Graphical In-Flight Message Overlay on Flight Progress Indicator
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current systems for displaying CPDLC messages to pilots are inefficient, requiring navigation through list boxes and multiple menus, and lack a graphical representation of in-flight messages that integrates message status and priority effectively.
Innovation Solution
A graphical in-flight message representation system that overlays message icons on a flight progress indicator, allowing pilots to filter and select messages, with color coding and arrows indicating status and priority, and provides a response dialog for immediate action.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional list box format is used for displaying CPDLC messages, then all messages can be displayed, but pilot navigation complexity increases and message access time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the traditional one-dimensional list box display into a two-dimensional graphical interface where messages are positioned along the flight path timeline. This dimensional change allows pilots to view multiple messages simultaneously in context with flight progress, eliminating the need to navigate through menus and list boxes to access individual messages.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the flight path into discrete time-based segments, with each segment containing relevant messages at that point in the flight. This segmentation organizes messages by their temporal and spatial context along the flight path, making it easier for pilots to locate and access specific messages without searching through a consolidated list.
2Loss of information
If detailed message information is displayed, then complete message data is available, but display complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by displaying different levels of message detail at different locations in the interface. Summary information is shown directly on the graphical flight path, while detailed message content is available upon pilot selection. This allows complete message information to be preserved while maintaining a clean, simple overall display that doesn't overwhelm the pilot with all details simultaneously.
3Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If graphical representation with multiple visual elements is implemented, then message status and priority are easily identifiable, but processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses color changes and visual coding to represent different message statuses and priorities directly on the graphical interface. This allows pilots to quickly detect and differentiate message types without complex processing, as the visual encoding provides immediate recognition. The system processes information once to create the visual representation, then displays it efficiently without requiring continuous complex processing.
Data Source
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AI summary
A graphical in-flight message representation system comprises a sensor configured to measure a characteristic of a flight of an aircraft and a communication device configured to send and receive in-flight messages. An in-flight message is a message communicated during the flight of the aircraft. The system also comprises a display unit configured to display a graphical flight progress indicator and one or more message icons, each of the one or more message icons corresponding to a respective in-flight message. The graphical flight progress indicator is representative of the characteristic of the flight measured by the sensor. Each of the one or more message icons are displayed in location relative to the graphical flight progress indicator based on the measured characteristic of the flight when the respective in-flight message was communicated.