US4706198A — Computerized airspace control system

Claim 1

Independent Claim 114 words

An aircraft flight control system comprising: (a) a plurality of region control units located at spaced ground points for controlling aircraft flying through regions of airspace; (b) a master control unit linked to each of said plurality of region control units for transferring flight and operation data from one region control unit to another; and (c) a linkage from each of said region control units to each of said aircraft in said region for transferring flight data and guidance signals to control flight of said aircraft through said region along paths formed by grids of airways disposed at fixed angles with respect to each other and at each of a plurality of flight levels.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 114 words

An aircraft flight control system comprising: (a) a plurality of region control units located at spaced ground points for controlling aircraft flying through regions of airspace; (b) a master control unit linked to each of said plurality of region control units for transferring flight and operation data from one region control unit to another; and (c) a linkage from each of said region control units to each of said aircraft in said region for transferring flight data and guidance signals to control flight of said aircraft through said region along paths formed by grids of airways disposed at fixed angles with respect to each other and at each of a plurality of flight levels.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 158 words

An aircraft control system which comprises: (a) a plurality of regional control units located in airspace regions having airways and airports, said regional control units providing computer directed guidance signals to direct aircraft flying through said regions to fly along compass point paths including north/south, east/west, northeast/southwest, northwest/southeast; (b) a master flight control unit linked to each of said regional control units, comprising: i. a master file of all registered aircraft, including identifier codes and flight characteristics; ii. means for disseminating weather data to each of said regional control centers; iii. a national air defense data link to enable emergency aircraft guidance operations; (c) an airport control unit at each of said airports linked to its regional control unit for exchanging aircraft control data with said regional control unit; and (d) a data link unit in each aircraft for responding to said guidance signals for flight along said airways comprising one or more of said compass point paths.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 158 words

An aircraft control system which comprises: (a) a plurality of regional control units located in airspace regions having airways and airports, said regional control units providing computer directed guidance signals to direct aircraft flying through said regions to fly along compass point paths including north/south, east/west, northeast/southwest, northwest/southeast; (b) a master flight control unit linked to each of said regional control units, comprising: i. a master file of all registered aircraft, including identifier codes and flight characteristics; ii. means for disseminating weather data to each of said regional control centers; iii. a national air defense data link to enable emergency aircraft guidance operations; (c) an airport control unit at each of said airports linked to its regional control unit for exchanging aircraft control data with said regional control unit; and (d) a data link unit in each aircraft for responding to said guidance signals for flight along said airways comprising one or more of said compass point paths.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 118 words

An aircraft flight control system which includes a plurality of regional control units located at spaced ground points in predefined airspace regions, comprising: (a) means in each regional control unit for accessing aircraft guidance and operation data and for applying coordinate guidance signals to aircraft flying through said region to guide said aircraft along paths in a grid of intersecting airlanes; (b) means for linking said plurality of regional control units for transfer of flight and operation data from one regional control unit to another; and (c) linkage from each of said regional control units to each of said aircraft in the region to fly each of said aircraft by said coordinate guidance signals primarily along said paths.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 118 words

An aircraft flight control system which includes a plurality of regional control units located at spaced ground points in predefined airspace regions, comprising: (a) means in each regional control unit for accessing aircraft guidance and operation data and for applying coordinate guidance signals to aircraft flying through said region to guide said aircraft along paths in a grid of intersecting airlanes; (b) means for linking said plurality of regional control units for transfer of flight and operation data from one regional control unit to another; and (c) linkage from each of said regional control units to each of said aircraft in the region to fly each of said aircraft by said coordinate guidance signals primarily along said paths.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 132 words

An aircraft flight control system which includes a plurality of region control units located at spaced ground points in regions of air traffic, wherein each region control unit has access to aircraft identification and operation data, the combination comprising: (a) means for generating coordinate guidance signals to guide aircraft through said region along paths formed by a plurality of airway grids disposed at fixed angles with respect to each other and at each of a plurality of flight levels; (b) a master control unit linked to each of said region control units for the transfer of identification and operation data from one region to another; and (c) a linkage from each region control unit to each aircraft in the region to fly each aircraft by said coordinate guidance signals along said paths.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 132 words

An aircraft flight control system which includes a plurality of region control units located at spaced ground points in regions of air traffic, wherein each region control unit has access to aircraft identification and operation data, the combination comprising: (a) means for generating coordinate guidance signals to guide aircraft through said region along paths formed by a plurality of airway grids disposed at fixed angles with respect to each other and at each of a plurality of flight levels; (b) a master control unit linked to each of said region control units for the transfer of identification and operation data from one region to another; and (c) a linkage from each region control unit to each aircraft in the region to fly each aircraft by said coordinate guidance signals along said paths.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 97 words

An aircraft guidance method which comprises: (a) storing data uniquely identifying and characterizing each aircraft which may fly through an airspace region; (b) storing, on a real time basis, data representing flight conditions existing in said airspace region; (c) transferring said flight condition and aircraft data between said aircraft and a regional control unit; and (d) guiding transit of said aircraft through said airspace region in response to said flight conditions along airways which are defined by a plurality of grids angularly disposed at a fixed angle and available at a plurality of vertically spaced flight levels.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 97 words

An aircraft guidance method which comprises: (a) storing data uniquely identifying and characterizing each aircraft which may fly through an airspace region; (b) storing, on a real time basis, data representing flight conditions existing in said airspace region; (c) transferring said flight condition and aircraft data between said aircraft and a regional control unit; and (d) guiding transit of said aircraft through said airspace region in response to said flight conditions along airways which are defined by a plurality of grids angularly disposed at a fixed angle and available at a plurality of vertically spaced flight levels.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 13 words

The method set forth in claim 5 wherein said fixed angle is 221/2°.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 21 words

The method set forth in claim 5 wherein each of said grids comprises airways spaced apart by approximately twenty-five nautical miles.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 56 words

The method according to claim 5, further comprising: (e) defining a safety envelope around each of said aircraft; (f) determining from said flight condition data the occurrence of overlapping safety envelopes of two of said aircraft; and (g) providing guidance data and a warning from said regional control unit to said two aircraft to avoid collision.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1990-11-09	1991-05-11	1991-11-10	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1994-11-09	1995-05-11	1995-11-10	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1998-11-09	1999-05-11	1999-11-10	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Computerized airspace control system

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