Patent US6809679B2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6809679B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Surveillance system and method for aircraft approach and landing
Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
•
Filing: 2002-09-05
•
Granted: 2004-10-26
•
Expires: 2022-09-05
Abstract
Abstract A system and method for measuring and predicting information on the position of approaching aircraft are disclosed. The system features a processor, an interrogating antenna, a receiving antenna, and a data link. The processor schedules interrogations and suppression pulses. Both of the antennas and the data link are in signal communication with the processor. The interrogating antenna transmits interrogations to a plurality of approaching aircraft. At least some of the interrogations include suppression pulses. The receiving antenna comprises at least three fixed, broad azimuth, array elements. The receiving antenna receives replies from each of the plurality of approaching aircraft and communicates the replies to the processor. The processor determines a state for each of the plurality of approaching aircraft based on the replies. The data link communicates information on the state of each of the plurality of approaching aircraft from the processor.
Inventors
- 👤 Raymond R. LaFrey
- 👤 Jeffrey L. Gertz
- 👤 William H. Harman, III
- 👤 M. Loren Wood, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 05:47
CPC Classifications
G; G08; G08G; G08G5/00; G08G5/20; G08G5/26; G08G5/22; G08G5/50; G08G5/54; G08G5/70; G08G5/72; G08G5/727
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
138 words
A ground system for measuring and predicting information on the position of approaching aircraft, comprising: a ground-based processor for scheduling mode S and whisper-shout interrogations and suppression pulses; a ground-based interrogating antenna in signal communication with the processor for transmitting interrogations to a plurality of approaching aircraft, a ground-based receiving antenna in signal communication with the processor for receiving replies from each of the plurality of approaching aircraft and communicating the replies to the processor, wherein the receiving antenna comprises at least three fixed, broad azimuth, array elements, wherein the processor calculates a state for each of the plurality of approaching aircraft based on the replies and the schedule of interrogations; and a data link in signal communication with the processor for communicating information on the state of each of the plurality of approaching aircraft from the processor.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
138 words
A ground system for measuring and predicting information on the position of approaching aircraft, comprising: a ground-based processor for scheduling mode S and whisper-shout interrogations and suppression pulses; a ground-based interrogating antenna in signal communication with the processor for transmitting interrogations to a plurality of approaching aircraft, a ground-based receiving antenna in signal communication with the processor for receiving replies from each of the plurality of approaching aircraft and communicating the replies to the processor, wherein the receiving antenna comprises at least three fixed, broad azimuth, array elements, wherein the processor calculates a state for each of the plurality of approaching aircraft based on the replies and the schedule of interrogations; and a data link in signal communication with the processor for communicating information on the state of each of the plurality of approaching aircraft from the processor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the replies comprise transmissions from the plurality of approaching aircraft sent in response to the interrogations.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system of claim 2 wherein the replies further comprise Mode S squitters.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system of claim 1 further comprising: a suppression antenna in signal communication with the processor for transmitting P2 suppression pulses to the plurality of approaching aircraft.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
162 words
A system for collecting and calculating information on the position of a plurality of approaching aircraft: a memory buffer for storing surveillance data on a plurality of aircraft within a first volume; a processor in signal communication with the memory buffer for running a plurality of modules, the plurality of modules comprising: a filtering module for identifying a target list of aircraft within a zone of interest from the surveillance data, the zone of interest at least partially defined by characteristics of a receiving antenna comprising at least three fixed, broad azimuth, array elements; a scheduling module for scheduling interrogations based on the target list, at least some of the interrogations including suppression pulses; a tracking module for calculating state information based on replies to interrogations from each of a plurality of aircraft on the target list; and an output device in signal communication with the processor for communicating state information for each of the plurality of aircraft on the target list.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
162 words
A system for collecting and calculating information on the position of a plurality of approaching aircraft: a memory buffer for storing surveillance data on a plurality of aircraft within a first volume; a processor in signal communication with the memory buffer for running a plurality of modules, the plurality of modules comprising: a filtering module for identifying a target list of aircraft within a zone of interest from the surveillance data, the zone of interest at least partially defined by characteristics of a receiving antenna comprising at least three fixed, broad azimuth, array elements; a scheduling module for scheduling interrogations based on the target list, at least some of the interrogations including suppression pulses; a tracking module for calculating state information based on replies to interrogations from each of a plurality of aircraft on the target list; and an output device in signal communication with the processor for communicating state information for each of the plurality of aircraft on the target list.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
