Dynamic Flight Tracking System Using Adaptive Reporting Intervals
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current flight tracking systems lack dynamic adjustment of reporting frequency and criteria to respond to abnormal aircraft conditions, which can lead to inadequate monitoring and communication during critical events.
Innovation Solution
A system that includes a ground center communicating with an onboard flight tracking application, allowing for preloaded default preferences to be adjusted based on abnormal conditions, enabling increased reporting frequency and specific criteria for monitoring, with the ability to change reporting intervals and thresholds dynamically via uplinks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a fixed normal time rate interval is used for position reporting, then communication bandwidth is conserved during normal operations, but the system cannot respond timely to abnormal flight conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the position reporting time rate interval based on flight conditions. During normal operations, a fixed normal time rate interval is used to conserve bandwidth. When abnormal conditions are detected, the system automatically switches to a faster abnormal time rate interval, enabling timely response to critical events without requiring complex manual intervention mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The ground center continuously monitors position reports and flight data to detect abnormal conditions. When abnormalities are detected, the ground center sends uplink requests to the aircraft to change reporting preferences, creating a feedback loop that automatically adjusts monitoring frequency based on real-time flight status, improving reliability without permanent system complexity
2Reliability
If increased reporting frequency is implemented for all flights, then abnormal conditions are detected faster, but communication bandwidth is wasted during normal operations
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies different reporting frequencies to different flight conditions. Normal flights use a lower normal time rate interval to conserve bandwidth, while abnormal flights automatically switch to a higher abnormal time rate interval for rapid detection. This localized adjustment ensures bandwidth efficiency is maintained during normal operations while enabling fast detection when needed
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the time rate interval parameter dynamically based on flight condition assessment. The ground center monitors flight data and adjusts the reporting frequency parameter from normal to abnormal rates only when necessary, optimizing the balance between detection speed and bandwidth consumption through conditional parameter modification
3Adaptability or versatility
If default flight tracking preferences are fixed, then system operation is simple, but the system cannot adapt to changing flight conditions or hazards
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically detects abnormal conditions and adjusts its own reporting preferences without requiring manual reconfiguration. When the ground center detects an abnormal condition in position reports, it automatically sends uplink requests to change the aircraft's reporting preferences, enabling the system to self-adapt to changing conditions while maintaining ease of operation
Solution Approach 2:
The aircraft is preloaded with default flight tracking preferences that include both normal and abnormal time rate intervals. This preliminary configuration ensures the system is ready to adapt to abnormal conditions without requiring complex real-time configuration management, as the adaptive logic and options are already in place before flight begins
Data Source
AI summary
A system for dynamic flight tracking of an aircraft comprises a ground center configured to communicate with a flight tracking application onboard an aircraft, wherein the flight tracking application is preloaded with default flight tracking preferences comprising a normal time rate interval for sending normal condition position reports to the ground center when a flight condition is normal; abnormal time rate intervals for sending abnormal condition position reports to the ground center when abnormal flight conditions are detected, with the abnormal time rate intervals less than the normal time rate interval; and abnormal flight condition criteria to determine which aircraft conditions to monitor for detecting abnormal flight conditions. The ground center receives flight tracking communications from the aircraft for monitoring flight conditions to determine if the aircraft is encountering abnormal flight conditions, and is operative to send an uplink request to the aircraft to change the default flight tracking preferences.