Harmonizing code from independent airborne aircraft identification systems
AssigneeL-3 Communications Avionics Systems, Inc.
InventorsGary S. Watson, Lee R. Carlson, Blake R. Getson, Matthew J. Bundy, James R. Troxel
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) system, and method of harmonizing a transponder Squawk code and an ADS-B system, ensures that a Squawk code broadcast by the ADS-B system matches the transponder Squawk code. The transponder Squawk code is transmitted from a transponder positioned onboard an aircraft, and the transmitted transponder Squawk code is received by a device positioned onboard the aircraft in which the transponder is installed. The ADS-B system is updated with the received transmitter squawk code. The squawk code is transmitted using the ADS-B system.
Claims49
An Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) system for positioning in an aircraft comprising:
- a transponder decoder comprising an input receiving a mode A/C transponder transmission from a transponder positioned aboard the aircraft in which the ABS-B system is positioned, a decoder decoding the mode A/C transponder transmission, and an output outputting the decoded mode A/C transponder transmission;
- a message formatter generating a message based on data received from the transponder decoder output, the message including data identifying the squawk code, wherein the transponder decoder and message formatter verify the received mode A/C transponder transmission is a squawk code from the aircraft in which the ADS-B system is installed;
- and
- a wireless transmitter in communication with the message formatter, wherein the wireless transmitter wirelessly broadcasts the message.
An Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) system for positioning in an aircraft comprising:
- a transponder decoder comprising an input receiving a mode A/C transponder transmission from a transponder positioned in the aircraft in which the ADS-B system is positioned, a decoder decoding the mode A/C transponder transmission, and an output outputting the decoded mode A/C transponder transmission, and
- a first transmitter sending an interrogation signal to activate the transponder positioned aboard the aircraft to send the received mode A/C transponder transmission.
An Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) system for positioning in an aircraft having a transponder comprising:
- a transponder decoder comprising a directional coupler receiving a transponder transmission via at least one antenna from the transponder positioned aboard the aircraft in which the ADS-B system is positioned, a decoder decoding the transponder transmission, and an output outputting the decoded transponder transmission;
- a logic device generating a message based on data received from the transponder decoder output, the message including data identifying the squawk code, wherein the transponder transmission is received in response to transmitting an interrogation signal from the logic device via the at least one antenna;
- and
- a wireless transmitter in communication with the logic device, wherein the wireless transmitter wirelessly broadcasts the message via the directional coupler and the at least one antenna.
A method of automatically harmonizing a transponder squawk code and an Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) system such that a squawk code broadcast by the ADS-B system matches the transponder squawk code, the method comprising:
- transmitting the transponder squawk code from a transponder positioned onboard an aircraft in which the ADS-B system is installed;
- receiving the transmitted transponder squawk code with the ADS-B system;
- verifying that the received transponder squawk code is a squawk code from the transponder positioned onboard the aircraft;
- updating the ADS-B system with the received transponder squawk code;
- and
- broadcasting the squawk code using the ADS-B system.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.