Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080233953 | MULTI-MODAL PORTABLE COMMUNICATIONS GATEWAY - A multi-modal portable communications gateway is disclosed. The multi-modal portable communication gateway may include a communication interface, a controller that controls the operation of the multi-modal portable communication gateway, a power supply unit that enables power to be provided to the multi-modal portable communication gateway, wherein the controller signals the power supply to shut down based on one or more safety-of-flight indication, and a communication router that receives data from systems on-board an aircraft through the communication interface, and transmits the data to one or more predetermined location outside the aircraft upon receiving a signal from the controller, wherein the controller signals the communication router to transmit based on one or more safety-of-flight indication. | 09-25-2008 |
20080235626 | ELECTRONIC PAPER DEVICE FOR USE BY AIRCRAFT AND RAILWAY PASSENGERS - An electronic paper device is disclosed for use by aircraft passengers. The electronic paper device may include a communication interface that facilitates downloading of media publications, the media publications being available for download prior to each flight, a memory that stores the media publications, a user interface that facilitates access and use of the media publications by a user, and an electronic paper display that displays the media publications to the user in a manner that permits viewing in lighting conditions similar to that required of paper (including bright light). | 09-25-2008 |
20080235634 | ELECTRONIC PAPER DEVICE FOR USE BY AIRCRAFT PILOTS AND CREW - An electronic paper device is disclosed for use by aircraft pilots and crew. The electronic paper device may include a communication interface that facilitates downloading of aviation-related documents, the aviation-related documents being and available for downloaded prior to each flight, a memory that stores the aviation-related documents, a user interface that facilitates access and use of the aviation-related documents by a user, and an electronic paper display that displays the aviation-related documents to the user in a manner that permits viewing in all lighting conditions. | 09-25-2008 |
20090192846 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR WEIGHT AND BALANCE MANAGEMENT IN AIRCRAFT - A method and apparatus for weight and balance management for aircraft is disclosed. The method may include receiving specific aircraft weight and balance data, the specific aircraft weight and balance data including aircraft identification information, passenger and crew information, aircraft destination information, container and cargo destination information, cargo and container origin information, fuel information, container identification information, container weight information, cargo weight information, cargo storage area identification information, cargo storage area configuration information, and container storage area configuration information, computing weight and balance information based on the received specific aircraft weight and balance data, wherein if the computed weight and balance information does not meet predetermined parameters, sending a signal to alert a user that the computed weight and balance information does not meet predetermined parameters, and sending computed weight and balance information and specific aircraft weight and balance data to a weight and balance management server for at least one of processing and storage. | 07-30-2009 |
20100023191 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR WIRELESS RUNWAY INCURSION DETECTION - A wireless runway incursion system is disclosed. The wireless runway incursion system method may include a runway traffic management unit that manages aircraft traffic on and around an airport's runways, a plurality of wireless relay devices located between the runway access points and the runway traffic management unit that relay wireless signals to the runway traffic management unit, and a plurality of wireless runway incursion sensors that are located in proximity of at least one airport runway that detect metallic objects. If a metallic object is detected, the wireless runway incursion sensors that detect the metallic object send signals to the runway traffic management unit, the wireless signal being an indication that the metallic object is one of entering the runway and leaving the runway. | 01-28-2010 |
20100062761 | ACARS MESSAGES OVER IRIDIUM - A system in a method are provided for sending and receiving messages between a point located on the ground and a point located on an aircraft via an Iridium Short Burst Data Service. The messages may conform to Airlines Electronic Engineering Committee (AEEC) Specification 618. The messages may be ground-to-air messages or air-to-ground messages. The messages may be ACARS messages and at least some of the messages may have a length exceeding a maximum payload of the Iridium Short Burst Data Service. ACARS messages, which exceed the maximum payload of the Iridium Short Burst Data Service may be segmented and each of the segments may be sent in respective Iridium Short Burst Data messages via the Iridium Short Burst Data Service. When the separate Iridium Short Burst Data messages are received, the segments may be combined to reconstruct the ACARS message for delivery to an intended destination. | 03-11-2010 |
20100103022 | AUTOMATIC DEPENDENT SURVEILLANCE-BROADCAST (ADS-B) NETWORK INFRASTRUCTURE, GROUND STATION AND SITUATION DISPLAY SOFTWARE DEPLOYMENT AND EVALUATION ACTIVITY - A method and system that receives and processes ADS-B data from one or more aircraft is disclosed. The system may include one or more ground stations that receives data from one or more aircraft and converts the received aircraft ADS-B data to XML format, determines the lowest cost communication mode available, and transmits the XML data over TCP/IP to an aircraft data server. The aircraft data server receives the aircraft ADS-B data in XML format from the one or more ground stations, processes the received ADS-B data to extract aircraft data and eliminate duplicate aircraft data; determines aircraft data missing from the processed aircraft data, receives supplemental aircraft data from other sources to provide aircraft data missing from the processed aircraft data, and outputs the processed aircraft data and the received supplemental aircraft data to one or more processing devices for processing and display. | 04-29-2010 |
20140257692 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SMALL UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS (sUAS) TACTICAL TRACKING AND MISSION DATA ACQUISITION - A system and method are provided to support accommodating safe integration of small unmanned aircraft systems (sUASs) into the National Airspace Structure in the United States. A specifically-tailored service is provided to address a change of paradigm from aircraft-based avionics/capabilities to a ground-based solution centered on the sUAS control station that is typically employed to manage an sUAS mission and/or flight. Appropriate software, server and system components are integrated into an interactive, easy-to-use, web-based tool that provides interested parties with real-time, graphical flight-following information to acquire position information regarding an sUAS platform from the control console for the sUAS platform. The acquired position information is forwarded to a separate server that can augment and provide graphical display of the sUAS intended route of flight (flight planned route). The acquired position information for the sUAS is converted to a format commonly used by aviation and air traffic control systems. | 09-11-2014 |