Mixed-intiative transfer of datalink-based information

• US 9,349,295 B2
• Filed: 01/12/2011
• Issued: 05/24/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Dorneich, Michael Christian, Whitlow, Stephen, Rogers, William
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, John Q
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sood, Anshul
• Application Number:
  US13/005,241
• Publication Number:
  US 20120078448A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,959 Days
• Field of Search: 701/3, 701/14, 701/400, 701408-413, 701/418, 340/945, 340947-948, 340/971
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/06 indicating a condition of sleep, e.g. anti-dozing alarms
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0013 with a ground station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0021 located in the aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0086 for monitoring terrain radar or analogous systems specially adapted for terrain avoidance G01S13/935
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0091 for monitoring atmospheric conditions radar or analogous systems specially adapted for meteorological use G01S13/95; meteorology G01W
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks

Abstract

A system and method are provided for transferring datalink-based information into an aircraft flight management system. When a datalink message is received in an aircraft, it is parsed into individual information elements. The operational impact of the received datalink message on the aircraft is determined from the individual information elements. A method of supplying pilot feedback regarding the received datalink message is determined from the determined operational impact. The pilot feedback regarding the received datalink message is supplied using the determined method. At least selected portions of the individual information elements are selectively transferred into the aircraft flight management system (FMS).

Claims

1. A method for transferring datalink-based information into an aircraft flight management system, comprising the steps of:

receiving a datalink message in an aircraft;

parsing the received datalink message into individual information elements;

determining, from the individual information elements, the operational impact of the received datalink message on the aircraft;

determining, from the determined operational impact, a method of supplying pilot feedback regarding the received datalink message;

supplying the pilot feedback regarding the received datalink message using the determined method; and

selectively transferring at least selected portions of the individual information elements into the aircraft flight management system (FMS).

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the method of supplying pilot feedback comprises generating an auditory notification.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the method of supplying pilot feedback comprises rendering the at least a portion of the datalink message on a display device.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

selecting, based on the determined operational impact, a display device on which to render the at least a portion of the datalink message.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the step of rendering comprises rendering a textual representation of the at least a portion of the datalink message.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein the step of rendering comprises rendering a graphical representation of the at least a portion of the datalink message.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the method of supplying pilot feedback comprises:

generating an auditory notification; and

rendering at least a portion of the datalink message on a display,

wherein spatial datalink message elements are rendered on one or more appropriate displays.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of selectively transferring at least selected portions of the individual information elements comprises:

automatically transferring the at least selected portions of the individual information elements into the FMS.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of selectively transferring at least selected portions of the individual information elements comprises:

receiving a transfer approval from a pilot; and

upon receipt of the transfer approval, transferring the at least selected portions of the individual information elements into the FMS.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

estimating pilot cognitive workload level; and

determining the method of supplying the pilot feedback regarding the received datalink message additionally from the estimated pilot cognitive workload level.

11. An avionics system, comprising:

a receiver configured to receive a datalink message; and

a processor in operable communication with the receiver and configured to;

parse each of the received datalink message into individual information elements;

determine, from the individual information elements, the operational impact of the received datalink message on the aircraft;

determine, from the determined operational impact, a method of supplying pilot feedback regarding the received datalink message; and

selectively transfer at least selected portions of the individual information elements into the aircraft flight management system (FMS).

12. The system of claim 11, wherein:

the determined method of supplying pilot feedback comprises generating an auditory notification;

the processor is further configured to generate an auditory notification signal; and

the system further comprises an audio output device coupled to receive the auditory notification signal and configured, upon receipt thereof, to generate an auditory notification.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein:

the method of supplying pilot feedback comprises rendering the at least a portion of the datalink message on a display device;

the processor is further configured to generate image rendering display commands; and

the system further comprises a display device coupled to receive the image rendering display commands and configured, upon receipt thereof, to render an image representative of at least a portion of the received datalink message.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the processor is further configured to:

select, based on the determined operational impact, a display device on which to render the at least a portion of the datalink message.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the image rendering display commands cause the display device to render a textual representation of the at least a portion of the datalink message.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the image rendering display commands cause the display device to render a graphical representation of the at least a portion of the datalink message.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein:

the determined method of supplying pilot feedback comprises generating an auditory notification;

the processor is further configured to generate an auditory notification signal and image rendering display commands; and

the system further comprises an audio output device and a display device;

the audio output is coupled to receive the auditory notification signal and is configured, upon receipt thereof, to generate an auditory notification; and

the display device is coupled to receive the image rendering display commands and is configured, upon receipt thereof, to render an image representative of at least a portion of the received datalink message.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein the processor is configured to automatically transfer the at least selected portions of the individual information elements into the FMS.

19. The system of claim 11, wherein:

the system further comprises a user interface configured to receive input from a user and configured, upon receipt thereof, to generate a transfer approval signal; and

the processor is coupled to receive the transfer approval signal and is configured, upon receipt thereof, to transfer the at least selected portions of the individual information elements into the FMS.

20. The system of claim 11, wherein:

the system further comprises a plurality of workload sensors, each workload sensor configured to (i) sense a parameter representative of pilot cognitive workload level and (ii) supply sensor data representative thereof to the processor; and

the processor is further configured to (i) estimate pilot cognitive workload level from the sensor data and (ii) determine the method of supplying the pilot feedback regarding the received datalink message additionally from the estimated pilot workload level.