Record and playback system for aircraft

• US 7,640,083 B2
• Filed: 11/21/2003
• Issued: 12/29/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: e-Watch, Inc. (Cision Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: The Telesis Group, Inc.
• Inventors: Monroe, David A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Cuong H
• Application Number:
  US10/719,796
• Publication Number:
  US 20040230352A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,230 Days
• Field of Search: 701 3- 5, 701 7- 10, 701/14, 701/35, 340/937, 340/945, 340/539.1, 340/3.1, 340/500, 340/988, 386/E5.001, 244/194
• US Class Current: 701/9
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 45/0053 using visual equipment, e.g. cameras
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/54366 Apparatus specially adapted for solid-phase testing
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/54393 Improving reaction conditions or stability, e.g. by coating or irradiation of surface, by reduction of non-specific binding, by promotion of specific binding
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/085 using electronic data carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0883 wherein the data carrier is removable
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0891 Video recorder in combination with video camera
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19634 Electrical details of the system, e.g. component blocks for carrying out specific functions
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19641 Multiple cameras having overlapping views on a single scene
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1965 the vehicle being an aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19656 Network used to communicate with a camera, e.g. WAN, LAN, Internet
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19663 Surveillance related processing done local to the camera
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19669 Event triggers storage or change of storage policy

Abstract

Multiple data and images are multiplexed and sequenced in order to minimize the recording and monitoring hardware required to process the images, providing a detailed record of an event, greatly enhancing event reconstruction efforts. The multi-media safety and surveillance system for aircraft incorporates a plurality of strategically spaced sensors including video imaging generators for monitoring critical components and critical areas of both the interior and the exterior of the aircraft. The captured data and images are recorded and may be transmitted to ground control stations for real time or near real time surveillance. The system includes a plurality of strategically located video image sensors such as, by way of example, analog and/or digital video cameras, a video data recorder (VDR) and a pilot display module (MCDU or MIDU). All data is in recorded in an IP format. The IP encoder may be an integral component of the VDR, or the data may be transmitted in an IP format from the data generator device.

Claims

1. An aircraft flight data recorder adapted to be carried aboard an aircraft, the aircraft flight data recorder being adapted to receive from a plurality of sensors located on the aircraft a plurality of digital data signals, at least one of the sensors including a camera adapted to output at least one digital image data signal including respective image data, the image data including at least one of still frame image data and motion video data, the at least one digital image data signal being compressed at the camera by at least one compressor located at the camera, the at least one compressed digital image data signal being encoded in IP format by at least one IP encoder located at the camera, the at least one compressed digital image data signal in IP format being transmitted to the aircraft flight data recorder, the aircraft flight data recorder comprising:

a nonvolatile memory array; and

an interface, the interface being adapted to receive the plurality of digital data signals, the interface being adapted to convert into IP format any digital data signal not received by the interface in IP format, a set of digital data in IP format corresponding respectively to each converted digital data signal, the interface being adapted to introduce into the memory array the sets of digital data in IP format, the interface being adapted to receive the at least one compressed digital image data signal in IP format, the interface being adapted to introduce into the memory array at least one set of compressed digital image data in IP format, the at least one set of compressed digital image data in IP format corresponding to the received at least one compressed digital image data signal in IP format.

2. An aircraft flight data recorder according to claim 1 and further comprising:

apparatus adapted to retrieve from the memory array selected of the at least one set of compressed digital image data in IP format, the selected at least one set of compressed digital image data in IP format being at least one of;

transmitted to a recipient external of the aircraft and displayed for viewing.

3. An aircraft flight data recorder according to claim 1 and further comprising:

a communications interface adapted to transmit to a recipient external of the aircraft at least one of the at least one compressed digital image data signal and the at least one set of compressed digital image data, the at least one set of compressed digital image data being derived from at least one set of compressed digital image data in IP format retrieved from the memory array.

4. An aircraft flight data recorder according to claim 1 and further comprising:

a processor adapted drive a memory manager to distribute to the memory array the sets of digital data in IP format and the at least one set of compressed digital image data in IP format.

5. An aircraft flight data recorder according to claim 1 and further comprising:

a multiplexer in communication with the interface, the multiplexer being adapted to combine into a stream of data packets in IP format for transmission to the memory at least one of the following;

the plurality of digital data signals, the sets of digital data in IP format corresponding to converted digital data signals, the at least one compressed digital image data signal in IP format, the at least one set of compressed digital image data in IP format.

6. An aircraft flight data recorder according to claim 1 and further comprising:

the plurality of signals including at least one signal received from a legacy flight data acquisition system.

7. An aircraft flight data recorder according to claim 1 and further comprising:

a hardened hermetic housing adapted to preserve from damage in the event of an aircraft crash the digital memory array, the preserved digital memory array subsequent to an aircraft crash permitting recovery from the memory array of the sets of digital data in IP format and the at least one set of compressed digital image data in IP format.

8. An aircraft flight data recorder according to claim 7 and further comprising:

apparatus coupled to the hardened hermetic housing, the apparatus being adapted to generate a locating signal to assist in locating the hardened housing in the event of an aircraft crash.

9. An aircraft flight data recorder according to claim 1 and further comprising:

the interface being an Ethernet interface adapted to receive the compressed digital image data in IP format.

