Seamless air traffic control (ATC) datalink transfers

• US 7,860,642 B2
• Filed: 09/29/2009
• Issued: 12/28/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Lee, Stephen Y., Sandell, Gordon R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Beaulieu; Yonel
• Application Number:
  US12/569,339
• Publication Number:
  US 20100023247A1
• Time in Patent Office: 455 Days
• Field of Search: 701/120, 701/117, 342/33, 342/36, 342/456
• US Class Current: 701/120
• 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

Embodiments for seamless air traffic control (ATC) data link transfers are disclosed. In at least one embodiment, a method includes receiving a new air traffic control center designation from an original air traffic control center through an active connection. The active connection is based on a first data link standard. The method further includes initiating control transfer by at least one of an aircraft logon to a new air traffic control center or a contact between the original and new traffic control centers. The method additional includes establishing an inactive connection between the new air traffic control center and the aircraft based on a second link standard. The method also includes confirming the establishment of an inactive connection from the aircraft to the new air traffic control center. Additionally, the method includes terminating the active connection between the original air traffic control center and the aircraft.

Claims

1. A method for transferring air traffic control over an aircraft, comprising:

receiving a new air traffic control center designation from an original air traffic control center through an active connection, wherein the active connection is based on a first data link standard;

initiating control transfer by at least one of an aircraft logon to a new air traffic control center and a contact between the original and new traffic control centers;

establishing an inactive connection between the new air traffic control center and the aircraft based on a second link standard;

confirming the establishment of an inactive connection from the aircraft to the new air traffic control center; and

terminating the active connection between the original air traffic control center and the aircraft.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein terminating an active traffic control connection between the original air traffic control center and the aircraft activates the inactive connection between the aircraft and the new air traffic control center.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the second data link standard is the Aeronautical Telecommunication Network (ATN) standard, and wherein activating the inactive connection between the aircraft and the new traffic control center includes sending a message confirming an active ATN connection from the aircraft to the new air traffic control center.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein initiating control transfer by an aircraft logon includes using one of a Context Management (CM) contact process to prompt the aircraft to perform an Aeronautical Telecommunication Network (AFN) logon to the new control center, and using an AFN contact advisory process to prompt the aircraft to perform an CM logon to the new air traffic control center.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein initiating control transfer by a contact between the original and new traffic control centers includes one of completing an Airway Facilities Notification (AFN) contact advisory transaction between the original air traffic control center and the new air traffic control center, and completing a Context Management (CM) contact transaction between the original air traffic control center and the new air traffic control center.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the second data link standard is a Future Air Navigation System (FANS) standard when the first data link standard is an Aeronautical Telecommunication Network (ATN) standard, and wherein the second data link standard is an ATN standard when the first data link is an FANS standard.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein logging the aircraft on to the new air traffic control center includes determining an address for the new air traffic control center from a database if the second data link standard is an Aeronautical Telecommunication Network (ATN) standard.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining the second link standard from one of an Airway Facilities Notification (AFN) Contact Advisory message or a Context Management (CM) Contact Request message.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising logging on to the new air traffic control center by one of performing an Airway Facilities Notification (AFN) logon when prompted by a Context Management (CM) contact process or performing a CM logon when prompted by an AFN contact advisory process.

10. A method for transferring air traffic control over an aircraft, comprising:

receiving a new air traffic control center designation from an original air traffic control center through an active connection, wherein the active connection is based on a first data link standard;

initiating control transfer by at least one of an aircraft logon to a new air traffic control center and a contact between the original and new traffic control centers;

establishing an inactive connection between the new air traffic control center and the aircraft based on a second link standard;

confirming the establishment of an inactive connection from the aircraft to the new air traffic control center; and

terminating the active connection between the original air traffic control center and the aircraft,

wherein the first data link standard is one of a Future Air Navigation System (FANS) standard and an Aeronautical Telecommunication Network (ATN) standard, and wherein the second data link standard is one of a FANS standard and an ATN standard,

11. The method of claim 10, wherein terminating an active traffic control connection between the original air traffic control center and the aircraft activates the inactive connection between the aircraft and the new air traffic control center.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the second data link standard is the Aeronautical Telecommunication Network (ATN) standard, and wherein activating the inactive connection between the aircraft and the new traffic control center includes sending a message confirming an active ATN connection from the aircraft to the new air traffic control center.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein initiating control transfer by an aircraft logon includes using one of a Context Management (CM) contact process to prompt the aircraft to perform an Airway Facilities Notification (AFN) logon to the new control center, and using an AFN contact advisory process to prompt the aircraft to perform an CM logon to the new air traffic control center.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein initiating control transfer by a contact between the original and new traffic control centers includes one of completing a Airway Facilities Notification (AFN) contact advisory transaction between the original air traffic control center and the new air traffic control center, and completing an Context Management (CM) contact transaction between the original air traffic control center and the new air traffic control center.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein logging the aircraft on to the new air traffic control center includes determining an address for the new air traffic control center from a database if the second data link standard is an Aeronautical Telecommunication Network (ATN) standard.

16. The method of claim 10, further comprising determining the second link standard from one of an Airway Facilities Notification (AFN) Contact Advisory message or a Context Management (CM) Contact Request message.

17. The method of claim 10, further comprising logging on to the new air traffic control center by one of performing an Airway Facilities Notification (AFN) logon when prompted by a Context Management (CM) contact process or performing a CM logon when prompted by an AFN contact advisory process.