Integrated system for providing a journey log display and the automatic reporting thereof

• US 8,346,411 B1
• Filed: 08/16/2009
• Issued: 01/01/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/16/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc. (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Original Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc. (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Inventors: Dirks, Charles B., Krenz, Michael J., Delaney, Kevin, Scheer, James L., Costello, Joseph M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Dalena
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sample, Jonathan L
• Application Number:
  US12/541,954
• Time in Patent Office: 1,234 Days
• Field of Search: 701 3- 18, 701/467, 701/468, 340/425.5, 340/426.13, 340/426.16
• US Class Current: 701/14
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/085 using electronic data carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0013 with a ground station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/003 Flight plan management

Abstract

An integrated system for providing a reporting point journey log display in an aircraft and for providing the automatic transfer and installation of a reporting point journey log in a ground retention application. The integrated system includes means for procuring and aggregating reporting point on-board aircraft data from aircraft systems. Means are provided for generating a reporting point cockpit message and readback script from the aggregated reporting point onboard aircraft data. The aggregated reporting point onboard aircraft data is automatically transmitted to a receiving ground application for assembling the data into the form of a reporting point journey log. The reporting point journey log is installed into a ground storage application.

Claims

1. An integrated system for providing a reporting point journey log display in an aircraft and for providing the automatic transfer and installation of a reporting point journey log in a ground retention application, comprising:

a) means for procuring and aggregating reporting point on-board aircraft data from aircraft systems;

b) means for generating a reporting point cockpit message and readback script from said aggregated reporting point onboard aircraft data, wherein said readback script comprises a definable display format having customizable formatting in accordance with operator preference and local reporting standards, said display format including data selected from the set of airplane data comprising flight level, winds, time at reporting point crossing, coordinates of reporting point, time to next reporting point and location of next reporting point, and follow on reporting point; and

,

wherein said means for generating a reporting point cockpit message and readback script comprises a configurable event trigger mechanism for the auto generation thereof, said trigger mechanism having a trigger including time deltas, position deltas, and temperature deltas;

c) means for automatically transmitting said aggregated reporting point onboard aircraft data to a receiving ground application for assembling the data into the form of a reporting point journey log; and

,

d) means for installing said reporting point journey log into a ground storage application.

2. The integrated system of claim 1, wherein said means for procuring and aggregating reporting point on-board aircraft data from aircraft systems comprises procuring and aggregating data selected from the set of aircraft data, comprising:

a) wind direction, speed and temperature data from an air data system;

b) time data at reporting point crossings; and

, name and coordinates data of reporting points from a flight management system;

c) flight level data from an altimetry system;

d) time to next reporting point data; and

, location and time to next reporting point data, from a flight management system;

e) follow-on reporting point data from a flight management system;

f) fuel status data from an engine indication system (EICAS); and

,

g) aircraft discrete input data from the aircraft.

3. The integrated system of claim 1, wherein said means for generating a reporting point cockpit message and readback script comprises a switch for turning off the automatic generation of the readback script.

4. The integrated system of claim 1, wherein said means for generating a reporting point cockpit message and readback script comprises means for temporarily storing said aggregated reporting point onboard aircraft data on the aircraft.

5. The integrated system of claim 1, wherein said means for procuring and aggregating reporting point on-board aircraft data comprises means for utilizing an Ethernet or non-Ethernet network.

6. The integrated system of claim 1, wherein said means for automatically transmitting said aggregated reporting point onboard aircraft data to a receiving ground application further includes means for manually transmitting said aggregated reporting point onboard aircraft data when automatic data communication is unavailable.

7. A method for providing a reporting point journey log display in an aircraft and for providing the automatic transfer and installation of a reporting point journey log in a ground retention application, comprising the steps of:

a) procuring and aggregating reporting point on-board aircraft data from aircraft systems;

b) generating a reporting point cockpit message and readback script from said aggregated reporting point onboard aircraft data, wherein said readback script comprises a definable display format having customizable formatting in accordance with operator preference and local reporting standards, said display format including data selected from the set of airplane data comprising flight level, winds, time at reporting point crossing, coordinates of reporting point, time to next reporting point and location of next reporting point, and follow on reporting point; and

,

wherein said means for generating a reporting point cockpit message and readback script comprises a configurable event trigger mechanism for the auto generation thereof, said trigger mechanism having a trigger including time deltas, position deltas, and temperature deltas;

c) automatically transmitting said aggregated reporting point onboard aircraft data to a receiving ground application for assembling the data into the form of a reporting point journey log; and

,

d) reporting point journey log into a ground storage application.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said step of procuring and aggregating reporting point on-board aircraft data from aircraft systems, comprises the steps of:

a) procuring wind direction, speed and temperature data from an air data system;

b) procuring time data at reporting point crossings; and

, name and coordinates data of reporting points from a flight management system;

c) procuring flight level data from an altimetry system;

d) procuring time to next reporting point data; and

, location and time to next reporting point data, from a flight management system;

e) procuring follow-on reporting point data from a flight management system;

f) procuring fuel status data from an engine indication system (EICAS); and

,

g) procuring aircraft discrete input data from the aircraft

9. The method of claim 7, wherein said step of generating a reporting point cockpit message and readback script further comprises the step of utilizing a switch for turning off the automatic generation of the readback script.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein said step of generating a reporting point cockpit message and readback script further comprises the step of utilizing a switch for turning off the automatic generation of the readback script.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein said step of procuring and aggregating reporting point on-board aircraft data from aircraft systems, comprises the step utilizing an Ethernet or non-Ethernet network.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein said step of automatically transmitting said aggregated reporting point onboard aircraft data to a receiving ground application comprises the step of manually transmitting said aggregated reporting point onboard aircraft data when automatic data communication is unavailable.

13. An integrated system for providing a reporting point journey log display in an aircraft and for providing the automatic transfer and installation of a reporting point journey log in a ground retention application, comprising:

a) a plurality of aircraft systems, comprising;

i) an air data system for providing wind direction, speed and temperature data;

ii) a flight management system for providing time data at reporting point crossings;

name and coordinates data of reporting points;

time to next reporting point data;

location and time to next reporting point data; and

, follow-on reporting point data;

iii) an altimetry system for providing flight level data; and

,

iv) an engine indication system (EICAS) for providing fuel status data;

b) means for procuring and aggregating reporting point on-board aircraft data from said plurality of aircraft systems and aircraft discrete input data from the aircraft;

c) means for generating a reporting point cockpit message and readback script from said aggregated reporting point onboard aircraft data, wherein said readback script comprises a definable display format having customizable formatting in accordance with operator preference and local reporting standards, said display format including data selected from the set of airplane data comprising flight level, winds, time at reporting point crossing, coordinates of reporting point, time to next reporting point and location of next reporting point, and follow on reporting point; and

,

wherein said means for generating a reporting point cockpit message and readback script comprises a configurable event trigger mechanism for the auto generation thereof, said trigger mechanism having a trigger including time deltas, position deltas, and temperature deltas;

d) means for automatically transmitting said aggregated reporting point onboard aircraft data to a receiving ground application for assembling the data into the form of a reporting point journey log; and

,

e) means for installing said reporting point journey log into a ground storage application.

14. The integrated system of claim 13, wherein said means for generating a reporting point cockpit message and readback script comprises a switch for turning off the automatic generation of the readback script.

15. The integrated system of claim 13, wherein said means for generating a reporting point cockpit message and readback script comprises means for temporarily storing said aggregated reporting point onboard aircraft data on the aircraft.