Methods, data structures, and systems to configure avionic equipment with profile data

• US 7,386,374 B1
• Filed: 10/13/2004
• Issued: 06/10/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Garmin International, Inc. (Garmin Limited)
• Original Assignee: Garmin International, Inc. (Garmin Limited)
• Inventors: Orf, Roger A., Straub, Philip I.
• Primary Examiner(s): Black; Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): Behncke; Christine M
• Application Number:
  US10/964,038
• Time in Patent Office: 1,336 Days
• Field of Search: 380/258, 701/3, 701/36, 715/783
• US Class Current: 701/14
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 25/00 Manufacturing, calibrating, cleaning, or repairing instruments or devices referred to in the other groups of this subclass testing, calibrating or compensating compasses G01C17/38
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/44505 Configuring for program initiating, e.g. using registry, configuration files

Abstract

Methods, data structures, and systems are provided for configuring avionic equipment with profile data. Profile data is defined, stored, and/or retrieved. The profile data is used to configure one or more display fields of the avionic equipment, display units of measure, identify flight plans, define map settings, set navigation fields, define communication transceiver spacing, define data/time setup, to configure one or more timers, alarms, and/or to configure other communication, navigation, or surveillance settings associated with avionic equipment. Furthermore, instances of the profile data are associated with unique identifiers for storage and retrieval purposes.

Claims

1. A method of configuring profile data in avionic equipment, comprising:

receiving an identifier associated with the profile data;

automatically using the identifier to acquire the profile data; and

configuring the avionic equipment to present the profile data, which displays preferences associated with a pilot, wherein the avionic equipment is configured by displaying avionic information in desired screen field locations as defined in the profile data.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein in receiving the identifier, the identifier is inputted in the avionic equipment.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein in receiving the identifier, the identifier is a name for the pilot or a copilot.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein in automatically using the identifier to acquire the profile data, the profile data is acquired locally from the avionic equipment.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein in automatically using the identifier to acquire the profile data, the profile data is acquired from a removable computer-readable medium.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein in automatically using the identifier to acquire the profile data, the profile data is acquired by the avionic equipment from a remote device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein in configuring the avionic equipment, a number of displays associated with the avionic equipment present the pilot or a copilot options/settings in accordance with values included within the profile data.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein configuring the avionic equipment includes an operation selected from the group consisting of configuring one or more display fields of the avionic equipment, identifying units for one or more of the display fields, identifying flight plans, define map settings, defining communication transceiver spacing, defining date/time setup, setting navigation fields, timers, alarms, and/or other communication, navigation, or surveillance settings associated with the avionic equipment.

9. A method of retrieving profile data to configure avionic equipment, comprising:

receiving a request to retrieve the profile data to configure the avionic equipment with preferences associated with a pilot;

locating the profile data;

retrieving the profile data; and

configuring the avionic equipment with the retrieved profile data, wherein the avionic equipment is configured by displaying avionic information in desired screen field locations with desired units as defined in the profile data.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein in receiving the request, the request represents using the profile data, which is a default profile data.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein in receiving the request, the profile data includes a desired flight plan of the pilot.

12. The method of claim 9 further comprising, permitting the profile data to be modified, saved, and subsequently identified by the avionic equipment.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein in locating the profile data, the profile data is located using an identifier included with the request.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein in configuring the avionic equipment, the avionic equipment is configured by defining one or more avionic operations and/or units of measure as defined in the profile data.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein in retrieving the profile data, the profile data is retrieved and then assembled from multiple locations.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein configuring the avionic equipment includes an operation selected from the group consisting of configuring one or more display fields of the avionic equipment, identifying units for one or more of the display fields, identifying flight plans, define map settings, defining communication transceiver spacing, defining date/time setup, setting navigation fields, timers, alarms, and/or other communication, navigation, or surveillance settings associated with the avionic equipment.

17. A method to configure avionic equipment, comprising:

inputting, by a pilot, an identifier for profile data, wherein the profile data is associated with preferences of the pilot;

automatically acquiring and loading the profile data into avionic equipment of an aircraft; and

presenting the preferences on one or more displays associated with the aircraft, wherein presenting the preferences includes configuring one or more display fields of the avionic equipment.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein inputting further includes receiving the identifier from a portable electronic device.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein automatically acquiring further includes retrieving the profile data from memory or storage associated with the portable electronic device.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein automatically acquiring further includes retrieving the profile data remotely over a network.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein presenting further includes using the preferences to alter one or more units of measure for flight settings.

22. The method of claim 17, wherein presenting the preferences further includes an operation selected from the group consisting of identifying units for one or more of the display fields, identifying flight plans, define map settings, defining communication transceiver spacing, defining date/time setup, setting navigation fields, timers, alarms, and/or other communication, navigation, or surveillance settings associated with the avionic equipment.