GB2629868A - Aircraft navigational information display - Google Patents
Aircraft navigational information display Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2629868A GB2629868A GB2308739.8A GB202308739A GB2629868A GB 2629868 A GB2629868 A GB 2629868A GB 202308739 A GB202308739 A GB 202308739A GB 2629868 A GB2629868 A GB 2629868A
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- airspace
- active
- pending
- region
- aircraft
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- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 26
- 230000002093 peripheral effect Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 15
- 238000013507 mapping Methods 0.000 description 3
- 238000004891 communication Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000010586 diagram Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000008520 organization Effects 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01C—MEASURING DISTANCES, LEVELS OR BEARINGS; SURVEYING; NAVIGATION; GYROSCOPIC INSTRUMENTS; PHOTOGRAMMETRY OR VIDEOGRAMMETRY
- G01C21/00—Navigation; Navigational instruments not provided for in groups G01C1/00 - G01C19/00
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G08—SIGNALLING
- G08G—TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEMS
- G08G5/00—Traffic control systems for aircraft
- G08G5/20—Arrangements for acquiring, generating, sharing or displaying traffic information
- G08G5/21—Arrangements for acquiring, generating, sharing or displaying traffic information located onboard the aircraft
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01C—MEASURING DISTANCES, LEVELS OR BEARINGS; SURVEYING; NAVIGATION; GYROSCOPIC INSTRUMENTS; PHOTOGRAMMETRY OR VIDEOGRAMMETRY
- G01C23/00—Combined instruments indicating more than one navigational value, e.g. for aircraft; Combined measuring devices for measuring two or more variables of movement, e.g. distance, speed or acceleration
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G08—SIGNALLING
- G08G—TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEMS
- G08G5/00—Traffic control systems for aircraft
- G08G5/20—Arrangements for acquiring, generating, sharing or displaying traffic information
- G08G5/23—Details of user output interfaces, e.g. information presented
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G08—SIGNALLING
- G08G—TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEMS
- G08G5/00—Traffic control systems for aircraft
- G08G5/50—Navigation or guidance aids
- G08G5/53—Navigation or guidance aids for cruising
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G08—SIGNALLING
- G08G—TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEMS
- G08G5/00—Traffic control systems for aircraft
- G08G5/50—Navigation or guidance aids
- G08G5/55—Navigation or guidance aids for a single aircraft
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- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Aviation & Aerospace Engineering (AREA)
- Radar, Positioning & Navigation (AREA)
- Remote Sensing (AREA)
- Automation & Control Theory (AREA)
- Traffic Control Systems (AREA)
Abstract
A computer-implemented method is provided for displaying navigation information to a crew member of an aircraft during flight of the aircraft. The method includes determining a current position of an aircraft, and identifying the active and pending airspace regions based on the current position and the flight path. Boundary segments of the identified active and pending regions are obtained from a navigation database, and an image 60 is displayed showing an indication of the current position 61 of the aircraft, the flight path 39, a boundary segment 62, 64 of the active region, and a boundary segment 62, 63 of the pending airspace region. It may be that no images are displayed during flight along the flight path which includes boundary segments of peripheral regions which are not either active or pending. Each region of airspace may be a flight information region (FIR).
Description
AIRCRAFT NAVIGATIONAL INFORMATION DISPLAY FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a computer-implemented method of displaying navigation information to an aircraft crew member, such as a pilot of an aircraft, during flight of an aircraft; and in-flight navigation display system.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] US9939271 discloses a known method of displaying navigation information to an aircraft crew member during flight of the aircraft. A map display comprising mapping data for a geographic region is generated. The mapping data is rendered on a map display. A plurality of concentric rings are overlaid on the map display. Each of the rings are indicative of a scaling factor for the mapping data. The scaling factor is adjusted based on a context of the map display.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] A first aspect of the invention provides a computer-implemented method of displaying navigation information to an aircraft crew member during flight of the aircraft, wherein the aircraft is located at a current position in an active airspace region, and the aircraft is on a flight path from the active airspace region to a pending airspace region, the method comprising: determining the current position of the aircraft; identifying the active and pending airspace regions based on the current position and the flight path; obtaining boundary segments of the identified active and pending airspace regions from a navigation database; and displaying an image comprising: an indication of the current position of the aircraft, an indication of the flight path, a boundary segment of the active airspace region, and a boundary segment of the pending airspace region.
[0004] Optionally the image covers an area of airspace including a peripheral boundary segment, the peripheral boundary segment is not a boundary segment of the active airspace region, the peripheral boundary segment is not a boundary segment of the pending airspace region, and the peripheral boundary segment is omitted from the image.
[0005] Optionally the boundary segment of the active airspace region comprises a shared boundary segment which is shared between the active and pending airspace regions, and the boundary segment of the pending airspace region is not shared with the active airspace region.
[0006] Optionally the boundary segment of the active airspace region is not shared with the pending airspace region, and the boundary segment of the pending airspace region is not shared with the active airspace region.
[0007] Optionally the image further comprises a shared boundary segment which is shared between the active and pending airspace regions.
[0008] Optionally the only boundary segments included in the image are boundary segments of the active and pending airspace regions.
[0009] Optionally the boundary segment of the active airspace region is highlighted in the image relative to the boundary segment of the pending airspace region.
[0010] Optionally the boundary segment of the active airspace region is highlighted in the image relative to the boundary segment of the pending airspace region by being displayed in a different colour.
[0011] Optionally the image further comprises information about the active airspace region and/or information about the pending airspace region.
[0012] Optionally each region of airspace is a flight information region (FIR).
[0013] A further aspect of the invention provides a computer-implemented method of displaying navigation information to a pilot of an aircraft at a series of positions along a flight path of the aircraft, the method comprising, at each position along the flight path: determining a current position of the aircraft; identifying an active airspace region based on the current position; identifying a pending airspace region based on the flight path, wherein the pending airspace region is the next airspace region along the flight path; identifying boundary segments of the active and pending airspace regions in a navigation database; and displaying an image on a display device, the image comprising: an indication of the current position of the aircraft, an indication of the flight path, and the boundary segments of the active and pending airspace regions, wherein no images are displayed on the display device during the flight of the aircraft along the flight path which include boundary segments of peripheral airspace regions which are not either active or pending.
[0014] A further aspect of the invention provides an in-flight navigation display system comprising: a display device in a cockpit of an aircraft; and a computer system configured to display navigation information during flight of the aircraft on the display device by a method according to any preceding aspect.
[0015] A further aspect of the invention provides an aircraft comprising an in-flight navigation display system according to the preceding aspect.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] Embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: [0017] Figure 1 shows an aircraft; [0018] Figure 2 shows an in-flight navigation display system of the aircraft; [0019] Figure 3 shows boundaries of eight FIRs; [0020] Figure 4 shows FIRs on the flight path; [0021] Figure 5 is a flow diagram of a method according to an embodiment of the present invention; [0022] Figure 6 shows an image displayed at a first position along the flight path; [0023] Figure 7 shows an image displayed at a second position along the flight path; and [0024] Figure 8 shows an image displayed at a third position along the flight path. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENT(S) [0025] An aircraft t shown in Figure 1 comprises an in-flight navigation display system shown in Figure 2. The in-flight navigation display system comprises a display device 21 in a cockpit 2 of the aircraft, a user input device 25 such as a keyboard or touch screen, and a computer system 22 configured to display navigation information during flight of the aircraft on the di splay device 21 [0026] A navigation database 23 contains flight information region (FIR) data, including boundary data indicating the boundaries of flight information regions (FIRs), and other data associated with the FIRs (for instance name, communication frequency, etc.). The boundaries of the FIRs may be stored as polygons, each straight side of the polygon comprising a boundary segment. The format of the boundary data may be similar to the Grid MORA data specified in A424-22 (the ARINC 424 navigation system database standard).
[0027] The navigation database 23 may be hosted on the aircraft 1, or it may be hosted on a server remote from the aircraft 1.
