# US 2014/0197981 A1 · Traffic information services-broadcast (tis-b) traffic snooping > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0197981 A1 - Document ID: US20140197981A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/739,656 - Filed: 2013-01-11 - Published: 2014-07-17 - Earliest claimed: 2013-01-11 - Assignees: Garmin International, Inc. - Applicants: Garmin International, Inc. - Inventors: Timothy G. Hartley; Christopher E.P. Schulte - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140197981A1 ## CPC - G01S 13/74: Systems using reradiation of radio waves, e.g. secondary radar systems; Analogous systems - G08G 5/21: located onboard the aircraft - G08G 5/25: Transmission of traffic-related information between aircraft - G08G 5/26: Transmission of traffic-related information between aircraft and ground stations - G01S 13/781: {Secondary Surveillance Radar [SSR] in general} - G01S 2205/005: for aircraft positioning relative to other aircraft - G08G 5/723: {from the aircraft} - G01S: RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES - G08G: TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEMS (guiding railway traffic, ensuring the safety of railway traffic B61L; arrangement of road signs or traffic signals E01F9/00; radar or analogous systems, sonar systems, lidar systems specially adapted for traffic control G01S13/91, G01S15/88, G01S17/88; {radar or analogous systems, sonar systems, lidar systems specially adapted for anti-collision purposes G01S13/93, G01S15/93, G01S17/93}) ## Abstract An ADS-B system associated with an aircraft is configured to furnish an indication whether the aircraft is within coverage of air traffic information transmitted by an air traffic control ground station. The ADS-B system receives transmissions from an air traffic control ground station that include air traffic information and a client list comprising identification addresses of aircraft included in the air traffic information. The ADS-B system determines whether the aircraft is within a range of a second aircraft and whether the second aircraft is included in the air traffic information by comparing an identification address of the second aircraft with the identification addresses in the client list. The ADS-B system furnishes an indication that the aircraft is within coverage of the air traffic information when the second aircraft is included in the air traffic information and the aircraft is within the range of the second aircraft. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system configured to furnish an indication that an ownship aircraft is within coverage of air traffic information transmitted by an air traffic control ground station, the system comprising: a receiver assembly operable to receive a transmission from an air traffic control ground station, the transmission comprising air traffic information and a client list comprising identification addresses of aircraft included in the air traffic information; a processing system operable to: determine whether the ownship aircraft is within a range of a second aircraft; determine whether the second aircraft is included in the air traffic information by comparing an identification address of the second aircraft with the identification addresses in the client list; and cause an indication that the ownship aircraft is within coverage of the air traffic information transmitted by the air traffic control ground station. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the receiver assembly is further operable to receive a second transmission associated with the second aircraft, the second transmission including an identification address configured to identify the second aircraft. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The system as recited in claim 2, wherein the second transmission comprises one of a Mode S reply transmission and/or a UAT transmission. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The system as recited in claim 2, further comprising a position determining system operable to determine a position of the ownship aircraft, wherein the processing system is operable to compare the determined position of the ownship aircraft with a position of the second aircraft. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the receiver assembly comprises a 1090 MHz receiver. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The system as recited in claim 5, wherein the receiver assembly further comprises a 978 MHz receiver. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the identification address comprises an International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) address, the traffic information comprises Traffic Information Services-Broadcast (TIS-B) air traffic information, and the client list comprises Traffic Information Services-Broadcast (TIS-B) service status list. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the processing system is associated with a portable electronic device and the portable electronic device is operable to furnish a graphical depiction of the air traffic coverage for the ownship aircraft. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the processing system is integrated with the portable electronic device. ### Claim 10 A method for furnishing an indication that an ownship aircraft is within coverage of air traffic information transmitted by an air traffic control ground station, the method comprising: receiving a transmission from an air traffic control ground station, the transmission comprising air traffic information and a client list comprising identification addresses of aircraft included in the air traffic information; determining whether the ownship aircraft is within a range of a second aircraft; determining whether the second aircraft is included in the air traffic information by comparing the identification address of the second aircraft with the identification addresses in the client list; and causing an indication to be provided that the aircraft is within coverage of the air traffic information transmitted by the air traffic control ground station when the second aircraft is determined to be included in the air traffic information and the ownship aircraft is determined to be within the range of the second aircraft. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method as recited in claim 10, further comprising receiving a second transmission associated with the second aircraft, the second transmission including an identification address configured to identify the second aircraft. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method as recited in claim 11, wherein the second transmission comprises one of a Mode S reply transmission and/or a UAT transmission. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The method as recited in claim 11, further comprising determining a position of the ownship aircraft using a position determining system, and comparing the determined position of the ownship aircraft with a position of the second aircraft. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The method as recited in claim 10, wherein the receiver assembly comprises a 1090 MHz receiver. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method as recited in claim 14, wherein the receiver assembly further comprises a 978 MHz receiver. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The method as recited in claim 10, wherein the identification address comprises an International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) address, the traffic information comprises Traffic Information Services-Broadcast (TIS-B) air traffic information, and the client list comprises Traffic Information Services-Broadcast (TIS-B) service status list. ### Claim 17 An ADS-B system configured to for operation in an ownship aircraft, the ADS-B system comprising: a receiver assembly operable to receive a transmission from an air traffic control ground station, the transmission comprising Traffic Information Services-Broadcast (TIS-B) air traffic information and Traffic Information Services-Broadcast (TIS-B) service status list comprising International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) addresses of aircraft included in the Traffic Information Services-Broadcast (TIS-B) air traffic information; and a processing system operable to: determine whether the ownship aircraft is within a predetermined range of a second aircraft; determine whether the second aircraft is included in Traffic Information Services-Broadcast (TIS-B) air traffic information by comparing an International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) address of the second aircraft with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) addresses in the Traffic Information Services-Broadcast (TIS-B) service status list; and cause an indication that the aircraft is within coverage of the Traffic Information Services-Broadcast (TIS-B) air traffic information transmitted by the air traffic control ground station to be provided when the second aircraft is included in the Traffic Information Services-Broadcast (TIS-B) air traffic information and the ownship aircraft is within the predetermined range of the second aircraft. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The system as recited in claim 17, wherein the receiver is further operable to receive a Mode S reply transmission associated with the second aircraft, the Mode S reply transmission including the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) address of the second aircraft. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The system as recited in claim 18, further comprising a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receiver operable to determine a position of the aircraft, wherein the processing system is operable to compare the determined position of the aircraft with a position of the second aircraft received from one of the transmission from the air traffic control ground station or the Mode S reply transmission associated with the second aircraft. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The system as recited in claim 17, wherein the receiver assembly comprises a 1090 MHz receiver. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The system as recited in claim 20, wherein the receiver assembly further comprises a 978 MHz receiver. ### Claim 22 (depends on 17) The system as recited in claim 17, wherein the predetermined range comprises a generally cylindrical volume of airspace having a radius of twelve nautical miles (12 NM) and an altitude range of two thousand five hundred feet (2,500 ft) above or below the second aircraft.