10. An aircraft including an aircraft flight data recorder according to claim 1.

11. An aircraft flight data recorder adapted to be carried aboard an aircraft, the aircraft flight data recorder being adapted to receive from a plurality of signal generating devices located on the aircraft a plurality of digital data signals, the plurality of signal generating devices including at least one camera adapted to output at least one digital image data signal including respective image data, the image data including at least one of still frame image data and motion video data, the at least one digital image data signal being compressed at the camera by at least one compressor located at the camera, the at least one compressed digital image data signal being encoded in IP format by at least one IP encoder located at the camera, the at least one compressed digital image data signal in IP format being transmitted to the aircraft flight data recorder, the plurality of signal generating devices including at least one legacy flight data recorder system, the at least one legacy flight data recorder system not receiving the at least one compressed digital image data signal in IP format, the at least one legacy flight data recorder system outputting at least one legacy data signal, the aircraft flight data recorder comprising:

a nonvolatile memory array; and

an interface, the interface being adapted to receive the plurality of digital data signals, the interface being adapted to convert into IP format any digital data signal not received by the interface in IP format, a set of digital data in IP format corresponding respectively to each converted digital data signal, the interface being adapted to introduce into the memory array the sets of digital data in IP format, the interface being adapted to receive the at least one compressed digital image data signal in IP format, the interface being adapted to introduce into the memory array at least one set of compressed digital image data in IP format, the at least one set of compressed digital image data in IP format corresponding to the received at least one compressed digital image data signal in IP format, the interface being adapted to receive the at least one legacy data signal, the interface being adapted to convert into IP format the at least one legacy data signal, at least one set of legacy data in IP format corresponding respectively to each converted at least one legacy data signal, the interface being adapted to introduce into the memory array the at least one set of legacy data in IP format.

12. An aircraft flight data recorder according to claim 11 and further comprising:

a video decoder adapted to output for display at least one of the at least one compressed digital image data signal in IP format and the at least one set of compressed digital image data in IP format, the at least one set of compressed digital image data in IP format being recalled from the memory array.

13. An aircraft flight data recorder according to claim 11 and further comprising:

an external transmission interface adapted to transmit to a recipient external of the aircraft at least one of the at least one compressed digital image data signal in IP format and the at least one set of compressed digital image data in IP format, the at least one set of compressed digital image data in IP format being recalled from the memory array.

14. An aircraft flight data recorder according to claim 11 and further comprising:

a processor adapted drive a memory manager to distribute to the memory array the sets of digital data in IP format, the at least one set of compressed digital image data in IP format, and the at least one set of legacy data in IP format.

15. An aircraft flight data recorder according to claim 11 and further comprising:

a multiplexer in communication with the interface, the multiplexer being adapted to combine into a stream of data packets in IP format for transmission to the memory at least one of the following;

the plurality of digital data signals, the sets of digital data in IP format corresponding to converted digital data signals, the at least one compressed digital image data signal in IP format, the at least one set of compressed digital image data in IP format, the at least one legacy data signal, the at least one set of legacy data in IP format.

16. An aircraft flight data recorder according to claim 11 and further comprising:

a hardened hermetic housing adapted to preserve from damage in the event of an aircraft crash the digital memory array, the preserved digital memory array subsequent to an aircraft crash permitting recovery from the memory array of the sets of digital data in IP format, the at least one set of compressed digital image data in IP format, and the at least one set of legacy data in IP format.

17. An aircraft flight data recorder according to claim 16 and further comprising:

apparatus coupled to the hardened hermetic housing, the apparatus being adapted to generate a locating signal to assist in locating the hardened housing in the event of an aircraft crash.

18. An aircraft flight data recorder according to claim 11 and further comprising:

the interface being an Ethernet interface adapted to receive the compressed digital image data in IP format.

19. An aircraft including an aircraft flight data recorder according to claim 11.

24. An aircraft including an aircraft flight data recorder according to claim 11.

20. An aircraft flight data recorder adapted to be carried aboard an aircraft, the aircraft flight data recorder being adapted to receive at least one legacy flight data signal output by a legacy flight data acquisition system, the at least one legacy flight data signal not including a compressed digital image data signal in IP format, the aircraft flight data recorder being adapted to receive from at least one camera at least one compressed digital image data signal, the aircraft flight data recorder comprising:

a nonvolatile memory array;

an interface, the interface being adapted to receive the at least one legacy flight data signal, the interface being adapted to output at least one set of legacy flight data in IP format, the at least one set of legacy flight data in IP format corresponding to the at least one legacy flight data signal received by the interface, the interface being adapted to introduce to a memory manager the at least one set of legacy flight data in IP format, the interface being adapted to receive the at least one compressed digital image data signal, the interface being adapted to output at least one set of compressed digital image data in IP format, the at least one set of compressed digital image data in IP format corresponding to the at least one compressed digital image data signal received by the interface, the interface being adapted to introduce to a memory manager the at least one set of compressed digital image data in IP format; and

a processor adapted to drive the memory manager to distribute to the memory array the at least one set of legacy flight data in IP format and the at least one set of compressed digital image data in IP format.

21. An aircraft flight data recorder according to claim 20 and further comprising:

a hardened hermetic housing adapted to preserve from damage in the event of an aircraft crash the digital memory array, the preserved digital memory array subsequent to an aircraft crash permitting recovery from the memory array of the at least one set of legacy flight data in IP format and the at least one set of compressed digital image data in IP format.

22. An aircraft flight data recorder according to claim 20 and further comprising:

apparatus coupled to the hardened hermetic housing, the apparatus being adapted to generate a locating signal to assist in locating the hardened housing in the event of an aircraft crash.

23. An aircraft flight data recorder according to claim 20 and further comprising:

the interface being an Ethernet interface adapted to receive the compressed digital image data in IP format.