Aircraft location monitoring system and method of operation

• US 6,799,094 B1
• Filed: 09/03/2002
• Issued: 09/28/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: NorthStar Systems LLC (Alpha Alpha Intellectual Partners LLC)
• Original Assignee: Ridgeback Systems LLC
• Inventors: Vaida, Theodore F., McKenna, Andrew M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zanelli, Michael J.
• Application Number:
  US10/233,633
• Time in Patent Office: 756 Days
• Field of Search: 701/3, 701/33, 701/213, 701/120, 701/29, 342/357.07, 342/357.09, 342/357.1, 340/992, 340/539.13, 340/539.16, 340/539.17, 340/539.24
• US Class Current: 701/3
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 45/0059 by communicating emergency situations to ground control or between crew members
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0027 of actual mobile position, i.e. position determined on mobile
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0013 with a ground station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0082 for monitoring traffic from a ground station radar or analogous systems specially adapted for traffic control G01S13/91

Abstract

An aircraft monitoring system adapted for mounting in an aircraft and at a location independent of the aircraft for providing information related to aircraft location and/or the current state of the operation of the aircraft. The monitoring system includes an aircraft-tracking device and a server computer adapted for communicating with an aircraft owner/operator. The device includes a signal receiving antenna for receiving signals from a satellite positioning system and a decoder connected to the antenna for decoding the location position coordinates (GPS or GLONASS). Further, the aircraft-tracking device includes a microprocessor connected to the decoder and a two-way satellite communication transceiver. The transceiver is connected to a two-way radio communication antenna. The radio communication antenna receives and sends two-way satellite communications between a satellite communication system. The satellite communication system communicates with a ground-based satellite communication service. The server computer is connected to the satellite communication service and is connected to a telecommunication system for alerting the owner/operator as to the aircraft'"'"'s location and/or the current state of operation.

Claims

1. A passive aircraft monitoring system adapted for mounting in an aircraft and at a location independent of the aircraft for providing information via a telecommunication system to an aircraft owner/operator and related to aircraft location and the current state of the operation of the aircraft, the monitoring system using a satellite positioning system, a satellite communication system and a ground-based satellite communication service, the monitoring system comprising:

an aircraft-tracking device adapted for mounting in the aircraft, said device including a microprocessor for processing information related to aircraft location and state of operation of the aircraft;

a sensor interface connected to said microprocessor and a first sensor connected to said sensor interface, said first sensor for starting said sensor interface and said microprocessor when the aircraft has gone from being out of operation to being in operation, said sensor interface operating continuously during the operation of the aircraft and monitoring the state of said first sensor;

means for receiving radio frequency signals from the satellite positioning system connected to said microprocessor, said means for receiving radio frequency signals adapted for decoding the position coordinates from the satellite positioning system;

means for communicating with the satellite communication system and the ground-based satellite communication service and connected to said microprocessor; and

a server computer adapted for receiving the position coordinates from said microprocessor via the satellite communication system and the ground-based satellite communication service, said server computer adapted for connection to the telecommunication system for providing non-invasive information to the owner/operator as to the aircraft'"'"'s location and the current state of operation.

2. The monitoring system as described in claim 1 wherein said means for receiving the aircraft position coordinates is a signal receiving antenna and a satellite positioning system decoder, said antenna and said decoder attached to said microprocessor.

3. The monitoring system as described in claim 1 wherein said means for communicating with the satellite communication system and ground-based communication service is a two-way satellite communication transceiver and a two-way radio frequency antenna, said two-way satellite communication transceiver and said two-way radio frequency antenna connected to said microprocessor.

4. The monitoring system as described in claim 1 wherein said server computer includes a satellite communication program adapted for receiving the position coordinates from said microprocessor and connected to the telecommunication system for alerting the owner/operator and said server computer includes a customer interface program connected to said satellite communication program, said customer interface program adapted for listening for requests from one or more owner/operators as to aircraft locations and current state of operation.

5. The monitoring system as described in claim 1 wherein said first sensor is a voltage sensor adapted for connecting to an electrical system of the aircraft, said first sensor starting said sensor interface and said microprocessor when the electrical system is turned on.

6. The monitoring system as described in claim 1 wherein said first sensor is a starter contact switch adapted for connecting to an aircraft engine of the aircraft, said first sensor starting said sensor interface and said microprocessor when the aircraft engine is turned on.

