Aircraft Uplink Message Response Prompt System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current Controller Pilot Data Link Communications applications do not inform pilots and/or flight crew when a timer associated with an uplink message is about to expire, leading to potential missed responses as pilots need to manually search through message logs.
Innovation Solution
A method that prompts operators to respond to data link messages by starting a timer upon message receipt, displaying expiration notices, and allowing responses before the timer expires, with options to extend the timer via a STANDBY response if needed, and updating message status to EXPIRED if no response is received before the timer expires.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If pilots manually search through message logs to find uplink messages, then they can respond to expired messages, but the response time is delayed and the likelihood of missed responses increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by automatically monitoring the message log and detecting uplink messages before pilots need to search for them. The system proactively identifies messages that require responses and presents them to pilots in a dedicated display area, eliminating the need for pilots to manually search through message logs and ensuring timely responses.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces an intermediary function between the message log and the pilot. A dedicated display area acts as an intermediary that automatically extracts, filters, and presents relevant uplink messages to pilots, serving as a mediator that bridges the gap between the raw message log and the pilot's decision-making process.
2Productivity
If the system automatically monitors and displays uplink messages, then response time is reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the message display functionality into two distinct parts: a dedicated uplink message display area and the existing message log. This segmentation allows the system to present only relevant uplink messages in the dedicated area while maintaining the full message log for reference, reducing the information processing burden and simplifying the pilot's interaction without requiring complex new systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The system leverages existing message log infrastructure and extends its functionality rather than creating a completely new system. The same data storage and retrieval mechanisms are used, but with an added layer of automatic monitoring and selective display, making the existing system multi-functional and reducing overall system complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for prompting an operator to reply to a first data link message before it expires includes receiving the first data link message, storing the first data link message, starting a timer at an initial timer value when the first data link message is received, determining whether a response to the first data link message has been input, determining whether the timer will expire in less than a predefined amount of time, requesting an input from the operator before the timer expires, determining whether the input has been received since requesting input, and determining whether the timer has expired before the input is received. In cases where the input is received before the timer expires, a second data link message is sent. In cases where the input is not received before the timer expires, a status for the first data link message is set to expired.