Multisource target correlation
AssigneeUnited Parcel Service of America, Inc.
InventorChih Lai
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An improved method for correlating between targets in an air traffic control system. A methods or systems according to the invention compare selected components of a first target report to the components of a second target report, produce a confidence level on each component comparison, and determine whether to declare the targets similar based on the confidence level on each component compared. The first and second target reports may include ADS-B target reports and TIS target reports. The individual components of the reports may be range, bearing, track angle, and relative altitude. The methods or systems may use a fuzzy logic probability model to produce a continuous confidence level on each component comparison.
Claims31
A method for target correlation between target information in an air traffic control system, the method comprising:
- comparing selected components of a first target report associated with a first target to selected components of a second target report associated with a second target;
- producing a confidence level for each component comparison;
- and
- determining whether to declare the first target of the first report and the second target of the second target report similar based on the confidence level for each component compared.
A method for target correlation between target information from different sources on associated targets in an air traffic control system, the method comprising:
- determining similarity values for respective combinations of first targets from a first source and second targets from a second source utilizing a probability model function on target information from the first source and the second source;
- storing the similarity values in a correlation array;
- and
- correlating a first target with a nearest second target that is similar based on a predetermined correlation parameter.
A computer program product for causing target correlation between target information in an air traffic control system, comprising:
- a computer usable medium having computer readable program code means embodied in the medium for causing target correlation between target information in an air traffic control system, the computer readable program code including:
- computer readable program code for causing said computer to compare selected components of a first target report associated with a first target to selected components of a second target report associated with a second target;
- computer readable program code for causing said computer to produce a confidence level for each component comparison;
- and
- computer readable program code for causing said computer to determine whether to declare the first target and the second target similar based on the confidence level for each component comparison.
The computer program product of claim 29, wherein the computer readable program code further includes computer readable program code for implementing probability models to compare selected components of the first and second target reports, producing a confidence level for each component comparison, and combining the confidence levels to produce a total confidence level.
A computer system correlating between target information from different sources in an air traffic control system, the computer system programmed to perform the steps of:
- comparing selected components of a first target report associated with a first target to selected components of a second target report associated with a second target;
- producing a confidence level for each component comparison;
- and
- determining whether to declare the first target and the second target similar based on the confidence level for each component comparison.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.