7. A passive aircraft monitoring system adapted for mounting in an aircraft and at a location independent of the aircraft for providing information via a telecommunication system to an aircraft owner/operator and related to aircraft location and the current state of the operation of the aircraft, the monitoring system using a satellite positioning system, a satellite communication system and a ground-based satellite communication service, the monitoring system comprising:

an aircraft-tracking device adapted for mounting in the aircraft, said device including a signal receiving antenna adapted for receiving location position coordinates from the satellite positioning system, said device including a satellite positioning system decoder connected to said signal receiving antenna for decoding the location position coordinates, said device including a microprocessor connected to said decoder, connected to a two-way satellite communication transceiver and connected to a two-way satellite communication antenna, said two-way satellite communication antenna adapted for receiving two-way satellite communications with the satellite communication system, which is adapted for communication with the ground-based satellite communication service;

a sensor interface connected to said microprocessor and a first sensor and a second sensor, said first and second sensors connected to said sensor interface, said first and second sensors for starting said sensor interface and said microprocessor when the aircraft has gone from being out of operation to being in operation, said sensor interface operating continuously during the operation of the aircraft and monitoring the state of said first and second sensors; and

a server computer adapted for receiving two-way aircraft operation data transmissions from the ground-based satellite communication service, said server computer adapted for connection to the telecommunication system for providing non-invasive information to the owner/operator as to the aircraft'"'"'s location and the current state of operation.

8. The monitoring system as described in claim 7 wherein said server computer includes a satellite communication program adapted for receiving the position coordinates from said microprocessor and connected to the telecommunication system for alerting the owner/operator and wherein said server computer includes a customer interface program connected to said satellite communication program, said customer interface program adapted for listening for requests from one or more owner/operators as to aircraft locations and current state of operation.

9. The monitoring system as described in claim 8 wherein said customer interface program is adapted for providing periodic updates of an aircraft location and aircraft operation.

10. The monitoring system as described in claim 8 wherein said customer interface program is adapted for providing continuous updates of aircraft location and aircraft operation when the aircraft is in flight.

11. The monitoring system as described in claim 7 wherein said first sensor is a voltage sensor adapted for connecting to an electrical system of the aircraft, said first sensor starting said sensor interface and said microprocessor when the electrical system is turned on.

12. The monitoring system as described in claim 11 wherein said second sensor is a starter contact switch adapted for connecting to an aircraft engine of the aircraft, said second sensor starting said sensor interface and said microprocessor when the aircraft engine is turned on.

13. A passive method of monitoring a location of an aircraft and current state of the operation of the aircraft using a microprocessor mounted in the aircraft and connected to a signal receiving antenna, the microprocessor also connected to a satellite positioning system decoder and a two-way satellite communication transceiver connected to a two-way satellite communication antenna, the steps comprising:

sensing a start up of an electrical system of the aircraft using a voltage sensor, the voltage sensor adapted for connection to the electrical system, the voltage sensor connected to a sensor interface, the sensor interface connected to the microprocessor, the voltage sensor starting the sensor interface and the microprocessor for continuously operating during the operation of the aircraft;

receiving location position coordinates from a satellite positioning system using the signal receiving antenna;

decoding the position coordinates using the decoder and the microprocessor;

transmitting the position coordinates using the two-way satellite communication transceiver and the two-way satellite communication antenna to a ground-based satellite communication service via a satellite communication system;

transmitting the position coordinates from the ground-based satellite communication service to a server computer for processing the aircraft'"'"'s location; and

alerting an owner/operator of the aircraft using the server computer via a telecommunication system and providing non-invasive information to the owner/operator as to the aircraft'"'"'s location and current state of operation.

14. The method as described in claim 13 wherein the server computer for processing the aircraft'"'"'s location includes a satellite communication program adapted for receiving the position coordinates from the microprocessor and connected to the telecommunication system for alerting the owner/operator and includes a customer interface program connected to the satellite communication program, the customer interface program adapted for listening for requests from the owner/operator as to aircraft'"'"'s location and current state of operation.

15. The method as described in claim 13 further including a step of sensing a start up of an engine of the aircraft using a starter contact switch, the starter contact switch adapted for connection to the engine, the starter contact switch connected to the sensor interface, the starter contact switch starting the sensor interface and the microprocessor for continuously operating during the operation of the aircraft.