The system of claim 5 further comprising: a first input device in signal communication with the memory buffer for receiving surveillance data on the plurality of aircraft within the first volume from a nearby secondary radar.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system of claim 5 further comprising: a second input device in signal communication with the processor for receiving replies to the interrogations.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system of claim 5 wherein the tracking module calculates the azimuth of each aircraft based on the replies, the schedule of interrogations, and the surveillance data.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
37 words
The system of claim 5 wherein the tracking module calculates the state of each aircraft on the target list of aircraft based on at least one pulse within each of the replies and the schedule of interrogations.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
33 words
The system of claim 5 wherein the scheduling module re-schedules at least one of the interrogations including suppression pulses if a reply to the at least one of the interrogations is not detected.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system of claim 5 wherein the scheduling module determines the characteristics of the interrogations containing suppression pulses based on the state of aircraft on the target list of aircraft.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
127 words
A method of measuring and predicting information on the position of approaching aircraft, comprising: receiving surveillance data on a plurality of aircraft within a first volume; filtering the surveillance data to identify a target list of aircraft, the target list of aircraft determined by location within a volume at least partially defined by characteristics of a receiving antenna comprising at least three fixed, broad azimuth, array elements; scheduling interrogations for the target list of aircraft; storing the schedule of interrogations; transmitting interrogations, at least some of the interrogations including suppression pulses; receiving replies to the interrogations from each aircraft on the target list of aircraft; and determining the state of each aircraft on the target list of aircraft based on the replies and the schedule of interrogations.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
127 words
A method of measuring and predicting information on the position of approaching aircraft, comprising: receiving surveillance data on a plurality of aircraft within a first volume; filtering the surveillance data to identify a target list of aircraft, the target list of aircraft determined by location within a volume at least partially defined by characteristics of a receiving antenna comprising at least three fixed, broad azimuth, array elements; scheduling interrogations for the target list of aircraft; storing the schedule of interrogations; transmitting interrogations, at least some of the interrogations including suppression pulses; receiving replies to the interrogations from each aircraft on the target list of aircraft; and determining the state of each aircraft on the target list of aircraft based on the replies and the schedule of interrogations.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 12 further comprising: receiving Mode S squitters; and adding to the target list of aircraft based on the Mode S squitters.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 12 wherein the surveillance data is received from a nearby secondary radar.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 12 wherein the determining step further comprises: determining the azimuth of each aircraft based on the replies, the schedule of interrogations, and the surveillance data.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 12 wherein the determining step comprises: determining the state of each aircraft on the target list of aircraft based on at least one pulse within the replies and the schedule of interrogations.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 12 further comprising: transmitting at least one of the interrogations including suppression pulses again if a reply to the at least one of the interrogations is not detected.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 12 wherein the scheduling step further comprises: determining characteristics of the interrogations containing suppression pulses based on the state of aircraft on the target list of aircraft.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
34 words
The ground system of claim 1 wherein the processor filters surveillance data to identify the plurality of approaching aircraft by location within a volume at least partially defined by characteristics of the receiving antenna.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
28 words
The ground system of claim 1 wherein the processor adaptively reschedules interrogations when no corresponding reply is received from at least one of the plurality of approaching aircraft.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2966675A
Cited
US3122737A
Cited
US4454510A
Cited
US4899156A
Cited
US5302953A
Cited
WO1995003213A1
Cited
US5570095A
Cited
US5920277A
Cited
US5835059A
Cited
DE19757042A1
Cited
US6448929B1
Cited
WO2000041153A1
Cited
US6587069B2
Cited
WO2001086319A2
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2007-10-26 | 2008-04-26 | 2008-10-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2011-10-26 | 2012-04-26 | 2012-10-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2015-10-26 | 2016-04-26 | 2016-10-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |