Wireless ground support systems

• US 8,290,526 B2
• Filed: 09/25/2011
• Issued: 10/16/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sonetics Holdings Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sonetics Corporation
• Inventors: Broadley, Simon, VanderPloeg, Brian
• Primary Examiner(s): TRAN, CONGVAN
• Application Number:
  US13/244,596
• Publication Number:
  US 20120225685A1
• Time in Patent Office: 387 Days
• Field of Search: 455/3.05, 455/63.1, 455/78, 455/222, 455/431, 455/501, 455/518, 455 411- 413, 455/519, 381/74, 381/370
• US Class Current: 455/518
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/08 Trunked mobile radio systems

Abstract

A wireless intercom has a releasably coupled wired interface to an external aircraft communications socket and the wireless intercom is coupled to the aircraft proximate the socket, preferably in a custom bag hung by a releasable mechanical coupling to the aircraft. The wireless intercom provides signal communication and management between a ground crew tug driver headset and the pilot via the socket and, in various embodiments, to a trainer headset and/or to one or more wing walker headsets. If the wireless intercom loses communications with the tug operator headset during ground operations, an alarm is sent to the pilot via the socket. The wireless intercom, in alternate embodiments, enforces a priority scheme for calls going to one or more of the headsets. The wireless intercom and headsets are powered by rechargeable batteries. Each embodiment includes a customized weather-resistant case for holding at least the other elements of that embodiment.

Claims

1. A wireless ground support system for communicating between a ground crew and a pilot, in which the pilot has a pilot'"'"'s headset communicatively linked to a communication socket accessible from the exterior of an aircraft operable on the ground by such pilot, such that audio signals communicated to such communications socket may be heard by such pilot during ground operations, the system comprising:

a. a wireless ground crew tug operator'"'"'s headset;

b. a first wireless intercom having a wired pilot interface operable to couple at least voice communications between said ground crew tug operator'"'"'s headset and such communications socket, at least partially over a first wireless link; and

c. a logic within said first wireless intercom operable to transmit an audio alarm signal to such communications socket if said ground crew tug operator'"'"'s headset fails to maintain communication over said first wireless link.

2. The wireless ground support system of claim 1, comprising a first kit further comprising:

a. an intercom bag for releasably enclosing said wireless intercom;

b. a remove-before-flight safety flag that is releasably attachable to said intercom bag; and

c. a mechanical coupling for releasably fastening at least one of said intercom bag and said first wireless intercom to such aircraft.

3. The wireless ground support system of claim 2, comprising said first kit further comprising:

a custom, weather-resistant case for securely containing at least said wireless intercom, said wired pilot interface, said ground crew tug operator'"'"'s headset, said intercom bag, said remove-before-flight safety flag, and said mechanical coupling.

4. The wireless ground support system of claim 1, wherein said wireless link comprises a full-duplex link with a noise gate.

5. The wireless ground support system of claim 1, wherein said logic within said first wireless intercom operable to transmit an audio alarm signal to such communications socket is further operable to at least one of:

a. transmit said audio alarm signal to at least one wireless wing walker'"'"'s headset;

b. transmit said audio alarm signal to a wireless trainer'"'"'s headset;

c. activate a visual alarm proximate said first wireless intercom;

d. activate a visual alarm on said wireless ground crew tug operator'"'"'s headset;

e. activate a visual alarm on said at least one wireless wing walker'"'"'s headset; and

f. activate a visual alarm on said wireless trainer'"'"'s headset.

6. The wireless ground support system of claim 2, wherein said intercom bag comprises:

a. a weather-resistant fabric having a safety color;

b. said fabric configured into a size and shape for receiving said first wireless intercom;

c. said fabric supporting an attachment point for said remove-before flight safety flag;

d. said fabric supporting an attachment point for said mechanical coupling;

e. a first opening for passing said wired pilot interface through said intercom bag to said first wireless intercom; and

f. a second opening providing access to an ON/OFF switch of said first wireless intercom.

7. The wireless ground support system of claim 1, comprising a second kit further comprising a wireless trainer headset.

8. The wireless ground support system of claim 7, comprising at least additional circuitry in said first wireless intercom to create a second wireless intercom operable to provide:

a. an open microphone link between said ground crew tug operator'"'"'s headset and said trainer'"'"'s headset;

b. an open microphone link from such communications socket to said ground crew tug operator'"'"'s headset;

c. a push-to-talk link from the ground crew tug operator'"'"'s headset to such communications socket;

d. a push-to-talk link from the trainer'"'"'s headset to such communications socket; and

e. wherein said push-to-talk link from said trainer'"'"'s headset to such communications socket has priority over said push-to-talk link from said ground crew tug operator'"'"'s headset to such communications socket.

