Aircraft data communication employing existing voice channels

Claim 3

The method of claim 1 wherein the receiving unit is an air traffic control unit.

Claim 4

The method of claim 2 wherein the step of acquiring aircraft identification data desired to be transmitted further comprises acquiring data from navigation instruments of the aircraft.

Claim 5

The method of claim 2 wherein the step of acquiring aircraft identification data desired to be transmitted further comprises acquiring data from information keyed into a device.

Claim 6

The method of claim 4 wherein the step of acquiring aircraft identification data comprises acquiring aircraft identification information which has been keyed into a storage device.

Claim 7

The method of claim 4 wherein the step of acquiring aircraft identification data comprises acquiring flight identification information which has been keyed into a storage device.

Claim 8

The method of claim 1 wherein the step of encoding the acquired data by an AM scheme comprises encoding the acquired data by 2 level amplitude modulation.

Claim 9

The method of claim 1 wherein the step of encoding the acquired data by an AM scheme comprises encoding the acquired data by 4 level amplitude modulation.

Claim 10

The method of claim 1 wherein the step of encoding the acquired data by an AM scheme comprises encoding the acquired data by subcarrier modulation.

Claim 11

The method of claim 1 wherein the decoded data is employed to correlate a radar representation of the aircraft with the aircraft identifiation.

Claim 12

The method of claim 1 wherein the decoded data is employed in correlating a radar representation of the aircraft with the audible speech from that aircraft.

Claim 13

A data communication device for retrofitting conventional aircraft amplitude modulated (AM) voice transceivers, the transceivers comprising a microphone, AM modulator, an antenna, an AM demodulator, and an audio output unit, the data communication device allowing data to be transmitted from an aircraft to a receiving unit comprising: a) a data collection unit for collecting aircraft identification data desired to be transmitted; b) a data encoder coupled to the data collection unit for encoding the collected data into an encoded data signal; c) a gating means coupled to said microphone, the data encoder, and said AM modulator for passing the encoded data signal immediately preceding or following a voice signal to the AM modulator sequentially when the microphone is keyed, causing a signal to be transmitted to an antenna of said receiving unit; d) a data decoder for decoding the AM data signal into the aircraft identification data when provided an AM encoded data signal; e) a receiver gating means coupled to said AM demodulator said audio output unit, and the data decoder of the receiving unit, for switching the signal received from the AM demodulator to said audio output unit for an AM voice signal to produce audible speech, and switching to the data decoder for an AM encoded data signal; f) output equipment coupled to the data decoder for identifying the audible speech with the aircraft identification data and for utilizing the decoded data.

Claim 14

A data communication device for retrofitting conventional aircraft amplitude modulated (AM) voice transceivers, the transceivers comprising a microphone, AM modulator, an antenna, an AM demodulator, and an audio output unit, the data communication device allowing data to be transmitted from an aircraft to a receiving unit comprising: a) a data collection unit for collecting aircraft identification data desired to be transmitted; b) a data encoder coupled to the data collection unit for encoding the collected data into an encoded data signal; c) a gating means coupled to said microphone, the data encoder, and said AM modulator for passing the encoded data signal immediately preceding or following a voice signal to the AM modulator sequentially when the microphone is keyed, causing a signal to be transmitted to an antenna of said receiving unit; d) a data decoder for decoding the AM data signal into the aircraft identification data when provided an AM encoded data signal; e) a receiver gating means coupled to said AM demodulator said audio output unit, and the data decoder of the receiving unit, for switching the signal received from the AM demodulator to said audio output unit for an AM voice signal to produce audible speech, and switching to the data decoder for an AM encoded data signal; f) output equipment coupled to the data decoder for identifying the audible speech with the aircraft identification data and for utilizing the decoded data.

Claim 15

The data communication device of claim 12 wherein the receiving unit is an air traffic control unit.

Claim 16

The data communication device if claim 13 wherein the output equipment comprises a display means for displaying data identifying the aircraft corresponding to the audible speech produced.

Claim 17

The data communication device of claim 13 wherein the data collection unit comprises a device capable of providing aircraft identification information keyed into it.

Claim 18

The data communication device of claim 13 wherein the data collection unit comprises a device capable of providing flight identification information keyed into it.

Claim 19

The data communication device of claim 13 further comprising global positioning system (GPS) which provides positional data that is transmitted from the aircraft to the air traffic control unit and the output equipment comprises a position calculation means which calculates the position of any aircraft which the air traffic control is communicating and, relative spacing between these aircraft from the positional data, and a display means for displaying the aircraft positions and relative spacing between them.

Claim 20

The data communication device of claim 12 further comprising navigation instruments which provide data which is encoded and transmitted to the receiving unit.

Claim 21

The data communication device of claim 12 wherein the data collection unit comprises a device capable of providing stored information previously keyed into it.

Claim 22

The data communication device of claim 12 wherein the data data encoder comprises an encoder which encodes data in a 2 level amplitude modulation format.

Claim 23

The data communication device of claim 12 wherein the data encoder comprises an encoder which encodes data in a 4 level amplitude modulation format.

Claim 24

The data communication device of claim 12 wherein the data data encoder comprises an encoder which encodes data by subcarrier modulation.

Claim 25

The data communication device of claim 12 wherein the output equipment comprises a superposition means coupled a radar screen for superimposing the aircraft identification data on the radar screen at a location corresponding to the aircraft.

Claim 26

A data communication system for transmitting data from an aircraft to a receiving unit over conventional aircraft amplitude modulated (AM) voice bands, comprising: a) a microphone, for creating a voice signal when it is keyed and receives an audible signal; b) a data collection unit for collecting aircraft identification data desired to be transmitted; c) a data encoder coupled to the data collection unit for encoding the collected data into an encoded data signal; d) an AM modulator for transmitting an AM radiofrequency (RF) signal when provided an input signal; e) a gating means coupled to the microphone, the data encoder, and the AM modulator for passing the encoded data signal followed by the voice signal to the AM modulator sequentially as an input signal when the microphone is keyed, causing a signal to be transmitted to a receiving unit; f) a receiver at said receive unit for decoding the voice signal into audible speech and the encoded data signal into transmitting unit identification data; g) output equipment coupled to the data decoder for identifying the audible speech with the transmitting unit identification data and for utilizing the decoded data.

Claim 27

A data communication system for transmitting data from an aircraft to a receiving unit over conventional aircraft amplitude modulated (AM) voice bands, comprising: a) a microphone, for creating a voice signal when it is keyed and receives an audible signal; b) a data collection unit for collecting aircraft identification data desired to be transmitted; c) a data encoder coupled to the data collection unit for encoding the collected data into an encoded data signal; d) an AM modulator for transmitting an AM radiofrequency (RF) signal when provided an input signal; e) a gating means coupled to the microphone, the data encoder, and the AM modulator for passing the encoded data signal followed by the voice signal to the AM modulator sequentially as an input signal when the microphone is keyed, causing a signal to be transmitted to a receiving unit; f) a receiver at said receive unit for decoding the voice signal into audible speech and the encoded data signal into transmitting unit identification data; g) output equipment coupled to the data decoder for identifying the audible speech with the transmitting unit identification data and for utilizing the decoded data.

Claim 28

The data communication system of claim 24 wherein the receiver comprises: a) an AM demodulator for demodulating a received signal into a demodulated signal; b) an audio output unit for creating audible speech from a voice signal; c) a data decoder for decoding a data signal into data; d) a receiver gating means coupled to the AM demodulator, audio output unit and the data decoder, for switching the demodulated signal to an audio output for a voice signal and switching the demodulated signal to the data decoder for a data signal.