Automatic weather monitoring and adaptive transmitting system

• US RE38,925 E1
• Filed: 06/11/2002
• Issued: 12/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Potomac Aviation Technology Corp.
• Original Assignee: Potomac Aviation Technology Corp.
• Inventors: Wartofsky, David J., Simon, Gary B.
• Primary Examiner(s): SWARTHOUT, BRENT
• Application Number:
  US10/170,086
• Time in Patent Office: 1,295 Days
• Field of Search: 340/945, 340/947, 340/948, 340/949, 340/952, 340/502, 340/313, 340/968, 340/963, 340/905, 731/78.T, 731/700.1, 731/700.2, 731/700.5, 731/700.6, 731/701.6, 455/63, 455/431, 455/67.4, 455/115, 455/67.11, 455/67.14, 455/63.1, 455/115.1, 455/115.2, 701/200
• US Class Current: 340/949
• CPC Class Codes: N/A

Abstract

A method for automatically providing weather advisories for an airport to pilots comprises monitoring weather conditions at the airport and then generating weather advisories in response to these weather conditions. The broadcast traffic on a common traffic advisory channel is also simultaneously monitored and then menus providing for selectable weather advisories and radio check options are broadcast to the pilots. The weather advisories or radio check can then be selected by the pilot by clicks of their transmit button. The time spacing between the menus is adaptively changed in response to traffic on the common traffic advisory frequency. Also, the length of the weather advisories is also changed in response to this traffic. The radio check option is provided automatically by first confirming selection of the radio check option and then allowing the broadcaster to broadcast a short message which is recorded by the system and then rebroadcast.

Claims

1. A method for providing weather information to pilots for an airport, comprising:

determining weather conditions for the airport;

monitoring a radio frequency, assigned to voice communications of the airport, for a predetermined protocol indicative of a pilot attempt to access the weather information by classifying broadcasts from other sources based upon a length of a carrier signal;

monitoring the radio frequency for inactivity with no voice transmissions from other sources; and

broadcasting an audio weather advisory on the radio frequency in response to detecting the inactivity after detecting the predetermined protocol, the weather advisory being derived from the determined weather conditions.

2. A method as described in claim 1, further comprising stopping the broadcast of the weather advisory after receiving the predetermined protocol in response to detecting transmissions from other sources lasting over a set time period.

3. A method as described in claim 1, further comprising:

determining a level of traffic on the radio frequency; and

stopping the broadcast of the weather advisory based on the level of traffic.

4. A method as described in claim 3, further comprising scheduling the broadcast of the weather advisory in the future if the level of traffic was determined to be high.

5. A method as described in claim 1, further comprising:

reviewing the determined weather conditions and determining any relevant weather parameters;

including only relevant weather parameters in the broadcast weather advisory.

6. A method as described in claim 1, wherein the step of monitoring the radio frequency for the predetermined protocol comprises:

applying a voice recognition algorithm to the transmission on the radio frequency; and

broadcasting the weather advisory if a selected phrase was detected.

7. A method as described in claim 1, wherein the step of monitoring the radio frequency for the predetermined protocol comprises:

detecting clicks from a transmit button of another transceiver on the radio frequency; and

broadcasting the weather advisory if a selected number of clicks was detected.

8. A method as described in claim 1, further comprising the step of:

determining a relative importance of weather conditions and broadcasting a weather advisory including more important weather conditions.

9. A method as described in claim 1, further comprising the step of:

in response to congestion on the radio frequency, reducing a length of the weather advisory by including more important weather parameters.

10. A method as described in claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

categorizing broadcasts from other sources based on a length of a corresponding carrier signal; and

adapting a length of the weather advisory based on a level of traffic on the radio frequency.

11. A method as described in claim 1 further comprising the step of:

delaying broadcast of a weather advisory if there is a high level of traffic on the radio frequency.

12. A method for providing weather information to pilots for an airport, comprising:

determining weather conditions for the airport;

monitoring a radio frequency, assigned to voice communications of the airport, for a predetermined protocol indicative of a pilot attempt to access the weather information;

monitoring the radio frequency for inactivity with no voice transmissions from other sources;

broadcasting an audio weather advisory on the radio frequency in response to detecting the inactivity after detecting the predetermined protocol, the weather advisory being derived from the determined weather conditions;

determining if a weather advisory has been recently broadcast; and

stopping the broadcast of a new weather advisory if another weather advisory was broadcast.

13. A method for providing weather information to pilots for an airport, comprising:

determining weather conditions for the airport;

monitoring a radio frequency, assigned to voice communications of the airport, for a predetermined protocol indicative of a pilot attempt to access the weather information;

monitoring the radio frequency for inactivity with no voice transmissions from other sources;

broadcasting an audio weather advisory on the radio frequency in response to detecting the inactivity after detecting the predetermined protocol, the weather advisory being derived from the determined weather conditions;

determining a level of traffic on the radio frequency; and

adaptively changing a length of the broadcast weather advisory in response to the traffic.

