Electronic kit bag

• US 7,974,775 B1
• Filed: 11/05/1999
• Issued: 07/05/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Airplanet Productions, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Airplanet Productions, Inc.
• Inventors: Masson, Angela
• Primary Examiner(s): To; Tuan C
• Application Number:
  US09/699,963
• Time in Patent Office: 4,260 Days
• Field of Search: 701/200, 701/1, 701/2, 701/3, 701/14, 701/24, 701/29, 701/208, 701/213, 190/11, 190/12.R, 190/15.1, 190/100, 190/102, 190/106, 190/109, 190/110, 190/111, 455/552.1, 345/156, 345/157, 359/361, 359/7, 359/8, 702/3, 342/357.09, 361/683, 709/219, 709/217, 709/247, 715/810, 717/174
• US Class Current: 701/200
• 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

Abstract

A method of providing electronic flight bag for an aviation professional for use on an aircraft by providing a transportable laptop computer and programming the transportable laptop computer with linear and non-linear algorithms and operating programs. Flight plan information is received by the transportable laptop computer, and additional aircraft and flight related data is inputted as well. Additional information is acquired by the transportable laptop computer on an up to the minute basis during flight, and calculations are made en route to adjust the original flight plan. The updated flight plan is outputted to the aviation professional en route.

Claims

1. A method of providing to and for use by an aircraft aviation professional a lightweight and easily manipulated electronic flight bag, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a transportable laptop computer to be carried by the aviation professional for use within at least one of an aircraft and an airport, in a carry bag;

(b) programming the transportable laptop computer with linear and non-linear algorithms and operating programs to at least;

process flight information, manipulate flight related data in a non-linear algorithm thereby aiding in flight decision-making processes resulting in solutions to flight related mathematical computations and runway selections and aircraft operating parameters and procedures, calculate pilot fatigue limits and scheduling issues and fuel computations, and provide data displays to the aviation professional;

(c) receiving information for a first flight plan from a flight operations, wherein the information for the first flight plan includes a departure runway information, destination information, alternate airports information, and fuel time information;

(d) inputting aircraft and flight related data into the transportable laptop computer using an input device, wherein the aircraft and flight related data includes weather information for the first flight plan, aircraft crew scheduling information, aircraft maintenance information, aircraft load weight and balance information, and aircraft manifest information;

(e) acquiring information that includes the weather information, the aircraft crew scheduling information, the aircraft maintenance information, the aircraft load weight and balance information and the aircraft manifest information an up to the minute basis using the transportable laptop computer;

(f) calculating using the transportable laptop computer while en route an adjusted second flight plan based on the up to the minute information, wherein the adjusted second flight plan is substantially different than the first flight plan; and

(g) outputting the adjusted second flight plan while en route to the aviation professional using at least one of an interactive headgear worn by the aviation professional, a translucent display coupled to the transportable laptop computer and an aircraft system.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of loading into the transportable laptop computer aircraft and aviation manuals for flight operating and emergency procedures, and charts for an off-line emergency airport.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of providing the transportable laptop computer, wherein the transportable laptop computer includes a knee-top ergonomic style unit.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of programming, and loading data into, said laptop computer on-line, and off-line through a modem, and via internet and intranet systems, and via other communication means.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising formatting the adjusted second flight plan into an electronic output, wherein the electronic output may be used directly by an aircraft auto-pilot control system coupled to the aircraft.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the adjusted second flight plan includes an alternate destination, alternate runway, alternate crew and an alternate route.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the information for a first flight plan and the updated information are received by the transportable laptop computer using wireless communications.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing the aviation professional with at least one of charts, maps, log-books, union regulations and rules and crew rest and duty limits using the transportable laptop computer.