Automated air-traffic advisory system and method

• US 6,552,669 B2
• Filed: 01/15/2002
• Issued: 04/22/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/1999
• 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): POPE, DARYL C
• Application Number:
  US10/047,463
• Publication Number:
  US 20020109612A1
• Time in Patent Office: 462 Days
• Field of Search: 340/945, 340/961, 340/970, 701/14, 701/301, 701/3, 342/29
• US Class Current: 340/945
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0013 with a ground station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0091 for monitoring atmospheric conditions radar or analogous systems specially adapted for meteorological use G01S13/95; meteorology G01W

Abstract

A method and apparatus for automatically providing advisories to pilots in a monitored airspace comprises monitoring weather conditions and air traffic in an airspace and then generating and broadcasting advisories over a radio channel in response to relevant air traffic conditions. Advisory lengths are sized based on the volume of communications on the common traffic advisory frequency. An airspace model, made up of a multitude of constantly updated records, is used to keep track of important flight information and weather conditions. A monitoring CPU, accessing the airspace model, creates the advisory messages based upon hazard criteria, guidelines, airport procedures and other relevant air traffic data.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

monitoring locations of one or more moving objects, each of which is capable of being redirected;

electronically generating messages based on locations of the one or more moving objects; and

broadcasting the messages over a publicly accessible radio channel.

2. A method as in claim 1, wherein the publicly accessible radio channel supports two-way radio communications.

3. A method as in claim 1 further comprising:

tracking movements of the one or more moving objects to determine their trajectories.

4. A method as in claim 1 further comprising:

generating an advisory message depending on the locations of the one or more moving objects in a monitored region.

5. A method as in claim 1, wherein the messages are synthesized voice-based messages.

6. A method as in claim 2 further comprising:

providing an alternate communication link other than the radio channel to notify parties other than those in the one or more moving objects of location-related information.

7. A method as in claim 1 comprising:

generating an advisory message based on weather conditions.

8. A method as in claim 7, wherein the advisory message is generated based on nearness of a moving object with respect to a particular weather condition.

9. A method as in claim 1, wherein locations of the one or more moving objects are monitored in a 3-dimensional space.

10. A method as in claim 1 further comprising:

monitoring the radio channel for activity; and

adjusting a length of an advisory message broadcasted on the radio channel based on the activity.

11. A method as in claim 1 further comprising:

targeting an advisory message to a person in a corresponding moving object based on a content of the message.

12. A method as in claim 1 further comprising:

generating a model based on unique geographical features of a monitored region to track the location of the one or more moving objects.

13. A method as in claim 12, wherein the model includes preferred traffic patterns.

14. A method as in claim 1 further comprising:

learning a traffic pattern by observing a traffic flow of previously monitored moving objects;

and

guiding an operator in a moving object based on anticipated traffic flow.

15. A method as in claim 1 further comprising:

utilizing a GPS (Global Positioning System) device to determine a location of at least one monitored moving object.

16. A method as in claim 1, wherein the electronically generated messages include words retrieved from a library.

17. A method as in claim 1, wherein the messages are pre-recorded voice-based messages.

18. A method as in claim 1 further comprising:

detecting a present transmission on the radio channel; and

waiting a duration of time; and

broadcasting an advisory message on the radio channel when it is clear.

19. A method as in claim 1 further comprising:

monitoring trajectories of the one or more moving objects; and

broadcasting an advisory message to prevent an accident.

20. A method as in claim 19, wherein the advisory message is emphatically broadcasted to alert a person of danger.

21. A method comprising:

transmitting location information from one or more conveyances, each of which is used to transport at least one person from one location to another;

at a base station, receiving the location information to monitor corresponding locations of the one or more conveyances; and

from the base station, broadcasting an advisory message over a radio channel.

22. A method as in claim 21, wherein the advisory message is an electronically synthesized, voice-based message.

23. A method as in claim 22, wherein the electronically synthesized message includes pre-recorded words that are-strung together to generate an audible message.

24. A method as in claim 21 further comprising:

determining a location of a corresponding conveyance using a GPS (Global Positioning System) device disposed therein.

25. A method as in claim 24 further comprising:

transmitting digitally encoded information indicating a location of a corresponding conveyance from a GPS device to the base station over a predetermined radio channel.

26. A method as in claim 21 further comprising:

determining that a conveyance is in potential danger based on its trajectory; and

generating a message to an operator of the conveyance indicating the potential danger.

27. A method as in claim 26, wherein the potential danger is due to inclement weather conditions.

28. A method as in claim 26, wherein the potential danger is due to a trajectory of another conveyance.

29. A method as in claim 26, wherein the message indicating the potential danger is emphatically broadcasted over the radio channel.

30. A method as in claim 21, wherein the advisory message is used to notify persons in the one or more conveyances of travel conditions.

31. A method as in claim 21, wherein a person in a first conveyance can audibly communicate with a person in a second conveyance over a shared, two-way radio channel.

32. A method as in claim 21, wherein the advisory message includes location-related information.

33. A method as in claim 21, wherein the advisory message is received on a radio transceiver device disposed in a corresponding conveyance.

