Method and apparatus for dynamic air traffic trajectory synchronization
First Claim
1. A method to maintain trajectory synchronization comprising:
- Comparing, using a processor, an active trajectory with a synchronized trajectory, wherein the comparison is triggered by at least one disturbance, periodic trigger, communication event between different trajectory systems, or downlink/uplink event;
if the comparing indicates a difference between the active trajectory and the synchronized trajectory, then performing the actions of;
updating the synchronized trajectory with the active trajectory; and
transferring the synchronized trajectory or sending a command to modify a flight plan to an external system;
Wherein one ground computer performs the action of when a downlink is received, initiating a comparison process where the downlink is compared to a downlinked synchronized trajectory and a ground predicted trajectory for the aircraft, and if the comparison indicates a difference between the synchronized trajectory and the ground predicted trajectory, then initiating a synchronization process, else a local synchronized trajectory is updated with the downlinked synchronized trajectory;
wherein the disturbance is at least one of a change detected by an aircraft, change data from an external source, or a periodic trigger;
wherein the change detected by an aircraft is at least one of atmospheric condition change, pilot input change, airline input change, or other state measurement;
wherein the change data from an external source is at least one of flow management, a separation from other aircraft command, change in convective weather, a special use airspace command, a scheduling requirement, a trajectory downlink, or a command uplink;
wherein comparing the downlinked synchronized trajectory with a ground predicted trajectory is matching a plurality parameters comprising ground route, lateral route, altitude restrictions, and speed restrictions;
wherein the synchronization process performs ground initiated amendment to a flight plan and uplinking of a command to the aircraft to modify its plan only after a substantial or all discrepancies between the flight plan and the downlinked synchronized trajectory are resolved.
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Abstract
According to aspects of the embodiments, there is provided an apparatus and method to synchronize trajectories from independent systems such as from a flight management system and the ground Air traffic control during the entire history of a flight. Since a number of trajectory discrepancy factors will intervene during the lifetime of a flight, such as a change in flight intent, controller intervention, or large deviations of the actual flight from the predicted trajectory due to prediction errors, there is need to dynamically monitor these deviations and control a dynamic synchronization cycle. A dynamic trajectory synchronization algorithm attempts to bring each of the systems back into balance whenever a disturbance causes an imbalance. Disturbances include deviation of atmospheric conditions from predicted, change of pilot preference, and unpredicted events requiring controller action, such as need for separation from other aircraft or change in convective weather, special use airspace, or scheduling requirements.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method to maintain trajectory synchronization comprising:
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Comparing, using a processor, an active trajectory with a synchronized trajectory, wherein the comparison is triggered by at least one disturbance, periodic trigger, communication event between different trajectory systems, or downlink/uplink event; if the comparing indicates a difference between the active trajectory and the synchronized trajectory, then performing the actions of; updating the synchronized trajectory with the active trajectory; and transferring the synchronized trajectory or sending a command to modify a flight plan to an external system; Wherein one ground computer performs the action of when a downlink is received, initiating a comparison process where the downlink is compared to a downlinked synchronized trajectory and a ground predicted trajectory for the aircraft, and if the comparison indicates a difference between the synchronized trajectory and the ground predicted trajectory, then initiating a synchronization process, else a local synchronized trajectory is updated with the downlinked synchronized trajectory; wherein the disturbance is at least one of a change detected by an aircraft, change data from an external source, or a periodic trigger; wherein the change detected by an aircraft is at least one of atmospheric condition change, pilot input change, airline input change, or other state measurement; wherein the change data from an external source is at least one of flow management, a separation from other aircraft command, change in convective weather, a special use airspace command, a scheduling requirement, a trajectory downlink, or a command uplink; wherein comparing the downlinked synchronized trajectory with a ground predicted trajectory is matching a plurality parameters comprising ground route, lateral route, altitude restrictions, and speed restrictions; wherein the synchronization process performs ground initiated amendment to a flight plan and uplinking of a command to the aircraft to modify its plan only after a substantial or all discrepancies between the flight plan and the downlinked synchronized trajectory are resolved. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A system to maintain trajectory synchronization, the system comprising:
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a computer executing an interface to exchange data between an aircraft and a ground system, wherein the exchanged data relates to a series of points associated with various flight path points or trajectory change points for an aircraft; and a processor coupled to a memory, wherein the memory comprises program instructions that cause the processor to perform operations comprising; comparing an active trajectory with a synchronized trajectory, wherein the comparison is triggered by at least one disturbance, periodic trigger, communication event between different trajectory systems, or downlink/uplink event; if the comparing indicates a difference between the active trajectory and the synchronized trajectory, then performing the actions of; updating the synchronized trajectory with the active trajectory; and transferring the synchronized trajectory or sending a command to modify a flight plan to an external system; At least one ground computer to perform the action of when a downlink is received, initiating a comparison process where the downlink is compared to a downlinked synchronized trajectory and a ground predicted trajectory for the aircraft, and if the comparison indicates a difference between the synchronized trajectory and the ground predicted trajectory, then initiating a synchronization process, else a local synchronized trajectory is updated with the downlinked synchronized trajectory; wherein the disturbance is at least one of a change detected by an aircraft, change data from an external source, or a periodic trigger; wherein the change detected by an aircraft is at least one of atmospheric condition change, pilot input change, airline input change, or other state measurement; wherein the change data from an external source is at least one of flow management, a separation from other aircraft command, change in convective weather, a special use airspace command, a scheduling requirement, a trajectory downlink, or a command uplink; wherein comparing the downlinked synchronized trajectory with a ground predicted trajectory is matching a plurality parameters comprising ground route, lateral route, altitude restrictions, and speed restrictions; wherein the synchronization process performs ground initiated amendment to a flight plan and uplinking of a command to the aircraft to modify its plan only after a substantial or all discrepancies between the flight plan and the downlinked synchronized trajectory are resolved. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method to maintain trajectory synchronization between an aircraft system and a ground system, the method comprising:
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when a downlink is received, initiating a comparison, using a processor, process where the downlink is compared to a downlinked synchronized trajectory and a ground predicted trajectory for the aircraft, and if the comparison indicates a difference between the synchronized trajectory and the ground predicted trajectory, then initiating a synchronization process, else a local synchronized trajectory is updated with the downlinked synchronized trajectory; wherein the disturbance is at least one of a change detected by an aircraft, change data from an external source, or a periodic trigger; wherein the change detected by an aircraft is at least one of atmospheric condition change, pilot input change, airline input change, or other state measurement; wherein the change data from an external source is at least one of flow management, a separation from other aircraft command, change in convective weather, a special use airspace command, a scheduling requirement, a trajectory downlink, or a command uplink; wherein comparing the downlinked synchronized trajectory with a ground predicted trajectory is matching a plurality parameters comprising ground route, lateral route, altitude restrictions, and speed restrictions; wherein the synchronization process performs ground initiated amendment to a flight plan and uplinking of a command to the aircraft to modify its plan only after a substantial or all discrepancies between the flight plan and the downlinked synchronized trajectory are resolved; wherein the synchronization process performs ground initiated amendment to a flight plan and communicating a command to the aircraft to modify its plan only after a substantial or all discrepancies between the flight plan and the downlinked synchronized trajectory are resolved. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A non-transitory machine-accessible medium that provides instructions to maintain trajectory synchronization between an aircraft system and a ground system, which when accessed, cause a machine to perform operations, the non-transitory machine-accessible medium comprising:
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code for causing at least one aircraft computer to perform the action of when a disturbance or a communication is received from a ground system comparing an active trajectory with a synchronized trajectory, and if the comparing indicates a difference between the active trajectory and the synchronized trajectory, then performing the actions of;
updating the synchronized trajectory with the active trajectory and downlinking the synchronized trajectory; andcode for causing at least one ground computer to perform the action of when a downlink is received, initiating a comparison process where the downlink is compared to a downlinked synchronized trajectory and a ground predicted trajectory for the aircraft, and if the comparison indicates a difference between the synchronized trajectory and the ground predicted trajectory, then initiating a synchronization process, else a local synchronized trajectory is updated with the downlinked synchronized trajectory; wherein the disturbance is at least one of a change detected by an aircraft, change data from an external source, or a periodic trigger; wherein the change detected by an aircraft is at least one of atmospheric condition change, pilot input change, airline input change, or other state measurement; wherein the change data from an external source is at least one of flow management, a separation from other aircraft command, change in convective weather, a special use airspace command, a scheduling requirement, a trajectory downlink, or a command uplink; wherein comparing the downlinked synchronized trajectory with a ground predicted trajectory is matching a plurality parameters comprising ground route, lateral route, altitude restrictions, and speed restrictions; wherein the synchronization process performs ground initiated amendment to a flight plan and uplinking of a command to the aircraft to modify its plan only after a substantial or all discrepancies between the flight plan and the downlinked synchronized trajectory are resolved.
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Specification