On-demand flight data service

• US 8,868,259 B2
• Filed: 08/27/2012
• Issued: 10/21/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Srinivasan, Thiru, Abbott, Mike, Gilliss, Samuel, Reagan, Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Dalena
• Application Number:
  US13/595,911
• Publication Number:
  US 20120320895A1
• Time in Patent Office: 785 Days
• Field of Search: 701/3, 701 13- 14, 701/29.1, 701/32.3, 342/33, 342/34, 342/36, 455/73, 455/431, 340/945, 340/961, 340/971, 340/825.69, 340/825.72, 375/219, 375/220
• US Class Current: 701/3
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 23/00 Combined instruments indicating more than one navigational value, e.g. for aircraft; Combined measuring devices for measuring two or more variables of movement, e.g. distance, speed or acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0034 Assembly of a flight plan
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0043 Traffic management of multiple aircrafts from the ground G08G5/003 takes precedence; data processing specially designed for resource management, e.g. scheduling or allocating time, human or machine resources G06Q10/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18506 Communications with or from aircraft, i.e. aeronautical mobile service

Abstract

A flight data service subscription system allows personnel to subscribe to flight data services using an electronic devices such as a multifunctional display (MFD) onboard an aircraft. The MFD is used to select regional areas of coverage and generate requests for subscriptions to flight data services. Flight data application software running on the MFD manages flight data and the subscription requests. A server operated by a flight data service provider receives the subscription requests from the MFD and dispatches flight data responsive to the requests for the selected region. A wireless local area network on the ground transfers flight data and subscription requests between the MFD and the flight data subscription server.

Claims

1. A flight data service subscription system, comprising:

a device on-board an aircraft for displaying flight data and for generating requests for subscriptions to flight data services, wherein the device is a multifunctional cockpit display;

flight data application software running on the device for managing flight data and flight data subscription requests;

a flight data service server controlled by a flight data service provider for receiving subscription requests from the device and for dispatching flight data responsive to the requests; and

,

a wireless local area network on the ground for transferring flight data and subscription requests between the device and the flight data subscription server.

2. The flight data service subscription system of claim 1, including a ground based server on the local area network and coupled with the flight data service server through the Internet.

3. The flight data service subscription system of claim 2, wherein the local area network includes a wireless data link conforming to IEEE 802 and connecting the device with the ground based server.

4. The flight data service subscription system of claim 1, wherein the device includes:

stored maps,

means for recalling and displaying the maps,

means for selecting regions on the maps for which flight data is desired, and,

means for generating subscription requests for flight data corresponding to the selected regions.

5. The flight data service subscription system of claim 1, the device further comprising an electronic display, data entry keys, and function keys.

6. The flight data service subscription system of claim 1, the flight data service server adapted to verify that the device has a valid subscription.

7. The flight data service subscription system of claim 1 further comprising a downloadable update to the flight data application software running on the device.

8. The flight data service subscription system of claim 1 further comprising:

means for displaying all the regions for which flight data is available; and

means for selecting the available regions for which flight data is desired.

9. The flight data service subscription system of claim 1, the flight data application software being programmed to send a revision service request on or after a predetermined date.

10. The flight data service subscription system of claim 1, the flight data service server adapted to determine if a new version of the flight data application software is available upon receiving a request for flight data services from the device and to download the new version to the device, if available.

11. The flight data service subscription system of claim 1, the flight data service adapted to determine if a new sales catalog is available upon receiving a request for flight data services from the device and to download the new sales catalog to the device, if available.

12. The flight data service subscription system of claim 1, the flight data application software adapted to automatically request flight data services from the flight data service server upon connection of the device to the wireless local area network.

13. The flight data service subscription system of claim 12, the automatic request comprises an identifier of the device.

14. The flight data service subscription system of claim 13, wherein the identifier is a serial number of the device.