US 2014/0236469 A1Published application

Onboard map display of positions of other aircraft flying in the vicinity of an individual aircraft

OwnerDaniel Edward Callan, Edward William Callaninventors

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Abstract

Onboard an individual aircraft, a map showing aircraft flying in the vicinity of the individual aircraft is displayed on a monitor. Navigation satellite technology, such as GPS, onboard the individual aircraft is used to determine the position of the individual aircraft. Via a communications network, position-indication signals indicating the determined positions of the individual aircraft and other aircraft flying in the vicinity of the individual aircraft are sent between the different aircraft. Onboard the individual aircraft, a computer processes the position-indication signals to provide display signals that enable a monitor onboard the individual aircraft to display a map showing the positions of other aircraft flying in the vicinity of the individual aircraft in relation to the position of the individual aircraft. In one embodiment, a website that communicates with the different aircraft via the Internet facilitates communication of the position-indication signals between the different aircraft.

A method of displaying onboard an individual aircraft, a map showing aircraft flying in the vicinity of the individual aircraft, comprising the steps of:

(a) onboard each of a plurality of individual aircraft, determining the position of the individual aircraft and providing a position-indication signal indicating said determined position of the individual aircraft;
(b) via a communications network that enables communications between the 8individual aircraft and other aircraft flying in the vicinity of the individual aircraft, sending position-indication signals from the individual aircraft to other aircraft that are flying in the vicinity of the individual aircraft;
and
(c) onboard the individual aircraft, receiving via the communications network position-indication signals sent by other aircraft flying in the vicinity of the individual aircraft, and with a computer, processing the position-indication signals to provide display signals that enable a monitor onboard the individual aircraft to display a map showing the positions of other aircraft flying in the vicinity of the individual aircraft in relation to the position of the individual aircraft;
wherein the communications network is a network for facilitating communications between a remote communications terminal located in the individual aircraft and a website;
and
wherein step (b) comprises the steps of:
(d) via the communications network, sending position-indication signals to a said website from a said remote communications terminal in the individual aircraft;
(e) via said website, storing said position-indication signals sent from the individual aircraft in a memory that is associated with said website;
(f) via said website, in response to the position-indication signals sent from the individual aircraft, accessing from said memory, position data sent from other aircraft that are flying in the vicinity of the individual aircraft;
and
(g) via the communications network, sending to said remote communications terminal in the individual aircraft, said accessed position-indication signals sent from other aircraft that are flying in the vicinity of the individual aircraft.

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Abstract

Claims5