US5434565A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automatic weather monitoring and adaptive transmitting system
Assignee: Potomac Aviation Technology Corp
•
Filing: 1994-03-22
•
Granted: 1995-07-18
•
Expires: 2014-03-22
Abstract
Abstract A method for automatically providing weather advisories for an airport to pilots comprises monitoring weather conditions at the airport and then generating weather advisories in response to these weather conditions. The broadcast traffic on a common traffic advisory channel is also simultaneously monitored and then menus providing for selectable weather advisories and radio check options are broadcast to the pilots. The weather advisories or radio check can then be selected by the pilot by clicks of their transmit button. The time spacing between the menus is adaptively changed in response to traffic on the common traffic advisory frequency. Also, the length of the weather advisories is also changed in response to this traffic. The radio check option is provided automatically by first confirming selection of the radio check option and then allowing the broadcaster to broadcast a short message which is recorded by the system and then rebroadcast.
Inventors
- 👤 Gary B. Simon
- 👤 David Wartofsky
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 10:57
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01W; G01W1/00; G01W1/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 47
Claim 1
Independent Claim
87 words
A method for automatically providing weather advisories to pilots for an airport, comprising: automatically determining weather conditions at the airport; periodically transmitting the weather advisories in response to the weather conditions on a radio frequency assigned to the airport even when no broadcasts on the frequency from other sources are detected; monitoring the radio frequency for broadcasts from other sources; and adaptively changing a period between successive transmissions on the radio frequency of the weather advisories in response to a frequency of the broadcasts from other sources.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
87 words
A method for automatically providing weather advisories to pilots for an airport, comprising: automatically determining weather conditions at the airport; periodically transmitting the weather advisories in response to the weather conditions on a radio frequency assigned to the airport even when no broadcasts on the frequency from other sources are detected; monitoring the radio frequency for broadcasts from other sources; and adaptively changing a period between successive transmissions on the radio frequency of the weather advisories in response to a frequency of the broadcasts from other sources.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
82 words
A method for automatically providing weather advisories to pilots for an airport, comprising: automatically determining weather conditions at the airport; periodically transmitting the weather advisories in response to the weather conditions on a radio frequency assigned to the airport even when no broadcasts on the radio frequency from other sources are detected; monitoring the radio frequency for broadcasts from other sources; and adaptively changing a length of the weather advisories in response to a frequency of the broadcasts from the other sources.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
82 words
A method for automatically providing weather advisories to pilots for an airport, comprising: automatically determining weather conditions at the airport; periodically transmitting the weather advisories in response to the weather conditions on a radio frequency assigned to the airport even when no broadcasts on the radio frequency from other sources are detected; monitoring the radio frequency for broadcasts from other sources; and adaptively changing a length of the weather advisories in response to a frequency of the broadcasts from the other sources.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: monitoring the broadcasts from the other sources on the radio frequency; and delaying a periodic transmission of the weather advisories in response to a concurrent broadcast from the other sources.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
88 words
A method for providing airport weather information to pilots using an automatic weather transmission system, the method comprising: determining weather conditions; transmitting periodic messages announcing a presence of the system and instructions for use of the system on a radio frequency assigned to the airport; responding to pilot requests to access the system by transmitting on the radio frequency information concerning the determined weather conditions; and preventing transmission on the radio frequency of the periodic messages to avoid interfering with transmission from other sources on the radio frequency.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
88 words
A method for providing airport weather information to pilots using an automatic weather transmission system, the method comprising: determining weather conditions; transmitting periodic messages announcing a presence of the system and instructions for use of the system on a radio frequency assigned to the airport; responding to pilot requests to access the system by transmitting on the radio frequency information concerning the determined weather conditions; and preventing transmission on the radio frequency of the periodic messages to avoid interfering with transmission from other sources on the radio frequency.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method as claimed in claim 4, wherein determining weather conditions comprises sensing wind speed and wind direction.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as claimed in claim 4, wherein the pilot accesses the system by transmitting according to a predetermined protocol.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the predetermined protocol is generated by sequentially depressing a transmit button of a radio transmitter on an aircraft.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
106 words
A method for automatically providing weather advisories for an airport to pilots using an automatic weather monitoring system, the method comprising: determining weather conditions at the airport; generating the weather advisories in response to the weather conditions; monitoring broadcasts from other sources on a common traffic advisory frequency of the airport; determining existence of a converstation by the other sources on the frequency; broadcasting on the advisory frequency one of a message containing instructions on accessing the system to obtain the weather advisories or the weather advisory; and delaying the broadcasts for a predetermined time period after the end of a conversation from the other sources.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
