Runway status indicator

• US 8,502,701 B2
• Filed: 10/16/2009
• Issued: 08/06/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Goh, Juliana Joo-Hong, Clark, Samuel T., Martins, Jill M., Bowe, Roglenda R.
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAM, TOAN NGOC
• Application Number:
  US12/580,733
• Publication Number:
  US 20110090096A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,390 Days
• Field of Search: 340/972, 340/973, 340/971, 701/10, 701/212, 701/120, 701/122, 345/7
• US Class Current: 340/972
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0021 located in the aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/025 Navigation or guidance aids radar or analogous systems specially adapted for landing purposes G01S13/913
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/065 Navigation or guidance aids, e.g. for taxiing or rolling

Abstract

Technologies are described herein for displaying runway status information to a pilot in an aircraft. In one aspect of the present disclosure, a runway status display module displays a runway status indicator indicating the runway status information at a fixed scale independent of a scale of the map on a map display. In another aspect, the runway status indicator is displayed on a non-map display indicating the runway status of the runway. In another aspect, the runway status indicator is displayed at a position independent from a depiction of the runway on the aircraft display.

Claims

1. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions stored thereon that when executed by a computer, cause the computer to:

receive runway status information, regarding a runway, at the aircraft; and

display at least one runway status indicator indicating the runway status information on a map display in the aircraft, wherein the at least one runway status indicator is displayed at a fixed scale independent of a scale of the map on the map display.

2. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the at least one runway status indicator is displayed in proximity to an ownship position indicator on the map display.

3. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the at least one runway status indicator is displayed as a symbol.

4. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the at least one runway status indicator is displayed as text.

5. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the map display is a navigation display.

6. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the at least one runway status indicator flashes on the map display.

7. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the at least one runway status indicator is displayed in proximity to a depiction of the runway on the map display.

8. A computer-implemented method for displaying a status of a runway on a non-map display in an aircraft, the method comprising:

receiving, at the aircraft, information regarding the current position, heading, and speed of the aircraft;

receiving, at the aircraft, information regarding the current position, heading, and speed of another aircraft;

combining the received information regarding the current position, heading, and speed of the aircraft and the received information regarding the current position, heading, and speed of the other aircraft;

determining a runway status of the runway based on the combined information; and

displaying at least one runway status indicator indicating the runway status of the runway on the non-map display.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the at least one runway status indicator is displayed as text.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the at least one runway status indicator is displayed as a symbol.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the at least one runway status indicator is displayed as a symbol.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the non-map display is a head-up display.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the at least one runway status indicator flashes on the non-map display.

14. An airport runway status display computer of an aircraft programmed to perform the steps of:

receiving runway status information, regarding a runway, at the aircraft; and

displaying at least one runway status indicator indicating the runway status information on a display in the aircraft, at a position independent from a depiction of the runway on the display.

15. The computer of claim 14, wherein the at least one runway status indicator is displayed in proximity to an ownship position indicator on the display.

16. The computer of claim 14, wherein the at least one runway status indicator is displayed as a symbol.

17. The computer of claim 14, wherein the at least one runway status indicator is displayed as text.

18. The computer of claim 14, wherein the at least one runway status indicator is displayed at a fixed scale independent of a range setting of the display.

19. The computer of claim 14, wherein the display is at least one of a navigation display, a primary flight display, and a head-up display.

20. The computer of claim 14, wherein the at least one runway status indicator further comprises an aircraft symbol indicating at least one of the heading, speed, altitude, acceleration, and air/ground state of a runway associated with the aircraft.