Management interfaces for aircraft systems

• US 9,457,892 B2
• Filed: 02/03/2014
• Issued: 10/04/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Airbus Operations (European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company EADS NV)
• Original Assignee: Airbus Operations (European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company EADS NV)
• Inventors: Mesguen, Mael, Buron, Franois, Poux, Thibaut
• Primary Examiner(s): Badii, Behrang
• Assistant Examiner(s): BERNS, MICHAEL ANDREW
• Application Number:
  US14/171,411
• Publication Number:
  US 20150217856A1
• Time in Patent Office: 974 Days
• Field of Search: 701/3
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 19/00 Aircraft control not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 2045/0085 Devices for aircraft health monitoring, e.g. monitoring flutter or vibration
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 43/00 Arrangements or adaptations of instruments arrangements of cameras B64D47/08; aeronautical measuring instruments per se G01C

Abstract

Methods, systems, and computer readable media are disclosed for managing an aircraft'"'"'s systems through a dedicated interface. One aspect of a method for implementing the subject matter described herein includes at least one global visualization interface for managing aircraft systems and including a hardware processor. The method also includes displaying at least one or more graphic object representing at least one or more aircraft system, displaying at least one or more energy flow icon representing the direction of circulation of an energy flow, and accessing a system management interface of at least one or more aircraft system through performing an user interaction with the graphic object.

Claims

1. A method for managing a plurality of systems of an aircraft through a dedicated interface, the method comprising:

at least one global visualization interface implemented using at least one hardware processor;

displaying at least one or more graphic object representing at least one or more aircraft system, wherein the at least one or more graphic object is displayed on the at least one global visualization interface in reference to a physical location of the at least one or more aircraft system on the aircraft;

displaying, separately from the at least one or more graphic object representing at least one or more aircraft system, at least one or more insert associated with the at least one aircraft system, wherein the at least one or more insert provides system status information about the at least one aircraft system on the insert, and wherein the system status information comprises contextual and/or supplemental information for providing additional systems information during different phases of a flight;

displaying at least one or more energy flow icon representing a direction of circulation of an energy flow;

accessing a system management interface of the at least one or more aircraft system by performing a user interaction with the at least one or more graphic object; and

initializing a safeguard mechanism configured to prevent the at least one or more aircraft system from executing an inappropriate operating procedure;

wherein initializing the safeguard mechanism comprises requesting, by the at least one or more aircraft system, a confirmation to take action to prevent the at least one or more aircraft system from executing the inappropriate operating procedure, and displaying the confirmation to take action over the at least one or more graphic object on the at least one global visualization interface.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying at least one or more graphic object representing at least one or more aircraft system includes displaying at least one or more of:

a graphic object representing at least one or more energy consumer system;

a graphic object representing at least one or more energy distributor system; and

a graphic object representing at least one or more energy supplier system;

wherein each of the energy consumer system, energy distributor system, and the energy supplier system is positioned in a distinct level on the global visualization interface.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein displaying a graphic object representing at least one or more energy distributor system includes displaying at least one or more of:

a graphic object representing an air system of the aircraft;

a graphic object representing an electrical system of the aircraft; and

a graphic object representing a hydraulic system of the aircraft.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying at least one or more error message about the at least one aircraft system on the insert.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising accessing a system management interface configured for managing the at least one aircraft system by performing a user interaction with the insert.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein accessing a system management interface includes accessing a task-specific interface configured to diagnose and repair the at least one aircraft system.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein performing a user interaction includes at least one or more of:

tapping the insert on a tactile screen; and

selecting the insert using an interactive device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying at least one or more energy flow icon includes displaying at least one or more of:

an icon representing flow of fuel;

an icon representing flow of electric flux;

an icon representing flow of hydraulics; and

an icon representing flow of air.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein accessing a system management interface of the at least one aircraft system includes opening a new interface configured for managing the at least one aircraft system.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein opening a new interface includes displaying a graphic icon configured for a return to the global visualization interface.

11. A system for managing a plurality of aircraft systems, the system comprising:

at least one dedicated global visualization interface for managing one or more aircraft systems and comprising a hardware processor, the at least one interface comprising;

at least one or more graphic object representing at least one or more functions realized by the considered system, wherein the at least one or more graphic object is displayed on the at least one global visualization interface in reference to a physical location of the one or more aircraft systems on the aircraft;

at least one or more insert associated with the at least one aircraft system, the one or more insert being displayed separately from the at least one or more graphic object representing at least one or more aircraft system wherein the at least one or more insert provides system status information about the at least one aircraft system on the insert, and wherein the system status information comprises contextual and/or supplemental information for providing additional systems information during different phases of a flight;

at least one or more energy flow icon representing a direction of circulation of an energy flow; and

a safeguard mechanism configured to be initialized in order to prevent the at least one or more aircraft system from executing an inappropriate operating procedure, wherein the safeguard mechanism comprises a confirmation to take action that is configured to be requested, by the at least one or more aircraft system, and displayed over the at least one or more graphic object on the at least one global visualization interface.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the at least one or more graphic object comprises at least one or more of:

a graphic object representing at least one or more energy consumer system;

a graphic object representing at least one or more energy distributor system; and

a graphic object representing at least one or more energy supplier system.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the at least one or more energy distributor system comprises at least one or more of:

an aircraft air system;

an aircraft electrical system; and

an aircraft hydraulic system.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the at least one or more insert is configured to display at least one or more error message about the at least one aircraft system.

15. The system of claim 14, further comprising a task-specific interface configured to diagnose and repair the at least one aircraft system.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the at least one or more energy flow icon includes at least one or more of:

an icon representing flow of fuel;

an icon representing flow of electric flux;

an icon representing flow of hydraulic; and

an icon representing flow of air.

17. The system of claim 11, further comprising a system management interface configured for managing the at least one aircraft system.

18. A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon executable instructions that when executed by the processor of a computer control the computer to perform steps comprising:

at a global visualization interface for managing a plurality of aircraft systems and in association with a hardware processor;

displaying at least one or more graphic object representing at least one aircraft system, wherein the at least one or more graphic object is displayed on the at least one global visualization interface in reference to a physical location of the at least one aircraft system on the aircraft;

displaying, separately from the at least one or more graphic object representing at least one or more aircraft system, at least one or more insert associated with the at least one aircraft system, wherein the at least one or more insert provides system status information about the at least one aircraft system on the insert, and wherein the system status information comprises contextual and/or supplemental information for providing additional systems information during different phases of a flight;

displaying at least one or more energy flow icon representing a direction of circulation of an energy flow;

accessing a system management interface of the at least one aircraft system by performing an user interaction with the graphic object; and

initializing a safeguard mechanism configured to prevent the at least one or more aircraft system from executing an inappropriate operating procedure;

wherein initializing the safeguard mechanism comprises requesting, by the at least one or more aircraft system, a confirmation to take action to prevent the at least one or more aircraft system from executing the inappropriate operating procedure, and displaying the confirmation to take action over the at least one or more graphic object on the at least one global visualization interface.

19. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 18, wherein displaying at least one or more graphic object representing at least one or more aircraft system includes displaying at least one or more of:

a graphic object representing at least one or more energy consumer system;

a graphic object representing at least one or more energy distributor system; and

a graphic object representing at least one or more energy supplier system;

wherein each of the energy consumer system, energy distributor system, and the energy supplier system is positioned in a distinct level on the global visualization interface.