Transfer of aviation information using a machine-readable optical representation

• US 8,892,273 B1
• Filed: 01/27/2012
• Issued: 11/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc. (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Original Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc. (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Inventors: Raghu, Kaushik, Moore, Richard G., Cosgrove, Patrick J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cheung, Mary
• Assistant Examiner(s): BUTLER, RODNEY ALLEN
• Application Number:
  US13/360,315
• Time in Patent Office: 1,026 Days
• Field of Search: 701/3, 701/24, 701/25, 701/33.2, 701/33.3, 701/33.4, 701/462.04, 701/462.11, 701/462.45, 701/462.46, 701/469, 701/470, 701/472.01, 701/472.02, 235/462.01, 235/462.04, 235/462.11, 235/462.45, 235/462.46, 235/469, 235/470, 235/472.01, 235/472.02
• US Class Current: 701/3
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 2045/0075 Adaptations for use of electronic flight bags in aircraft; Supports therefor in the cockpit
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 43/00 Arrangements or adaptations of instruments arrangements of cameras B64D47/08; aeronautical measuring instruments per se G01C

Abstract

The present disclosure is directed to a method and system for providing and transferring aviation data. In one embodiment, a machine-readable optical representation of the aviation data may be generated and displayed onboard the aircraft. This machine-readable optical representation may be scanned/read using a handheld device, therefore allowing the data to be topically transferred to the handheld device. The handheld device may automatically populate any forms that the user would otherwise need to fill out manually. Additionally and/or alternatively, the handheld device may provide the aviation data to an off-aircraft device and/or personnel utilizing its own communication channel.

Claims

1. An apparatus for providing aviation data onboard an aircraft, the apparatus comprising:

a processor configured for generating a machine-readable optical representation of a set of aviation data elements obtained on the aircraft; and

a display device in communication with the processor, the display device configured for displaying the machine-readable optical representation onboard the aircraft, wherein the machine-readable optical representation includes a plurality of optical images, wherein each particular optical image is displayed in a color unique to the particular optical image among the plurality of optical images, wherein each unique color represents data of a particular aviation data category and wherein the plurality of optical images is sequentially displayed on the display device to accurately present the set of aviation of data elements for optical transmission.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the set of aviation data elements is obtained upon receiving at least one of:

a user-initiated command or a system-generated command.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the set of aviation data elements comprises at least one of:

aircraft data, flight data, fuel consumption data and maintenance data.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each particular optical image of the plurality of optical images includes a two-dimensional barcode, and wherein the two-dimensional barcode is displayed in the color unique to the particular optical image in its entirety.

5. An aviation information system, comprising:

a processor processing module configured for generating at least one machine-readable optical image of a set of aviation data elements obtained on the aircraft;

a display device configured for accurately displaying the at least one machine-readable optical image;

an optical image reader configured for reading the at least one machine-readable optical image displayed on the display device, wherein the set of aviation data elements is optically transferred to the optical image reader utilizing the at least one machine-readable optical image; and

a second optical image reader on board the aircraft, the second optical image reader configured for reading at least one machine-readable optical image which represents pre-flight data, the second optical image reader further configured for providing the pre-flight data to at least one avionics system onboard the aircraft.

6. The aviation information system of claim 5, wherein the optical image reader is further configured for:

interpreting the at least one machine-readable optical image to obtain the set of aviation data elements.

7. The aviation information system of claim 6, wherein the optical image reader is further configured for:

providing the set of aviation data elements to an off-aircraft device.

8. The aviation information system of claim 6, wherein the optical image reader is further configured for:

displaying the set of aviation data elements in a human readable format for user confirmation.

9. The aviation information system of claim 7, wherein the optical image reader is in communication with the off-aircraft device via a separate communication channel different from any communication channels utilized by the aircraft.

10. The aviation information system of claim 5, wherein the set of aviation data elements comprises at least one of:

aircraft data, flight data, fuel consumption data and maintenance data.

11. The aviation information system of claim 5, wherein the at least one machine-readable optical image includes a plurality of two-dimensional barcodes, wherein each particular two-dimensional barcode is displayed in a color unique to the particular two-dimensional barcode among the plurality of two-dimensional barcode, and wherein each unique color represents data of a particular aviation data category.

12. The aviation information system of claim 5, wherein in the set of aviation data elements is obtained upon receiving at least one of:

a user-initiated command or a system-generated command.

13. A method for providing aviation data, the method

comprising:

obtaining a set of aviation data elements available on an aircraft;

generating a machine-readable optical representation of the set of aviation data elements obtained; and

utilizing a display device onboard the aircraft to display the machine-readable optical representation, wherein the machine-readable optical representation includes a plurality of optical images, wherein each particular optical image is displayed in a color unique to the particular optical image among the plurality of optical images, wherein each unique color represents data of a particular aviation data category, and wherein the plurality of optical images is sequentially displayed on the display device to accurately present the set of aviation of data elements for optical transmission.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of obtaining the set of aviation data elements starts upon receiving at least one of:

a user-initiated command or a system-generated command.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the set of aviation data elements comprises at least one of:

aircraft data, flight data, fuel consumption data and maintenance data.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein each particular optical image of the plurality of optical images includes a two-dimensional barcode, and wherein the two-dimensional barcode is displayed in the color unique to the particular optical image in its entirety.

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

periodically updating the machine-readable optical representation displayed on the display onboard the aircraft.