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Methods and systems for managing air traffic

  • US 8,606,491 B2
  • Filed: 02/22/2011
  • Issued: 12/10/2013
  • Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2011
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A method of negotiating air traffic trajectory modification requests received from multiple aircraft that each has trajectory parameters comprising altitude, speed and lateral route thereof, the method comprising:

  • transmitting from at least a first aircraft of the multiple aircraft at least a first trajectory modification request to alter the altitude, speed and/or lateral route of the first aircraft;

    performing, with a computer processing apparatus, a first conflict assessment to determine if the first trajectory modification request of the first aircraft poses a conflict with the altitudes, speeds and lateral routes of any other of the multiple aircraft;

    granting the first trajectory modification request and notifying the first aircraft of the first trajectory modification request being granted if a conflict is not identified by the first conflict assessment step, or not granting the first trajectory modification request and notifying the first aircraft of the first trajectory modification request not being granted if a conflict is identified by the first conflict assessment step; and

    thenif the first trajectory modification request was granted, monitoring the altitude, speed and lateral route of the first aircraft to assess whether the altitude, speed and lateral route of the first aircraft complies with the first trajectory modification request;

    orif the first trajectory modification request was not granted, placing the first trajectory modification request in a queue, periodically processing the queue to perform, with a computer processing apparatus, at least one subsequent conflict assessment to determine if the first trajectory modification request of the first aircraft still poses a conflict with the altitudes, speeds and lateral routes of any other of the multiple aircraft, and then granting the first trajectory modification request and notifying the first aircraft of the first trajectory modification request being granted if a conflict is not identified by the subsequent conflict assessment step.

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