# US 7,669,269 B2 · System and method for wireless communication between an aircraft and a passenger boarding bridge > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,669,269 B2 - Document ID: US7669269B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/519,968 - Filed: 2006-09-13 - Published: 2008-03-13 - Granted: 2010-03-02 - Earliest claimed: 2006-09-13 - Assignees: DEW Engineering and Development ULC - Inventors: Neil Hutton - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7669269B2 ## CPC - B64F 1/3055: {with hinged head interface between aircraft and passenger bridge} - B64F: GROUND OR AIRCRAFT-CARRIER-DECK INSTALLATIONS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR USE IN CONNECTION WITH AIRCRAFT; DESIGNING, MANUFACTURING, ASSEMBLING, CLEANING, MAINTAINING OR REPAIRING AIRCRAFT, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; HANDLING, TRANSPORTING, TESTING OR INSPECTING AIRCRAFT COMPONENTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract A method of aligning one end of a passenger boarding bridge with a doorway of an aircraft includes a step of parking the aircraft within a parking space that is defined adjacent to the passenger boarding bridge. Human intelligible information visually displayed proximate the parking space is determined, the human-intelligible information being uniquely associated with the passenger boarding bridge. Using an input device that is disposed aboard the aircraft, the human-intelligible information is provided to a communication module that is also disposed aboard the aircraft. A signal including the human-intelligible information is transmitted from the communication module to a receiver that is in communication with the passenger boarding bridge. Only signals determined to include the human-intelligible information are accepted as valid signals during a current bridge alignment operation. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of initiating wireless communication between an aircraft and a controller of a passenger boarding bridge, a parking space being defined adjacent to the passenger boarding bridge within which parking space the aircraft is parked during a current alignment operation, the method comprising: parking the aircraft within the parking space; determining human intelligible information visually displayed proximate the parking space, the human-intelligible information being uniquely associated with the passenger boarding bridge; using an input device that is disposed aboard the aircraft, providing the human-intelligible information to a communication module that is also disposed aboard the aircraft; and, transmitting a signal including the human-intelligible information from the communication module to a receiver that is in communication with the passenger boarding bridge wherein the transmitted signal is accepted as a valid signal for the current alignment operation when it is determined that the transmitted signal includes the human intelligible information. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1, wherein the human-intelligible information comprises an alpha-numeric string of characters. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1, wherein the human-intelligible information is indicative of a unique identifier that is associated with the passenger boarding bridge. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1, comprising encoding the signal with the human-intelligible information prior to transmitting the signal. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1, wherein determining human intelligible information is performed by a user disposed aboard the aircraft. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1, wherein transmitting a signal comprises providing control signal data relating to a current bridge alignment operation and attaching the human-intelligible information to the control signal data. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) A method according to claim 6, wherein the control signal data comprises a call signal for initiating an automated bridge alignment operation. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) A method according to claim 6, wherein the control signal data comprises an instruction for initiating a movement of the passenger boarding bridge during a current bridge alignment operation. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) A method according to claim 6, wherein the control signal data comprises a beacon signal for providing an indication of a location of the doorway to which the one end of the passenger boarding bridge is to be aligned. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1, wherein the human intelligible-information is included in the transmitted signal for verifying that the one end of the passenger boarding bridge is being aligned with a doorway of an aircraft that is parked within the parking space adjacent to that passenger boarding bridge. ### Claim 11 A method of initiating wireless communication between an aircraft and a controller of a passenger boarding bridge, a parking space being defined adjacent to the passenger boarding bridge within which parking space the aircraft is parked during a current alignment operation, the method comprising: providing a passenger boarding bridge including a bridge alignment control system; associating a unique identifier with the passenger boarding bridge; displaying a target at a location that is proximate the passenger boarding bridge, the target comprising human-intelligible information relating to the unique identifier; using a receiver that is in communication with the bridge alignment control system, receiving a wireless signal transmitted from the aircraft; processing the wireless signal to determine data relating to the unique identifier within the wireless signal; and, accepting the wireless signal as a control signal for a current bridge alignment operation when it is determined that the wireless signal includes the data relating to the unique identifier. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) A method according to claim 11, wherein displaying the target comprises displaying the target such that the target is substantially obscured when viewed from a location outside the aircraft parking space. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) A method according to claim 11, wherein the target comprises an alpha-numeric string of characters. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) A method according to claim 11, wherein the control signal comprises a call signal transmitted from the aircraft for initiating an automated bridge alignment operation. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) A method according to claim 11, wherein the control signal comprises an instruction signal transmitted from the aircraft for initiating a movement of the passenger boarding bridge during a current bridge alignment operation. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) A method according to claim 11, wherein the control signal comprises a beacon signal transmitted from the aircraft for providing an indication of a location of the doorway to which the one end of the passenger boarding bridge is to be aligned. ### Claim 17 A system for initiating wireless communication between an aircraft and a controller of a passenger boarding bridge, a parking space being defined adjacent to the passenger boarding bridge within which parking space the aircraft is parked during a current alignment operation, the system comprising: a target disposed at a location that is proximate the passenger boarding bridge and comprising human-intelligible information that is indicative of a unique identifier associated with the passenger boarding bridge; an input device disposed aboard the aircraft for receiving from a user an input signal relating to the human-intelligible information that is indicative of the unique identifier associated with the passenger boarding bridge; a communication module disposed aboard the aircraft and in communication with the input device, the communication module for encoding a signal with the unique identifier and for wirelessly transmitting the encoded signal; a receiver disposed at a location that is remote from the aircraft for receiving the encoded signal; and, a processor in communication with the receiver for processing the received signal for determining whether or not the received signal is encoded with a unique identifier associated with the passenger boarding bridge having the one end. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) A system according to claim 17, wherein the target is mounted adjacent a surface of the passenger boarding bridge. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) A system according to claim 17, wherein the passenger boarding bridge comprises a pivotal cabin disposed at an outboard end thereof, and wherein the target is mounted adjacent a top surface of the pivotal cabin. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) A system according to claim 17, wherein the passenger boarding bridge comprises a pivotal cabin disposed at an outboard end thereof, and wherein the target is mounted adjacent a lower surface of the pivotal cabin. ### Claim 21 (depends on 17) A system according to claim 17, wherein the passenger boarding bridge comprises a passageway section having an inboard end and an outboard end, and wherein the target is mounted adjacent a surface of the passageway section. ### Claim 22 (depends on 17) A system according to claim 17, wherein the target includes a plurality of information display portions, each information display portion containing a different unique identifier for being displayed in a selectable fashion. ### Claim 23 (depends on 17) A system according to claim 17, comprising a shroud disposed around a portion of the target for preventing viewing of the target from outside of a predetermined viewing area within or proximate the parking space. ### Claim 24 (depends on 17) A system according to claim 17, comprising one of a film and a screen disposed in front of the target for preventing viewing of the target from outside of a predetermined viewing area within or proximate the parking space. ### Claim 25 (depends on 17) A system according to claim 17, wherein the target comprises a display portion of a visual guidance docking system. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) A system according to claim 25, wherein the display portion of the visual guidance docking system is mounted adjacent an outside surface of a terminal building and adjacent to the parking space.