System and method for providing flight cues for the navigation function required time of arrival (RTA)
First Claim
1. A flight deck situational awareness system for displaying Required Time of Arrival (RTA) information for an aircraft, comprising:
- a memory configured for storing aircraft navigation information for the aircraft, the memory implemented on the aircraft, the aircraft navigation information including a position of the aircraft, a performance of the aircraft, an environment of the aircraft, an approach path of the aircraft, a landing area of the aircraft, and terrain information associated with the aircraft;
a processor implemented on the aircraft, the processor configured for being communicatively coupled with the memory and further configured for;
receiving the aircraft navigation information stored in the memory;
receiving an assigned RTA clearance time for an assigned RTA clearance location for the aircraft and an assigned RTA clearance window for the assigned RTA clearance location for the aircraft, the assigned RTA clearance window including the assigned RTA clearance time, the assigned RTA clearance time received from an air traffic control; and
based at least upon the aircraft navigation information and the assigned RTA clearance time, generating at least one graphical depiction including a plurality of predictive indicators indicative of whether the aircraft is predicted to reach the assigned RTA clearance location within the assigned RTA clearance window, a vertical RTA flight profile for the aircraft, an airspeed indicator for the aircraft, a vertical speed indicator (VSI) for the aircraft, a minimum vertical descent speed vector, and a maximum vertical descent speed vector, the plurality of predictive indicators including a first speed cue positioned on the airspeed indicator, a second speed cue positioned on the vertical speed indicator, and a time cue, the time cue depicting the assigned RTA clearance time relative to a current time status of the aircraft, the airspeed indicator for the aircraft being a speed tape graphical indicator; and
a display implemented on the aircraft, the display being communicatively coupled with the processor, the display being configured for;
receiving data associated with the at least one graphical depiction including the plurality of predictive indicators, the vertical RTA flight profile, the airspeed indicator, the vertical speed indicator, the minimum vertical descent speed vector, and the maximum vertical descent speed vector from the processor; and
displaying the at least one graphical depiction including the plurality of predictive indicators, the vertical RTA flight profile, the airspeed indicator, the vertical speed indicator, the minimum vertical descent speed vector, and the maximum vertical descent speed vector to a pilot, the time cue indicating that the aircraft is projected to arrive at the assigned RTA clearance location outside of the assigned RTA clearance window, the first speed cue indicating on the airspeed indicator a prescribed range of speed values for the aircraft to arrive at the assigned RTA clearance time and at the assigned RTA clearance location, the second speed cue indicating on the vertical speed indicator a prescribed range of vertical speed values for the aircraft to arrive at the assigned RTA clearance time and at the assigned RTA clearance location, wherein each of the minimum vertical descent speed vector and the maximum vertical descent speed vector is graphically depicted as a line.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention is a flight deck situational awareness system for displaying Required Time of Arrival (RTA) information for an aircraft. The system may include a memory configured for storing aircraft navigation information for the aircraft. The system may also include a processor. The processor may be configured for being communicatively coupled with the memory and may further be configured for receiving the aircraft navigation information stored in the memory. The processor may generate a depiction based upon the aircraft navigation information. The depiction may include a Required Time of Arrival (RTA) flight cue for the aircraft. The system may further include a display, which may be communicatively coupled with the processor. The display may receive the depiction from the processor and may display the depiction.
34 Citations
11 Claims
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1. A flight deck situational awareness system for displaying Required Time of Arrival (RTA) information for an aircraft, comprising:
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a memory configured for storing aircraft navigation information for the aircraft, the memory implemented on the aircraft, the aircraft navigation information including a position of the aircraft, a performance of the aircraft, an environment of the aircraft, an approach path of the aircraft, a landing area of the aircraft, and terrain information associated with the aircraft; a processor implemented on the aircraft, the processor configured for being communicatively coupled with the memory and further configured for; receiving the aircraft navigation information stored in the memory; receiving an assigned RTA clearance time for an assigned RTA clearance location for the aircraft and an assigned RTA clearance window for the assigned RTA clearance location for the aircraft, the assigned RTA clearance window including the assigned RTA clearance time, the assigned RTA clearance time received from an air traffic control; and based at least upon the aircraft navigation information and the assigned RTA clearance time, generating at least one graphical depiction including a plurality of predictive indicators indicative of whether the aircraft is predicted to reach the assigned RTA clearance location within the assigned RTA clearance window, a vertical RTA flight profile for the aircraft, an airspeed indicator for the aircraft, a vertical speed indicator (VSI) for the aircraft, a minimum vertical descent speed vector, and a maximum vertical descent speed vector, the plurality of predictive indicators including a first speed cue positioned on the airspeed indicator, a second speed cue positioned on the vertical speed indicator, and a time cue, the time cue depicting the assigned RTA clearance time relative to a current time status of the aircraft, the airspeed indicator for the aircraft being a speed tape graphical indicator; and a display implemented on the aircraft, the display being communicatively coupled with the processor, the display being configured for; receiving data associated with the at least one graphical depiction including the plurality of predictive indicators, the vertical RTA flight profile, the airspeed indicator, the vertical speed indicator, the minimum vertical descent speed vector, and the maximum vertical descent speed vector from the processor; and displaying the at least one graphical depiction including the plurality of predictive indicators, the vertical RTA flight profile, the airspeed indicator, the vertical speed indicator, the minimum vertical descent speed vector, and the maximum vertical descent speed vector to a pilot, the time cue indicating that the aircraft is projected to arrive at the assigned RTA clearance location outside of the assigned RTA clearance window, the first speed cue indicating on the airspeed indicator a prescribed range of speed values for the aircraft to arrive at the assigned RTA clearance time and at the assigned RTA clearance location, the second speed cue indicating on the vertical speed indicator a prescribed range of vertical speed values for the aircraft to arrive at the assigned RTA clearance time and at the assigned RTA clearance location, wherein each of the minimum vertical descent speed vector and the maximum vertical descent speed vector is graphically depicted as a line. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A method for providing Required Time of Arrival (RTA) information for an aircraft via a flight deck situational awareness system of the aircraft, comprising:
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storing, in a memory implemented on the aircraft, aircraft navigation information for the aircraft, the aircraft navigation information including a position of the aircraft, a performance of the aircraft, an environment of the aircraft, an approach path of the aircraft, a landing area of the aircraft, and terrain information associated with the aircraft; receiving, by a processor implemented on the aircraft, the aircraft navigation information; receiving, by the processor, an assigned RTA clearance time and an assigned RTA clearance window for an assigned RTA clearance location, the assigned RTA clearance window including the assigned RTA clearance time, the assigned RTA clearance time received from an air traffic control, the processor communicatively coupled to the memory; based at least upon the aircraft navigation information and the assigned RTA clearance time, generating, by the processor, at least one graphical depiction including a plurality of predictive indicators indicative of whether the aircraft is predicted to reach the assigned RTA clearance location within the assigned RTA clearance window, a vertical RTA flight profile for the aircraft, an airspeed indicator for the aircraft, a vertical speed indicator (VSI) for the aircraft, a minimum vertical descent speed vector, and a maximum vertical descent speed vector, the plurality of predictive indicators including a first speed cue positioned on the airspeed indicator, a second speed cue positioned on the vertical speed indicator, and a time cue, the time cue depicting the assigned RTA clearance time relative to a current time status of the aircraft, the airspeed indicator for the aircraft being a speed tape graphical indicator; receiving, by a flight deck display of the aircraft, data associated with the at least one graphical depiction including the plurality of predictive indicators, the vertical RTA flight profile, the airspeed indicator, the vertical speed indicator, the minimum vertical descent speed vector, and the maximum vertical descent speed vector from the processor; and displaying, by the flight deck display, the at least one graphical depiction including the plurality of predictive indicators, the vertical RTA flight profile, the airspeed indicator, the vertical speed indicator, the minimum vertical descent speed vector, and the maximum vertical descent speed vector to a pilot, the time cue indicating that the aircraft is projected to arrive at the assigned RTA clearance location outside of the assigned RTA clearance window, the first speed cue indicating on the airspeed indicator a prescribed range of speed values for the aircraft to arrive at the assigned RTA clearance time and at the assigned RTA clearance location, the second speed cue indicating on the vertical speed indicator a prescribed range of vertical speed values for the aircraft to arrive at the assigned RTA clearance time and at the assigned RTA clearance location, wherein each of the minimum vertical descent speed vector and the maximum vertical descent speed vector is graphically depicted as a line. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A computer-readable medium having non-transitory computer readable code embodied therein, the non-transitory computer readable code comprising instructions which, when executed by a computer device processor, perform a method for providing Required Time of Arrival (RTA) information for an aircraft via a flight deck situational awareness system of the aircraft, said method comprising:
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receiving, by the computer device processor implemented on the aircraft, aircraft navigation information for the aircraft, the aircraft navigation information including a position of the aircraft, a performance of the aircraft, an environment of the aircraft, an approach path of the aircraft, a landing area of the aircraft, and terrain information associated with the aircraft; receiving, by the computer device processor, an assigned RTA clearance time for an assigned RTA clearance location for the aircraft and an assigned RTA clearance window for the assigned RTA clearance location for the aircraft, the assigned RTA clearance window including the assigned RTA clearance time, the assigned RTA clearance time received from an air traffic control; based at least upon the aircraft navigation information and the assigned RTA clearance time, generating, by the computer device processor, at least one graphical depiction including a plurality of predictive indicators indicative of whether the aircraft is predicted to reach the assigned RTA clearance location within the assigned RTA clearance window, a vertical RTA flight profile for the aircraft, an airspeed indicator for the aircraft, a vertical speed indicator (VSI) for the aircraft, a minimum vertical descent speed vector, and a maximum vertical descent speed vector, the plurality of predictive indicators including a first speed cue positioned on the airspeed indicator, a second speed cue positioned on the vertical speed indicator, and a time cue, the time cue depicting the assigned RTA clearance time relative to a current time status of the aircraft, the airspeed indicator for the aircraft being a speed tape graphical indicator; and outputting, by the computer device processor, data associated with the at least one graphical depiction including the plurality of predictive indicators, the vertical RTA flight profile, the airspeed indicator, the vertical speed indicator, the minimum vertical descent speed vector, and the maximum vertical descent speed vector from the processor, wherein, based at least on a reception of the data associated with the at least one graphical depiction, the flight deck display is configured to display the at least one graphical depiction including the plurality of predictive indicators, the vertical RTA flight profile, the airspeed indicator, the vertical speed indicator, the minimum vertical descent speed vector, and the maximum vertical descent speed vector to a pilot, the time cue indicating that the aircraft is projected to arrive at the assigned RTA clearance location outside of the assigned RTA clearance window, the first speed cue indicating on the airspeed indicator a prescribed range of speed values for the aircraft to arrive at the assigned RTA clearance time and at the assigned RTA clearance location, the second speed cue indicating on the vertical speed indicator a prescribed range of vertical speed values for the aircraft to arrive at the assigned RTA clearance time and at the assigned RTA clearance location, wherein each of the minimum vertical descent speed vector and the maximum vertical descent speed vector is graphically depicted as a line.
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Specification