Managing an air-ground communications network with air traffic control information

• US 7,979,200 B2
• Filed: 11/15/2007
• Issued: 07/12/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Leidos Innovations Technology, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Inventors: Walton, David E., Bay, FM
• Primary Examiner(s): Keith; Jack
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dager; Jonathan M
• Application Number:
  US11/940,913
• Publication Number:
  US 20080120020A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,335 Days
• Field of Search: 455403-457, 370310-331, 370/340, 370/341
• US Class Current: 701/120
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0013 with a ground station

Abstract

Systems and methods that coordinate assignments of aircraft operating within a controlled airspace to ground radios are provided. In one embodiment, such a system includes an air traffic control (ATC) facility (12), a plurality of ground radios (16A-16C), and a network manager (20) communicatively coupled to the air traffic control facility (12) and the ground radios (16A-16C). The air traffic control facility is responsible for controlling aircraft (14A-14I) operating within the airspace (10) and providing ATC information to the network manager (20). The ground radios (16A-16C) are operable to provide communications between the air traffic control facility (12) and the aircraft (14A-14I). The network manager (20) is operable to assign each aircraft (14A-14I) to one of the ground radios (16A-16C) based on network management considerations using the ATC information.

Claims

1. A system that coordinates assignments of aircraft operating within a controlled airspace to ground radios, said system comprising:

an air traffic control facility configured for controlling air traffic within the airspace and providing air traffic control information;

a plurality of ground radios configured to provide communications between said air traffic control facility and the aircraft;

a network manager communicatively coupled to said air traffic control center and said ground radios, said network manager being configured to assign each aircraft within the airspace to a ground radio based on network management considerations using the air traffic control information;

and wherein said network management considerations include radio coverage within the airspace, radio duty cycle, aircraft location within the airspace, aircraft intentions, and signal power conflicts.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said network manager assigns each aircraft to a radio without regard to sector crossings within the airspace by the aircraft.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said network manager assigns each aircraft to a radio without regard to proximity of the aircraft to particular radios.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said network manager receives aircraft information inputs including the air traffic control information.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein said aircraft information inputs include aircraft heading data, aircraft speed data, aircraft intention data, aircraft radio assignment data, aircraft radio capability data and current aircraft location data.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein said network manager receives ground radio information inputs.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein said ground radio information inputs include ground radio coverage data, ground radio capacity data, ground radio utilization data, and ground radio location data.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein said network manager is further configured to distribute information about the ground radio assignments to said air traffic control center and to the aircraft.

9. The system of claim 1 where said network manager is further configured to reconsider ground radio assignments for aircraft within the airspace based on current network management considerations and current air traffic control information when aircraft enter or exit the airspace.

10. The system of claim 1 where said network manager is further configured to periodically reconsider ground radio assignments for aircraft within the airspace based on current network management considerations and current air traffic control information.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein said plurality of ground radios includes digital radios.

12. A method of coordinating ground radio assignments for aircraft operating within a controlled airspace to ground radios, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving a plurality of aircraft information inputs;

receiving a plurality of ground radio information inputs;

processing the aircraft information inputs and the ground radio information inputs in view of network management considerations; and

establishing, for each aircraft, an assignment to one of the ground radios using the processed aircraft information inputs and the processed ground radio information inputs;

wherein said step of receiving a plurality of aircraft information inputs comprises;

receiving aircraft heading data, aircraft speed data, aircraft intention data, aircraft radio assignment data, aircraft radio capability data and current aircraft location data;

wherein at least one of the aircraft heading data, aircraft speed data, aircraft intention data, aircraft radio assignment data, aircraft radio capability data and current aircraft location data is received from an air traffic control center.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein said step of receiving a plurality of ground radio information inputs comprises:

receiving ground radio coverage data, ground radio capacity data, ground radio utilization data, and ground radio location data.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein at least one of the ground radio coverage data, ground radio capacity data, ground radio utilization data, and ground radio location data is stored prior to commencing said method.

15. The method of claim 12 wherein in said step of processing, the network management considerations include a ground radio reassignment plan, achieving ground radio duty cycle balance, and minimizing changes in ground radio assignments among aircraft within the airspace.

16. The method of claim 12 wherein in said step of establishing, the assignment to a ground radio is made, for each aircraft, without considering sector crossings within the airspace by the aircraft.

17. The method of claim 12 wherein in said step of establishing, the assignment to a ground radio is made, for each aircraft, without considering proximity of the aircraft to particular ground radios.

18. The method of claim 12 said steps of receiving a plurality of aircraft information inputs, receiving a plurality of ground radio information inputs, processing the aircraft information inputs and the ground radio information inputs, and establishing, for each aircraft, an assignment to a ground radio are completed at a network manager interposed between an air traffic control center controlling the airspace and a plurality of round radios.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising:

distributing information about the ground radio assignments from the network manager to the air traffic control center and to the aircraft.

20. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

reconsidering ground radio assignments for aircraft within the airspace based on current aircraft information inputs, ground radio information inputs, and network management considerations when an aircraft enters or exists the airspace.

21. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

periodically reconsidering ground radio assignments for aircraft within the airspace based on current aircraft information inputs, ground radio information inputs, and network management considerations.

22. The method of claim 12 wherein the ground radios include digital radios.