System and method for ensuring ADS-B integrity of departing aircraft

• US 9,116,240 B2
• Filed: 04/04/2012
• Issued: 08/25/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mosaic ATM, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Mosaic ATM, Inc.
• Inventors: Hall, William D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sotomayor, John B
• Assistant Examiner(s): WINDRICH, MARCUS E
• Application Number:
  US13/439,523
• Publication Number:
  US 20130265187A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,238 Days
• Field of Search: 342/29, 342/30, 342/36, 342/37, 342/44, 342/450, 342/455
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/933 of aircraft or spacecraft
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0013 with a ground station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0026 located on the ground
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/065 Navigation or guidance aids, e.g. for taxiing or rolling

Abstract

A system for ensuring Automatic Dependent Surveillance—Broadcast (ADS-B) integrity of an aircraft includes a designated aircraft interrogation area, an ADS-B receiver, and an alerting mechanism. The ADS-B receiver is configured to receive ADS-B data from the aircraft when the aircraft is located in the designated area and to send a signal to the alerting mechanism indicating that the aircraft is in the designated area.

Claims

1. A system for ensuring Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) integrity of an aircraft comprising:

a designated aircraft interrogation area, not located in a runway;

an ADS-B receiver located outside of the aircraft;

an alerting mechanism located outside of the aircraft and being configured to provide indications that are observable from any location within the designated aircraft interrogation area by crewmembers operating the aircraft;

wherein the ADS-B receiver is configured to receive ADS-B data transmitted from an ADS-B transmitter located in the aircraft while the aircraft is located within the designated aircraft interrogation area, wherein the ADS-B data comprise position, velocity and identity data and wherein upon receipt of ADS-B position data reporting a position of the aircraft within the designated aircraft interrogation area to send a signal to the alerting mechanism activating an indication that the aircraft is broadcasting ADS-B positions that are located within the designated aircraft interrogation area.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the alerting mechanism comprises a sign that displays a registration number of the aircraft when the aircraft is indicated to be in the designated aircraft interrogation area.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the sign further displays a scheduled flight number of the aircraft when the aircraft is indicated to be in the designated aircraft interrogation area.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the alerting mechanism comprises an indicator that provides a first indication that no valid ADS-B signal is detected within the designated aircraft interrogation area when there is a flaw in the received ADS-B data or when no ADS-B data containing positions within the designated aircraft interrogation area are received.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the indicator further provides a second indication that a valid ADS-B signal is detected within the designated aircraft interrogation area when there is no flaw in the received ADS-B data.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the indicator comprises a light that is illuminated with a specific color and pattern when there is no valid ADS-B signal or when no ADS-B data are received and with a different specific color and pattern when a valid ADS-B signal is detected.

7. The system of claim 4, wherein a no-valid ADS-B signal is indicated when the strength of the received ADS-B signal does not exceed a preselected value.

8. The system of claim 4, wherein a no valid ADS-B signal is indicated when the ADS-B position data in the received ADS-B data do not match position data of the aircraft in the designated aircraft interrogation area transmitted by an aircraft detection system configured to detect an aircraft'"'"'s position within the designated aircraft interrogation area independently from any navigation source on the aircraft.

9. The system of claim 4, wherein a no valid ADS-B signal is indicated when aircraft type data in the received ADS-B data do not match a type of the aircraft in the designated aircraft interrogation area transmitted by an aircraft detection system configured to detect the type of the aircraft.

10. The system of claim 4, wherein a no valid ADS-B signal is indicated when an aircraft registration number in the received ADS-B data does not match a registration number of the aircraft in the designated aircraft interrogation area, transmitted by an aircraft detection system configured to detect the aircraft registration number.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the alerting mechanism comprises an announcement on a voice radio frequency.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the alerting mechanism comprises a data transmission over a wired or wireless communication system.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein said data transmission further comprises a video recording of the aircraft recorded by an electromagnetic imager.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein said data transmission is sent to one of an air traffic control facility, aircraft pilot, a security organization, police, homeland security, military, fire department, or airline operations control.

15. The system of claim 13 wherein said data transmission is received by an airline operations control and the transmitted data are cross-referenced with air traffic-control data provided by air traffic control data feeds including Aircraft Situation Display to Industry (ASDI) or Enhanced Traffic Management System (ETMS).

16. The system of claim 1 further comprising an aircraft detection system, wherein the aircraft detection system is configured to detect an aircraft entering the designated aircraft interrogation area and to provide confirmation of the aircraft'"'"'s location within the designated aircraft interrogation area.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the aircraft detection system is configured to identify the type and registration number of the aircraft.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the aircraft detection system comprises a visible-spectrum camera and image recognition software.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the aircraft detection system comprises an IR-spectrum camera and image recognition software.

20. The system of claim 19, further comprising a processor configured to compare data received from the ADS-B receiver with data received from the aircraft detection system and to activate the alerting mechanism if there is a discrepancy between the received ADS-B data and the aircraft detection system data.