34. A method as in claim 21, wherein the advisory message is broadcast over a CTAF (Common Traffic Advisory Frequency) channel.

35. A method as in claim 21, wherein the one or more conveyances can travel on the ground.

36. A method as in claim 35, wherein a conveyance traveling along the ground is a taxiing aircraft.

37. A method as in claim 21 further comprising:

transmitting advisories over the radio channel to prevent ground-based collisions.

38. A method comprising:

monitoring locations of one or more moving objects in a region;

monitoring weather conditions at different locations in the region; and

broadcasting an electronically generated, voice-based advisory message over a radio channel depending on a location of a moving object in the region.

39. A method as in claim 38, wherein the advisory message is broadcasted over a shared radio channel.

40. A method as in claim 38 further comprising:

generating the advisory message to include a string of words selected from a library.

41. A method as in claim 40, wherein the advisory message includes a string of words indicating that the advisory message is directed towards a specific operator of a moving object in the region.

42. A method as in claim 38 further comprising:

detecting an advisory request on the radio channel; and

in response, generating an advisory message based on a type of the advisory request.

43. A method as in claim 38 further comprising:

generating an advisory message based on airport incidents, conditions and/or procedures.

44. A method as in claim 38 further comprising:

determining a level of traffic on the radio channel; and

adaptively changing a length of an advisory message in response to the level of traffic on the radio channel.

45. A method as in claim 38 further comprising:

learning common traffic patterns based on previously monitored moving objects in the region.

46. A method as in claim 38 further comprising:

detecting when new moving objects and corresponding operators enter the monitored region; and

generating and broadcasting an advisory message to the new moving objects and corresponding operators about air traffic conditions and/or originating source of advisory messages.

47. A method as in claim 38 further comprising:

monitoring weather conditions at a base station from which the advisory message is generated.

48. A method as in claim 38, wherein current weather conditions in the monitored region are received from one or more remote sources compiling weather data.

49. A method comprising:

monitoring locations of one or more moving objects;

electronically generating messages based on trajectories of the one or more moving objects; and

broadcasting the messages to the one or more moving objects over a radio channel.

50. An apparatus comprising:

a subsystem to monitor locations of one or more aircraft, each of which is capable of being redirected;

a base station that electronically generates messages based on locations of the one or more aircraft; and

a transmitter that simultaneously notifies parties in the one or more aircraft of location-related information by broadcasting the messages over a publicly accessible radio channel.

51. An apparatus comprising:

a subsystem that generates location information, the subsystem transmitting location information from a conveyance that is used to transport at least one person from one location to another;

a centralized base station that receives the location information to monitor corresponding locations of the one or more conveyances; and

a transmitter coupled to the base station that simultaneously notifies persons in the one or more conveyances of travel information by broadcasting an advisory message over a radio channel.

52. An apparatus comprising:

a subsystem that monitors locations of one or more aircraft in an airspace;

a weather station that monitors weather conditions at different locations in the airspace; and

a transmitter that broadcasts an electronically synthesized, voice-based advisory message over a radio channel depending on a location of the one or more aircraft in the airspace.

53. A method comprising:

generating a model that includes geographical features of a monitored region;

in the model, tracking locations of one or more moving objects in the monitored region;

electronically generating messages based on locations of the one or more moving objects in the monitored region; and

broadcasting the messages to multiple receivers over a radio channel.

54. A method as in claim 53, wherein the model is an airspace model of an airport.

55. A method as in claim 53, wherein the model includes preferred traffic patterns of the one or more moving objects in the monitored region.

56. A method as in claim 55, wherein at least one of the messages transmitted over the radio channel is based on a traffic flow pattern.

57. A method as in claim 53 further comprising:

identifying moving objects in the monitored region based on their position relative to a traffic pattern.

58. A method as in claim 53 further comprising:

addressing a message to a particular operator of a moving object by including terminology in the message indicating a position of the moving object relative to a traffic pattern.

59. A method as in claim 53, wherein the message includes bearings relative to an active runway of an airport.

60. A method as in claim 53 further comprising:

learning attributes of a monitored region based upon traffic flow of the one or more moving objects.

61. A method as in claim 53, wherein the receivers are disposed in at least some of the moving objects.

62. A method as in claim 53, wherein a message broadcasted to the multiple receivers indicates that a moving object is in danger of colliding with a stationary object.

63. A method as in claim 53 further comprising:

broadcasting an advisory message over the radio channel to prevent an accident.

64. A method as in claim 53, wherein at least one message broadcasted to the multiple receivers indicates that a moving object is in danger of colliding with another moving object in the monitored region.

65. A method as in claim 53, wherein the messages are synthesized, voice-based messages transmitted over a two-way radio channel.

66. An apparatus comprising:

a memory unit to store a mathematical model that includes geographical features of a monitored airspace;

a base station that tracks locations of one or more aircraft in the airspace and electronically generates messages based on locations of the one or more aircraft; and

a transmitter that broadcasts the messages to multiple receivers over a radio channel.