Electronic kit bag

• US 8,301,368 B1
• Filed: 05/31/2011
• Issued: 10/30/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Angela Masson
• Original Assignee: Angela Masson
• Inventors: Masson, Angela
• Primary Examiner(s): To, Tuan C.
• Application Number:
  US13/149,244
• Time in Patent Office: 518 Days
• Field of Search: 701/400, 709/219, 455/414.1, 455/414.3
• US Class Current: 701/400
• 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

The Electronic Kit Bag (EKB) is a computerized, portable pilot “kit bag” that accepts input data, manipulates said data, and outputs solutions. The EKB has standard and state-of-the-art computer parts and peripherals, interfaced for maximum utility. The central operating program of the device assesses the relationships of input data through logic based, three-dimensional decision-making algorithm. Data output is utilized either directly by the user, by the user through an aircraft system, or directly from the EKB to an aircraft system or autopilot.

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 computing device 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 computing device 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;

(d) inputting aircraft and flight related data into the transportable computing device;

(e) acquiring information that includes updated aircraft and flight related data an up to the minute basis using the transportable computing device;

(f) calculating, using the transportable computing device, an adjusted second flight plan based on the up to the minute information; and

(g) outputting the adjusted second flight plan to the aviation professional.

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

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said transportable computing device is a transportable laptop computer.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of providing the transportable computing device, wherein the transportable computing device includes a knee-top ergonomic style unit.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing said computer with an interactive headgear interface device.

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

7. 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.

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

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

10. 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 computing device.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the information for the first flight plan includes at least one of a departure runway information, destination information, alternate airports information, and fuel time information.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the aircraft and flight related data includes at least one of weather information for the first flight plan, aircraft crew scheduling information, aircraft maintenance information, aircraft load weight and balance information, and aircraft manifest information.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the adjusted second flight plan is substantially different than the first flight plan.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the calculating an adjusted second flight plan is performed en route.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the outputting to the aviation professional is performed en route.