9. The wireless ground support system of claim 7, comprising said second kit further comprising:

a second custom weather resistant case for securely containing at least said second wireless intercom, said wired pilot interface, said ground crew tug operator'"'"'s headset, said trainer'"'"'s headset, an intercom bag, a remove-before-flight safety flag, and a mechanical coupling for releasably fastening at least one of said intercom bag and said second wireless intercom to such aircraft.

10. The wireless ground support system of claim 7, wherein:

a. at least a portion a visible surface of said ground crew tug operator'"'"'s headset comprises a first safety color; and

b. at least a portion a visible surface of said trainer'"'"'s headset comprises a second safety color.

11. The wireless ground support system of claim 1, comprising a third kit further comprising:

a. a first wing walker headset; and

b. at least one second wing walker headset.

12. The wireless ground support system of claim 11, comprising at least additional circuitry in said first wireless intercom to create a third wireless intercom operable to provide:

a. an open microphone link from such communications socket to said ground crew tug operator'"'"'s headset;

b. an open microphone link from such communications socket to said first wing walker headset;

c. an open microphone link from such communications socket to said at least one second wing walker headset;

d. an open microphone link from said ground crew tug operator'"'"'s headset to said first wing walker headset;

e. at least one open microphone link from said ground crew tug operator'"'"'s headset to said at least one second wing walker headset;

f. at least one push-to-talk link between said first wing walker headset and said at least one second wing walker headset;

g. a push-to-talk link from said first wing walker headset to said ground crew tug operator'"'"'s headset;

h. a push-to-talk link from said at least one second wing walker headset to said ground crew tug operator'"'"'s headset; and

i. a control logic within said wireless intercom implementing a priority scheme for multiple simultaneous communications to said ground crew tug operator'"'"'s headset.

13. The wireless ground support system of claim 12, comprising one of:

a. a push-to-talk link from said ground crew tug operator'"'"'s headset to such communication socket; and

b. an open microphone link from said ground crew tug operator'"'"'s headset to such communication socket.

14. The wireless ground support system of claim 12, comprising said third kit further comprising a third custom weather resistant case for securely containing at least said third wireless intercom, said wired pilot interface, said ground crew tug operator'"'"'s headset, said first wing-walker headset, said at least one second wing walker headset, an intercom bag, a remove-before-flight safety flag, and a mechanical coupling for releasably fastening at least one of said intercom bag and said third wireless intercom to such aircraft.

15. The wireless ground support system of claim 11, wherein said at least one second wing walker headset comprises a plurality of second wing walker headsets, each said second wing walker headset operable as a linked node on said wireless ground support system, said system further comprising at least:

a. an open microphone link from said ground crew tug operator'"'"'s headset to each said second wing walker headset of said plurality of second wing walker headsets;

b. a push-to-talk link between said first wing walker headset and each said second wing walker headset of said plurality of second wing walker headsets;

c. a push-to-talk link from each said second wing walker headset of said plurality of second wing walker headsets to said ground crew tug operator'"'"'s headset; and

d. a push-to-talk link between each pair of said second wing walker headsets of said plurality of said second wing walker headsets.

16. A wireless ground support system for communicating between a ground crew and a pilot, in which the pilot has a pilot'"'"'s headset communicatively linked to a communication socket accessible from the exterior of an aircraft on the ground such that audio signals communicated to said communications socket may be heard by such pilot during ground operations, the system comprising a first kit further comprising:

a. a wireless ground crew tug operator'"'"'s headset;

b. a first wireless intercom having a wired pilot interface operable to couple at least voice communications between said ground crew tug operator'"'"'s headset and such communications socket, at least partially over a first wireless link, wherein said first wireless link comprises a full-duplex link with a noise gate;

c. a logic within said wireless intercom operable to transmit an audio alarm signal through said wired pilot interface to such communications socket if said ground crew tug operator'"'"'s headset fails to maintain communication over said first wireless link;

d. an intercom bag for containing said wireless intercom;

e. a mechanical coupling for releasably fastening at least one of said intercom bag and said wireless intercom to such aircraft;

f. a remove-before-flight safety flag; and

g. a first custom weather resistant case for securely containing at least said first wireless intercom, said wired pilot interface, said ground crew tug operator'"'"'s headset, said intercom bag, said remove-before-flight safety flag, and said mechanical coupling.

17. The wireless ground support system of claim 16, comprising a second kit further comprising:

a. a wireless trainer'"'"'s headset;

b. circuitry additional to and within said first wireless intercom to provide a second wireless intercom operable to additionally provide;

i. communications between said trainer'"'"'s headset and such communication socket at least partially over a second open microphone wireless link;

ii, communications between said ground crew tug operator'"'"'s headset and said trainer'"'"'s headset at least partially over a third wireless open microphone link;

iii. wherein said second and third wireless links comprise second and third full-duplex links each with a noise gate; and

iv. a logic within said wireless intercom operable to implement a priority scheme that gives audio signals from said wireless trainer'"'"'s headset priority over audio signals from said ground crew tug operator'"'"'s headset.

18. The wireless ground support system of claim 16, comprising a third kit further comprising:

a. at least one wing-walker'"'"'s headset;

b. additional circuitry to said first wireless intercom to provide a third wireless intercom operable to additionally provide;

i. at least one open microphone link from such communications socket to said at least one wing-walker'"'"'s headset;

ii. a push-to-talk link from said at least one wing-walker'"'"'s headset to said ground crew tug operator'"'"'s headset;

iii. at least one open microphone link from said ground crew tug operator headset to said at least one wing-walker headset;

iv. wherein said third wireless intercom comprises control logic operable to enforce a predetermined priority scheme; and

v. if said at least one wing-walker'"'"'s headset comprises a plurality of said wing-walker headsets, a push-to-talk link between each pair of said wing-walker headsets of said plurality of said wing-walker headsets.

19. A wireless ground support system for communicating between a ground crew and a pilot, in which the pilot has a pilot'"'"'s headset communicatively linked to a communication socket accessible from the exterior of an aircraft on the ground such that audio signals communicated to said communications socket may be heard by such pilot during operations, the system comprising:

a. a wireless ground crew tug operator'"'"'s headset;

b. a wireless ground crew trainer'"'"'s headset;

c. a wireless intercom having a wired pilot interface operable to couple at least voice communications between said ground crew tug operator'"'"'s headset and such communications socket, at least partially over a wireless link, wherein said wireless link comprises a full-duplex link and a noise gate;

d. said wireless intercom further operable to provide;

i. an open microphone link between said ground crew tug operator'"'"'s headset and said trainer'"'"'s headset;

ii. an open microphone link from such communications socket to said ground crew tug operator'"'"'s headset;

iii. a push-to-talk link from the ground crew tug operator'"'"'s headset to such communications socket;

iv. a push-to-talk link from the trainer'"'"'s headset to such communications socket; and

v. wherein said push-to-talk link from said trainer'"'"'s headset to such communications socket has priority over said push-to-talk link from said ground crew tug operator'"'"'s headset to such communications socket.

20. The wireless ground support system of claim 19, further comprising:

a. a circuit within said wireless intercom operable to transmit an audio alarm signal through said wired pilot interface to such communications socket if said ground crew tug operator'"'"'s headset fails to maintain communication over said wireless link;

b. an intercom bag operable to releasably enclose said wireless intercom, wherein said intercom bag comprises;

i. a weather-resistant fabric having a safety color;

ii. said fabric formed into a size and shape for receiving said wireless intercom;

iii. said fabric supporting an attachment point for a remove-before flight safety flag;

iv. said fabric supporting an attachment point for a mechanical coupling;

v. a first opening for passing said wired pilot interface through said intercom bag to said wireless intercom; and

vi. a second opening providing access to an ON/OFF switch of said wireless intercom;

c. said mechanical coupling for releasably fastening said intercom bag to such aircraft;

d. said remove-before-flight safety flag;

e. a custom weather-resistant case for securely containing at least said wireless intercom, said wired pilot interface, said ground crew tug operator'"'"'s headset, said wireless ground crew trainer'"'"'s headset, said intercom bag, said remove-before-flight safety flag, and said mechanical coupling, wherein said case, said wireless intercom, said wired pilot interface, said ground crew tug operator'"'"'s headset, said wireless ground crew trainer'"'"'s headset, said intercom bag, said remove-before-flight safety flag, and said mechanical coupling comprise a kit.