21. A system for ensuring Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) integrity of an aircraft comprising:

an ADS-B receiver located outside of the aircraft;

a processor;

validity check software;

air traffic control data feeds including Aircraft Situation Display to Industry (ASDI) or Enhanced Traffic Management System (ETMS);

an alerting mechanism located outside of the aircraft and being configured to provide indications that are observable from any location within a designated aircraft interrogation area by crewmembers operating the aircraft; and

wherein said processor is configured to compare data received from the ADS-B receiver with data received from the air traffic control data feeds and to analyze said data with said validity check software; and

wherein the ADS-B data comprise position, velocity an identity data.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein said processor is configured to activate the alerting mechanism if the analysis by the validity check software indicates a discrepancy between the received ADS-B data and the air traffic control data feeds.

23. A method for ensuring Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) integrity of an aircraft comprising:

providing a designated aircraft interrogation area, not located in a runway;

providing an ADS-B receiver located outside of the aircraft;

providing an alerting mechanism located outside of the aircraft and being configured to provide indications that are observable from any location within the designated aircraft interrogation area by crewmembers operating the aircraft;

wherein the ADS-B receiver is configured to receive ADS-B data transmitted from an ADS-B transmitter located in the aircraft while the aircraft is located within the designated aircraft interrogation area, wherein the ADS-B data comprise position, velocity and identity data, and wherein upon receipt of the ADS-B position data reporting a position of the aircraft within the designated aircraft interrogation area to send a signal to the alerting mechanism activating an indication that the aircraft is broadcasting ADS-B positions that are located within the designated aircraft interrogation area.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the alerting mechanism comprises a sign that displays a registration number of the aircraft when the aircraft is indicated to be in the designated aircraft interrogation area.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the sign further displays a scheduled flight number of the aircraft when the aircraft is indicated to be in the designated aircraft interrogation area.

26. The method of claim 23, wherein the alerting mechanism comprises an indicator that provides a first indication that no valid ADS-B signal is detected within the designated aircraft interrogation area when there is a flaw in the received ADS-B data or when no ADS-B data are received.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the indicator further provides a second indication that a valid ADS-B signal is detected within the designated aircraft interrogation area when there is no flaw in the received ADS-B data.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the indicator comprises a light that is illuminated with a specific color and pattern when there is no valid ADS-B signal or when no ADS-B data are received and with a different specific color and pattern when a valid ADS-B signal is detected.

29. The method of claim 26, wherein a no-valid ADS-B signal is indicated when the strength of the received ADS-B signal does not match a preselected value.

30. The method of claim 26, wherein a no valid ADS-B signal is indicated when the ADS-B position data in the received ADS-B data do not match position data of the aircraft in the designated aircraft interrogation area transmitted by an aircraft detection system configured to detect an aircraft'"'"'s position within the designated aircraft interrogation area independently from any navigation source on the aircraft.

31. The method of claim 26, wherein a no valid ADS-B signal is indicated when aircraft type data in the received ADS-B data do not match a type of the aircraft in the designated aircraft interrogation area transmitted by an aircraft detection system configured to detect the type of the aircraft.

32. The method of claim 26, wherein a no valid ADS-B signal is indicated when an aircraft registration number in the received ADS-B data do not match a registration number of the aircraft in the designated aircraft interrogation area, transmitted by an aircraft detection system configured to detect the aircraft registration number.

33. The method of claim 23, wherein the alerting mechanism comprises an announcement on a voice radio frequency.

34. The method of claim 23, wherein the alerting mechanism comprises a data transmission over a wired or wireless communication system.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein said data transmission further comprises a video recording of the aircraft recorded by an electromagnetic imager.

36. The method of claim 34, wherein said data transmission is sent to one of an air traffic control facility, aircraft pilot, a security organization, police, homeland security, military, fire department, or airline operations control.

37. The method of claim 34, wherein said data transmission is received by an airline operations control and the transmitted data are cross-referenced with air traffic-control data provided by air traffic control data feeds including Aircraft Situation Display to Industry (ASDI) or Enhanced Traffic Management System (ETMS).

38. The method of claim 23, further comprising providing an aircraft detection system, wherein the aircraft detection system is configured to detect an aircraft entering the designated aircraft interrogation area, and to provide confirmation of the aircraft'"'"'s location within the designated aircraft interrogation area.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein the aircraft detection system is configured to identify the type and registration number of the aircraft.

40. The method of claim 38, wherein the aircraft detection system comprises a visible-spectrum camera and image recognition software.

41. The method of claim 38, wherein the aircraft detection system comprises an IR-spectrum camera and image recognition software.

42. The method of claim 41, further comprising providing a processor configured to compare data received from the ADS-B receiver with data received from the aircraft detection system and activating the alerting mechanism if there is a discrepancy between the received ADS-B data and the aircraft detection system data.

43. A method for ensuring Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) integrity of an aircraft comprising:

providing an ADS-B receiver located outside of the aircraft;

providing a processor, validity check software and air traffic control data feeds including Aircraft Situation Display to Industry (ASDI) or Enhanced Traffic Management System (ETMS);

providing an alerting mechanism located outside of the aircraft and being configured to provide indications that are observable from any location within a designated aircraft interrogation area by crewmembers operating the aircraft;

comparing data received from the ADS-B receiver with data received from the air traffic control data feeds by the processor and analyzing said data with said validity check software; and

wherein the ADS-B data comprise position, velocity an identity data.

44. The method of claim 43, further comprising activating the alerting mechanism if the analysis by the validity check software indicates a discrepancy between the received ADS-B data and the air traffic control data feeds.