APPARATUS, PROGRAM PRODUCT, AND METHODS FOR UPDATING DATA ON EMBEDDED CONTROL SYSTEMS
First Claim
1. An apparatus for providing updated mission control data to an embedded control system carried by an aircraft, the apparatus comprising:
- a mobile display unit positionable to display mission control data to a user during aircraft in flight operations;
a user interface unit operably coupled to the mobile display unit to communicate mission control data to the mobile display unit and to store user modifications to the mission control data defining modified mission control data; and
a mission system interface unit operably coupled to at least one component of an embedded aircraft mission system storing mission control data created during off-board preflight mission planning, and operably coupled to the user interface unit to receive the modified mission control data therefrom and to provide at least portions of the modified mission control data to the embedded control system during in-flight aircraft operations, the at least portions of the modified mission control data formatted for use by the embedded control system and representing an in-flight updated mission plan.
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Abstract
Embodiments of the present invention provide an augmentation apparatus, program product, and methods for providing updated mission control data to an embedded control system of an aircraft or other vehicle. This augmentation can include a mission system interface unit, a user interface unit, and a display unit. The mission system interface unit can interface with the embedded control system and can exchange data and control signals with the embedded control system. The user interface unit can couple to the mission system interface unit and the display unit to provide a user a direct interface with embedded control system and to supplement the displays of the embedded control system.
69 Citations
25 Claims
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1. An apparatus for providing updated mission control data to an embedded control system carried by an aircraft, the apparatus comprising:
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a mobile display unit positionable to display mission control data to a user during aircraft in flight operations; a user interface unit operably coupled to the mobile display unit to communicate mission control data to the mobile display unit and to store user modifications to the mission control data defining modified mission control data; and a mission system interface unit operably coupled to at least one component of an embedded aircraft mission system storing mission control data created during off-board preflight mission planning, and operably coupled to the user interface unit to receive the modified mission control data therefrom and to provide at least portions of the modified mission control data to the embedded control system during in-flight aircraft operations, the at least portions of the modified mission control data formatted for use by the embedded control system and representing an in-flight updated mission plan. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An apparatus for providing updated mission control data to an embedded control system carried by an aircraft, the apparatus comprising:
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a mobile display unit adapted to be worn around a leg of a pilot of an aircraft during aircraft in-flight operations when the pilot is in a sitting position to display mission control data including aircraft routing data and digital mapping data associated with the aircraft routing data to the pilot during aircraft in-flight operations; a portable user interface unit operably coupled to the mobile display unit to communicate mission control data to the mobile display unit and to store pilot modifications to the mission control data defining modified mission control data; and a mission system interface unit operably coupled to at least one component of an embedded aircraft mission system storing mission control data created during off-board preflight mission planning, and operably coupled to the portable user interface unit to receive the modified mission control data therefrom and to provide at least portions of the modified mission control data to the embedded control system during in-flight aircraft operations, the at least portions of the modified mission control data formatted for use by the embedded control system and representing an in-flight updated mission plan. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method for providing updated mission control data to an embedded control system carried by an aircraft, the method comprising the steps of:
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interfacing an augmentation apparatus with the embedded control system carried by an aircraft, the augmentation apparatus including a mission system interface unit operable to provide in-flight generated mission control data to the embedded control system; storing mission control data created during off-board preflight mission planning in the embedded control system defining existing mission planning data; modifying the existing mission planning data with the augmentation apparatus during in-flight aircraft operations; and providing the modified mission planning data to the embedded control system for use by the embedded control system. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification