Automated delivery of flight data to aircraft cockpit devices

• US 20070264953A1
• Filed: 05/12/2006
• Published: 11/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Srinivasan, Thiru, Abbott, Mike, Reagan, Scott, McGaw, Dan
• Granted Patent: US 8,423,009 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/186.100
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/06 specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/62 Establishing a time schedule for servicing the requests

Abstract

Flight data and information update files such as electronic charts used by aircraft cockpit devices are automatically installed by a secure, wireless delivery system. A service provider downloads file updates through the Internet to servers at airport locations, within wireless transmission range of aircraft on the ground. A secure wireless link and router transmits the file updates from the server directly to a router on board the aircraft which routes the files to cockpit devices onboard the aircraft. Authentication procedures are used to assure that the cockpit device is authorized to receive the update. The servers are also connected to airport kiosks, where pilots may download the updates onto a media storage device, such as a flash memory card that can be used by the pilots to manually install the updates in the cockpit devices.

Claims

1. A method of delivering electronic files to cockpit devices onboard an aircraft, comprising the steps of:

(A) storing at least one electronic file in a ground-based location;

(B) detecting when an aircraft comes within a predetermined distance of a ground-based wireless transmitter;

(C) reading the electronic file from the server when the aircraft is detected in step (B);

(D) transmitting the electronic file read in step

(C) from the wireless transmitter to the aircraft detected in step (B); and

,

(E) installing the electronic file in a cockpit device on the aircraft.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

(F) verifying that the device is authorized to receive installation of the electronic file.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein step (F) includes:

storing a set of identification numbers uniquely identifying each of a plurality of cockpit devices,

reading an identification number carried by the cockpit device on-board the aircraft detected in step (B), and,

determining if the identification number that has been read is present in the stored set of identification numbers.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein step (E) is performed using a wireless router on-board the aircraft.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein step (B) includes receiving a radio signal on-board the aircraft that originates from the transmitter.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

(F) wirelessly transmitting information from the aircraft to the ground that identifies the version of an electronic file present in the cockpit device on-board the aircraft; and

,

(G) comparing the version represented by the information transmitted in step (F) with the version of the electronic file stored in step (A),

wherein step (E) is completed only if the version of the electronic file stored in step (A) is later than the version represented by the information transmitted in step (F).

7. A method of delivering electronic files to devices on-board an aircraft, comprising the steps of:

(A) storing a plurality of electronic files at a central location;

(B) transmitting the electronic files from the central location to each of a plurality of file distribution sites respectively associated with aircraft landing areas;

(C) storing the electronic files transmitted in step (B) at the respective distribution sites;

(D) reading the files stored in step (C);

(E) wirelessly transmitting the electronic files read in step (D) from each of the distribution sites to aircraft within the landing areas respectively associated with the distribution sites;

(F) receiving the wirelessly transmitted electronic files at the aircraft; and

,

(G) installing the electronic files received in step (F) in the devices on-board the aircraft.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein step (B) is performed using the internet to transfer the electronic files.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein step (G) is performed using a wireless router.

10. The method of claim 7, further comprising the steps of:

(H) storing a set of serial numbers each uniquely identifying one of the devices;

(I) storing information identifying the version of a file currently installed in each of the devices; and

,

(J) determining whether a later version of an electronic file is stored at a distribution site based on the serial number and version of the electronic file currently installed in the devices.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein step (E) is performed only if the version of the electronic file stored in step (C) is later than the version of the electronic file currently installed in a device.

12. The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of:

(H) verifying that a device on-board the aircraft is authorized to receive installation of the electronic file.

13. The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of:

(H) determining when an aircraft in a landing area is within communication range of a wireless, ground-based network, and

wherein step (G) is performed using the wireless communication network.

14. A method of delivering electronic file updates used in cockpit devices onboard aircraft, comprising the steps of:

(A) storing electronic file updates at a central location;

(B) downloading the electronic file updates to each of a plurality of distribution sites;

(C) storing the electronic file updates at the distribution sites;

(D) providing information at the distribution sites that identifies the cockpit devices on-board aircraft in landing areas respectively associated with the distribution sites;

(E) reading file updates stored in step (C); and

,

(F) transferring the file updates read in step (E) to the cockpit devices.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of:

(G) writing the files updates read in step (C) onto portable storage media.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein step (F) includes:

installing the portable media in a reader on-board the aircraft,

reading the files updates from the portable media installed in the reader, and

writing the file updates into the cockpit devices.

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of:

(G) determining whether the version of an electronic file stored in step (C) is later than the version of an electronic file update previously installed in one of the cockpit devices.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein step (F) is performed using a wireless network.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein step (F) is performed by:

writing the file updates onto portable electronic storage media,

transporting the portable storage media to the aircraft, and

reading the file updates from the media on-board the aircraft.

20. The method of claim 14, further comprising the steps of:

(G) maintaining an electronic record of each of the electronic file updates read in step (E); and

(H) periodically transmitting the electronic record to the central location.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein step (G) includes recording the version of the file update that was read, and a serial number of the cockpit device into which the file update was to be installed.

22. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of:

(G) verifying that a cockpit device is authorized to receive installation of a file update transferred in step (F).

23. A system for automatically delivering electronic files to cockpit devices onboard aircraft, comprising:

a ground-based computer for storing the electronic files;

a wireless communication network established between the computer and an aircraft when the aircraft enters a predetermined area on the ground, the communication network being operable for automatically transmitting electronic files stored on the server to the aircraft when the aircraft enters the predetermined area; and

,

a router onboard the aircraft for routing the electronic files received from the computer to the cockpit devices.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the communication network includes:

a wireless, ground-based transceiver communicating with the router for transmitting messages to and receiving messages from the aircraft, and

a local area network connecting the transceiver with computer.

25. The system of claim 23, further comprising a ground-based terminal connected with the computer for writing electronic files onto portable storage media.

26. The system of claim 23, further comprising a local area network on-board the aircraft for connecting the router with each of the cockpit devices.

27. The system of claim 23, further comprising:

a central storage site for storing the electronic files; and

,

a communication system for downloading the electronic files from the central storage site to the ground-based computer.