System and method for terminal charts, airport maps and aeronautical context display

• US 7,966,125 B2
• Filed: 11/29/2006
• Issued: 06/21/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Wipplinger, Patrick R., Wiesemann, Thorsten, Ellerbrock, Rick W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran; Khoi
• Assistant Examiner(s): HOLLOWAY, JASON R
• Application Number:
  US11/564,758
• Publication Number:
  US 20080125960A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,665 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 701/212
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 23/005 Flight directors indicating arrangements specially adapted for rotary gyroscopes G01C19/32
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/007 using computer methods
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/10 Map spot or coordinate position indicators; Map reading aids optical projection apparatus per se G03B
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/12 Discovery or management of network topologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]

Abstract

A method of controlling a display of geographical data to assist in the navigation of a mobile platform (such as a train, ship, aircraft or automobile) is provided. The method includes determining a map associated with the navigation of the mobile platform into or out of a terminal and generating a primary display based on the map. The primary display displays at least a portion of the map to assist in the navigation of the mobile platform. The method also includes generating a context display if the portion of the map displayed does not include all of the map. The context display includes the entire map with an indicator of the portion of the map displayed in context to the primary display.

Claims

1. A method of controlling a display of geographical data to assist in the navigation of a mobile platform comprising:

determining a map associated with a route of the navigation of the mobile platform into or out of a predetermined area;

generating a primary display based on the map, the primary display displaying at least a portion of the route of the mobile platform on the map to assist in the navigation of the mobile platform;

automatically generating a context display on the primary display if an entire length from an origin to a destination of the route of the mobile platform cannot be displayed in full on the map, the context display including the entire map and illustrating an entire route of the mobile platform from the origin to the destination;

automatically removing the context display from the primary display when the entire length of the route is able to be displayed on the primary display; and

displaying an indicator of the portion of the map being displayed on the primary display, within the context display.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining a map further comprises:

determining the origin of the route for the mobile platform; and

determining an airport map associated with the origin of the route for the mobile platform.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein determining a map further comprises:

determining the origin of the route for the mobile platform; and

determining a terminal chart associated with the origin of the route for the mobile platform.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein determining a map further comprises:

determining the destination of the route for the mobile platform; and

determining an airport map associated with the destination of the route for the mobile platform.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein determining a map further comprises:

determining the destination of the route of the mobile platform; and

determining a terminal chart associated with the destination of the route of the mobile platform.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

moving the indicator based on at least one of a zoom request or a pan request.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

repositioning the map on the primary display in response to the pan request;

resizing the indicator and the primary display based on the zoom request; and

removing the context display if the zoom request results in the primary display displaying the entire map.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the zoom request further comprises:

receiving a request from the primary display to increase or decrease the magnification of the map.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the pan request further comprises one of:

receiving a request from the primary display to reposition the map displayed within the primary display;

or

receiving a request from the context display to reposition the map displayed within the primary display.

10. A method of navigating an aircraft using geographical data comprising:

determining a map associated with the navigation of a mobile platform in landing or taking off from an airport;

displaying at least a portion of a route of the aircraft on the map, the map being displayed on a display screen of a display device, to assist in the navigation of the aircraft in landing or taking off from the airport;

automatically generating a context display if the entire route of the aircraft is not able to be displayed on the map, the context display being overlaid on the map and including an entire portion of the route of the aircraft from its origin to its destination on the map with an indicator defining a subportion of the map being displayed on the main display;

automatically removing the context display if the entire route of the aircraft is able to be displayed on the map; and

at least one of automatically resizing or moving the indicator in the context display, if the context display is being displayed on the main display, based on at least one of a zoom request or a pan request that alters at least one of a magnification or a portion of the map that is being displayed on the main display, and while maintaining the entire route of the mobile platform displayed in the context display.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein determining a map further comprises:

determining an airport associated with a route of the aircraft; and

determining an airport map associated with the airport.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein determining a map further comprises:

determining an airport associated with the route for the aircraft; and

determining a terminal chart associated with the aircraft.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

repositioning the map on the display screen in response to the pan request;

resizing the indicator and a portion of the map being displayed on the display screen based on the zoom request; and

removing the context display from the display screen if the zoom request results in the display screen being able to display the entire map.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the zoom request further comprises:

using the display device to increase or decrease the magnification of the map being displayed on the display screen of the display device.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the pan request further comprises at least one of:

generating a request that is applied to the display device to reposition the map displayed within the display screen of the display device;

or

receiving a request from the context display to reposition the map displayed within the display screen of the display device.