[0028] Figure 3 is a map showing the boundaries of eight Hits 31-38, and a flight path 39 which passes through four of the FIRs 31-34. Figure 4 shows boundary segments of the four airspace regions 31-34 which lie on the flight path 39.
[0029] As shown in the flow diagram of Figure 5, in a first step 40 a pilot activates FIR via the input device 25.
[0030] The aircraft is located at a current position in a first airspace region. In step 41 the computer system 22 identifies this first airspace region and designates it as an active' airspace region. For all but the last stage of the flight, the flight path 39 leads out of the active airspace region and into a second airspace region. This second airspace region is identified and designated by the computer system 22 in step 41 as a 'pending' airspace region. So in step 41 the computer system 22 identifies the active and pending airspace regions based on the current position and the flight path 39 [0031] For example, at the start of the flight, the airspace region 31 is designated in step 41 as the active airspace region and the airspace region 32 is designated as the pending airspace region.
[0032] In step 42 the computer system 22 populates an image dataset 24 by reading data associated with the active and pending airspace regions from the navigation database 23. In step 43 the display device 21 displays an image based on the image dataset 24. The image comprises indications of the current position of the aircraft, the flight path 39, and any boundary segments of the active and pending airspace regions 31, 32 which fall within the area of airspace covered by the image.
[0033] Figure 6 gives an example of an image 60, in map format, displayed by the display device 21 at a first position along the flight path. The image 60 comprises an indication 61 of the current position of the aircraft, an indication of the flight path 39, and boundary segments 62-64 of the active and pending airspace regions 31, 32.
[0034] In this example, the indication 61 of the current position of the aircraft is in the form of an icon, although the type of indication may vary.
[0035] In this example, the indication of the flight path 39 is in the form of a line, although the type of indication may vary.
[0036] In this example each boundary segment 62-64 is displayed as a straight line, although optionally one or more of the boundary segments may be displayed as curved lines.
[0037] The boundary segments in the image 60 comprise a shared boundary segment 62 which is shared between the active and pending airspace regions 31, 32; two boundary segments 63 of the pending airspace region 32 which are not shared with the active airspace region 31; and eight boundary segments 64 of the active airspace region 31 which are not shared with the pending airspace region 32. For the sake of clarity only three of the boundary segments 64 are labelled in Figure 6.
[0038] To avoid clutter, only boundary segments of the active and pending airspace regions 31, 32 are included in the image 60. This is achieved by omitting various boundary segments from the image dataset 24, and hence from the image 60, as can be seen by comparison of Figure 6 with Figure 3.
[0039] For example, the image 60 covers an area of airspace which includes a peripheral boundary segment 65 (shown in Figure 3) between airspace regions 35, 38 which do not lie on the flight path 39. This peripheral boundary segment 65 is omitted from the display dataset 24 and hence omitted from the image 60.
[0040] The image 60 also covers an area of airspace which includes peripheral boundary segments 66,67 of an airspace region 33 which lies on the flight path but is not yet active or pending. These boundary segments 66, 67 are also omitted from the display dataset 24 and hence omitted from the image 60.
[0041] When the crossing of a boundary segment is identified in step 44, the active and pending regions are updated in a repeat of step 41, and the process continues with the newly identified active and pending regions.
[0042] Figure 7 gives an example of an image 70 displayed by the display device 21 at a second position along the flight path, when the aircraft has moved into the airspace region 32. The image 70 comprises an indication 71 of the current position of the aircraft, an indication of the flight path 39, and boundary segments of the active and pending airspace regions 32, 33.
[0043] The boundary segments in the image 70 comprise a shared boundary segment 72 which is shared between the active and pending airspace regions 32, 33; four boundary segments 73 of the pending airspace region 33 which are not shared with the active airspace region 32; and four boundary segments 62, 74 of the active airspace region 32 which are not shared with the pending airspace region 33.
[0044] To avoid clutter, only boundary segments of the active and pending airspace regions 32, 33 are included in the image 70. This is achieved by omitting various boundary segments from the image 70, as can be seen by comparison of Figure 7 with Figure 3.
