Methods and apparatus for beacon code changes in an air traffic control system

• US 8,977,483 B2
• Filed: 06/20/2013
• Issued: 03/10/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Raytheon Company (Rtx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Raytheon Company (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Siddiqui, Kaiser
• Primary Examiner(s): Zanelli, Michael J
• Application Number:
  US13/922,650
• Publication Number:
  US 20140379245A1
• Time in Patent Office: 628 Days
• US Class Current: 701/120
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/751 wherein the responder or reflector radiates a coded signal
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/782 using multimoding or selective addressing
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/91 for traffic control G01S13/93 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/003 Transmission of data between radar, sonar or lidar systems and remote stations
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0013 with a ground station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0021 located in the aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/003 Flight plan management
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0034 Assembly of a flight plan

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for enabling an air traffic control system to set a beacon code on a transponder of an aircraft without voice communication with the flight crew. In one embodiment, an air traffic control system receives a flight plan from an aircraft, relays clearance of the flight plan to the aircraft, sets a beacon code on a transponder on the aircraft without voice communication, receives an acknowledgement of the beacon code setting from the aircraft, sends an acknowledgement to the aircraft, sets a new beacon code on the transponder without voice communication and receives a new acknowledgement of the new beacon code from the aircraft.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving a flight plan from an aircraft;

relaying, using a computer processor, clearance of the flight plan to the aircraft;

setting a beacon code on a transponder on the aircraft without voice communication;

receiving an acknowledgement of the beacon code setting from the aircraft;

sending an acknowledgement to the aircraft;

setting a new beacon code on the transponder without voice communication; and

receiving a new acknowledgement of the new beacon code from the aircraft.

2. The method according to claim 1, further including setting the new beacon code when the aircraft is en route.

3. The method according to claim 1, further including generating information for a user interface to display an indication that the transponder on the aircraft is capable of receiving beacon code updates without voice communication.

4. The method according to claim 1, further including setting the new beacon code in response to a request from the aircraft.

5. The method according to claim 1, further including maintaining a database of aircraft call signs and associated beacon codes.

6. The method according to claim 1, further including communicating with the aircraft via a datalink.

7. An air traffic control system, comprising:

a flight data processor to process flight plan for an aircraft;

a beacon code module coupled to the flight data processor, the flight data processor and the beacon code module configured to;

receive a flight plan from the aircraft;

relay clearance of the flight plan to the aircraft;

set a beacon code on a transponder on the aircraft without voice communication;

receive an acknowledgement of the beacon code setting from the aircraft;

send an acknowledgement to the aircraft;

set a new beacon code on the transponder without voice communication; and

receive a new acknowledgement of the new beacon code from the aircraft.

8. The system according to claim 7, wherein the beacon code module is further configured to set the new beacon code when the aircraft is en route.

9. The system according to claim 7, further including a display having an indicator for indicating whether the transponder on the aircraft is capable of receiving beacon code updates without voice communication.

10. The system according to claim 7, further including a database of aircraft call signs and associated beacon codes.

11. The system according to claim 7, wherein the beacon code module is further configured to generate a beacon code change message with information to enable the aircraft to translate the message for processing by the transponder.

12. The system according to claim 7, wherein the beacon code module is further configured to set the new beacon code in response to a request from the aircraft.

13. A method, comprising:

transmitting a flight plan by an aircraft to an air traffic control system;

receiving, using a computer processor, clearance of the flight plan for the aircraft;

receiving, by a transponder on the aircraft, a beacon code change from the air traffic control system without voice communication;

receiving a confirmation indication from a user for the beacon code change;

updating the beacon code based on the beacon code change without voice communication with air traffic control;

generating a confirmation message of the beacon code update to the air traffic control;

receiving a new beacon code change when the aircraft is en route; and

updating the new beacon code in transponder without voice communication.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the transponder is configured to receive datalink messages from the air traffic control system.

15. The method according to claim 13, further including receiving user confirmation for the new beacon code.

16. The method according to claim 13, further including providing an indicator to indicate that a beacon code change has been sent by the air traffic control.