Methods and apparatus for coordinating ADS-B with mode S SSR and/or having single link communication

• US 8,004,452 B2
• Filed: 05/30/2008
• Issued: 08/23/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kinetic Avionic Products Limited, Raytheon Company (Rtx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Raytheon Company (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Hoover, Peter L., Rolfe, Eric G., Drake, Peter R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tarcza; Thomas H
• Assistant Examiner(s): BYTHROW, PETER M
• Application Number:
  US12/129,855
• Publication Number:
  US 20090322588A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,180 Days
• Field of Search: 342 29- 40, 701/120
• US Class Current: 342/37
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0013 with a ground station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0021 located in the aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0026 located on the ground
• 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

Methods and apparatus for an ADS-B system having a single link for communication and/or ADS-B/Mode-S coordination. With this arrangement, the system communication is efficiently used.

Claims

1. An air traffic control system, comprising:

an ADS-B groundstation having a 1090 MHz link to communicate ADS-B and TIS-B information with an aircraft, wherein the ADS-B groundstation does not include ADS-R services for universal access transceivers (UATs) onboard aircraft.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein FIS-B weather information is provided via satellite radio.

3. An air traffic control system, comprising:

an ADS-B groundstation having a 1090 MHz link to communicate information consisting of ADS-B and TIS-B information with an aircraft,

wherein universal access transceivers (UATs) cannot communicate with the air traffic control system.

4. The system according to claim 3, wherein FIS-B information is provided to the aircraft via satellite radio.

5. A method, comprising:

receiving, by an aircraft, ADS-B and TIS-B information from an ADS-B ground station on frequency 1090 MHz; and

receiving, by the aircraft, FIS-B weather information from satellite radio;

wherein universal access transceivers (UATs) cannot communicate with the ADS-B ground station.

6. The method according to claim 5, further including receiving ADS-B information from other aircraft.