106 words
A method for automatically providing weather advisories for an airport to pilots using an automatic weather monitoring system, the method comprising: determining weather conditions at the airport; generating the weather advisories in response to the weather conditions; monitoring broadcasts from other sources on a common traffic advisory frequency of the airport; determining existence of a converstation by the other sources on the frequency; broadcasting on the advisory frequency one of a message containing instructions on accessing the system to obtain the weather advisories or the weather advisory; and delaying the broadcasts for a predetermined time period after the end of a conversation from the other sources.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method as claimed in claim 8, wherein monitoring the broadcasts from the other sources comprises: detecting carrier signals on the common traffic advisory channel; classifying detected carrier signals as transients or conversations in response to a length of the carrier signals.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
81 words
A method for providing weather advisories to pilots for an airport using an automatic weather monitoring system, the method comprising: automatically determining weather conditions; periodically broadcasting a menu on a radio frequency assigned to the airport, the menu including a weather advisory option being selectable by broadcasting a predetermined protocol on the radio frequency; detecting broadcast of the predetermined protocol on the radio frequency; and broadcasting the weather advisory on the radio frequency in response to detection of the predetermined protocol.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
81 words
A method for providing weather advisories to pilots for an airport using an automatic weather monitoring system, the method comprising: automatically determining weather conditions; periodically broadcasting a menu on a radio frequency assigned to the airport, the menu including a weather advisory option being selectable by broadcasting a predetermined protocol on the radio frequency; detecting broadcast of the predetermined protocol on the radio frequency; and broadcasting the weather advisory on the radio frequency in response to detection of the predetermined protocol.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method as claimed in claim 10, wherein the radio frequency is a common traffic advisory frequency assigned to the airport.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method as claimed in claim 10, further comprising: monitoring broadcasts from other sources on the radio frequency; and adaptively changing a period between successive broadcasts of the menu in response to a frequency of the broadcasts from other sources.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method as claimed in claim 10, further comprising: monitoring broadcasts from other sources on the radio frequency; and adaptively changing a length of the weather advisory in response to a frequency of the broadcasts from other sources.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method as claimed in claim 11, further comprising: monitoring for a broadcast from another source on the radio frequency; and delaying a broadcast of the menu in response to a concurrent broadcast from the other source on the radio frequency.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
89 words
A device for broadcasting weather advisories to pilots, comprising: an automatic weather station for generating weather data indicative of weather conditions; a central processing unit for periodically generating synthesized voice menus, and for selectively generating weather advisories from the weather data in response to a carrier detect signal; and a transceiver for generating the carrier detect signal in response to detection of broadcasts on a radio frequency assigned to the device from other sources, and for broadcasting on the radio frequency the periodic synthesized voice menus and weather advisories.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
89 words
A device for broadcasting weather advisories to pilots, comprising: an automatic weather station for generating weather data indicative of weather conditions; a central processing unit for periodically generating synthesized voice menus, and for selectively generating weather advisories from the weather data in response to a carrier detect signal; and a transceiver for generating the carrier detect signal in response to detection of broadcasts on a radio frequency assigned to the device from other sources, and for broadcasting on the radio frequency the periodic synthesized voice menus and weather advisories.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
48 words
A device as claimed in claim 15, wherein the central processing unit generates classifications of the broadcasts from the other sources in response to lengths of the carrier detect signal, and adaptively changes time periods between successive broadcasts of the synthesized voice menus in response to the classifications.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
43 words
A device as claimed in claim 15, wherein the central processing unit generates classifications of the broadcasts by other sources in response to the lengths of the carrier detect signal, and adaptively changes lengths of the weather advisories in response to the classifications.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
80 words
A device as claimed in claim 15, wherein: the transceiver receives the broadcasts from the other sources, and broadcasts recorded messages; and the central processing unit generates the menu to indicate a radio check option selectable by a predetermined protocol, monitors the carrier detect signal to determine receipt of the predetermined protocol, records the broadcasts from the other sources in response to receipt of the predetermined protocol, and replays the recorded broadcasts as the recorded messages broadcasted by the transceiver.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
28 words
A device as claimed in claim 18, wherein the central processing unit generates a confirmation of the selection of the radio check option for broadcast by the transceiver.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
27 words
