Tailored Aircraft Fuel And Weight Calculations via XML Formulas
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Solution Overview
Problem
Airlines need to display specific fuel and weight calculations based on the addition/subtraction of multiple fuel/weight values in the ARINC® 633 Flight Plan XML, which are present on legacy paper flight plans but not in the digital version, requiring one-off development work for each customer's requirements.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that utilize a customizable XML configuration file with a human-readable syntax to define fuel and weight calculation formulas, allowing airlines to calculate tailored fuel and weight values by referencing base category values in the ARINC® 633 Electronic Flight Folder, without needing technical expertise.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If customized fuel and weight calculation formulas are implemented for each customer, then calculation accuracy and adaptability are improved, but device complexity and development time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses XML configuration files as a standardized template structure that can be copied and reused across different customers. The configuration file format serves as a template that captures the customization logic without requiring custom code development for each customer, thereby reducing system complexity while maintaining adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows customization by changing parameters within the XML configuration file rather than modifying the core system code. Customers can adjust calculation formulas, variable names, and parameter values in the configuration file, which enables adaptability without increasing device complexity since the same interpretation mechanism handles all configurations.
2Measurement precision
If one-off development work is performed for each customer's requirements, then calculation accuracy is improved, but loss of time and productivity decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The patent prepares a standardized XML configuration file template in advance that contains the necessary calculation formula structure and variable definitions. This preliminary preparation eliminates the need for one-off development work for each customer, as the same template can be reused with different parameter values, thereby reducing development time while maintaining calculation accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The XML configuration file serves as a universal template that can be applied to multiple customers with different requirements. The same configuration file structure and interpretation mechanism work for all customers, enabling multi-functionality that eliminates repetitive development work and reduces overall time loss.
3Loss of information
If legacy paper flight plan values are translated to digital format, then information completeness is improved, but device complexity and data processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a digital representation of legacy paper flight plan values using standardized XML configuration files. This copying process preserves all necessary information about fuel and weight calculations while using a structured digital format that is easier to process than legacy paper formats, thereby improving information completeness without proportionally increasing data processing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The XML configuration file acts as an intermediary format that bridges legacy paper flight plans and modern digital processing systems. It translates and structures the information from legacy formats into a standardized digital representation that can be easily interpreted and processed by modern systems, reducing the complexity of direct data processing.
Data Source
AI summary
Generating tailored fuel and weight calculations is provided. The method comprises receiving input of a configuration file that defines a customized formula for fuel and weight calculations for an aircraft mission, wherein the formula references base category values in an electronic flight folder. The configuration file is loaded into an electronic flight bag application on a mobile device. The electronic flight bag application interpreted the customized formula in the configuration file to calculate tailored fuel and weight for the aircraft mission.