SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MINIMIZING ACTIVE SPEECH DISRUPTIONS AND ASSURING TASK LEVEL CONTINUITY ON A FLIGHT DECK

• US 20150139441A1
• Filed: 11/18/2013
• Published: 05/21/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Kawalkar, Amit Nishikant
• Application Number:
  US14/082,952
• Publication Number:
  US 20150139441A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/82
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/0015 Arrangements for entertainment or communications, e.g. radio, television
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/62 for transportation systems, e.g. in vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/4061 Push-to services, e.g. push-to-talk or push-to-video
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/205 Broadcasting broadcasting in packet switching networks H04L12/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/20 with means for interrupting existing connections; with means for breaking-in on conversations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42 Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers specially adapted for wireless communication networks H04W4/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 27/00 Public address systems circuits for preventing acoustic reaction H04R3/02; circuits for distributing signals to loudspeakers H04R3/12; monitoring or testing arrangements for public address systems H04R29/007; amplifiers H03F

Abstract

A flight deck communication system comprises a speech engine for receiving a pilot'"'"'s speech input and an aural annunciation manager. A smart pilot is coupled to the speech engine and to the aural annunciation manager and configured to (a) generate new aural message annunciation requests, (b) determine if the pilot is engaged in an active speech input task, (c) deferring annunciation if the message is not a high priority message, (d) annunciate the deferred message when the active speech input task is completed, (e) annunciate the received message substantially immediately if the message is a high priority message, and (f) store the progress of the active task.

Claims

1. A flight deck speech and aural interaction communication method, comprising:

receiving a message for aural annunciation;

determining that a pilot is engaged in an active speech input task; and

deferring annunciation if the message is not a high priority message.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising determining when the pilot has completed the active speech input task.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising annunciating the deferred message when the active speech input task is completed.

4. The method of claim 2 further comprising determining if the aural annunciation is still valid.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising annunciating the deferred message if still valid.

6. The method of claim 4 further comprising discarding the deferred message if no longer valid.

7. The method of claim 3 further comprising:

storing the deferred message; and

retrieving the stored message when the active speech input task is completed.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising storing the progress of the active speech input task if the message is a high priority message.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising reminding the pilot of the stored unfinished speech input task.

10. The flight deck communication method according to claim 3 further comprising resuming the unfinished task.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising monitoring a push-to-talk switch to determine if the pilot is engaged in an active speech input task.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising annunciating the received message substantially immediately if the message is a high priority message.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising storing the progress of the active task.

15. The method of claim 7 further comprising resuming the unfinished task.

16. The method of claim 7 further comprising storing the progress of the active speech input task if the message is a high priority message.

14. A flight deck aural interaction method, comprising:

receiving a message for aural annunciation;

determining if the pilot is engaged in an active speech input task;

deferring annunciation if the message is not a high priority message;

annunciating the deferred message when the active speech input task is completed;

annunciating the received message substantially immediately if the message is a high priority message; and

storing the progress of the active task.

17. A communication system for use on-board an aircraft, the system comprising:

a speech engine for receiving a pilot'"'"'s speech input;

an aural annunciation manager; and

a smart pilot coupled to the speech engine and to the aural annunciation manager and configured to (a) generate new aural message annunciation requests, (b) determine if the pilot is engaged in an active speech input task, (c) deferring annunciation if the message is not a high priority message, (d) annunciate the deferred message when the active speech input task is completed, (e) annunciate the received message substantially immediately if the message is a high priority message, and (f) store the progress of the active task.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein the smart pilot is further configured to store the progress of the active speech input task if the message is a high priority message.

19. The system of claim 17 further comprising;

an aural message-pilot task mapping database coupled to the smart pilot; and

a message content criticality mapping database coupled to the aural annunciation manager.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein the smart pilot provides active context data, aural message requests, and criticality data to the aural annunciation manager.