14. A method for providing weather information to pilots for an airport, comprising:

determining weather conditions for the airport;

monitoring a radio frequency, assigned to voice communications of the airport, for a predetermined protocol indicative of a pilot attempt to access the weather information;

monitoring the radio frequency for inactivity with no voice transmissions from other sources;

broadcasting an audio weather advisory on the radio frequency in response to detecting the inactivity after detecting the predetermined protocol, the weather advisory being derived from the determined weather conditions; and

automatically broadcasting a message announcing a presence of a system providing the weather information and instructions for its operation.

15. A method for providing weather information to pilots for an airport, comprising:

determining weather conditions for the airport;

monitoring a radio frequency, assigned to voice communications of the airport, for a predetermined protocol indicative of a pilot attempt to access the weather information;

monitoring the radio frequency for inactivity with no voice transmissions from other sources;

broadcasting an audio weather advisory on the radio frequency in response to detecting the inactivity after detecting the predetermined protocol, the weather advisory being derived from the determined weather conditions;

detecting a broadcast on the radio frequency from another source after an extended period of no broadcasts on the radio frequency; and

broadcasting the weather advisory.

16. A method for providing weather information to pilots for an airport, comprising:

determining weather conditions for the airport;

monitoring a radio frequency assigned to the airport for a predetermined protocol indicative of a pilot attempt to access the weather information;

monitoring the radio frequency for transmissions from other sources;

determining a level of traffic on the radio frequency;

adaptively changing a length of a weather advisory in response to the traffic; and

broadcasting the weather advisory derived from the determined weather conditions on the radio frequency in response to detecting the predetermined protocol.

17. A method as described in claim 16, further comprising automatically broadcasting a message announcing a presence of a system providing the weather information and instructions for its operation.

18. A method as described in claim 16, wherein the step of monitoring the radio frequency for the predetermined protocol comprises:

applying a voice recognition algorithm to the transmission on the radio frequency; and

broadcasting the weather advisory if a selected phrase was detected.

19. A method as described in claim 16, wherein the step of monitoring the radio frequency for the predetermined protocol comprises:

detecting clicks from a transmit button of another transceiver on the radio frequency; and

broadcasting the weather advisory if a selected number of clicks was detected.

20. A system for broadcasting weather advisories to pilots, comprising:

an automatic weather station which generates weather data indicative of ambient weather conditions;

a transceiver which generates a carrier detect signal in response to transmissions from other sources on a radio frequency, which is assigned for voice communication, and broadcasts weather advisories over the radio frequency; and

a central processing unit which monitors the carrier detect signal for inactivity on the radio frequency and generates the voice weather advisories in response to transmission of an activating signal over the radio frequency followed by inactivity on radio frequency determined from the carrier detect signal, the central processing system classifying broadcasts from the other sources in response to lengths of the carrier detect signal.

21. A system as described in claim 20, wherein, the central processing unit classifies broadcasts by other sources in response to the lengths of the carrier detect signals, and adaptively changes lengths of the weather advisories in response to the classifications.

22. A system as described in claim 20, wherein the central processing unit stops the broadcast of the weather advisory after receiving the activating signal in response to detecting transmissions from other sources lasting over a set time period.

23. A system as described in claim 20, wherein the central processing unit determines a level of traffic on the radio frequency and stops the broadcast of the weather advisory based on the level of traffic.

24. A system as described in claim 20, wherein the central processing unit reviews the determined weather conditions, identifies any relevant weather parameters, and includes only relevant weather parameters in the broadcast weather advisory.

25. A system as described in claim 20, wherein the central processing unit applies a voice recognition algorithm to detect transmission of the activating signal.

26. A system as described in claim 20, wherein the central processing unit monitors the carrier detect signal to detect transmission of the activating signal.

27. A system for broadcasting weather advisories to pilots, comprising:

an automatic weather station which generates weather data indicative of ambient weather conditions;

a transceiver which generates a carrier detect signal in response to transmissions from other sources on a radio frequency, which is assigned for voice communication, and broadcasts weather advisories over the radio frequency; and

a central processing unit which monitors the carrier detect signal for inactivity on the radio frequency and generates the voice weather advisories in response to transmission of an activating signal over the radio frequency followed by inactivity on radio frequency determined from the carrier detect signal, the central processing unit determining if a weather advisory has been broadcast and stops the broadcast of another weather advisory in response to the broadcast weather advisory.

28. A system for broadcasting weather advisories to pilots, comprising:

an automatic weather station which generates weather data indicative of ambient weather conditions;

a transceiver which generates a carrier detect signal in response to transmissions from other sources on a radio frequency, which is assigned for voice communication, and broadcasts weather advisories over the radio frequency; and

a central processing unit which monitors the carrier detect signal for inactivity on the radio frequency and generates the voice weather advisories in response to transmission of an activating signal over the radio frequency followed by inactivity on radio frequency determined from the carrier detect signal, the central processing unit determining a level of traffic on the radio frequency and adaptively changing a length of the broadcast weather advisory in response to the traffic.

29. A system for broadcasting weather advisories to pilots, comprising:

an automatic weather station which generates weather data indicative of ambient weather conditions;

a transceiver which generates a carrier detect signal in response to transmissions from other sources on a radio frequency, which is assigned for voice communication, and broadcasts weather advisories over the radio frequency; and

a central processing unit which monitors the carrier detect signal for inactivity on the radio frequency and generates the voice weather advisories in response to transmission of an activating signal over the radio frequency followed by inactivity on radio frequency determined from the carrier detect signal, the central processing generating a message announcing a presence of the system and instructions for its operation.

30. A system for broadcasting weather advisories to pilots, comprising:

an automatic weather station which generates weather data indicative of ambient weather conditions;

a transceiver which generates a carrier detect signal in response to transmissions from other sources on a radio frequency, and broadcasts weather advisories over the radio frequency; and

a central processing unit which monitors the carrier detect signal for activity on the radio frequency and generates the weather advisories in response to transmission of an activating signal over the radio frequency and changes length of the weather advisories in response to the level of the activity.

31. A method for providing weather information to pilots for an airport, comprising:

determining weather conditions for the airport;

monitoring a radio frequency, assigned to voice communications of the airport, for a predetermined protocol indicative of a pilot attempt to access the weather information;

monitoring the radio frequency for inactivity with no voice transmissions from other sources;

broadcasting an audio weather advisory on the radio frequency in response to detecting the inactivity after detecting the predetermined protocol, the weather advisory being derived from the determined weather conditions;

determining if a weather advisory has been broadcast; and

stopping the broadcast of a new weather advisory if another weather advisory was broadcast.

32. A method for providing weather information to pilots for an airport, comprising:

determining weather conditions for the airport;

monitoring a radio frequency, assigned to voice communications of the airport, for a predetermined protocol indicative of a pilot attempt to access the weather information;

monitoring the radio frequency for inactivity with no voice transmissions from other sources;

broadcasting an audio weather advisory on the radio frequency in response to detecting the inactivity after detecting the predetermined protocol, the weather advisory being derived from the determined weather conditions;

determining a level of traffic on the radio frequency; and

stopping the broadcast of the weather advisory in response to the level of traffic.

33. A method of generating advisories, the method comprising:

determining weather conditions in a monitored region;

detecting broadcasts from sources transmitting on a radio channel;

determining an amount of congestion on the radio channel;

electronically monitoring the shared radio channel for a spoken phrase indicating a pilot'"'"'s request for a weather advisory, the radio channel supporting inter-party voice communication among pilots; and

in response to detecting the spoken phrase adapting a length of a weather advisory based on the amount of congestion on the radio channel and broadcasting the weather advisory over the shared radio channel based on determined weather conditions in the monitored region.

34. A method as in claim 33, wherein the spoken phrase is compared to a known pattern.

35. A method as in claim 33, wherein determining weather conditions further comprises:

detecting weather conditions near a runway of an airport at a weather subsystem including weather sensor devices.

36. A method as in claim 33 further comprising:

identifying which of multiple phrases spoken by a pilot is detected on the radio channel; and

activating a function of an electronic device depending on the detected spoken phrase.

37. A method as in claim 33 further comprising:

identifying a broadcast on the radio channel as being a conversation.

38. A method as in claim 33 further comprising:

broadcasting an informational message over the radio channel indicating instructions how to initiate different functions of a system venerating the weather advisories.

39. A method as in claim 38, wherein the instructions indicate a protocol how to initiate the different functions.

40. A method of generating advisories, the method comprising:

determining weather conditions in a monitored region;

detecting broadcasts from multiple sources transmitting on a shared radio channel;

determining an amount of congestion an the radio channel;

electronically monitoring the shared radio channel for a spoken phrase indicating a pilot'"'"'s request for a weather advisory, the radio channel supporting inter-party voice communication among pilots;

selecting content of an advisory based on the amount of congestion on the radio channel so the advisory includes more relevant weather information; and

in response to detecting the spoken phrase, adapting a length of the weather advisory based on the selected content and broadcasting the weather advisory over the shared radio channel.

41. A method of generating advisories, the method comprising:

determining weather conditions in a monitored region;

electronically monitoring a shared radio channel for a spoken phase indicating a pilot'"'"'s request for a weather advisory, the radio channel supporting inter-party voice communication among pilots;

detecting broadcasts from multiple sources;

generating a weather advisory;

adapting a length of the weather advisory in response to traffic on the shared radio channel; and

broadcasting a weather advisory based on weather conditions in the monitored region over the shared radio channel.

42. A method of generating advisories the method comprising:

determining weather conditions in a monitored region;

determining an amount of congestion on a radio channel;

electronically monitoring the shared radio channel for predetermined protocol indicating a pilots request for a weather advisory, the radio channel supporting inter-party voice communication among pilots;

detecting broadcasts from multiple sources;

adapting a length of a weather advisory for transmission on the radio channel based on the amount of congestion on the radio channel; and

broadcasting the weather advisory based on weather conditions in the monitored region over the shared radio channel.