second computer program portion to identify from a communication a position of the remote station associated with the communication, the communication being between the remote station and at least another remote station;

a third computer program portion to present a map of an area proximate to the position and display a symbol on the map representing the position; and

a fourth computer program portion to present a user interactive message interface showing at least a portion of an additional content of the communication associated with the position, wherein the at least a portion of the additional content includes at least one message.

2. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the first computer program portion exchanges messages in at least one of Air Force Application Program Development format, Joint Variable Message Format, and Tactical Fire Direction System format.

3. The computer-readable medium of claim 2, wherein the first computer program portion exchanges messages over a Personal Computer Improved Digital Modem interface device over at least one of a Single Channel Ground and Airborne Radio System and a Multiband Intra-Team Radio system.

4. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the third computer program portion extracts the map from a map database according to the position.

5. The computer-readable medium of claim 4, wherein the third computer program portion represents the position on the map as an application overlay.

6. The computer-readable medium of claim 5, wherein the third computer program portion uses known positions represented by the map extracted from the database to generate an overlay of the position to be displayed on the map.

7. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, further comprising fifth computer portion to allow a user to manipulate presentation of the map.

8. The computer-readable medium of claim 7, wherein the user can manipulate the map with a group of commands including at least one of zoom in, zoom out, manually fit map to user specifications, or fit map to view the position and a current position of the user.

9. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, further comprising a sixth computer program portion to present a graphical user interface, and wherein the user interactive message interface allows a user to engage the computer-readable medium with a pointing device.

10. The computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the user interactive message interface includes a message log listing a plurality of messages corresponding with a plurality of displayed positions such that selecting a message highlights a symbol corresponding with the displayed position for the message.

11. The computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the user interactive message interface is presented along at least one side of the map.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the user interactive message interface includes a plurality of selectable tabs collecting messages groups including at least some of received messages, sent messages, messages being composed, messages to be saved, and messages to be deleted.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the user interactive message interface includes a plurality of selectable attributes for each message, the selectable attributes including at least some of message sender, time of sending, and type of message.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 9, further comprising a seventh computer program portion to allow a message to be created by a user.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 14, wherein the user can select a position on the map with which the message to be created is associated.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 14, wherein the user interactive message interface includes a plurality of selectable message types for messages being composed.

17. The computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein the user interactive message interface enables a user to:

receive and view information contained in the communication associated with the position;

generate the communication associated with the position; and

modify the communication associated with the position.

18. A computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon, the computer-readable medium comprising:

a first computer program portion to facilitate communication with a remote station using at least one of Air Force Application Program Development format, Joint Variable Message Format, and Tactical Fire Direction System format;

a second computer program portion to identify from a communication a position of the remote station associated with the communication, the communication being between the remote station and at least another remote station;

a third computer program portion to extract a map from a map database and present a map of an area proximate to the position displaying a symbol on the map representing the position;

a fourth computer program portion to present a user interactive message interface showing at least a portion of additional content of the communication associated with the position; and

a fifth computer program portion to present a graphical user interface, wherein the user interactive message interface is configured to enable a user to engage the computer-readable medium with a pointing device.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein the remote station includes an aircraft.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein the first computer program portion exchanges messages over a Personal Computer Improved Digital Modem interface device over at least one of a Single Channel Ground and Airborne Radio System and a Multiband Intra-Team Radio system.

21. The computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein the third computer program portion represents the position on the map as an application overlay.

22. The computer-readable medium of claim 21, wherein the third computer program portion uses known positions represented by the map extracted from the database to generate an overlay of the position to be displayed on the map.

23. The computer-readable medium of claim 18, further comprising a sixth computer program portion allows a user to manipulate presentation of the map.

24. The computer-readable medium of claim 23, wherein the user can manipulate the map with a group of commands including at least one of zoom in, zoom out, manually fit map to user specifications, or fit map to view the position and a current position of the user.

25. The computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein the user interactive message interface includes a message log listing a plurality of messages corresponding with a plurality of displayed positions such that selecting a message highlights a symbol corresponding with the displayed position for the message.

26. The computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein the user interactive message interface is presented along at least one side of the map.

27. The computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein the user interactive message interface includes a plurality of selectable tabs collecting messages groups including at least some of received messages, sent messages, messages being composed, messages to be saved, and messages to be deleted.

28. The computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein the user interactive message interface includes a plurality of selectable attributes for each message, the selectable attributes including at least some of message sender, time of sending, and type of message.

29. The computer-readable medium of claim 18, further comprising an eighth computer program portion to enable a message to be created by a user.

30. The computer-readable medium of claim 29, wherein the user can select a position on the map with which the message to be created is associated.

31. The computer-readable medium of claim 29, wherein the user interactive includes a plurality of selectable message types for messages being composed.

32. The computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein the user interactive message interface enables a user to:

receive and view information contained in the communication associated with the position;

generate the communication associated with the position; and

modify the communication associated with the position.