A device as claimed in claim 18, wherein the predetermined protocol comprises a predetermined number of clicks generated by depressing a talk button of a remote transmitter.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as claimed in claim 11, further comprising broadcasting a preferred runway in response to wind direction on the common traffic advisory frequency.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method as claimed in claim 21, further comprising updating the preferred runway in response to a wind change only when a frequency of broadcasts from other sources is at a minimum.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method as claimed in claim 2, further comprising: monitoring the broadcasts from the other sources on the channel; and delaying a periodic transmission of the weather advisories in response to a concurrent broadcast from the other sources.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the channel is a common traffic advisory frequency.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the channel is a common traffic advisory frequency.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: adaptively changing a length of the weather advisories in response to the frequency of the broadcasts from the other sources.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
26 words
A device as claimed in claim 15, wherein the menus contain instructions that the weather advisory is broadcast in response to transmission of a predetermined protocol.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
25 words
A device as claimed in claim 27, wherein the central processing unit detects for transmission of the predetermined protocol by monitoring the carrier detect signal.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
58 words
A method as claimed in claim 4, further comprising: broadcasting messages having instructions for a selectable radio check option; in response to selection of the radio check option by a remote broadcast source, generating a recording of a broadcast of the remote broadcast source; and rebroadcasting the broadcast of the remote broadcast source by playing back the recording.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as claimed in claim 29, wherein the selection of the radio check option comprises the remote broadcast source broadcasting in accordance with a predetermined protocol.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method as claimed in claim 30, wherein the selection of the radio check option further comprises confirming selection of the radio check option to the remote broadcast source.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method as claimed in claim 30, wherein broadcasting the predetermined protocol comprises the remote broadcast source generating a predetermined number of clicks by depressing a talk switch of a transceiver.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method as claimed in claim 4, wherein preventing the transmission to avoid the interference of the periodic messages comprises delaying transmission of one of the messages in response to detecting a carrier signal from another source.
Claim 40
Independent Claim
113 words
A device for automatically transmitting weather information, comprising: an automatic weather station for generating weather data indicative of weather conditions; a transceiver for generating a carrier detect signal in response to detection of a carrier signal from another source on a radio frequency assigned to the device, for broadcasting on the radio frequency audible messages announcing the presence of the device and instructions for use of the device, and for broadcasting on the radio frequency weather advisories indicative of the weather data; and a central processing unit for periodically generating the messages, and for generating the weather advisories in response to the carrier detect signal indicating a pilot request to access the device.
Claim 41
Independent Claim
113 words
A device for automatically transmitting weather information, comprising: an automatic weather station for generating weather data indicative of weather conditions; a transceiver for generating a carrier detect signal in response to detection of a carrier signal from another source on a radio frequency assigned to the device, for broadcasting on the radio frequency audible messages announcing the presence of the device and instructions for use of the device, and for broadcasting on the radio frequency weather advisories indicative of the weather data; and a central processing unit for periodically generating the messages, and for generating the weather advisories in response to the carrier detect signal indicating a pilot request to access the device.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
34 words
A device as claimed in claim 34, wherein the pilot request for access to the device is indicated by a carrier detect signal generated by sequential depression of a transmit button of another source.
Claim 43
Independent Claim
102 words
A method for providing information to pilots for an airport, the method comprising: periodically broadcasting a menu on a radio frequency assigned to the airport including information categories, different ones of the information categories being selectable by broadcasting corresponding predetermined protocols on the radio frequency; detecting broadcast of the predetermined protocols on the radio frequency; broadcasting information on the radio frequency corresponding to a selected one of the information categories indicated by the received one of the predetermined protocols; and preventing broadcast on the radio frequency of the menu in response to a concurrent broadcast on the radio frequency from another source.
Claim 44
Independent Claim
102 words
A method for providing information to pilots for an airport, the method comprising: periodically broadcasting a menu on a radio frequency assigned to the airport including information categories, different ones of the information categories being selectable by broadcasting corresponding predetermined protocols on the radio frequency; detecting broadcast of the predetermined protocols on the radio frequency; broadcasting information on the radio frequency corresponding to a selected one of the information categories indicated by the received one of the predetermined protocols; and preventing broadcast on the radio frequency of the menu in response to a concurrent broadcast on the radio frequency from another source.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method as claimed in claim 36 wherein the information categories comprise weather information and airport information.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method as claimed in claim 37, wherein the information categories further comprise a radio check option.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
13 words
A method as claimed in claim 36, wherein the menu includes weather information.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-07-17 | 1999-01-16 | 1999-07-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-07-17 | 2003-01-16 | 2003-07-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-07-17 | 2007-01-16 | 2007-07-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |