US 6,185,430 B2Granted

Voice call group function for a satellite based air traffic control system

AssigneeMotorola, Inc.

InventorsDavid Moon Yee, Robert Henry Bickley, Philip John Zucarelli, Theodore Woolley Keller, Jeffrey S. Osman, Randall K. Derr

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Abstract

Voice call group functionality is provided in a satellite based air traffic control system to allow air traffic controllers and pilots of one or more aircraft to establish and maintain voice communication over a group call. A pilot of an aircraft may maintain voice communication with the same air traffic controller the entire duration of the flight over the entire globe. Voice communication between the pilot of an aircraft may be handed off from one air traffic controller to another by switching voice call groups. The voice call group functionality allows an air traffic controller to communicate simultaneously with pilots of different aircraft, and also allows pilots of different aircraft to communicate with each other.

Claims25

Dependent claims

A satellite based voice call group function for an air traffic control system, comprising:

a satellite communications network at a satellite processing node;
a plurality of avionics processing nodes, each comprising an avionics satellite communication unit aboard an aircraft for communicating with said satellite communications network over a satellite communication link, said satellite communication link comprising at least one first group communication channels;
an air traffic control station at an air traffic control processing node, said air traffic control station in communication with said satellite communications network over a satellite ground link, said satellite ground link comprising at least one second group communication channels;
a call group controller for assigning voice call group assigned channel to a common voice call group, said voice call group assigned channels comprising selected ones of said first group communication channels and selected ones of said second group communication channels, wherein said voice call group assigned channels includes a dedicated uplink to allow said air traffic control station to speak at any time and always be heard by each of the other members of said common voice call group;
a communication controller which operates to route voice and data signals over and between said voice call group assigned channels, said data signals_including information describing relevant navigation information for each member of said common voice call group;
and
said satellite communications network comprises a plurality of satellites which communicate with each other over inter-satellite links.

4 more elements

A method for providing voice group call functionality in a satellite based air traffic control (ATC) system, said ATC system comprising a satellite communications network, a plurality of aircraft each comprising an avionics satellite communication unit for communicating with said satellite communications network, and an air traffic control station, said method comprising the steps of:

establishing a satellite communication link for transmitting voice signals between said satellite communications network and selected ones of said plurality of aircraft, said satellite communication link comprising at least one first group communication channels;
establishing a satellite ground link for transmitting voice signals between said satellite communications network and said air traffic control station, said satellite ground link comprising at least one second group communication channels;
assigning voice call group assigned channels to a common voice call group, said voice call group assigned channels comprising selected ones of said first group communication channels and selected ones of said second group communication channels, wherein said step of assigning voice call group assigned channels to a common voice call group includes the step of establishing a dedicated uplink to allow said air traffic control system to speak at any time and always be heard by each of the other members of said common voice call group;
routing voice and data signals over and between said voice call group assigned channels, said data signals including information describing relevant navigation information for each member of said common voice call group;
and
said activity of establishing a satellite communication link including an activity of communication via inter-satellite links among a plurality of satellites of said satellite communication network.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.