Cockpit Alert Context Linking for ATC Clearance Messages
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Solution Overview
Problem
Flight crew workload is increased due to the need to search through old clearance messages to find the reason for cockpit alerts, which can be time-consuming and critical during flight operations.
Innovation Solution
A flight deck system that stores ATC clearance messages in a look-up table, associates them with potential cockpit alerts, and displays relevant messages in a visually distinguishable manner when an alert occurs, providing context for the alert.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If flight crew members search through old clearance messages to find the reason for cockpit alerts, then they can identify the cause of alerts, but flight crew workload increases and time is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by storing ATC clearance messages in a look-up table with associated cockpit system data before alerts occur. When an alert is generated, the system has already prepared and organized the relevant clearance messages, eliminating the need for flight crew to search through old messages manually.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary system (the alert context identification system with look-up table) that mediates between ATC clearance messages and cockpit alerts. This intermediary automatically matches and retrieves relevant clearance messages, reducing the direct workload on flight crew members.
2Reliability
If flight crew members search through old clearance messages to find the reason for cockpit alerts, then they can identify the cause of alerts, but flight crew workload increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-service by automatically monitoring avionics systems for alerts, retrieving relevant clearance messages from the look-up table, and presenting them to the flight crew. This automation reduces the manual effort required by flight crew members to identify alert causes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary system (the alert context identification system with look-up table) that mediates between ATC clearance messages and cockpit alerts. This intermediary automatically matches and retrieves relevant clearance messages, reducing the direct workload on flight crew members.
3Productivity
If the system stores and retrieves ATC clearance messages in a look-up table, then alert context is provided efficiently, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The controller in the system performs multiple functions: it stores clearance messages, monitors avionics systems for alerts, retrieves relevant messages from the look-up table, and presents them to the flight crew. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated components, managing system complexity while maintaining productivity.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, methods, and non-transitory computer readable media for identifying a cockpit alert context during an aircraft mission are provided. The system includes a controller configured to: store message content in a clearance look-up table for one or more clearance messages received from air traffic control (ATC) during the aircraft mission that contain cockpit data about which an avionic system in an aircraft may later sense and generate a cockpit system alert for display on a cockpit display device; monitor a plurality of avionic systems in the aircraft for a cockpit system alert; retrieve an ATC clearance message from the clearance look-up table that corresponds to a detected cockpit system alert when a cockpit system alert is detected; and signal an aircraft display device to display the ATC clearance message in a visually distinguishable manner that indicates that the displayed ATC clearance message relates to a detected cockpit system alert.