Spatial source collection and services system

• US 8,255,156 B2
• Filed: 05/19/2008
• Issued: 08/28/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Ravenscroft, Donald L., Wiesemann, Thorsten
• Primary Examiner(s): Elchanti, Hussein
• Assistant Examiner(s): Khatib, Rami
• Application Number:
  US12/123,204
• Publication Number:
  US 20090285491A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,562 Days
• Field of Search: 701/1, 701/3, 701 8- 10, 701 14- 16, 701/200, 701/206, 701/207, 701/208, 701/211, 701/213, 701/214, 701/300, 701/301, 340/945, 340/988, 340/990, 340/995.1, 340/995.12, 340/995.14, 34099516-99519, 340/995.22, 340/995.24, 340/995.25
• US Class Current: 701/409
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/06 for control when on the ground

Abstract

A method is provided for obtaining data about spatial objects. The data is received from a set of adaptable and programmable sensor units associated with a set of spatial objects in real time to form received data, wherein the data is generated in response to a change in a measurement or time of a sensor unit in the set of sensor units. A collection of data for spatial objects is updated with the received data.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving data from a plurality of sensor units associated with a corresponding plurality of spatial objects in real time to form received data, wherein each sensor unit in the plurality of sensor units includes a global positioning system for identification of a location and position of the each sensor unit, wherein a group of the plurality of sensor units has a spatial relationship that describes a shape of a grouped spatial object in the plurality of spatial objects, wherein the received data is generated in response to a change in a measurement made by at least one sensor unit in the plurality of sensor units, wherein the change comprises at least one of a position change and a location change of the at least one sensor unit, and wherein the received data includes a corresponding plurality of unique identifiers, location information, position information, and time stamps for each of the plurality of sensor units associated with the plurality of spatial objects;

identifying the plurality of spatial objects for the received data using the plurality of unique identifiers in the received data, wherein each of the plurality of unique identifiers identifies a particular spatial object associated with a particular sensor unit; and

updating a collection of data for the plurality of spatial objects with the received data, wherein the collection of data further includes the shape of the grouped spatial object.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the received data further comprises information about an environment around the plurality of spatial objects.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein one or more of the plurality of sensor units are self aware about the environment.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

generating additional received data, by the plurality of sensor units, based on a policy used to report a sensor state; and

sending the additional received data to update the collection of data.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the group of the plurality of sensor units communicate with each other and with a data processing system, and wherein the method further comprises:

determining, with the data processing system, changes to an overall shape of the grouped spatial object.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the grouped spatial object is a runway at an airport and wherein the group of the plurality of sensor units is located along a perimeter of the runway.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the group of the plurality of sensor units is associated with each other.

8. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

aggregating portions of the received data associated with the group of the plurality of sensor units.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

sending the collection of data for the plurality of spatial objects with updates to a client.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the client is a data processing system located on one of an aircraft and a ship.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the change in the measurement made by the at least one sensor unit in the plurality of sensor units is an unauthorized change in a position of the at least one sensor unit.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the collection of data is for an aerodrome mapping database.

13. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

converting the received data into a geographic information systems format prior to storing the received data in the data processing system.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of sensor units each comprise a set of sensors, a processor unit, a communications unit, and a housing.

15. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

providing a service to a set of clients using the collection of data with updates.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the service comprises at least one of aeronautical charts, airport assessments updates, monitoring and alerts regarding spatial objects, security services, emergency landing sites, an identification, home land defense emergency landing sites, home land defense temporary operation sites, aggregation and filtering of spatial object data, notice to airman real time alerting, data for cogitated applications requiring time variant information, visual flight rules object identification, and visual flight rules aerial identification.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of spatial objects each are selected from the group consisting of a runway, a taxiway, a barrier, a building, a crane, a control tower, and a vehicle.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of sensor units may change a pattern of reporting data in response to a change in position or time.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the measurement further comprises a state of one or more of the plurality of spatial objects.

20. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

changing how a particular sensor unit in the plurality of sensor units makes measurements.

21. A system comprising:

a plurality of sensor units configured to receive data associated with a corresponding plurality of spatial objects in real time to form received data, wherein each sensor unit in the plurality of sensor units includes a global positioning system for identification of a location and position of the each sensor unit, wherein a group of the plurality of sensor units has a spatial relationship that describes a shape of a grouped spatial object in the plurality of spatial objects, wherein the received data is generated in response to a change in a measurement made by at least one sensor unit in the plurality of sensor units, wherein the change comprises at least one of a position change and a location change of the at least one sensor unit, and wherein the received data includes a corresponding plurality of unique identifiers, location information, position information, and time stamps for each of the plurality of sensor units associated with the plurality of spatial objects;

a data processing system in communication with the plurality of sensor units, wherein the data processing system is configured to identify the plurality of spatial objects for the received data using the plurality of unique identifiers in the received data, wherein each of the plurality of unique identifiers identifies a particular spatial object associated with a particular sensor unit, and wherein the data processing system is further configured to update a collection of data for the plurality of spatial objects with the received data, wherein the collection of data further includes the shape of the grouped spatial object.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the group of the plurality of sensor units are configured to communicate with each other to provide the data processing system with an awareness of changes to an overall shape of the grouped spatial object.

23. The system of claim 22 wherein the grouped spatial object is a runway at an airport, wherein the group of the plurality of sensor units is located along a perimeter of the runway, and wherein the change in the measurement made by the at least one sensor unit in the plurality of sensor units is an unauthorized change in a position of the at least one sensor unit.