Method and apparatus for building a taxiing route

• US 9,799,225 B2
• Filed: 05/08/2015
• Issued: 10/24/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Lueck, Scott Allen, Jacobson, Aaron John
• Primary Examiner(s): BRUSHABER, FREDERICK M
• Application Number:
  US14/707,212
• Publication Number:
  US 20160328977A1
• Time in Patent Office: 900 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 2045/0075 Adaptations for use of electronic flight bags in aircraft; Supports therefor in the cockpit
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 23/00 Combined instruments indicating more than one navigational value, e.g. for aircraft; Combined measuring devices for measuring two or more variables of movement, e.g. distance, speed or acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 23/005 Flight directors indicating arrangements specially adapted for rotary gyroscopes G01C19/32
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0237 using prediction or retrieval techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/945 User interactive design; Environments; Toolboxes
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/32 Digital ink
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0013 with a ground station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0021 located in the aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0034 Assembly of a flight plan
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0047 Navigation or guidance aids for a single aircraft details of equipment G08G5/0017
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/065 Navigation or guidance aids, e.g. for taxiing or rolling

Abstract

A method and apparatus for building a route for moving an aircraft within an on-ground environment by identifying route elements. Input that is entered by an operator of an aircraft based on route instructions provided by a controller is received through a character input section of a graphical user interface. Route information is generated based on the input using character recognition. The route for moving the aircraft within the on-ground environment is built based on the route information.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a touch-screen for displaying a graphical user interface that includes a character input section and that is configured to receive a selection input for receiving input that is entered by an operator of an aircraft based on route instructions provided by a controller, wherein the input to the character input section comprises characters that are hand-drawn on the touch screen and then electronically captured and recognized by a processor in communication with the graphical user interface, and wherein the selection input comprises selection of a left turn or a right turn by the operator of the aircraft; and

a route manager in communication with the graphical user interface, wherein the route manager;

receives the input entered through the character input section and the selection input,

generates route information comprising a route element based on the input to the character input section using character recognition,

builds a route for moving the aircraft within an on-ground environment by adding the route element to the route,

adds a left turn to the route in response to receiving the selection input comprising selection of the left turn, and

adds a right turn to the route in response to receiving the selection input comprising selection of the right turn.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the graphical user interface comprises:

a route display area for displaying at least a portion of a plurality of route elements that form the route as the route is being built.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the graphical user interface comprises:

a map area, wherein the route manager updates a map within the map area based on the route information.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the route manager generates the route information using a digital map of the on-ground environment.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the graphical user interface comprises:

an input area that includes the character input section and a set of control objects for receiving the selection input.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the set of control objects includes at least a left turn button and a right turn button.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a display system, wherein the graphical user interface is displayed on the display system; and

an input system integrated with the display system that enables the operator to enter the input in the character input section of the graphical user interface using at least one of a finger of the operator, a stylus, or a digital pen.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a database in communication with at least one of the route manager or the graphical user interface, wherein the database stores at least one of map data, a plurality of element identifiers, and reference data.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the plurality of element identifiers identify at least one of a parking location, a terminal, a gate, a taxiway, a runway, a holding area, or a deicing area.

10. A route management system comprising:

a processor;

a touch-screen display system in communication with the processor;

a graphical user interface displayed on the display system, wherein the graphical user interface comprises;

an input area that includes a character input section and a set of control objects for receiving a selection input, wherein the input area receives hand-drawn characters in the character input section on the touch screen, wherein the processor electronically captures and recognizes the hand-drawn characters as input, and wherein the selection input comprises selection of a left turn or a right turn; and

a route manager that receives the input through the character input section and the selection of a left turn or a right turn in the set of control objects, generates route information comprising a route element based on the input to the character input section using character recognition, builds a route for taxiing an aircraft at an airport by adding the route element to the route, adds a left turn to the route in response to receiving the selection input comprising selection of the left turn, and adds a right turn to the route in response to receiving the selection input comprising selection of the right turn.

11. The route management system of claim 10, wherein the graphical user interface includes a map area for displaying an airport map and wherein the route manager updates the airport map as the route is being built.

12. A method for building a route for moving an aircraft within an on-ground environment, the method comprising:

receiving, through a character input section of a graphical user interface displayed on a touch-screen, input entered by an operator of the aircraft based on route instructions provided by a controller, wherein the input comprises characters that are hand-drawn on the touch screen and then electronically captured and recognized by a processor in communication with the touch screen;

generating route information comprising a route element based on the input to the character input section using character recognition;

building the route for moving the aircraft within the on-ground environment by adding the route element to the route;

receiving, through the graphical user interface, a selection input comprising selection of a left turn or a right turn by the operator of the aircraft;

adding a left turn to the route in response to receiving the selection input comprising selection of the left turn, and

adding a right turn to the route in response to receiving the selection input comprising selection of the right turn.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

performing at least one of removing the route element from the route or modifying the route element of the route.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein receiving the input comprises:

receiving the input through the character input section of the graphical user interface as touch input generated by at least one of a finger of the operator, a stylus, or a digital pen.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein generating the route information comprises:

identifying a character set based on the input to the character input section using the character recognition; and

identifying the route element for the route, based on the character set.

16. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

receiving the selection input through at least one control object in a set of control objects displayed in the graphical user interface.

17. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

displaying a map in a map area of the graphical user interface; and

updating the map based on the route information as the route is being built.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein updating the map comprises:

displaying a number of graphical elements in the map to identify at least one of a terminal, a gate, a runway, a taxiway, or a holding area.