Dynamic adaptation of trigger thresholds to manage when data messages are transmitted

• US 8,639,401 B2
• Filed: 09/20/2011
• Issued: 01/28/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Bailey, Louis J., Hale, Ryan D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Trammell, James
• Assistant Examiner(s): MELTON, TODD M
• Application Number:
  US13/237,358
• Publication Number:
  US 20130073120A1
• Time in Patent Office: 861 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 701/14
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0013 with a ground station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0021 located in the aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0052 for cruising combined instruments indicating more than one navigational value G01C23/00

Abstract

Systems and methods for remotely setting a value for a trigger threshold variable used by a processor unit onboard an aircraft to determine if and when a data message should be transmitted from the aircraft. The method comprises the following steps performed by a computer: (a) obtaining data representing a flight plan or flight trajectory of the aircraft and flight information; (b) obtaining data representing business considerations; (c) computing a value of the trigger threshold variable as a function of at least the flight plan or flight trajectory data and the business considerations data; and (d) constructing a trigger threshold data message containing the computed value of the trigger threshold variable.

Claims

1. A method, performed by a processor, for dynamically changing a value for a trigger threshold variable used by a flight management computer onboard an aircraft to determine if and when a data message should be transmitted from the aircraft during a flight, comprising:

(a) obtaining electronic data representing flight information and a flight plan or flight trajectory of the aircraft;

(b) obtaining electronic data representing communications cost information;

(c) dynamically computing a value of the trigger threshold variable as a function of at least the flight information and flight plan or flight trajectory data and the communications cost information; and

(d) constructing a trigger threshold data message containing said computed value of the trigger threshold variable.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein operations (a) through (d) are performed in response to one of or a combination of the following:

a change in costing structure, current aircraft flight phase, a maneuver, reaching a predetermined location or predetermined altitude, and receipt of a manually requested or transmitted message from the user.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the trigger threshold variable value is a number representing a specified change in estimated time of arrival of the aircraft that will trigger the transmission of a data message from the aircraft.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the trigger threshold variable value is a number representing a specified time for the aircraft to go to a predetermined point or altitude that will trigger the transmission of a data message from the aircraft.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the trigger threshold variable value is a number representing a specified wind magnitude difference that will trigger the transmission of a data message from the aircraft.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the trigger threshold variable value is a number representing a specified difference between an estimated time of arrival of the aircraft and a current time that will trigger the transmission of a data message from the aircraft.

7. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising determining a current value of the trigger threshold variable stored in the onboard computer prior to performing operation (c).

8. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein operation (c) comprises computing a flight path or flight trajectory data as a function of at least said flight plan data.

9. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising determining the validity of the computed value of the trigger threshold variable.

10. The method as recited in claim 9, further comprising sending the trigger threshold data message to the flight management computer.

11. A method, performed by a processor, for dynamically changing a plurality of values for a trigger threshold variable used by a flight management computer onboard an aircraft to determine when data messages should be transmitted from the aircraft during a flight, comprising:

(a) obtaining data representing flight information and a flight plan or flight trajectory of the aircraft;

(b) obtaining data representing communications cost information;

(c) dynamically computing a plurality of values of the trigger threshold variable as a function of at least the flight information and flight plan or flight trajectory data and the communications cost information; and

(d) constructing a trigger threshold data message containing said plurality of computed values of the trigger threshold variable.

12. The method as recited in claim 11, wherein steps (a) through (d) are performed in response to one of or a combination of the following:

a change in costing structure, current aircraft flight phase, a maneuver, reaching a predetermined location or predetermined altitude, receipt of a manually or automatically requested message, or a transmitted message from the aircraft.

13. The method as recited in claim 11, wherein each trigger threshold variable value is a number representing a specified difference between an estimated time of arrival of the aircraft and a respective current time that will trigger the transmission of a data message from the aircraft.

14. The method as recited in claim 11, wherein each trigger threshold variable value is a number representing a respective specified time for the aircraft to go to a predetermined point or altitude that will trigger the transmission of a data message from the aircraft.

15. The method as recited in claim 11, further comprising sending the trigger threshold data message to the flight management computer.

16. A system for dynamically changing a value for a trigger threshold variable used by a flight management computer onboard an aircraft to determine if and when a data message should be transmitted from the aircraft during a flight, comprising a processor system programmed to perform the following operations:

(a) obtaining data representing flight information and a flight plan or flight trajectory of the aircraft;

(b) obtaining data representing communications cost information;

(c) dynamically computing a value of the trigger threshold variable as a function of at least the flight information and flight plan or flight trajectory data and the communications cost information; and

(d) constructing a trigger threshold data message containing said computed value of the trigger threshold variable.

17. The system as recited in claim 16, wherein operations (a) through (d) are performed in response to one of or a combination of the following:

a change in costing structure, current aircraft flight phase, a maneuver, reaching a predetermined location or predetermined altitude, and receipt of a manually or automatically requested message or transmitted message from the aircraft.

18. The system as recited in claim 16, wherein the trigger threshold variable value is a number representing one of the following:

a specified change in estimated time of arrival of the aircraft that will trigger the transmission of a data message from the aircraft;

a specified wind magnitude difference that will trigger the transmission of a data message from the aircraft;

a specified difference between an estimated time of arrival of the aircraft and a current time that will trigger the transmission of a data message from the aircraft; and

a specified time for the aircraft to go to a predetermined point or altitude that will trigger the transmission of a data message from the aircraft.

19. The system as recited in claim 16, further comprising determining a current value of the trigger threshold variable stored in the onboard computer prior to performing operation (c).

20. The system as recited in claim 16, wherein operation (c) comprises computing a flight path as a function of at least said flight plan data.

21. The system as recited in claim 16, further comprising determining the validity of the computed value of the trigger threshold variable.

22. The system as recited in claim 21, further comprising sending the trigger threshold data message to the flight management computer.