Method and system for the control and management of an airport

• US 6,195,609 B1
• Filed: 02/27/1998
• Issued: 02/27/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Honeywell Intellectual Properties Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Harold Robert Pilley
• Inventors: Pilley, Harold Robert, Pilley, Lois V
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Gary
• Application Number:
  US09/032,313
• Time in Patent Office: 1,096 Days
• Field of Search: 701/15, 701/16, 701/117, 701/120, 701/121, 701/122, 701/300, 701/301, 701/213, 73/178 T, 340/903, 340/961, 340/435, 342/29, 342/36-38, 342/454, 342/455
• US Class Current: 701/120
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 23/00 Combined instruments indicating more than one navigational value, e.g. for aircraft; Combined measuring devices for measuring two or more variables of movement, e.g. distance, speed or acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 1/047 Displays or indicators G01S1/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/071 DGPS corrections
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/15 Aircraft landing systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/20 Integrity monitoring, fault detection or fault isolation of space segment
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/41 Differential correction, e.g. DGPS [differential GPS]
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0009 Transmission of position information to remote stations involving assistance data G01S5/0236
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0013 with a ground station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0026 located on the ground
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0043 Traffic management of multiple aircrafts from the ground G08G5/003 takes precedence; data processing specially designed for resource management, e.g. scheduling or allocating time, human or machine resources G06Q10/06
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0082 for monitoring traffic from a ground station radar or analogous systems specially adapted for traffic control G01S13/91
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/025 Navigation or guidance aids radar or analogous systems specially adapted for landing purposes G01S13/913
• CPC Class Codes: G16Z 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass

Abstract

A method and system providing a computer human interface for use by an air traffic controller supported by various GNSS compatible control and management commands. A data entry capability allows the controller to select various GNSS based commands such as arrival and departure clearances to effectively control and manage the flow of traffic using GNSS and its augmentations. GNSS is used as the primary air and surface position and navigation sensor. GNSS compatible travel paths are utilized in clearances, navigation and for conformance and traffic flow monitoring purposes. Two display views enable the controller to observe the traffic situation on one display view, while other display views are predominately utilized for the presentation of control and management system commands, warning alerts, messages and other functions. Controller to Pilot Data Link Capability (CPDLC) for clearances is utilized in conjunction with clearance acknowledgments being generated aboard the cleared aircraft. Automatic Dependent Surveillance using GNSS position reports as well as a subordinate radar surveillance and Mode S input may be utilized for graphic display presentations and other functions of the controller computer human interface. Incursion detection, collision detection, conformance monitoring, and lighting control are performed as a background automated processing function. In the event of an alert condition, warnings are presented to controller using text messages and using the multi-color situation display. Incursion conditions on runways activate airfield lighting systems to alert landing or departing aircraft of a compromised runway.

Claims

1. An automated airport control and management system computer human interface method for the control and management of at least one of a plurality of vehicles operating at an airport said vehicles consisting of at least one vehicle selected from the group of aircraft and surface vehicles, using a computer with display and data entry capability for use by a controller, the computer using GNSS compatible processing, the computer human interface method comprising the steps of:

(a) using said computer to provide to the controller a displayed list of arrivals using said computer display;

(b) using said computer to select from said displayed list of arrivals, a specific vehicle arrival;

(c) using said computer to provide to the controller a displayed list of valid GNSS compatible travel paths for arrivals using said computer display;

(d) using said computer to select from said displayed list of valid GNSS compatible travel paths a specific arrival travel path for said selected vehicle, and

(e) using a radio to transmit an arrival clearance to said selected vehicle to travel said selected arrival travel path, the controller thereby controlling the flow of said vehicles operating at an airport.

2. The automated airport control and management system computer human interface method of claim 1, further comprising clearance transmission management comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving said arrival clearance at said selected vehicle using a radio receiver located in said selected vehicle;

(b) transmitting from said selected vehicle using a radio transmitter a clearance acknowledgement when said arrival clearance is received correctly and understood;

(c) using a radio receiver at an Airport Control and Management System to receive said arrival clearance acknowledgement and

(d) canceling a retransmission of said arrival clearance to said selected vehicle after said clearance acknowledgement is received.

3. The automated airport control and management system computer human interface method of claim 1, further comprising clearance transmission management comprising the steps of:

(a) measuring the time after said transmitting of said arrival clearance;

(b) using a radio receiver, waiting to receive a clearance acknowledgement from said selected vehicle and

(c) re-transmitting said arrival clearance when said clearance acknowledgement is not received within a preset time.

4. The automated airport control and management system computer human interface method of claim 1, further comprising lighting control, said lighting control comprising the steps of:

(a) connecting said computer to an airport lighting interface;

(b) selecting for said selected arrival travel path at least one airport light selected from the group, comprised of landing lights and intersection lights and

(c) using said computer and said airport lighting interface to control the state of said at least one airport light as a function of said arrival clearance.