[0045] Note that the boundaries 64 of the previous active airspace region 31 are no longer being displayed in the image 70, despite the fact that the lower part of the image 70 covers this airspace region 31.
[0046] Figure 8 gives an example of an image 80 displayed by the display device at a third position along the flight path, when the aircraft has moved into the airspace region 33. The image 80 comprises an indication 81 of the current position of the aircraft, an indication of the flight path 39, and boundary segments of the active and pending airspace regions 33, 34.
[0047] The boundary segments in the image 80 comprise shared boundary segments 82 which are shared between the active and pending airspace regions 33, 34; four boundary segments 83 of the pending airspace region 34 which are not shared with the active airspace region 33; and three boundary segments 72, 73 of the active airspace region 33 which are not shared with the pending airspace region 34.
[0048] To avoid clutter, only boundary segments of the active and pending airspace regions 33, 34 are included in the image 80. This is achieved by omitting various boundary segments from the image 80, as can be seen by comparison of Figure 8 with Figure 3.
[0049] Note that boundaries of the previous active airspace region 32 are no longer being displayed in the image 80, despite the fact that the lower part of the image 80 covers this airspace region 32.
[0050] In each image 60, 70, 80, each boundary segment of the active airspace region may optionally be highlighted relative to the boundary segment(s) of the pending airspace region. This is indicated in Figures 6-8 by marking the boundary segments of the active airspace region in solid lines and marking the boundary segments of the pending airspace region in dashed lines. This highlighting may be achieved on the display device 21 in different ways. For instance, the boundary segments of the active airspace region may be highlighted in the image relative to the boundary segments of the pending airspace region by being displayed in a different colour.
[0051] Each image 60, 70, 80 optionally further comprises information 67, 77, 87 about the active airspace region, and information 68, 78, 88 about the pending airspace region. In this example the information comprises the name and communication frequency.
[0052] In summary, a computer-implemented method of displaying navigation information to a pilot (or other aircraft crew member) of an aircraft at a series of positions along a flight path of the aircraft is disclosed. At each position along the flight path, the computer system 22 determines the current position of the aircraft; identifies an active airspace region based on the current position; and identifies a pending airspace region based on the flight path. The pending airspace region is the next airspace region along the flight path 39.
[0053] The computer system 22 also obtains boundary segments of the active and pending airspace regions from a navigation database 23; and displays a corresponding image 60, 70, 80 on the display device 21 during the flight of the aircraft along the flight path.
[0054] Each image comprises the current position of the aircraft, the flight path, and boundary segments of only the active and pending airspace regions.
[0055] The display of boundary segments of both the active and pending airspace regions (rather than only displaying boundary active segments of the active airspace region) is advantageous because it provides more useful information to the crew member.
[0056] Advantageously, no images are displayed on the display device 21 during the flight of the aircraft along the flight path 39 which include boundary segments of peripheral airspace regions which are not either active or pending. This avoids clutter in the images.
[0057] In the examples above, each region of airspace is a flight informat on region (FIR) -i.e. a specified region of airspace in which a flight information service and an alerting service are provided -the division of airspace being done through international agreement through the International Civil Aviation Organization. In this case, all airspace is assigned to an FIR so the active and pending airspace regions are adjacent, sharing a common boundary. The invention may also be used to display boundaries of other types of airspace region.
[0058] Where the word 'or' appears this is to be construed to mean 'and/or' such that items referred to are not necessarily mutually exclusive and may be used in any appropriate combination.
[0059] Although the invention has been described above with reference to one or more preferred embodiments, it will be appreciated that various changes or modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.
Claims (13)
- CLAIMS1 A computer-implemented method of displaying navigation information to an aircraft crew member during flight of the aircraft, wherein the aircraft is located at a current position in an active airspace region, and the aircraft is on a flight path from the active airspace region to a pending airspace region, the method comprising: determining the current position of the aircraft; identifying the active and pending airspace regions based on the current position and the flight path; obtaining boundary segments of the identified active and pending airspace regions from a navigation database; and displaying an image comprising: an indication of the current position of the aircraft, an indication of the flight path, a boundary segment of the active airspace region, and a boundary segment of the pending airspace region.
- 2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the image covers an area of airspace including a peripheral boundary segment, the peripheral boundary segment is not a boundary segment of the active airspace region, the peripheral boundary segment is not a boundary segment of the pending airspace region, and the peripheral boundary segment is omitted from the image.
- 3. A method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the boundary segment of the active airspace region comprises a shared boundary segment which is shared between the active and pending airspace regions, and the boundary segment of the pending airspace region is not shared with the active airspace region.
- 4. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the boundary segment of the active airspace region is not shared with the pending airspace region, and the boundary segment of the pending airspace region is not shared with the active airspace region.
- 5. A method according to claim 4, wherein the image further comprises a shared boundary segment which is shared between the active and pending airspace regions.
- 6. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the only boundary segments included in the image are boundary segments of the active and pending airspace regions.
- 7. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the boundary segment of the active airspace region is highlighted in the image relative to the boundary segment of the pending airspace region.
- 8. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the boundary segment of the active airspace region is highlighted in the image relative to the boundary segment of the pending airspace region by being displayed in a different colour.
- 9. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the image further comprises information about the active airspace region and/or information about the pending airspace region.
- 10. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein each region of airspace is a flight information region (FIR).
- 11. A computer-implemented method of displaying navigation information to a pilot of an aircraft at a series of positions along a flight path of the aircraft, the method comprising, at each position along the flight path: determining a current position of the aircraft; identifying an active airspace region based on the current position; identifying a pending airspace region based on the flight path, wherein the pending airspace region is the next airspace region along the flight path; identifying boundary segments of the active and pending airspace regions in a navigation database; and displaying an image on a display device, the image comprising: an indication of the current position of the aircraft, an indication of the flight path, and the boundary segments of the active and pending airspace regions, wherein no images are displayed on the display device during the flight of the aircraft along the flight path which include boundary segments of peripheral airspace regions which are not either active or pending.
- 12. An in-flight navigation display system comprising: a display device in a cockpit of an aircraft; and a computer system configured to display navigation information during flight of the aircraft on the display device by a method according to any preceding claim.
- 13. An aircraft comprising an in-flight navigation display system according to claim 12.
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| IN202311030130 | 2023-04-26 |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB202308739D0 GB202308739D0 (en) | 2023-07-26 |
| GB2629868A true GB2629868A (en) | 2024-11-13 |
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| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB2308739.8A Pending GB2629868A (en) | 2023-04-26 | 2023-06-12 | Aircraft navigational information display |
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| Country | Link |
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| GB (1) | GB2629868A (en) |
Citations (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US20130138338A1 (en) * | 2011-11-30 | 2013-05-30 | Honeywell International Inc. | Graphical presentation of receiver autonomous integrity monitoring outage regions on an aircraft display |
| US20160209214A1 (en) * | 2015-01-21 | 2016-07-21 | Honeywell International Inc. | Methods and systems for route-based display of meteorological forecast information |
| US10540899B2 (en) * | 2016-11-21 | 2020-01-21 | Honeywell International Inc. | Flight plan segmentation for en route diversion destinations |
-
2023
- 2023-06-12 GB GB2308739.8A patent/GB2629868A/en active Pending
Patent Citations (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US20130138338A1 (en) * | 2011-11-30 | 2013-05-30 | Honeywell International Inc. | Graphical presentation of receiver autonomous integrity monitoring outage regions on an aircraft display |
| US20160209214A1 (en) * | 2015-01-21 | 2016-07-21 | Honeywell International Inc. | Methods and systems for route-based display of meteorological forecast information |
| US10540899B2 (en) * | 2016-11-21 | 2020-01-21 | Honeywell International Inc. | Flight plan segmentation for en route diversion destinations |
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| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB202308739D0 (en) | 2023-07-26 |
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