System and method to automatically preselect an aircraft radio communication frequency

• US 8,909,392 B1
• Filed: 06/24/2010
• Issued: 12/09/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/2010
• 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: Carrico, Matthew J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cheung, Calvin
• Assistant Examiner(s): Troost, Aaron L
• Application Number:
  US12/822,784
• Time in Patent Office: 1,629 Days
• Field of Search: 701/3, 701/10, 701/301, 455/431
• US Class Current: 701/3
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0021 located in the aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services

Abstract

A system for automatically preselecting an aircraft voice radio communication frequency when operating on or near the airport surface. An extension of this invention can also be used in flight. A sensor input module receives aircraft state information and flight management system (FMS) airport identification data. An airport map database (AMDB) data receiving module receives AMDB data, including AMDB voice radio frequency data. A pre-select communication frequency processing module utilizes the aircraft state information, the FMS airport identification data and the AMDB data, for determining the next pre-select frequency. An output module provides an output signal representing the next pre-select communication frequency to a pre-select communication frequency display.

Claims

1. A system for automatically preselecting an aircraft voice radio communication frequency, comprising:

a) a sensor input module configured to receive aircraft state information and flight management system (FMS) airport identification data, said aircraft state information comprising position, speed, and heading information;

b) an airport map database (AMDB) data receiving module configured to receive AMDB data, including AMDB voice radio frequency data, said AMDB data defined by ARINC 816;

c) a pre-select communication frequency processing module configured to utilize said aircraft state information, said FMS airport identification data and said AMDB data, for determining a next pre-select frequency; and

,

d) an output module for providing an output signal representing said next pre-select voice radio communication frequency to a next voice radio pre-select frequency display,

wherein said pre-select communication frequency processing module is configured to;

read said received aircraft state information;

determine that the aircraft is on the ground, and based on said determination that the aircraft is on the ground;

1) read in said received FMS airport identification data including an airport identifier;

2) determine the airport in which the aircraft is situated using said aircraft state information and said FMS airport identification data;

3) read in said AMDB data for said airport;

4) read in airport voice radio frequency data from the AMDB data;

5) read in said aircraft state information;

6) compute a current voice radio frequency using the aircraft state information and the airport voice radio frequency data to determine what voice communication frequency applies to the current aircraft location;

7) compute a next voice radio frequency using said aircraft state information and said airport voice radio frequency data to predict when the aircraft is about to enter the next voice communication frequency area;

8) output said next voice radio frequency; and

,

9) repeat steps

     5) through

     8); and

,

wherein;

said sensor input module further receives a data link uplink message; and

,

said pre-select communication frequency processing module is configured to;

1) read in said received data link uplink message;

2) determine if said received data link uplink message includes a voice radio tuning message;

3) read in the uplinked voice radio tuning message; and

,

4) transfer the uplinked voice radio tuning message to said output module.

2. A method for automatically preselecting an aircraft voice radio communication frequency, comprising the steps of:

a) receiving aircraft state information and flight management system (FMS) airport identification data utilizing a sensor input module, said aircraft state information comprising position, speed, and heading information;

b) receiving AMDB data, including AMDB voice radio frequency data utilizing an airport map database (AMDB) data receiving module, said AMDB data defined by ARINC 816;

c) determining the next pre-select frequency utilizing a pre-select communication frequency processing module utilizing said aircraft state information,

d) providing an output signal representing said next pre-select communication frequency to a next pre-select communication frequency display utilizing an output module

wherein said pre-select communication frequency processing module is configured to;

read said received aircraft state information;

determine that the aircraft is on the ground, and based on said determination that the aircraft is on the ground, implement the following steps;

1) reading in said received FMS airport identification data including an airport identifier;

2) determining the airport in which the aircraft is situated using said aircraft state information and said FMS airport identification data;

3) reading in said AMDB data for said airport;

4) reading in airport voice radio frequency data from the AMDB data;

5) reading in said aircraft state information;

6) computing a current voice radio frequency using the aircraft state information and the airport voice radio frequency data to determine what voice communication frequency applies to the current aircraft location;

7) computing a next voice radio frequency using said aircraft state information and said airport voice radio frequency data to predict when the aircraft is about to enter the next voice communication frequency area;

8) outputting said next voice radio frequency; and

,

9) repeating steps

     5) through

     8); and

,

wherein;

said sensor input module further receives a data link uplink message; and

,

said pre-select communication frequency processing module further operates to implement the steps, comprising;

1) reading in said received data link uplink message;

2) determining if said received data link uplink message includes a voice radio tuning message;

3) reading in the uplinked voice radio tuning message; and

,

4) transferring the uplinked voice radio tuning message to said output module.

3. A system for automatically preselecting an aircraft radio communication frequency, comprising:

a) a flight management system (FMS) for providing FMS airport identification data;

b) a plurality of aircraft state information sources for providing aircraft state information, said aircraft state information comprising position, speed, and heading information;

c) a sensor input module configured to receive aircraft state information and flight management system (FMS) airport identification data;

d) an airport map database (AMDB) data receiving module configured to receive AMDB data, including AMDB voice radio frequency data, said AMDB data defined by ARINC 816;

e) a pre-select communication frequency processing module configured to utilize said aircraft state information, said FMS airport identification data and said AMDB data, for determining a next pre-select frequency;

f) an output module for providing an output signal representing said next pre-select communication frequency; and

,

g) a next pre-select communication frequency display configured to receive said output signal to said output module

wherein said pre-select communication frequency processing module is configured to;

read said received aircraft state information;

determine that the aircraft is on the ground, and based on said determination that the aircraft is on the ground;

1) read in said received FMS airport identification data including an airport identifier;

2) determine the airport in which the aircraft is situated using said aircraft state information and said FMS airport identification data;

3) read in said AMDB data for said airport;

4) read in airport voice radio frequency data from the AMDB data;

5) read in said aircraft state information;

6) compute a current voice radio frequency using the aircraft state information and the airport voice radio frequency data to determine what voice communication frequency applies to the current aircraft location;

7) compute a next voice radio frequency using said aircraft state information and said airport voice radio frequency data to predict when the aircraft is about to enter the next voice communication frequency area;

8) outputting output said next voice radio frequency; and

,

9) repeat steps

     5) through

     8); and

,

wherein;

said sensor input module further receives a data link uplink message; and

,

said pre-select communication frequency processing module is configured to;

1) read in said received data link uplink message;

2) determine if said received data link uplink message includes a voice radio tuning message;

3) read in the uplinked voice radio tuning message; and

,

4) transfer the uplinked voice radio tuning message to said output module.