Integrated Airport Map Display for ATC Ground Traffic

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Solution Overview

Problem

Air traffic control (ATC) controllers face challenges in efficiently managing ground traffic due to the need to utilize multiple displays and interfaces, leading to safety issues and delays, as existing systems do not provide a comprehensive integrated view of aircraft movements and priorities.

Innovation Solution

A computing device and associated non-transitory computer readable medium generate a single integrated display that combines an airport map with flight information and flight cards, allowing ATC controllers to view and manage aircraft movements and set priorities efficiently.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If ATC controllers use multiple displays and interfaces to manage ground traffic, then comprehensive aircraft information can be accessed, but controller workload increases and safety issues arise

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecomprehensive aircraft informationVSAvoidcontroller workload
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple separate displays and interfaces into a single integrated display system. The airport map display consolidates aircraft locations, taxiway information, and flight data that previously required multiple separate displays. This merging reduces controller workload while maintaining comprehensive information access.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The integrated display system performs multiple functions simultaneously - showing airport map, aircraft positions, flight strips, and priority information all in one interface. This multi-functional approach eliminates the need for multiple specialized displays while providing comprehensive ground traffic management capabilities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Loss of information

If ATC controllers use multiple displays to prioritize aircraft, then comprehensive flight information is available, but decision-making time increases causing delays

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveflight informationVSAvoiddecision-making time
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system merges flight strip information, aircraft priority data, and airport map into a single integrated display. This consolidation allows controllers to access all necessary flight information in one location, reducing the time needed to make prioritization decisions while ensuring no information is lost.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The system pre-organizes and displays aircraft priority information and flight data in an integrated format before controllers need to make decisions. By having all relevant information readily available in one display, controllers can make faster prioritization decisions without compromising thoroughness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Loss of information

If traditional multi-display systems are used for ground traffic management, then detailed aircraft data can be viewed, but system complexity increases leading to safety issues

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaircraft dataVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple separate display systems into a single integrated display that shows airport map, aircraft positions, and flight data. This consolidation reduces system complexity by eliminating multiple independent displays while maintaining comprehensive aircraft data visibility through unified information presentation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP3963561B1Ground traffic aircraft management
Publication Date: 2025.09.17 HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC
  • EP3963561B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3963561B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3963561B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

Methods, devices, and systems for ground traffic aircraft management are described herein. One device includes a user interface, a memory, and a processor configured to execute executable instructions stored in the memory to receive airport information associated with an airport, generate, using the airport information, a map of the airport, display an intersection on the map of the airport, receive a selection of the intersection, and display flight information of each of a plurality of aircraft passing through the intersection within a particular period of time and the map of the airport in a single integrated display responsive to receiving the selection of the intersection.