US 5,714,948 A · Satellite based aircraft traffic control system

Abstract

A satellite based air traffic control (ATC) system includes an aircraft unit on an aircraft and an ATC facility. The aircraft unit includes an AARTS processor, GPS receivers or other satellite receivers, a comparator for comparing the GPS data, a two-way radio, and a transmitter and receiver for communicating information and data over a data link with the ATC facility. The ATC facility includes an ATC computer, a two-way radio, a display for displaying aircraft, and a transmitter and receiver for communicating information and data over the data link. The aircraft transmits aircraft identification information, GPS data, aircraft status information, and a transmit detect code to the ATC facility to allow the ATC to track the aircraft and identify the aircraft communicating on two-way radio. The traffic control system and a flight control system utilizing GPS may be used for aircraft in the air and on the ground, and may be used for ships, boats, automobiles, trains or railroads, and aircraft.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A method of identifying the source of an information transmission using a second transmission, said method comprising the steps of:

storing on a vehicle a vehicle identification code identifying the vehicle;
transmitting information from a communications device on the vehicle;
automatically detecting, on the vehicle, said step of transmitting the information;
generating on the vehicle a transmit detect code in response to said step of detecting;
transmitting said second transmission from the vehicle only while the communications device is transmitting the information, said second transmission comprising the vehicle identification code and the generated transmit detect code;
receiving the information, the vehicle identification code and the transmit detect code transmitted from the vehicle;
and
identifying that said vehicle is the source of the transmitted information based on said received identification code and the received transmit detect code.

5 more elements

A method of identifying an aircraft transmitting information using a second transmission, said method comprising the steps of:

storing on the aircraft an aircraft identification code identifying the aircraft;
transmitting information from a radio on the aircraft;
automatically detecting, on the aircraft, said step of transmitting the information;
automatically detecting, on the aircraft, when the aircraft radio ceases transmitting the information;
generating on the aircraft a transmit detect code in response to said step of automatically detecting the transmission of the information;
transmitting from the aircraft said second transmission, said second transmission comprising the aircraft identification code and the generated transmit detect code, the transmit detect code being transmitted, based on said steps of detecting, only while the aircraft radio is transmitting the information;
receiving the information, the aircraft identification code and the transmit detect code transmitted from the aircraft;
identifying that said aircraft is the source of the transmitted information based on said received aircraft identification code and the received transmit detect code;
identifying when said aircraft is transmitting the information based on the presence or absence of said received transmit detect code;
and
displaying visual indicia or symbols on a display based on said steps of identifying, said visual indicia or symbols identifying the aircraft, identifying the aircraft as the source of the information transmission, and identifying when the aircraft is transmitting the information.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Satellite based aircraft traffic control system

Life of this patent

Satellite based aircraft traffic control system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims19