System and method for sending air traffic data to users for display

A method comprising the steps of:

• receiving a stream of messages containing flight tracking information at a first server;
• selecting a subset of messages of said stream associated with a particular flight;
• transmitting at least a portion of said subset of messages over a digital network at a first rate;
• identifying at least one dynamic characteristic of said particular flight using at least a first processor;
• altering said first rate based on said at least one dynamic characteristic to establish a second rate;
• and
• transmitting at least a second portion of said subset of messages over said digital network at said second rate.

A method comprising the steps of:

• transmitting a request from a user device through a digital network identifying at least one flight currently in progress to a flight information service;
• receiving a stream of messages containing flight tracking information from said service including at least a first position and a second position associated with a first flight, wherein said first position is associated with a time earlier in the flight than that associated with said second position;
• generating an electronic map based upon at least said first position or said second position;
• generating a flight path between at least said first position and said second position based upon at least a portion of said stream of messages exclusive of said first and said second positions;
• and
• animating an electronic representation of said first flight on said electronic map, wherein said electronic representation moves between said first position and said second position.

A method comprising the steps of:

• maintaining a database storing aviation related information;
• receiving flight tracking information from a substantially real-time source;
• storing at least a portion of said flight tracking information in a formatted form in said database;
• receiving a request from a user device through a digital network identifying at least one flight currently in progress;
• and
• transmitting to said user device program instructions for causing said user device to perform the following steps:
• receive a stream of messages containing flight tracking information from said service including at least a first position and a second position associated with a first flight, wherein said first position is associated with a time earlier in the flight than that associated with said second position;
• generate an electronic map based upon at least said first position or said second position;
• generate a flight path between at least said first position and said second position based upon at least a portion of said stream of messages exclusive of said first and said second positions;
• and
• animate an electronic representation of said first flight on said electronic map, wherein said electronic representation moves between said first position and said second position.

A method for distributing flight tracking information to a user comprising the steps of:

• receiving flight tracking information from a substantially real-time source;
• receiving a request from a user device through a digital network identifying at least one flight currently in progress;
• selecting at least a subset of said flight tracking information associated with a first flight;
• generating a first flight path, wherein said flight path is generated as a cubic spline based upon said subset of said flight tracking information;
• displaying said first flight path on an electronic map;
• generating a second flight path, wherein said flight path is generated as a cubic spline based upon said subset of said flight tracking information and a more recent position of said first flight received from said substantially real time source;
• and
• displaying said second flight path on an electronic map and removing said first flight path.