Flight Management System Data Structure Optimization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Navigational databases for vehicles, such as aircraft, face challenges in managing growing data sizes due to limited storage capacity in Flight Management Systems (FMS) computer, with no recognized method to organize content based on storage constraints, leading to oversized data structures that exceed storage limits.
Innovation Solution
The system categorizes locations based on travel information into categories like planned, alternate, and emergency destinations, generating search criteria to select detailed data for specific categories, and refining data structures to fit within storage thresholds by removing unnecessary data and procedures, using a process that regenerates data structures periodically to maintain optimal size.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If comprehensive navigation data is stored in FMS, then navigation functionality and reliability are improved, but storage capacity is exceeded
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments navigation data into multiple categories (airports, procedures, waypoints, navaids) and further divides them into priority levels. The FMS stores only high-priority data segments locally, while lower-priority segments are stored externally or on-demand. This segmentation allows the system to maintain comprehensive navigation functionality while fitting within limited storage capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts essential navigation data from the complete navigation database and stores only the most critical portions in the FMS. Non-essential or less frequently accessed data is removed from local storage and made available through external sources or on-demand retrieval, thereby reducing storage requirements while preserving core navigation functionality.
2Measurement precision
If detailed location data is stored for all locations, then navigation precision is improved, but data structure size exceeds storage limits
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by providing different levels of data detail for different locations based on their priority classification. High-priority locations (frequently visited or critical destinations) store comprehensive detailed data locally, while low-priority locations store only essential information or rely on on-demand retrieval. This differential data quality approach maintains navigation precision for critical locations while reducing overall data structure size.
3Reliability
If complete navigation procedures are included, then operational reliability is improved, but storage requirements exceed FMS capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic data management system where the FMS automatically categorizes locations based on travel information and updates priority classifications in real-time. The system dynamically adjusts which data segments are stored locally versus retrieved on-demand, allowing operational reliability to be maintained while adapting to changing flight patterns and storage constraints.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of data priority classification from static to dynamic, using travel information to automatically update location priorities. This parameter change enables the system to optimize storage allocation based on actual usage patterns, ensuring that high-priority procedures are always available while reducing storage of low-priority data.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems for optimizing a data structure are disclosed. An example method can comprise categorizing, based on travel information associated with a vehicle, locations according to at least one of a first category and a second category. An example method can comprise generating search criteria configured to select first data for locations categorized with the first category and second data for locations categorized with the second category. The first data can be more detailed than the second data. An example method can comprise receiving information based on the search criteria and providing the information to the vehicle.