Systems and methods for an active prompt for timed response controller pilot data link communication (CPDLC) messages

• US 8,791,840 B2
• Filed: 12/06/2011
• Issued: 07/29/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: McGuffin, Thomas F., Ludwig, Patrick
• Primary Examiner(s): Zimmerman, Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): SAMSON, SARA B
• Application Number:
  US13/312,083
• Publication Number:
  US 20130141254A1
• Time in Patent Office: 966 Days
• Field of Search: 340/945, 340/971, 701/1, 701/3
• US Class Current: 340/945
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0013 with a ground station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0021 located in the aircraft

Abstract

Systems and methods for providing an active prompt for a timed response are provided. In one embodiment, a system comprises a human machine interface that presents controller pilot data link communication (CPDLC) information to a user, and a CPDLC computer configured to process received CPDLC messages. In certain embodiments, the CPDLC computer comprises a memory device that stores received CPDLC messages, and a processing unit that starts a timer when a CPDLC message is received, wherein the timer counts a response period for responding to the CPDLC message. Further the processing unit instructs the human machine interface to display a time remaining in the response period when the timer reaches a message expiration warning period.

Claims

1. A method for an active prompt for a timed response, the method comprising:

receiving a CPDLC message, where a response to the CPDLC message is limited by a response period;

starting a timer upon reception of the CPDLC message, wherein the timer times the response period provided for responding to the CPDLC message;

when the timer reaches a message expiration warning period, displaying a time remaining in the response period on a display to a user;

displaying a shortcut to access the message on a non-message screen; and

displaying the time remaining in the response period next to the shortcut.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a second CPDLC message, where the second CPDLC message is associated with a second response period; and

starting a second timer upon reception of the second CPDLC message.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising displaying a message log showing the CPDLC message and the second CPDLC message, wherein the message log displays a time remaining in the response period for the CPDLC message when the timer for the CPDLC message is within the message expiration warning period;

and

and the message log displays a second time remaining in the second response period for the second CPDLC message when the second timer is within the message expiration warning period.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the processing unit is on at least one of a communications management unit and a flight management computer.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising removing the displayed time remaining upon at least one of:

a standby command is received;

the response to the CPDLC message is transmitted; and

the timer expires.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the time remaining in the response period displayed next to the shortcut represents the time remaining for a message in a plurality of messages that is closest to expiring.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising removing the shortcut from non-message screens on the display when the response period for the message expires and there are no further messages awaiting a response.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the shortcut to access the message is a shortcut to at least one of:

the message; and

a message log.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the message expiration warning period is thirty seconds in duration.

10. A system for providing an active prompt for a timed response, the system comprising:

a human machine interface that presents controller pilot data link communication (CPDLC) information to a user; and

a CPDLC computer configured to process received CPDLC messages, the CPDLC computer comprising;

a memory device that stores received CPDLC messages; and

a processing unit that starts a timer when a CPDLC message is received, wherein the timer counts a response period for responding to the CPDLC message;

wherein the processing unit instructs the human machine interface to display a time remaining in the response period when the timer reaches a message expiration warning period; and

wherein the processing unit instructs the human machine interface to display a shortcut to access the CPDLC message on a non message screen and display the time remaining next to the shortcut when the timer is within the message expiration warning period.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the CPDLC computer functions as at least one of:

a communications management unit; and

a flight management computer.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the processing unit is further configured to remove the time remaining in the response period from being displayed by the human machine interface upon a reception of a standby command from the user.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein, when the processing unit has received a plurality of messages, the time remaining displayed next to the shortcut on non message screens represents the time remaining in the response period for a message in the plurality of messages that is closest to expiring.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the processing unit is further configured to remove the shortcut from the non-message screens when the response period for the message expires and there are no further messages to display.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the shortcut to access the message directs a user to at least one of:

a message log; and

the message.

16. The system of claim 10, wherein the processing unit directs human machine interface to display the timer using at least one of:

blinking text; and

reverse color fields.

17. A non-transitory computer readable data storage device having computer executable code to perform a method for providing an active prompt for a timed response, the method comprising:

receiving a CPDLC message, where a response to the CPDLC message is limited by a response period;

starting a timer upon reception of the CPDLC message, wherein the timer times the response period provided for responding to the messages;

when the timer reaches a message expiration warning period, displaying a time remaining in the response period on a display to a user, and

displaying a shortcut to access the message on a non-message screen; and

displaying the time remaining in the response period next to the shortcut.