33. A method for communicating, the method comprising:

receiving a communication from a remote station;

identifying a position of the remote station associated with the communication, the communication being between the remote station and at least another remote station;

presenting a map of an area proximate to the position;

displaying a symbol on the map representing the position; and

presenting an additional content of the communication via a user interactive message interface showing at least a portion of the additional content of the communication associated with the position, wherein the additional content includes at least one message.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the remote station includes an aircraft.

35. The method of claim 33, wherein the communication includes at least one message in at least one of Air Force Application Program Development format, Joint Variable Message Format, and Tactical Fire Direction System format.

36. The method of claim 35, further comprising receiving at least one message over a Personal Computer Improved Digital Modem interface device over at least one of a Single Channel Ground and Airborne Radio System and a Multiband Intra-Team Radio system.

37. The method of claim 33, further comprising extracting the map from a map database according to the position.

38. The method of claim 37, further comprising representing the position on the map as an application overlay.

39. The method of claim 38, further comprising using a known position represented by the map extracted from the database to generate an overlay of the position to be displayed on the map.

40. The method claim 33, further comprising allowing a user to manipulate presentation of the map.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein the user can manipulate the map with a group of commands including at least one of zoom in, zoom out, manually fit map to user specifications, or fit map to view the position and a current position of the user.

42. The method of claim 33, further comprising presenting a graphical user interface to be engaged with a pointing device.

43. The method of claim 42, wherein a user interactive message interface includes a message log listing a plurality of messages corresponding with a plurality of displayed positions such that selecting a message highlights a symbol corresponding with the displayed position for the message.

44. The method of claim 43, wherein the user interactive message interface is presented along at least one side of the map.

45. The method of claim 43, wherein the user interactive message interface includes a plurality of selectable tabs collecting messages groups including at least some of received messages, sent messages, messages being composed, messages to be saved, and messages to be deleted.

46. The method of claim 43, wherein the user interactive message interface includes a plurality of selectable attributes for each message, the selectable attributes including at least some of message sender, time of sending, and type of message.

47. The method of claim 43, further comprising allowing a message to be created by a user.

48. The method of claim 47, wherein the user can select a position on the map with which the message to be created is associated.

49. The method of claim 47, wherein the user interactive message interface includes a plurality of selectable message types for messages being composed.

50. A communications system, the system comprising:

a radio configured to receive a communication from a remote station; and

a portable computer operably coupled with the radio, the portable computer comprising;

a display;

a position identifier operable to determine from the communication a position of the remote station associated with the communication, the communication being between the remote station and at least another remote station;

a map presenter configured to present the position on a map of an area proximate to the position on the display; and

a user interactive message interface configured to present content of the communication associated with the position including at least one message.

51. The system of claim 50, wherein the communication includes at least one message in at least one of Air Force Application Program Development format, Joint Variable Message Format, and Tactical Fire Direction System format.

52. The system of claim 51, wherein the portable computer is operably coupled with the radio using a Personal Computer Improved Digital Modem interface.

53. The system of claim 52, wherein the radio includes at least one of a Single Channel Ground and Airborne Radio System and a Multiband Intra-Team Radio system.

54. The system of claim 50, further comprising a map database configured to extract map data according to the position.

55. The system of claim 54, wherein the position on the map is presented as an application overlay.

56. The system of claim 54, the position is displayed on the map by using known positions represented by the map extracted from the database to generate an overlay of the position to be displayed on the map.

57. The system of claim 50, further comprising a user interface to allow a user to manipulate presentation of the map.

58. The system of claim 57, wherein the user interface includes a group of commands including at least one of zoom in, zoom out, manually fit map to user specifications, or fit map to view the position and a current position of the user.

59. The system of claim 50, further comprising a graphical user interface supported by the personal computer, the graphical user interface to be engaged with a pointing device.

60. The system of claim 59, wherein the user interactive message interface includes a message log listing a plurality of messages corresponding with a plurality of displayed positions such that selecting a message highlights a symbol corresponding with the displayed position for the message.

61. The system of claim 59, wherein the user interactive message interface is presented along at least one side of the map.

62. The system of claim 59, wherein the user interactive message interface includes a plurality of selectable tabs collecting messages groups including at least some of received messages, sent messages, messages being composed, messages to be saved, and messages to be deleted.

63. The system of claim 59, wherein the user interactive message interface includes a plurality of selectable attributes for each message, the selectable attributes including at least some of message sender, time of sending, and type of message.

64. The system of claim 59, further comprising a message creation facility by a user.

65. The system of claim 64, wherein the message creation facility allows the user to select a position on the map with which the message to be created is associated.

66. The system of claim 65, wherein the message creation facility includes a plurality of selectable message types for messages being composed.

67. The system of claim 50, wherein the user interactive enables a user to:

receive and view information contained in the communication associated with the position;

generate the communication associated with the position; and

modify the communication associated with the position.