5. The automated airport control and management system computer human interface method of claim 1, further comprising conformance monitoring, said conformance monitoring comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving said arrival clearance at said selected vehicle using a radio receiver located in said selected vehicle;

(b) using said received arrival clearance, said selected vehicle travels said selected arrival travel path;

(c) determining in said computer a position, being GNSS referenced of said selected vehicle indicative of the position while said selected vehicle attempts to travel said selected arrival travel path;

(d) determining using said computer a travel conformance status indicative of said vehicle'"'"'s ability to travel said selected arrival travel path and

(e) displaying said travel conformance status to the controller.

6. The automated airport control and management system computer human interface method of claim 1, further comprising incursion detection, comprising the steps of:

(a) establishing a GNSS compatible database of zones of non-permitted usage by said selected vehicle;

(b) determining using said computer when a position incurs a zone of non-permitted usage and

(c) displaying an incursion alert when said position incurs said zone of non-permitted usage thereby alerting the controller to an incursion condition.

7. The automated airport control and management system computer human interface method of claim 4 further comprising the steps of:

(a) establishing a GNSS compatible database of runway zones non-permitted usage by said vehicle;

(b) determining using said computer when a position incurs a runway zone of non-permitted usage and

(c) flashing runway lights selected from the group of runway lights comprising landing lights and take off lights.

8. An automated airport control and management system computer human interface method for the control and management of at least one of a plurality of vehicles operating at an airport said vehicles consisting of at least one vehicle selected from the group of aircraft and surface vehicles, using a computer with display and data entry capability for use by a controller, the computer using GNSS compatible processing, the computer human interface method comprising the steps of:

(a) using said computer to provide to the controller a displayed list of departures using said computer display;

(b) using said computer to select from said displayed list of departures, a specific vehicle departure;

(c) using said computer to provide to the controller a displayed list of valid GNSS compatible travel paths for departures using said computer display;

(d) using said computer to select from said displayed list of valid GNSS compatible travel paths a specific departure travel path for said selected vehicle, and

(e) using a radio to transmit an departure clearance to said selected vehicle to travel said selected departure travel path, the controller thereby controlling the flow of said vehicles operating at an airport.

9. The automated airport control and management system computer human interface method of claim 8, further comprising clearance transmission management comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving said departure clearance at said selected vehicle using a radio receiver located in said selected vehicle;

(b) transmitting from said selected vehicle using a radio transmitter a clearance acknowledgement when said departure clearance is received correctly and understood;

(c) using a radio receive at an Airport Control and Management System to receive said departure clearance acknowledgement, and

(d) canceling a retransmission of said departure clearance to said selected vehicle after said clearance acknowledgement is received.

10. The automated airport control and management system computer human interface method of claim 8, further comprising clearance transmission management comprising the steps of:

(a) measuring the time after said transmitting of said departure clearance;

(b) using a radio receiver, waiting to receive a clearance acknowledgement from said selected vehicle and

(c) re-transmitting said departure clearance when said clearance acknowledgement is not received within a preset time.

11. The automated airport control and management system computer human interface method of claim 8, further comprising lighting control, said lighting control comprising the steps of:

(a) connecting said computer to an airport lighting interface;

(b) selecting for said selected departure travel path at least one airport light selected from the group, comprised of intersection lights and take off lights and;

(c) using said computer and said airport lighting interface to control the state of said at least one airport light as a function of said issued departure clearance.

12. The automated airport control and management system computer human interface method of claim 8, further comprising conformance monitoring, said conformance monitoring comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving said departure clearance at said selected vehicle using a radio receiver located in said selected vehicle;

(b) using said received departure clearance, said selected vehicle travels said selected departure travel path;

(c) determining in said computer a position, being GNSS referenced of said selected vehicle indicative of the position while said selected vehicle attempts to travel said selected departure travel path;

(d) determining using said computer a travel conformance status indicative of said vehicle'"'"'s ability to follow said selected departure travel path and

(e) displaying said travel conformance status to the controller.

13. The automated airport control and management system computer human interface method of claim 11 further comprising the steps of:

(a) establishing a GNSS compatible database of runway zones non-permitted usage by said vehicle;

(b) determining using said computer when a position incurs a runway zone of non-permitted usage and

(c) flashing runway lights selected from the group of runway lights comprising landing lights and take off lights.

14. The automated airport control and management system computer human interface method of claim 8, further comprising incursion detection, comprising the steps of:

(a) establishing a GNSS compatible database of zones of non-permitted usage by said vehicle;

(b) determining using said computer when a position incurs a zone of non-permitted usage and

(c) displaying an incursion alert when said position incurs said zone of non-permitted usage thereby alerting the controller to an incursion condition.