Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
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D E S C R I P T I 0 N
"USER INTERFACE UNIT FOR AIRPORT
AIR OPERATION SLIP MANAGEMENT SYSTEM"
Technical Field
The present invention relates to a user interface
unit for an airport air operation slip management
system which supports control operations when
controllers give instructions relating to taking off
and landing to aircraft pilots in controlling an
airport.
Background Art
For the tower controlling in a conventional
airport, flight plan regulators (FD), control approval
transmitting controllers (CD), airport ground
controllers (GC) and taking off and landing controllers
(LC) team up with and share a series of control flow
with each other to perform control operations. Each
controller, while watching the airport ground directly
or through.a leader screen to observe circumstances
such as positions of aircrafts and vehicles according
to printed out air operation slips (strips) on the
flight plan of aircrafts to be controlled, performs
confirmations and the communication with pilots and
authorized personnel through wireless or wire
telephones. In this case, each controller of FD, CD,
GC and LC handles air operation slips directly by
hands, and transmits the control by handwriting the
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slips to modify the plan using a ballpoint pen and the
like and delivering them.
However, for the above-mentioned conventional
control procedures, with the increase in the taking
off and landing of aircrafts, it becomes difficult for
controllers to fudge circumstances. For this reason,
there become complicated the transmission by delivering
air operation slips between controllers, the confirmation/
change of flight plans and the communication with
pilots, thereby making it difficult to perform
efficient operations.
Also, the control of vehicles within an airport
are not included in the air operation slip control, so
that the situation is such that the vehicles are not
controlled integrally with aircrafts. Towing cars,
while communicating with pilots according to the
communications instructed by controllers (GC), perform
push/back operations.
In this way, with the increase in the number of
aircrafts, the control by controllers using air
operation slips causes a complicated and overloaded
situation. Therefore, a control operation support is
desirable such that it reduces a load in understanding
and judging situations as well as performing instruc-
tions, and in addition, in feeding back to authorized
personnel by controllers, and it allows controllers to
perform prompt and accurate instructions.
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In order to realize such demands, it is essential
to provide a user interface configuration for an
electronic air operation system which reflects
conventional roles and operations of controllers, as
well as the flow of thinking of controllers. In this
case, although it is desirable to employ the format of
air operation slip management slips, which has been
conventionally handled by controllers with hands, as it
is as possible, it is also necessary to change the
format of the management information on air operation
slips depending on purposes and situations so as to
present the items of required management information in
an easy-to-understand display form to controllers.
On the other hand, the request and confirmation by
pilots are currently transmitted in an audile manner to
controllers, who in turn perform the modification to
air operation slip management information and the
communication with authorized personnel according to
the contents. However, only such transmission in an
audile manner is difficult to understand the contents
and thus causes a misconception, so that it is
desirable to make the transmission possible in a visual
manner.
As described above, with the increase in the
number of aircrafts, the control by controllers using
conventional air operation slips causes a complicated
and overloaded situation, so that a control operation
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support is desirable such that it reduces a load on
controllers, and it allows controllers to perform
prompt and accurate instructions. Also, it is
desirable to allow the understanding between pilots and
controllers not only in an audile manner but also in a
visual manner.
The present invention is made to solve the above-
mentioned problems and it is an object of the invention
to provide a user interface unit for an airport air
operation slip management system which reduces a load
on controllers and allows controllers to perform prompt
and accurate instructions, and allows the understanding
between pilots and controllers not only in an audile
manner but also in a visual manner.
Disclosure of the Invention
A user interface unit for an airport air operation
slip management system provided by the present
invention is the one which presents air operation slips
to a plurality of controllers who have previously
shared operations and control the air operation in an
airport while cooperating with each other and which
thus supports respective control operations, and which
is configured so as to include an information display
device and instruction input devices provided for each
control seat at which the above-mentioned shared
respective control operations are performed; information
acquisition means for acquiring air operation slip
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management information required for the above-mentioned
shared respective control operations; information
processing means for editing the air operation slip
management information obtained by the information
acquisition means according to the above-mentioned
shared control operations and to the instructed
contents from the instruction input devices provided
for each the above-mentioned control seat; and an
information output means for displaying the air
operation slip management information obtained by the
above-mentioned information processing means on the
information display device of an applicable control
seat according to the instruction from the instruction
input devices provided for each the above-mentioned
control seat, and displaying the air operation slip
management information on the related control
operations including air operation slip management
information on other control operations on the same
screen.
Brief Description of the Drawings
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a LAN
configuration in one embodiment of a user interface
unit for an airport air operation slip management
system in connection with the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a specific
configuration of a server side of the embodiment;
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a specific
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configuration of a client side of the embodiment;
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a specific
configuration of a mouse processing part and an
application start processing part of the embodiment;
FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a specific
configuration of a display processing part and a
display data creation part of the embodiment;
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the processing
contents of a menu instruction detection part of the
embodiment;
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the rest of the
processing contents shown in FIG. 6;
FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a state of data
exchange between a server and a client of the
embodiment;
FIGS. 9A and 9B are charts showing one example of
the sequence of a data transmission processing of the
embodiment;
FIG. 10 is a chart showing one example of air
operation slip management data of the embodiment;
FIG. 11 is a chart showing one example of a
display screen at an FD seat of the embodiment;
FIG. 12 is a chart showing one example of a
display screen at a CD seat of the embodiment;
FIG. 13 is a chart showing one example of a
display screen at a GC seat of the embodiment;
FIG. 14 is a chart showing one example of
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a display screen at an LC seat of the embodiment;
FIGS. 15A through 15F are charts showing the strip
example of air operation slip management data of the
embodiment for each processing;
FIG. 16 is a chart showing one example of
a display screen when a D & D icon is being transmitted
from the CD seat to the GC seat at the GC seat and
after the icon is transmitted;
FIG. 1? is a chart showing one example of a
display screen of air operation slip management
information simulating a file holder as another
embodiment in connection with the present invention;
and
FIG. 18 is a chart showing one example of a
display screen of air operation slip management
information permitting an overlap as another embodiment
in connection with the present invention.
Best Mode of Carrying Out the Invention
With reference to the drawings, one embodiment of
the present invention will be explained hereinafter.
Here will be described a case where the embodiment
supports the operations of the FD (flight plan
regulators), the CD (control approval transmitting
controllers), the GC (airport ground controllers) and
the LC (taking off and landing controllers) which are
generally shared as control operations.
FIG. 1 shows a network configuration in a user
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interface unit for an airport air operation slip
management system in connection with the present
invention. In FIG. 1, reference code A designates a
server, and reference codes Bl through B3 designate
clients. These are connected through a data BUS with
each other and provided with individual data files.
Suppose here that the FD is assigned to the server A,
and the CD, the GC and the LC are assigned to the
clients B1, B2 and B3, respectively.
FIG. 2 shows a configuration of the above-
mentioned server (FD) A; and FIG. 3 shows a configura-
tion of the above-mentioned clients (CD, GC, LC) B.
The configuration of the client B shown in FIG. 3 is
almost the same as that of the server A shown in
FIG. 2, so that in FIG. 3, the same parts as in FIG. 2
are designated by the same reference codes, and
different parts will be explained here. FIGS. 4 and 5
show specific configurations of respective principal
parts.
In FIG. 2, reference code 11 designates a mouse.
The mouse 11 is used as an input means for indicating
menu items and buttons displayed on a later-described
display device 24, and specifying operating positions.
The data inputted by the mouse 11 are sent to a mouse
input processing part 12.
The mouse input processing part 12 is configured
as shown in FIG. 4. The mouse input data outputted
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from the mouse 11 is outputted through a mouse I/0
interface 121 into an X/Y coordinate detection part
122, a mouse button release detection part 123 and a
mouse button press down detection part 124.
The X/Y coordinate detection part 122 is used to
detect an X/Y coordinate of a mouse cursor from input
data, and the X/Y coordinate detected is sent to
a mouse cursor display control part 127 and also to a
click operation item detection part 131 and a menu
designation detection part 132 of an application start
processing part 13.
The mouse button release detection part 123 and
the mouse button press down detection part 124 are used
to detect the release operation and press down operation
from mouse input data, respectively, and the mouse
button operation results detected are sent to both a
drag detection part 125 and a click detection part 126.
The drag detection part 125 is used to detect the
fact that the drag;and drop operations have been
performed by a middle button 112 of the mouse 11 from
the mouse button operation results. sent from the mouse
button release detection part 123 and the mouse button
press down detection part 124, and the detection
results are sent to a menu designation detection part
132, and at the same time, to the mouse cursor display
control part 127.
The click detection part 126 is used to detect the
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fact that the click operation for an item has been
performed by a left button 111 of the mouse 11 from the
mouse button operation results sent from the mouse
button release detection part 123 and the mouse button
press down detection part 124, and the detection
results are sent to a click operation item detection
part 131 of the application start processing part 13.
Now, mouse cursor display data to indicate pointing
positions on a display screen have been previously
stored in a mouse cursor data storage part 128.
Display data of a drag icon displayed along the drag
route when the middle button 112 of the mouse 11 was
continuously pressed (drag operation) have been
previously stored in a drag icon display data storage
part 129.
The above-mentioned mouse cursor display control
part 127 is used to read selectively corresponding
mouse cursor display data and drag icon display~data
from the mouse cursor data storage part 128 and the
drag icon display data storage part 129 when the
display coordinate data from the X/Y coordinate
detection part 122 and the detection data on the drag
and drop operation from the drag detection part 125 are
inputted, and the display data are sent to a display
drive control part 146 of a display processing part 14.
In the application start processing part 13, the
click operation item detection part 131 is used to
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detect the input items at click operation by comparing
the mouse cursor coordinate data at mouse click
operation sent from the X/Y coordinate detection part
122 and the click detection part 126 with the display
coordinate data on the menu and button input items
stored in a later-described window display status
memory part 15, and the detected input items are sent
to a processing discrimination part 134.
The menu designation detection part 132 is used to
detect an input item and a processing number at drag
start operation and drop operation by comparing the
mouse cursor coordinate data at the points of the drag
operation start and drag operation end (drop operation)
of the mouse 11 sent from the X/Y coordinate detection
part 122 and the drag detection part 125 according to
the flow shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 with the memory data of
the later-described window display.status memory part l
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15, and the detected input item and processing number
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are sent to a drag source/drop destination item storage
part 133.
Now, where drag operation and drop operation are
performed, the menu designation detection part 132,
when the air operation slip item of control seat at the
drag source and that at the drag destination different
from each other (at the same control seat of the FD,
CD, GC, LC) are designated, checks to see whether
detection processing is performed against the values of
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the transmission direction check data and transmission
data maintenance check data previously stored in an air
operation slip transmission check data storage part 33.
Where the transmission direction is the one previously
prohibited, the operation is neglected. Where the
control data at transmission are lacking, the transfer
processing of air operation slip data is considered to
be invalid and then lacking data items are displayed on
a popup window to receive the check input from a
controller, whereby the display is returned to the one
before the operation.
The drag source/drop destination item storage part
133 is used to store temporarily, together with
processing numbers, the menu specifying items at the
time of the drag operation start and drop operation in
a series of mouse operation from drag to drop detected
by the menu designation detection part 132, and the
operation items are sent to the processing discrimina-
tion part 134.
The processing discrimination part 134 is used to
discriminate the next processing contents by the kind
of mouse operation and by the specifying items from the
click operation item detection part 131 or the drag
source/drop destination item storage part 133, and
according to the discrimination results, transfer the
control to either a receiving message data creation
part 163 of a display data creation part 16, a sending
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data creation part 17, a sending processing part 18 and
an air operation slip display data creation part 164 or
an air operation slip management information update
part 19 and an inference processing part 20.
~~~he display processing part 14, as shown in
/SIG. , is provided with a window display data write
part 141, a window display content memory part 142, a
window display control part 143, a window frame display
data storage part 144, a window display data creation
part 145 and a display drive control part 146.
The window display control part 143, according to
an initial status and to the display request by an
application from the processing. discrimination part
134, allows the window display data creation part 145
to generate the window frame from the window frame
display data storage part 144 and the display content
data from the window display content memory part 142.
Also, the window display control part 143 allows
various display items, display coordinates and display
precedence such as a window to be displayed, and a
command designation button and menu display within the
window to be displayed to be stored in the window
display status memory part 15.
The window display data creation part 145 is used
to generate window display data by reading the data
stored in the window display data storage part 144 and
the window display content memory part 142 according to
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the request from the window display control part 143.
The display drive control part 146 is used to
drive and control the display device 24 such as a CRT
on the basis of the window display data sent from the
window display data creation part 145 and the mouse
cursor display data sent form the mouse cursor display
control part 127.
The window display status memory part 15 is used
to store various window display items, display
coordinates and display precedence such as windows,
command designation buttons and menu display bars
displayed on the screen of the display device 24.
The display data creation part 16 is provided with
a sending display data creation part 161, a receiving
message index list display data creation part 162, a
receiving message display data creation part 163, an
air operation slip display data creation part 164,
an airport map display data creation part 165, an
inference result display data creation part 166, and a
drag display data creation part 167.
The sending display data creation part 161 is used
to read data from a sending data storage part 25,
create data displayed in a communication massage
display region, and send the displayed data to the
window display data write part 141.
The receiving message index list display data
creation part 162 is used to read receiving message
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data from a receiving message data storage part 30, and
create a list of the index data (such as sending source
and the leading data of message) of a receiving message
displayed on the display device 24.
The receiving message display data creation part
163 is activated through-the click operation item
detection part 131 by the processing discrimination
part 134 when the item data created by the receiving
message index list display data creation part 162 and
displayed in the receiving message list display region
(a display region 9 shown in FIGS. 11 through 14).of
the display device 24 are clicked by the mouse 11,
thereby reading data from the data storage part 30 to
create the display, data displayed in a reply/
communication message display region 8 of FIGS. 11
through 14.
The air operation slip display data creation part
164 is used to read. the air operation management
information displayed in display regions 2, 3, 4 shown
in FIGS. 11 through 14 and the information on aircraft
(such as the discrimination of departure/arrival in a
display regions 2.1 through 2.3 and runway numbers in a
display region 2.4 shown in FIGS. 11 through 14) from
an air operation slip management data storage part 38
(381 through 384), and create display data as required.
The airport map display data creation part 165
is used to create the display data of an airport map,
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as well as the display data for the display of the
current position of aircrafts/vehicles by icons in the
form of aircraft and the like on the map on the basis
of the information from an air operation simulation
part 42, as shown by a display example of an airport
map information display window 1 shown in FIGS. 11
through 14.
The inference result display data creation part
166 is used to create the display data for the display
of the processing results from the inference processing
part 20.
The drag display data creation part 167 is used to
create the display data for the drag display of the
information sent through a communication processing
part 36 from another seat.
The sending data creation part 17 is used to
create corresponding sending data (text data) and store
them in the sending data storage part 25 when the
information (drag source and drop destination)
indicating that drag and drop operations have been
performed from any of the data items (2.1 through 2.3)
in an air operation slip region 2 shown in FIGS. 11
through 14 to sending destination display regions 7.1
through 7.3 is sent from the processing discrimination
part 134.
The sending processing part 18 is used to select
corresponding text data from the sending data storage
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part 25 when the click operation of a sending start
button (in a display region B.2 in FIGS. 11 through 14)
is transmitted from the processing discrimination part
134, and send the data to a sending destination
(Aircraft Pilot, ACC or IFR, or Assistant in the
regions 7.1 through 7.3) dropped or clicked in a
sending/receiving destination display region 7 shown in
FIGS. 11 through 14. At this point, the text data are
sent to a voice synthesis part 34, in which the data is
voice synthesized and sent to a voice output part 32
from which the data are monitor outputted as a voice.
The text data are also sent to the sending display data
creation part 161 of the display data creation part 16,
and displayed in the communication message display
region 8 by the above-mentioned processing.
On the other hand, a keyboard 21 is used as a
means for inputting sending data. That is, moving the
mouse cursor to the communication message display
region 8 of the display device 24 and clicking the left
button 111 of the mouse 11 causes an input cursor (such
as CARET) to be displayed. Inputting data through keys
in this situation causes the inputted data to be stored
through a keyboard I/0 interface 22 and a key input
data detection part 23 in the sending data storage part
25, and at the same time, displayed in the communication
message display region 8 by the processing of the
display processing part 14 and the display data
A
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creation part 16.
An air operation slip plan data storage part 26 is
used to store the air operation slip plan data
previously created.
A voice input part 27 is used to receive as a
voice the request and confirmation information through
speaking from an aircraft operator or a vehicle
operator to convert the information into data, and the
data obtained by the voice input part 27 are stored in
a voice input data storage part 28. The voice data
stored in the voice input data storage part 28 are sent
to a voice recognition part 29, and at the same time,
to a voice output part 32 form which the data are
monitor outputted as a voice.
The voice recognition part 29 is used to recognize
as a voice the voice input data from the voice input
part 27 by a method of identifying the voice of a
specified speaker or an unspecified speaker, and the
text data obtained by the voice recognition part 29 are
stored as the receiving massage data in a receiving
massage data storage part 30.
A text message receive part 31 is used to receive
in the form of text data a reply message to the inquiry
from the ACC (air traffic control center) and the IFR
(instrument flight control room), and the text message
data obtained by the text message receive part 31 are
stored as the receiving massage data in the receiving
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massage data storage part 30.
A message interpretation part 35 is used to read
the receiving massage data from the receiving massage
data storage part 30 and extract air operation
information such as taxiway routes, the direction/angle
of runways and flight level information, and the
information extracted by the message interpretation
part 35 are sent to the air operation slip management
information update part 19.
The air operation slip management information
update part 19 updates both the control information
extracted from the receiving data on the air operation
request from a pilot to a controller and from the
sending data (voice and text) on the reply from the
controller to the pilot obtained by the message
interpretation part 35, and the contents of the air
operation slip management data storage part 38 of
an aircraft to be currently controlled according to the
confirmation/change instruction contents from the ACC
and the IFR.
Now, the air operation slip management information
update part 19 of the server A updates the record of
the control seat numbers (1 for FD, 2 for CD, 3 for GC,
4 for LC) each time the air operation slip management
data issued for each aircraft are transmitted to
another control seat, for the sir operation slip
management data storage part 38. Further, the air
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operation slip management information update part 19
updates the air operation slip management data in data
storage regions 381 through 384 corresponding to the
control positions (FD, CD, GC, LC) stored in an
aircraft control position storage part 46, and at tk~e
same time, permits the write access from a plurality of
control seats.
On the other hand, the clients B1 through B3
manage by themselves the update of the air operation
slip management data of their own seats, send the,
updated contents through the communication processing
part 36 to the server A, and store them in the air
operation slip management data storage part 38. The
air operation slip management index data of the other
client seats are updated by receiving the update data
from the server A. This causes the entire access
management of the server A and the clients B1 through
B3 to be realized.
Also, the air operation slip management information
update part 19, when updating the air operation slip
management data of their own seats, updates transmission
mode data M (i) and strip mode data S (i) ("i" is
computer number) (hereinafter the M (i) and S (i) are
called the mode data) as shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B, and
sends the air operation slip management data to which
the mode data are also attached through the
communication processing part 36 to the other control
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seats. The air operation slip management information
update part 19, when receiving the air operation slip
management data and the mode data through the
communication processing part 36 from the other control
seats, updates both the corresponding air operation
slip management data and the mode data.
The updated mode data are stored in a mode data
storage part 43, and sent to the menu designation
detection part 132 of the application start processing
part 13 as required. The information of the air
operation slip management data storage part 38 having
already completed the management of control is
transferred to a completion data storage part 44.
In this case, the maintenance status of transmis-
sion directions and air operation slip data items has
been checked by the menu designation detection part
132, so that as shown, for example, in FIG. 13, when
. the drag and drop operation is performed from a GC air
operation slip 2.1 to an LC air operation slip index
4.4, in FIGS. 2 and 3, the air operation slip management
information update part 19 copies the specified air
operation slip data item information of GC from an air
operation slip management data storage region 383 of GC
to an air operation slip management data storage region
384 of LC, and after the copy is normally completed,
deletes the information from the air operation slip
management data storage region 383 of GC.
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A prior-to-schedule air operation slip data
registration part 37 is used to perform the registration
at the air operation slip management data storage
region 381 of FD, for example, 30 minutes before the
departure time of an aircraft registered at the air
operation slip plan data storage part 26 by the use of
a timer 47.
The air operation slip management data storage
part 38 is used to store the air operation slip manage-
ment data managed by the respective control seats. FD,
CD, GC, LC, and provided with the region 381 for
storing the air operation slip management data managed
by the FD seat, the region 382 for storing the air
operation slip management data transmitted to the CD
seat, the region 383 for storing the air operation slip
management data transmitted to the GC seat, and the
region 384 for storing the air operation slip
management data transmitted to the LC seat.
An aircraft/vehicle position detection part 39 is
used to detect automatically aircrafts and vehicles
such as towing cars in an airport by a position
detection sensor 40 such as a satellite and a radar.
An airport map model data storage part 41 is used
to store the structure data on the routes of and
constraints on the running and on the parking of
aircrafts and vehicles in an airport. An air operation
simulation part 42 is used to understand'and update
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an air operation status on the basis of the update data
in the air operation slip management information update
part 19, the storage data in the airport map model data
storage part 41, and the position information from the
aircraft/vehicle position detection part 39.
The communication control processing part 36 is
used to send air operation management data and
aircraft/vehicle position data to other control seats,
or receive data from the other control seats. An air
operation knowledge storage part 45 is used to store
the air operation knowledge required for the inference
processing part 20.
Now, with reference to a flowchart shown in
FIGS. 6 and 7, the processing contents by tie-.-menu
designation detection part 132 in the above-mentioned
application start processing part 13 will be explained.
First, as an initialization, a computer number is
set at a parameter i (step ST1), and an own control
seat number (0 for no control seat, 2 for FD, 3 for GC,
4 for LC) is registered at a parameter Kc (step ST2).
Then, drag start is waited for (step ST3), and
when drag start is performed (YES), whether drag source
data are air operation slip management data is fudged
(step ST4). At the step, if the data are not air
operation slip management data (NO), the step is
neglected, while if the data are air operation slip
management data (YES), a drag source control seat
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number is registered at a parameter Kr (step ST5).
At this point, whether the drag source
registration number Kc is the drag source control seat
number Kr (Kc = Kr) is judged (step ST6), and if Kc is
not Kr (NO), the step is neglected, while if Kc is Kr
(YES), drop operation is waited for (step ST7).
When drop end is performed (YES), whether a drop
destination is a communication destination is judged
(step ST8), and if it is the communication destination
(YES), process transfers to step ST23 shown in FIG. 7.
If it is not the communication destination (NO),
whether the drop destination is air operation slip
management data is judged (step ST9). If it is not air
operation slip management data (NO), the step is
neglected, while if it is air operation slip management
data (YES), a drop destination control seat number is
registered at a parameter Kd.
Now, whether the drop destination registration
number Kd is the own control seat registration number
Kc (Kd = Kc) is judged (step ST11). At this point, if
Kd is Kc (YES), the step is neglected, while if Kd is
not Kc (NO), a current transmission mode data M (i) is
registered at a parameter m, and a current strip mode
S (i) is registered at a parameter s (step ST12).
Then, the data value of the "n"th air operation slip
transmission check data storage part 33 is registered
at a parameter x (refer to FIG. 9B) (step STl3j.
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Now, whether data items are complete (x = m) is
judged (step ST14), and if x is not m (NO), process
transfers to step ST21, while if x is m (YES), the data
value of the "m"th air operation slip transmission
check data storage part 33 is registered at a parameter
y (refer to FIG. 9A) (step ST15).
Then, whether transmission destination is correct
(y = s) is judged (step ST16). At this point, if y is
not s (NO), the step is neglected, while if y is s
(YES), a transmission processing number is registered
at a processing number (step ST17); an air operation
slip,computer number is registered at the drag
destination (step ST18); Kd is registered at the drop
destination (step ST19); and the processing number is
stored in the drag source/drop destination item storage
part 133 (step ST20), and then process ends.
At step ST14, if x is not m (NO), the pop-up
window is opened to display "In sufficient Data items"
(step ST21), and confirmation operation is waited for
(step ST22), and when the operation is performed,
process returns to step ST3.
On the other hand, at step ST8, if the drop
destination is the communication destination (YES),
whether the drop destination is the assistant is judged
(step ST23), while if it is not the assistant (NO), a
sending processing number is registered at a processing
number (step ST24), and a sending destination number is
CA2i 67516
- 26 -
registered at the drag destination (step ST25). Now,
"0" is taken as no sending destination number; "1", as
the pilot; "2", as the ACC; and "3", as the IFR.
Further, the air operation slip computer number is
registered at the drag source (step ST26), and process
transfers to the above-mentioned step ST20.
At step ST23, if the drop destination is the
assistant (YES), an inference processing number is
registered at an inference number (step ST27), and
process transfers to step ST26.
Now, in this embodiment, suppose that communication
is performed only between the server (FD) A and the
clients (CD, GC, LC) B1 through B3. Therefore, the
communication between the clients B1 through B3 is
performed always through the server A. The communica-
tion data range of the server A is different from that
of the clients B1 through B3 as shown below. The state
of the data exchange is shown in FIG. 8, and one
example of the data transmission sequence is shown in
FIGS. 9A and 9B.
In the server A, the control is performed in such
a manner that the server A has the air operation slip
management data of all the clients B1 through B3.
(1) The sending data from the server to the clients
include the following:
~A11 data on the air operation slip of the
aircraft of the computer number i to be transmitted,
""',
C~2~b751b
- 27 -
and transmission/strip mode data
~A11 air operation slip index data other than
those for sending destination seats and transmission/
strip mode data, when air operation management
information has been changed by either the server or
the clients
(2) The sending data from the clients to the server
include the following:
~A11 data on the air operation slip of the
aircraft of the computer number i to be transmitted,
and transmission/strip mode data
~A11 air operation slip index data other than
those for sending destination seats and transmission/strip
mode data, when air operation management information
has been changed by own clients
Now, as a case where a plurality of operators
communicate information and preform confirmation/
approval through their own computer terminals, there
are an electronic male system and a distributed
development environment. In the present invention,
through the interaction with assigned computer terminal
screens, controllers perform mutually the transmission
of air operation slip management data by using a
communication system similar to the electronic male
system, in the same format as conventional air
operation slips or in a modified format depending to
purposes and status.
- 28 -
In this case, from the knowledge base on the
monitoring results by conventional visual observation
and by visual confirmation with radar screen and from
the knowledge base on the status and air operation of
aircrafts in the airport on the screen, the computer
infers the next air operation instruction candidate for
an aircraft to be controlled and presents automatically
the candidate to controllers, whereby a load on the
judgment of controllers can be reduced.
Thus, while referring to the status of aircrafts
in the airport and the status of processing by other
controllers displayed on the same screen, each
controller can specify the transmission destination of
appropriate air operation slips to perform the
transmission, thereby making the control operation more
efficient.
Messages from the inquiry destination by pilots
and the like, and the speaking contents by controllers
are converted by a voice recognition technique to text
information, whereby part of the information required
for the control is automatically identified. On the
basis of the information, the information on air
operation slips is automatically changed through the
confirmation by controllers. For this reason, it is
not necessary to perform newly key input for storing
information, thereby allowing a complex input work to
be reduced.
."'
CA2167516
- 29 -
The feedback of information to other controllers
and pilots is performed in either of or both voice and
text display forms by the use of the air operation
information defined at each control step and of
usually-used fixed transmission messages.
FIG. 10 shows one example of air operation slip
management data, and FIGS. 11 through 14 show one
example of display screens, with reference to which
operation means will be explained.
FIGS. 11 through 14 show window display screens by
tiling system as the display examples of computer
terminal screens for seats to be controlled in the
present invention, of which FIG. 11 shows the display
screen at the FD seat; FIG. 12, at the CD seat;
FIG. 13, at the GC seat; and FIG. 14, at the LC seat.
In FIGS. 11 through 14, reference code 1
designates an airport ground information display window
for displaying the appearance viewed from the sky and
the position/status of aircrafts.
In the window 1, reference codes 1.1 and 1.2
designate a direction angle (one tenth of a value in
360' unit) of the runway in the right direction and the
one in the left direction, respectively; reference code
1.3, numbers (W1 through W7) of the exit to the runway;
reference code 1.4, corners (P1 through P7) of the
taxiway routes; and reference code 1.5, spot numbers
(encircled numbers) at which aircrafts park. Now, the
CA2167516
- 30 -
window shows a status in which flight names YYY566,
XXX345, ABC211 and ZZZ333 park at the spots 1, 2 and 4
(FIG. 16 shows that ABC211 is running on the P4
taxiway). Reference code D designates a departing
aircraft.
Reference code 2 designates a window for displaying
the air operation slip management data at a control
seat to be concerned. In the window 2, reference codes
2.1 through 2.3 designate respective air operation slip
management data on aircrafts to be controlled in a
conventional air operation slip form.
Reference code 3 designates a window for displaying
the indexes of the air operation slip management data
at a source control seat transmitting the control to
another seat to be controlled. In the window 3,
reference codes 3.1 through 3.3 designate respective
indexes (aircraft flight names here) of the air
operation slip management data at transmitted
destinations.
Reference code 4 designates a window for displaying
the indexes of the air operation slip management data
at a destination control seat to which the control is
transmitted. In the window 4, reference codes 4.1
through 4.4 designate respective display regions of the
air operation slip management data indexes (aircraft
flight names here) at transmission destinations.
In the respective control seat terminals shown in
d"..';
CA2167516
- 31 -
FIGS. 11 through 14, moving a mouse display cursor 5 to
the position of the item for the flight name (ABC211)
located in, for example, the region 2.1 of the air
operation slip data display window 2 of the seat to be
controlled, and pressing the mouse middle button 112
cause a drag & drop icon (hereinafter called the D & D
icon) 10 for movement, together with the cursor 5 to be
displayed. In FIGS. 11 through 14, both the single
mouse display cursor 5 and the mouse display cursor 5
forming a pair with the D & D icon 10 are displayed on
the same screen for convenience.
While pressing the mouse middle button 112, moving
the D & D icon 10 to the empty item region 4.4 of the
transmitted destination window 4 and releasing the D &
D icon 10 causes the air operation slip management data
in the region 2.1 at the seat to be controlled to be
transmitted to the control seat at the transmitted
destination. In this case, the air operation slip
management data specified from region 2.1 at the seat
to be controlled disappears, and the index is displayed
in the region 4.4.
Although FIGS. 11 through 14 show a case where
only the beginning flight name data of the air
operation slip management data shown in the region 2.1
as the D & D icon 10 of the air operation slip
management data are allowed to represent and display,
the entire part representing air operation slips may be
CA2161516
- 32
displayed as the D & D icon 10 and moved according to
the D & D operation. Also, another pattern icon and
cursor may be used.
In FIGS. 11 through 14, reference codes 2.4, 2.5
and 2.6 designate a runway direction angle, a spot
number and an approval transmission time, respectively,
which are determined by control processing and
automatically displayed. Reference code 5 designates a
region for displaying current environmental information
such as time, wind direction, wind force and air
temperature.
Reference code 7 designates a region for
specifying a destination to which sending and inquiry
are performed by the click operation of the mouse 11;
reference code 7.1, a pilot specifying region;
reference code 7.2, an ACC (air traffic control center)
specifying region; and reference code 7.3, an assistant
specifying region. Instead of the ACC, the IFR may be
specified.
Reference code 8 designates a region for displaying
reply messages, sending messages and receiving messages
of the assistant. Reference code 9 designates a region
for displaying the list of receiving messages, which
includes a region 9.2 for displaying with the destina-
tion name the role of a message destination at message
receiving, and a region 9.1 for displaying the leading
information of the receiving message.
CA2167516
- 33 -
For example, in FIG. 13, clicking the region 9.1
or 9.2 by the mouse 11 to specify an index list
displayed in the receiving message list display region
9 allows the entire receiving message to be displayed
in a reply/communication message display region 8.1.
Also, for example, in FIG. 13, dragging the region
2.1 for displaying air operation slip management data
and dropping to the assistant specifying region 7.3
causes the information on runway direction angles and
taxiway routes displayed by the control as the GC seat
to be inputted into the inference processing part 20,
in which the information is processed by knowledge
process to create a reply message. The reply message
is displayed in the reply/communication message display
region 8.1. In this way, specifying the assistant
allows the advice under various status to be received.
With reference to FIGS. 15A through 15F, a
specific process flow will be explained.
Paying attention to the departing flight ABC211,
the display of the air operation slip management data
and sending/receiving message at respective control
seats will be explained hereinafter.
The air operation slip management data are
generally called the strip, so that it is decided that
they are also here called the strip. Both the set.
values of the transmission mode data M (i) and the
strip mode data S (i) in the present invention will be
CA2167516
34 -
described hereinafter. "i" indicates a computer number
of the air operation slip management data. For the
ABC211, "i" is 0004, and with respect to the initial
values at the step at which the data is transferred
from the air operation plan data storage part 26 to the
FD seat, M (i) is "0", and S (i) is "0".
(1) FD seat
Step l: The strip of the ABC211 flight transferred
from the air operation plan data storage part 26,
30 minutes before a scheduled departure time, is
displayed as shown in FIG. 15A. When the initial data
items are confirmed to be complete, the transmission
mode data M (i) indicating a current transmission step
is set at "1", and the S (i) indicating a step at which
strip data is complete is set at "1".
Step 2: The transmission from the FD seat to the
CD seat is performed.
(2) CD seat
Step 3: The ABC211 flight thus transferred is
strip displayed (as with the above), and the M (i) is
set at "2".
Step 4: The receiving contents o.f a voice message
from a pilot to the FD are displayed (5 minutes before
start, destination Chitose, flight level 390, gate 4.).
Step 5: The sending contents of a voice message
from the FD to a pilot are displayed (ABC211 clear to
Chitose SNE5 <>SNE V11, flight level 390.).
CA2167516
- 35 -
Step 6: The spot number "4" is displayed on the
strip as shown in FIG. 15B.
Step 7: The air operation slip management data are
transmitted from the CD seat to the FD seat.
(3) FD seat
Step 8: The strip of the ABC211 flight transmitted
is displayed (as with the above), and the M (i) is set
at "3"
Step 9: A clearance (takeoff permission) is
requested from the FD to the ACC.
Step 10: The clearance receiving from the ACC is
displayed (ABC211 is cleared to Chitose Airport. Flight
planned Route, Maintain Flight Level 370, Departure
Frequency 126 decimal 0, Squawk 5301.).
Step 11: Control approval contents (for example,
flight level 390 is changed to 370) are written into
the strip as shown in FIG. 15C. When the data items
are complete as shown in FIG. 15C, the S (i) is set
at "4"
Step 12: The air operation slip management data
are transmitted from the FD seat to the CD seat.
(4) CD seat
Step 13: The strip of the ABC211 flight
transmitted is displayed (as with the above), and the M
(i) is set at "4".
Step 14: The receiving contents of a voice message
from a pilot to the CD are displayed (Ready to start
-36- 2967516
engines.).
Step 15: The sending contents of a voice message
on the confirmation response from the CD to a pilot are
displayed.
Step 16: The receiving contents of a voice
message from the CD to a pilot are displayed (Roger,
Clear to Chitose Airport, Flight planned Route,
Maintain Flight Level 370, Departure Frequency 126
decimal 0, Squawk 5031.).
Step 17: As shown in FIG. 15D, the control
approval transmission time is displayed on the strip.
When the data items are complete as shown in FIG. 15D,
the S (i) is set at "4".
Step 18: The air operation slip management data
are transmitted from the CD seat to the GC seat.
(5) GC seat
Step 19: The strip of the ABC211 flight
transmitted is displayed (as with the above), and the M
(i) is set at "5".
Step 20: The receiving contents of a voice
message from a pilot to the GC are displayed (Request
Push back Gate 4.).
Step 21: The sending contents of a voice message
from the GC to a pilot are displayed (Push back
instruction).
Step 22: The message receiving contents from a
pilot to the GC are displayed (Request Taxi).
CA2167516
- 37 -
Step 23: The assistant of the system is inquired
about taxiway routes.
Step 24: The inference results from the system are
displayed (Runway 17, taxi via P4, W2, which means that
the runway "17" is to be used, and the taxiway route of
the P4 and the W2 to be used).
Step 25: A pilot is notified of the inference
results from the GC.
Step 26: As shown in FIG. 15E, the value "17" of
the direction angle of the runway is additionally
displayed on the strip. When the data items are
complete as shown in FIG. 15E, the S (i) is set
at "5"
Step 27: The air operation slip management data
are transmitted from the GC seat to the LC seat.
(6) LC seat
Step 28: The strip of the ABC211 flight
transmitted is displayed (as with the above), and the M
(i) is set at "6".
Step 29: The receiving contents of a voice message
from a pilot to the LC are displayed (Ready for Talk
off. )~.
Step 30: The response message sending contents
from the LC to a pilot are displayed (Taxi into
position and hold.).
Step 31: A takeoff permission is requested from
the LC to the IFR.
CA21 X7516
- 38 -
Step 32: The takeoff permission receiving contents
from the IFR to the LC are displayed (ABC211 is
approved.).
Step 33: The takeoff permission notification
contents from the LC to a pilot are displayed (Roger,
Cleared for Take off.).
Step 34: As shown in FIG. 15F, a takeoff time is
displayed on the strip. When the data items are
complete as shown in FIG. 15F, the S (i) is set at "6".
Step 35: The air operation slip management data
are transmitted from the LC seat to the FD seat.
( 7 ) ' FD seat
Step 36: The strip of the ABC211 flight
transmitted is displayed (as with the above), and the M
(i) is set at "7".
Step 37: The strip data is transferred by the D &
D operation to the completion box, and the S (i) is set
at "7"
Step 38: The strip for the ABC211 flight is erased
from the display at the FD seat.
With the screens of FIGs. 11 through 14 assumed
along the above-mentioned process flow, the operation
of the embodiment will be explained.
In the present invention, when the system is
started by a procedure such as computer power switch
closing in the order of the server A, and the clients
Bl to B3 of FIG. 1, the control is transferred to the
CA2167516
- 39 -
window display control part 143, whereby an initial
screen (a fixed display screen for displaying the air
operation slip management data and aircrafts, excluding
characters and the like, in the respective windows of
FIGS. 11 through 14) is displayed.
In the server A, the prior-to-schedule air
operation slip data registration part 37 is activated
also by the window display control part 143, whereby
the index information (aircraft flight names in this
embodiment) of the air operation slip plan data in the
data format shown in FIG. 10 other than the initial
screen is displayed in the plan list display region 3
of FIG. 11.
(Step 1)
In the server A, on the basis of the current time
information from the timer 47 and of the departure
schedule time ((6) in FIG. 10) in the air operation
slip management data, the prior-to-schedule air
operation slip data registration part 37 reads the air
operation slip data on aircrafts departing 30 minutes
before or after the schedule time of the data in the
air operation slip plan data storage part 26, and
writes the data in the air operation slip management
data storage part 381 of the FD.
Then, the air operation slip data are transmitted
from the server (FD) to the clients (CD, GC, LC) in the
order along the above-mentioned process flow.
Cp,2167516
- 40 -
First, as shown in FIG. 11, the data in the
regions 2.1 through 2.3 as the 30-minute-prior air
operation slip data are registered by the prior-to-
schedule air operation slip data registration part 37
at the FD, and the data displayed in the plan list
regions 3.1 through 3.3 are registered at the air
operation slip plan data storage part 26, whereby a
status is assumed in which the CD display data in
regions 4.1 through 4.3 are registered at the CD air
operation slip management data storage region 382.
At this point, the FD data is sent through the
communication processing part 36 to the CD client B1.
The CD client B1 writes the index information into the
FD air operation slip management data storage region
381 of the air operation slip management data storage
part 38, and also writes all the information of the CD
transmitted to the CD air operation slip management
data storage region 382, thereby displaying the air
operation slip management data in a form according to
FIG. 12. The GC client B2 and the LC client B3 also
write the index information of the other control seats
into air operation slip management data storage part 38
by a similar communication processing, thereby
displaying the air operation slip management data in a
form according to FIGS. 13 and 14.
Upon the reception of the information from the
aircraft/vehicle position detection part 39, the air
CA2167516
- 41
operation simulation part 42 sends the layout informa-
tion including aircraft/vehicle positions for the
airport map information display window 1 to the airport
map display data creation part 165 of the display data
creation part 14 at intervals of a specified time (for
example, at intervals of 10 seconds) on the basis of
the time information from the timer 47, whereby the
information is displayed through the display processing
part 14. These position information is sent from the
communication processing part 36 in FIG. 2 of the
server A to the communication processing part 36 of the
clients (CD, GC, LC) Bl through B3 at intervals of a
specified time; and the position information together
with the information on flight name and the like are
transmitted from the air operation slip management
update part 19 to the air operation simulation part 42,
whereby the information is reflected automatically
through the airport map display data creation part 165
to the screen.
The change of the M (i) and the S (i) is as
explained in the process flow. Therefore, excluding
the initial transmission operation, the explanation of
the setting operation for the mode data M (i) and S
(i) will be omitted hereinafter. For the ABC211
flight, "i" is 0004, so that the respective mode data
for the flight are shown in the M (4) and the S (4),
respectively.
CA2167516
- 42 -
First, the operation of the server (FD) will be
explained.
When a fact that all items (1) through (11) shown
in FIG. 10 is checked, the M (4) and the S (4) are each
set at "1".
(Step 2)
When the region 2.1 of FIG. 11 is dragged and
dropped in the region 4.4, the menu display items at
drag source and drop destination are transmitted from
the mouse input processing part 12 to the menu
designation detection part 132 of the application start
processing part 13. The menu designation detection
part 132 checks the values of the transmission mode
data M (4) and the strip mode data S (4) against the
data in the air operation slip transmission check data
storage part 33 according to the check flow stored in
the air operation slip transmission check data storage
part 33. If there is a transmission not permitted in
the check according to the flow, the drag/drop
operation is neglected, and the following process is
not performed.
In this embodiment, the transmission source is the
FD own control seat, and the M (4) is "1", so that the
value "1" corresponding to the value "1" of the M (4)
of FIG. 9B is coincident with the current M (4)
value, and the value "2" corresponding to the value "1"
of the M (4) of FIG. 9A is coincident with the value
CA2167516
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"2" of the value of the control seat number at trans-
mission operation destination, whereby the transmission
operation is permitted and the transmission processing
is performed.
Whether the drag/drop operation is permitted or
neglected, the drag detection part 125 transmits the
operation end to the mouse cursor display control part
127. For this reason, the display of the D & D icon
disappears from the screen by being transmitted from
the menu designation detection part 132 to the mouse
cursor display control part 127.
When a fact that the control seat numbers at
transmission destination and the current air operation
slip management data are complete is confirmed and the
transmission operation is approved, the menu items at
drag source and drop destination are stored in the drag
source/drop destination item storage part 133, and the
information is transmitted through the processing
discrimination part 134 to the air operation slip
management update part 19.
The transmission processing operation at the FD
server A and the CD client B1 will be explained
hereinafter .
The air operation slip management update part 19
of the FD server A sends the FD data contents of the
ABC211 flight having the computer number 0004 together
with the mode data through the communication processing
CQ2167516
- 44 -
part 36 to the control seat of the CD client Bl. The
CD client $1 receives the data through the communication
processing part 36, in which the air operation slip
management update part 19 writes the data into the air
operation slip management data storage region 382, and
erases the index data for the ABC211 flight at the FD.
When the processing is completed, the transmission
mode data M (4) is updated to "2", and the updated mode
data and the normally ended write update are
transmitted through the communication processing part
36 to the server A.
(Step 3)
The CD client B1 requests the air operation slip
display data creation part 164 of the display data
creation part 16 to display the CD data in the region
2.1 of FIG. 9B, and at the same time, erases the FD
index data displayed in the region 3.
In FIG. 12, only the transmission results are
displayed, while no FD index is displayed. The CD
display shows the display screen not immediately after
the transmission, but after the information is
registered at the regions 2.2 and 2.3.
In the server A which has received the updated
mode data and the normal end of write update from the
CD client Bl through the communication processing part
36, the air operation slip management information
update part 19 writes the FD data contents of the
CA2167516
- 45 -
ABC211 flight having the computer number 0004 in the FD
air operation slip management data storage part 38 into
the CD air operation slip management data storage
region 382, erases the FD data in the FD air operation
slip management data storage region 381, and updates
the mode data according to the received data. The
display data creation part 16 erases the display of the
FD data displayed in the region 2.1 of FIG. 11, and
displays the data in the region 4.4 of the CD index
display region.
Further, the FD server A sends the transmission
completion data of the ABC211 flight having the
computer number 0004 from the FD to the CD, the index
data and the mode data through the communication
processing part 36 to the GC, LC clients B2, B3. When
received the updated mode data and the transmission
completion data from the FD to the CD from the server
A, the air operation slip management information update
part 19 of the GC, LC clients B2, B3 writes the trans-
mission data contents of the ABC211 flight having the
computer number 0004 in the air operation slip manage-
ment data storage part 38 into the CD, erases the FD
data, and updates the mode data according to the
received data. At this point, the GC client B2
displays the information transmitted through the
display data creation part 16 to the CD index of
FIG. 13.
Ca2167516
- 46 -
The operation in a case where the above-mentioned
transmission processing progress is shown visually at
the transmission destination will be explained
hereinafter.
When the server A detects the drag operation start
from the FD air operation slip index display region
(the region 2 of FIG. 11) by the mouse middle button
112, and detects also a fact that the drag operation
enters a specified range of the FD air operation slip
management data display region 2 (for example, one-
fourth of the region on the right side) adjacent to the
CD air operation slip index display region 4, the
server A sends both the drag start from the FD air
operation slip management data display region 2 to the
CD air operation slip index display region 4 and the
mouse coordinate to the CD client B1.
In the CD client B1 having received the informa-
tion, the receiving information is transmitted from the
communication processing part 36 to the display data
creation part 16. At this point, the drag display data
creation part 167 displays the drag status in a visual
display form (which is called "transmission icon")
shown at 10 of FIG. 16. In this case, the display
position is determined by the mapping processing of
proportionally distributing a specified range of the FD
index display region (for example, three-fourths, or
entire of the region) adjacent to the CD air operation
CA2'167516
_ ~7 _
slip management data display region 2 in the
longitudinal/lateral direction.
When in the server A, the drag is transferred to
the CD index display region 4, the drag operation is
transmitted though the communication processing part 36
to the CD client B1 in a similar manner. At this
point, in the CD client B1, the transmission icon is
transferred by the drag display data creation part 167
to the CD air operation slip management data display
region 2 shown in FIG. 12. With respect to the lateral
direction of the screen, by mapping it on the corre-
sponding information position (the position of the
region for displaying flight name such as the ABC211),
the transmission icon is displayed. The processing
after the drop operation is the same as the above-
mentioned one.
Then, the operation in the CD client B1 at the
next step will be explained.
(Step 4)
When a voice "5-minutes before start, Destination
Chitose, flight level 390, gate 4" is received through
the voice input part 27 of FIG. 3 from the pilot of the
ABC211 flight, the receiving voice is stored in the
voice input data storage part 28. Then, the voice is
converted by the voice recognition part 29 to a text
divided into single words by a space, and then stored
in the receiving message storage part 30. At this
_ 48 _ CA2167516
point, the receiving message storage part 30 requests
the.receiving message, index list display data creation
part 162 of the receiving content display data creation
part 16 to create the receiving data index list
display.
The receiving message index list display data
creation part 162 reads the receiving data stored in
the receiving message data storage part 30, and
displays the leading part of the receiving message
together with the sending source information in the
region 9 of FIG. 11.
Now, when the region 9.1 or 9.2 of FIG. 12 is
clicked by the mouse left button 111, a fact that the
receiving data index items at the destination shown in
the region 9.1 has been specified by the mouse input
processing part 12 and the application start processing
part 13 is discriminated. This causes the receiving
message data creation part 163 to be activated, and the
data in the receiving message data storage part 30 to
be displayed in the reply/communication message display
region 8.1 of FIG. 12.
(Step 5)
When the voice response "ABC211 clear to Chitose
SNE <>SNE V11, flight level 390" of the CD controller
2~ to the voice from the pilot is inputted through the
voice input part 27, the inputted voice is stored in
the voice input data storage part 28 in a similar
CA2161516
- 49 -
manner, converted by the voice recognition part 29 to a
text divided into single words by a space, and then
stored in the receiving message storage part 30.
(Step 6)
The text having recognized the voice from the
pilot is called the text A; and the text having
recognized the response voice of the CD controller is
called the text B. The message recognition part 35
interprets them as meaningful information in units as
shown below.
Text A:
(1) 5 minutes before start (Control request from pilot
5 minutes before engine start)
(2) Destination Chitose (Destination is Chitose)
(3) flight level 390 (Flight level is 3900 feet)
(4) gate 4 (Parking spot number is 4)
Text B:
(1) ABC211 (Flight name to be controlled)
(2) clear to Chitose (Control up to destination
Chitose)
(3) SNE <>SNE V11 (Route information)
(4) flight level 390 (Flight level is 3900 feet)
The response results of the text B to the text A
are sent as the above-mentioned interpretation results
to the air operation slip management information update
part 19. The air operation slip management information
update part 19 identifies a fact that the results are
CA2167516
- 50 -
the voice response information on the air operation
slip information in the region 2.1 of FIG. 12 to be
currently controlled by the CD, from the corresponding
relation between the contents of the texts A, B and the
CD air operation slip management data storage region
382. Also, the part 19 identifies the spot number of
the text A (4), which is currently not registered at
the CD air operation slip management data storage
region 382, as additional information. The additional
information is stored in the CD air operation slip
management data storage region 382; and the strip mode
data S (4) is updated to "2", and "4" as the spot
number 2.5 is displayed through the display data
creation part 16 in the region 2.1 of FIG. 12.
At the same time, the ABC211 flight air operation
slip data to which the spot number is added and the
mode data are sent through the communication processing
part 36 to the sever A.
Then, the operation in the server (FD) A and the
other clients B2, B3 will be explained.
The server A, when receiving through the communi-
cation processing part 36 the ABC211 flight air opera-
tion slip data to which the spot number is added and
the mode data, sends the receiving data to the air
operation slip management information update part 19,
in which the CD air operation slip management data
storage region 382 and the mode data 43 are updated.
- 51 _ CA2167516
Further, the server A sends the mode data through
the communication processing part 36 to the GC, LC
clients B2, H3. On the other hand, the GC, LC clients
B2, B3 update the mode data at their own control seats.
(Step 7)
In the direction reverse to and with the same
operation as step 2, the transmission processing from
the CD seat to the FD seat is performed.
The operation in the subsequent server (FD) A will
be explained.
(Step 8)
With the same operation as step 3, the strip
display of the transmitted ABC211 flight is performed.
(Step 9)
While pressing the mouse middle button 112 of
FIG. 2 at the position of the ABC211 flight in the
region 2.1 of FIG. 11 at which the mouse cursor is
positioned, dragging the mouse up to and dropping at
the ACC in the region 7.2 indicating the sending
destination causes the menu designation detection part
132 of the application start processing part 13 to
judge the drag operation as the sending of the air
operation slip management data, from the mouse input
processing part 12, and store the data on the ABC211 as
drag source in the drag source/drop destination item
storage part 133 with the ACC taken as the drop
destination.
CA2167516
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The processing discrimination part 134 reads the
ABC211 flight air operation slip data from the FD
region 381 of the air operation slip management data
storage part 38, sends the data to the sending data
creation part 17, and stores the sending data in the
sending data storage part 25. The stored sending data
are converted to the display data by the sending
display data creation part 161 of the display data
creation part 16, and displayed through the display
processing part 14 in the reply/communication message
display region 8.1 of FIG. 11.
Now, when the region 8.2 indicating the sending
start button is clicked by the mouse left button 111,
the clicked coordinate information is sent through the
click detection part 126 of the mouse input processing
part 12 to the click item detection part of the appli-
cation start processing part 13, and then the informa-
tion that the sending start button has been clicked is
sent to the processing discrimination part 134.
The processing discrimination part 134 checks to
see that the information is the sending start
instruction immediately after the sending source/sending
destination information is sent to the sending data
creation part 17, and activates the start of the
sending to the sending processing part 18. The sending
processing part 18 transmits the data stored in the
sending data storage part 25 to a specified ACC.
'~ CA2167516
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(step lo)
When the text massage receive part 31 receives a
reply message "ABC211 is cleared to Chitose Airport,
Flight planned Route, Maintain Flight Level 370,
Departure Frequency 126 decimal 0, Squawk 5301" from
the ACC, the receiving message is stored in the
receiving message storage part 30. At this point, the
receiving message storage part 30 requests the
receiving message index list display data creation part
162 of the display data creation part 16 to create the
receiving contents as the receiving data index list
display signals .
The receiving message index list display data
creation part 162 reads the receiving data in the
receiving message storage part 30, and displays the
leading part of the receiving message together with the
sending source of region 9.2 in the region 9.1 of
FIG. 11. The regions 9.1 and 9.2 show one example of
displaying the leading part of the receiving message
and the sending source.
Now, when the region 9.1 or 9.2 of the FIG. 11 is
clicked by the left button 111 of the mouse 11, a fact
that the receiving data index items from the sending
source displayed in the region 9.1 have been specified
by the mouse input processing part 12 and the applica-
tion start processing part 13 is discriminated, and
thus the receiving message data creation part 163 is
r'~"
- 54 -
activated. The receiving message data creation part
163 displays the corresponding data from the receiving
message storage part 30 in the reply/communication
message display region 8.1 of FIG. 11. The region 8.1
of FIG. 11 is one display example of receiving message
data.
(Step 11)
When the receiving message from the ACC is
displayed in the region 8.1 of FIG. 11, the data in the
receiving message storage part 30 are interpreted in
the same manner as step 6. At this point, the air
operation slip management information update part 19
detects a fact that the flight level 390 as the sending
contents to the ACC has been changed to the flight
level 370. The changed contents are written into the
FD air operation slip management data storage region
381. The control approval contents are sent to the air
operation slip display data creation part 164 of the
display data creation part 16, whereby the changed
information "FPR M370" of the flight level information
is displayed in the half-tone dot meshing form at the
position indicated in the region 2.1.1 of the air
operation slip display region 2.1 for the ABC211
flight. At this point, the air operation slip
management information update part 19 updates the strip
mode S (4) to "3".
- 55 - 0,42167516
(Step 12)
With the same operation as step 2, the transmission
processing from the FD seat to the CD seat is performed.
The operation in the subsequent CD client Bl will
be explained.
(Step 13)
With the same operation as step 3, the strip
display of the transmitted ABC211 flight is performed.
(Step 14)
With the same operation as step 4, the voice
message "Ready to start engines" is received from the
pilot.
(Steps 15, 16)
With the same operation as step 5, the confirmation
response voice message and the control approval voice
message "Roger, Clear to Chitose Airport, Flight
planned Route, Maintain Flight Level 370, Departure
Frequency 126 decimal 0, Squawk 5301" is transmitted
from the CD to the pilot.
(Step 17)
The current time of day is read from the timer 47;
and the time of day of control transmission approval as
the time of the part in minutes is displayed in the
region 2.6 of FIG. 12 with the same operation as step
6, and recorded in the CD air operation slip management
data storage region 382.
d'r'"~
- 56 - 042167516
(Step 18)
With the same operation as step 2, the transmission
processing from the CD seat to the GC seat is performed.
The operation in the subsequent GC client B2 will
be explained.
{Step 19)
With the same operation as step 3, the strip
display of the transmitted ABC211 flight is performed.
(Step 20)
With the same operation as step 4, the voice
message "Request Push back Gate 4" is received from the
pilot. The regions 9.1, 9.2 of FIG. 13 show a display
example of the leading part of the receiving message
and the sending source.
(Step 21)
With the same operation as step 5, the confirmation
response voice message is transmitted from the CD to
the pilot.
(Step 22)
With the same operation as step 4, the voice
message "Request Taxi" is received from the pilot.
(Step 23)
While pressing the mouse middle button 112 of
FIG. 3 at the position of the ABC211 flight in the
region 2.l of FIG.rl3 at which the mouse cursor is
positioned, dragging the mouse up to and dropping at
the assistant in the region 7.3 indicating the sending
CQ2167516
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destination causes the menu designation detection part
132 of the application start processing part 13 to
judge the output of the mouse input processing part
12 as the assistant request of system assistant
processing. This causes both the data on the ABC211 at
the drag source and the data that drop destination is
the assistant to be stored in the drag source/drop
destination item storage part 133.
The processing discrimination part 134 requests
the inference processing part 20 to infer the taxiway
route of the ABC211 flight.
(Step 24)
The inference processing part 20 reads the air
operation slip management data of the ABC211 flight
requested from the GC air operation slip management
data storage region 383, and further, performs the
inference processing on the basis of both the current
sircraft/vehicle position data and the airport map
model data sent from the air operation simulation part
42, and the knowledge data on the taxiway routing
according to the air operation status of other
aircrafts stored in the air operation knowledge storage
part 45, and sends the inference results "Runway 17,
taxi via P4, W2" to the inference result display data
creation part 166 of the display data creation part 16.
This causes the inference results to be displayed
through the display processing part 14 in the
t
CA2167516
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reply/communication message display region 8.1 of
FIG. 13.
(Step 25)
When the region 7.1 (pilot) indicating destination
of FIG. 13 is clicked by the mouse left button 111, and
the sending start button 8.2 is clicked by the left
button 111, the coordinate information of the click is
sent through the click detection part 126 of the mouse
input processing part 12 to the click operation item
detection part of the application start processing part
13. Now, when a fact that the sending start button has
been clicked is detected, the detection results are
sent to the processing discrimination part 134.
The processing discrimination part 134 sends
inference results to the sending data creation part 17,
and activates the sending processing part 18 to perform
the voice sending start to the pilot. The sending
processing part 18 sends the data stored in the sending
data storage part 25 to the voice synthesis part 34,
which converts the data to a voice and transmits the
inference results to the pilot.
(Step 26)
With the same operation as step 6, the direction
angle of the runways in the region 2.4 of FIG. 13 is
displayed from the inference results, and recorded in
the GC air operation slip management data storage
region 383.
~~~lb~5lb
- 59 -
(Step 27)
With the same operation as step 2, the transmission
processing from the GC seat to the LC seat is performed.
The operation in the subsequent LC client 83 will
be explained.
(Step 28)
With the same operation as step 3, the strip
display of the transmitted ABC211 flight is performed.
(Step 29)
With the same operation as step 4, the voice
message "Ready for Take off " is received from the
pilot.
(Step 30)
With the same operation as step 5, the voice
response message "Taxi into position and hold" is
transmitted from the LC to the pilot.
(Step 31)
With the mouse cursor positioned at the position
of the A.BC211 flight in the region 2.1 of FIG. 14,
while pressing and dragging the mouse middle button 112
of FIG. 3, moving up to and dropping at the, IFR
indicated in the sending destination region 7.2 causes
the menu designation detection part 132 of the
application start processing part 13 to judge the drag
operation as the sending of the air operation slip
management data, from the processing results from the
mouse input processing part 12. This causes both the
CA2167516
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data on the ABC211 at the drag source and the data to
the effect that drop destination is the IFR to be
stored in the drag source/drop destination item storage
part 133.
The processing discrimination part 134 sends the
air operation slip management data of the ABC211 flight
to. the sending data creation part 17, and stores the
sending data in the sending data storage part 25. The
stored sending data are converted to the display data
by the sending display data creation part 161 of the
display data creation part 16, and displayed through
the display processing part 14 in the reply/
communication message display region 8:1 of FIG. 14.
Now, when the region 8.2 is clicked by the mouse
left button 111, the clicked coordinate information is
sent through the click detection part 126 of the mouse
input processing part 12 to the click item detection
part of the application start processing part 13, and
then the information that the sending start button has
been clicked is sent to the processing discrimination
part 134.
The processing discrimination part 134 checks to
see that the information is the sending start instruc-
tion immediately after the sending source/sending
destination information is sent to the sending data
creation part 17, and activates the start of the
sending to the sending processing part 18. The sending
02167516
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processing part 18 transmits the data stored in the
sending data storage part 25 to a specified IRF.
(Step 32)
When the text massage receive part 31 receives
a reply message of takeoff permission "ABC211 is
approved" from the IFR, the receiving message is stored
in the receiving message storage part 30. At this
point, the receiving message storage part 30 requests
the receiving message index list display data creation
part 162 of the display data creation part 16 to
create the receiving data index list display signals.
The receiving message index list display data
creation part 162 reads the receiving data in the
receiving message storage part 30, and displays the
leading part of the receiving message together with the
sending source of region 9.2 in the region 9.1 of
FIG. 14.
Now, when the region 9.1 or 9.2 of the FIG. 14 is
clicked by the mouse left button 111, a fact that the
receiving data index items in the region 9.1 have been
specified by the mouse input processing part 12 and the
application start processing part 13 is discriminated.
When this causes the receiving message data creation
part 163 to be activated, the corresponding data are
read from the receiving message storage part 30, and
displayed in the reply/communication message display
region 8.1 of FIG. 14. The region 8.1 of FIG. 14 is
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one display example of receiving message data.
(Step 33)
With the same operation as step 5, the voice
response message "Roger, Cleared for Take off" is
transmitted from the LC to the pilot.
(Step 34)
When the air operation slip management information
update part 19 receives the information on the time of
day of takeoff from the air operation simulation part
42 having received information from the aircraft/vehicle
position detection part 39, with the same operation as
the spot number at step 6, the information on the time
of day of takeoff in minutes is displayed in the
takeoff time display position 2.2 of FIG. 14, and
recorded in the LC air operation slip management data
storage part 38.
(Step 35)
With the same operation as step 2, the transmission
processing from the LC seat to the FD seat is performed.
The operation in the subsequent FD server A will
be explained.
(Step 36)
With the same operation as step 3, the strip
display of the transmitted ABC211 flight is performed.
At this point, the strip is identified as the data that
takeoff has been completed, so that the strip is
displayed inversely.
CA2167516
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(Steps 37, 38)
When a fact that the data of the ABC211 flight
thus displayed inversely have been dragged up to and
dropped at the completion box displayed in the lower
part of the planned list display region of FIG. 11 is
detected through the mouse input processing part 12 and
the application start processing part 13 by the same
operation procedure as step 6, the air operation slip
management information update part 19 transfers the
information to the completion data storage part 44.
This causes the strip display of the ABC211 flight to
disappear from the display screen at the FD seat.
Therefore, according to the configuration of the
above-mentioned embodiment, performing the above-
mentioned processing allows the load on controllers in
status understanding and decision, and in operation and
feedback to personnel concerned to be reduced so as to
make more accurate and prompt instructions possible, as
well as the understanding between the pilot and the
controllers to be transmitted not only in an audile
nnanner but also in a visual manner.
Another embodiment in connection with the present
invention will be explained hereinafter.
FIG. 17 shows an example displayed in a file
holder form as another embodiment of the air operation
slip management information of the present invention.
In the display form, all information cannot be
f'
CA2167516
- 64
displayed, so that in the window at the seat to be
controlled, the air operation slip management data
display regions 2.3 through 2.6 other than the
concerned air operation slip management data display
regions 2.1, 2.2 display the first one line as a tag.
In this case, clicking the tag causes all information
of the specified air operation slip management data to
be shown.
FIG. 18 shows a window display screen permitting
overlap as another embodiment of the display form for
the air operation slip management data of the present
invention, which shows the computer terminal display
screen for one GC in the control system having two GCs,
for the 360-degree control.
In FIG: 18, reference code 1 designates a window
for displaying the air operation slip management data
for the GC to be controlled. Reference code 2
designates a window for displaying the air operation
slip management data for the other GC. Reference code
3 designates a window for displaying the air operation
slip management data index for the CD as the source
control seat from which the control is transmitted to
the GC. Reference code 4 designates a window for
displaying the air operation slip management data index
for the LC as the destination control seat to which the
control is transmitted.
At the GC terminal, moving the mouse cursor 5 of
CA2167516
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the mouse 11 to an item, for example, the flight name
and the like shown in the region of the GC window, and
pressing the mouse middle button 112 causes the D & D
icon 6 for moving to be displayed at the cursor
position.
While pressing the middle button 112, moving the
D & D icon 6 up to and releasing it at the empty item
in the region 4.4 of the LC window causes the air
operation slip management data in the region 1.1 at the
GC to be transmitted to the LC, the air operation slip
management data in the region 1.1 of the GC window to
disappear, and the index of the air operation slip
management data to be displayed in the region 4.4 of
the LC window.
Although in the above-mentioned embodiments, the
air operation slip management data transmitted have
been checked for the maintenance and destination of the
transmitted information, and transmitted automatically
by only the decision and operation of the controller at
the transmission source, there may be used a means for
adding the information to existing air operation slip
management data through the confirmation operation at
the transmission destination. At this point, the
transmission destination may have a means~for selecting
either the rejection or the reservation of the
transmission, other than the approval for acceptance
by the controller at the transmission destination.
CA2167516
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When the rejection is selected, the control
information remains at the transmission source, so that
the system returns to a status before transmission:
When the reservation is selected, the control informa-
tion is reserved in another control form at the
transmission source or the transmission destination,
whereby a further operation may be performed at the
transmission source or the transmission destination.
At this point, the transmission source may have a means
for performing an action to the transmission destination
such as the operation for changing over the transmission
to another control seat, or the request for and inquiry
about transmission acceptance.
The transmission destination may have a means for
performing a corresponding operation such as the
acceptance, rejection and reservation continuation of
the transmission information whose reservation has been
selected, as required. Further, the transmission
destination may have a means for specifying the
position of the air operation slip to be additionally
transmitted.
Although in the above-mentioned embodiments, the
air operation slip management data transmitted have
been checked for the maintenance and destination of the
transmitted information, and when the control data have
been lacking, lacking data items have been displayed
and the system has returned to the display before
~,
- 6~ - CA2167516
operation by a confirmation operation, the transmission
processing maybe performed by the confirmation operation
with lacking data displayed, or the transmission
processing may be performed without the confirmation
operation to display lacking data items in the air
operation slip management data display region so that a
fact that items are lacking can be identified. At this
point, where the confirmation operation is performed,
as with the above, the transmission destination may
have a means for selecting either the rejection or the
reservation of the transmission, other than the
approval for acceptance at the transmission
destination.
Although in the above-mentioned embodiments, the
strips of respective air operation slips to be
controlled have been displayed by the number of strips
in a range capable of being displayed on the screen,
and other air operation slip management data have been
displayed by scrolling operation, there may be used a
means for displaying part or all of the air operation
slip management data as the index information and a
means for specifying the air operation slip management
data from the index. At this point, where all the
index information cannot be displayed, there may be
25. used a means for observing the remaining index
information by scroll operation.
Although in the above-mentioned embodiments, the
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air operation slip management information for managing
transmission sources, applicable control seats and
transmission destination have been displayed as the
list menu or index, there may be used a means for
displaying part of the information by icons or graphics
as transmission source control seats, applicable
control seats and transmission destination control
seats rather than the aggregation of individual air
operation slip management informations, and for
specifying the management information transmission
destination by icons or graphics to perform the
transmission from the air operation slip management
data list concerned.
At this point, there may be used a means for
displaying the contents of the air operation slip
management data at a control seat displayed as icons or
graphics according to an operation such as the one of
clicking icons or graphics by a pointing device,
thereby allowing the contents to be referred to, and as
with the above-mentioned embodiments, the transmission
operation to be performed by the drag & drop operation.
Although in the above-mentioned embodiments,
the transmission processing has been performed by the
drag & drop operation, there may be used a means for
specifying the transmission source or the transmission
destination in a manner to click individually the air
operation slip management data to be controlled and the
CA2i b7~1 b
- 69 -
air operation slip management data at the transmission
destination. Where the transmission destination is
specified, the designation of the transmission
destination may be omitted.
Although in the above-mentioned embodiments, when
the air operation slip management data have been
transmitted, aircraft flight names have been displayed
as icons as a means for indicating clearly and visually
the operation process of moving the control information
from a transmission source control seat to a transmis-
sion destination control seat at the control seat at
the transmission destination, the means may be any one
capable of indicating clearly a fact that the
transmission operation is performed for their own
control seats.
Although in the above-mentioned embodiments, the
specifying of the transmission information and the
transmission destination, and the moving of the air
operation slip management data have been performed by
the mouse operation, the operation may be performed by
any means such as a touch panel, a track ball and a pen
interface capable of being utilized as a pointing
device. An operation such as the cursor moving through
keyboard may be used combinedly with such means.
Although in the above-mentioned embodiments, when
the moving route designation by a pointing device has
been performed, the leading information of the air
t
CA2167516
_ ~o _
operation slip management data has been used as a drag
icon, the information may be all or part of the air
operation slip management data to be controlled, or
symbolic icons, graphics, character information or code
information representing the transmission.
Although in the above-mentioned embodiments, the
sending information has been dragged up to and dropped
at the sending destination, the instruction input items
of the sending start instructions have been displayed
at a timing at which the sending data have been
displayed in the communication message display region,
and the instruction of sending start has been inputted
to cause the sending to be started, the sending may be
started at a timing at which the sending information is
dragged up to and dropped at the.sending destination,
or a timing at which the sending information is
displayed in the communication message display region.
Further, there may be used a means for starting,
stopping or reserving the sending through a means for
checking to see whether the sending may be performed at
this point.
Although in the above-mentioned embodiments, an
operation of indicating clearly a fact that the
information is under sending or receiving has_not been
performed, there may be used a display means for
identifying/indicating clearly and visually a fact that
the information is being sending or receiving so that
''' ~A2 ~ 675 ~ ~
- ~1 -
users can understand easily a current communication
status.
Although in the above-mentioned embodiments, the
information has been communicated through the text
information communication between the ACC and the IFR
by the use of a voice communication through a speaking
between the .control seats and the pilot, part or all of
the information may be transmitted by either of
speaking voice, voice synthesis, text communication,
and multimedia communication including the mutual
transmission between control seats.
Although in the above-mentioned embodiments, the
same display region has been used as the sending
message display region, the receiving message display
region, and the sending message input region, all or
part thereof may be positioned in another region.
Although in the above-mentioned embodiments,
controllers have performed the transmission of
instructions to and the response to aircraft pilots by
speaking therewith directly, the transmission may be
performed by voice synthesis or text information
sending by the use of a means for inputting as text and
a means for selecting or changing a fixed message list
previously prepared in the system to send the message
to the sending destination.
Although in the above-mentioned embodiments, as
shown in the region 2.1.1 of FIG. 11, a fact that the
a"""~'t
CA2167516
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flight level information from the air operation plan
had been changed by the instruction from the ACC has
been displayed in the air operation slip management
data display region, the information in the air
operation slip management data display region after
being changed may be highlighted in a form such as
half-tone dot meshing form, or the flight level
information from the air operation plan may be
displayed with red double lines, or the information
before the change of the air operation slip management
information, the information indicating canceling
thereof, and the information after change may be
simultaneously displayed to indicate clearly the
modification.
Although in the above-mentioned embodiments, the
airport layout, aircraft flight names, the
discrimination between departure flight and arrival
flight, and positions at intervals of a specified time
have been displayed in the window of FIGS. 11 through
14, a dynamic~operation status of and supplemental
information on aircrafts and vehicles, such as the
movement and positions of objects running in the
airport including vehicles for performing the push/back
of aircrafts according to the contents of the air
operation slip management data and of the response/
confirmation message to personnel concerned with
control and pilots may be added thereto so as to be
CA2167516
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displayed in the airport map display region 1.
There may be used a means for adding, for example,
an expression of a jetting status and identification
information such as color to a status of the motion and
running during parking, before/after engine starting,
during push/back operation, during taxiing on taxiway,
during taxiing on runway, and during taking off of
aircrafts, as well as during parking, and during
push/back operation, of vehicles so as to display them
in the airport map information display region 1.
Although in the above-mentioned embodiments, a
sensor device for detecting positional coordinates of
aircrafts and vehicles has been used to detect the
positions thereof and display aircraft running
positions, there may be used a means for displaying
aircrafts and vehicles in the airport map information
display region 1 as with the embodiment, or identifying
and displaying a running state and an operating state
of aircrafts and vehicles, while simulating or
predicting a positions, a running state and an
operating state thereof, by the use of the air
operation slip management information and the
communication information such as the contents of the
response/confirmation message to personnel concerned
with control and pilots without using a position
detecting means. In a special case of the above, there
may be used a means for indicating clearly the
CA2167516
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direction of aircrafts and vehicles as icon or CG
(computer graphics) information.
Although the above-mentioned embodiments have been
examples of displaying a specified airport map range,
there may be used a selection means for changing over a
display range, the degree of detail of display informa-
tion, a display size and the like, or a means for
allowing the range to be specified or changed
continuously.
Further, there may be used a means for specifying
a range concerned in an airport map, and displaying
simultaneously the range in another display region or a
display region such as a window having an overlap by a
plurality of kinds of display fashions or ranges.
Also, there may be used a means for changing the
region, frame or display fashion indicating the range
concerned of a specified airport map to another region
to display. Alternatively, there may be used a means
for changing over the display range or display size in
the airport map display region to the display of an
aircraft to be currently controlled or to the display
of a range in a specified range with the aircraft as a
center.
Although in the above-mentioned embodiments, the
information associated with aircrafts such as aircraft
flight names and model names, and the information such
as model numbers~have been displayed as the character
h
_ ~5 _ CA2167516
information, and the aircrafts themselves have been
displayed with icons having the same graphics, in
addition to the above, there may be used a means for
identifying various status as the pattern information
by the use of the information associated with aircrafts
such as aircraft flight names and model names, the code
information expressing typically model numbers and the
like, and different graphics (including icons), instead
of part of the information on aircrafts and vehicles,'
or the information used in the embodiments. Also, the
status may be expressed with only character information
without using the pattern information.
Although in the above-mentioned embodiments, the
control seats FD, CD, GC, LC have corresponded to the
other terminals, the function of all or part of a
plurality of control seats may be concentrated on the
same terminal, and there may be used a means for
changing the share of the roles thereof as required.
Further, without being limited to four control seats,
the number of the control seats may be changed as
required, and any form having equal functional shares
may be used.
Also, a plurality of terminals having the same
control seat function may be used. There may be used a
means for changing the terminals which are controlled
and used as the air operation slip management according
to a status such as crowded control condition, among
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a plurality of control seat terminals.
Although the above-mentioned embodiments have
shown a case where the air operation slip management
information has been displayed on the screen in a form
simulating the air operation slip (strip) itself used
currently as a slip, any form capable of handling and
expressing the information on air operation slips may
be used.
Although in the above-mentioned embodiments, the
inference about aircraft taxiing routes has been
performed, in addition to an optimum guide route
presentation, there may be performed flight plan
confirmation and the like, the check for an adequacy of
the response/confirmation items to the request from
pilots on the basis of the progress status of the
takeoff/landing preparation including current aircraft
and vehicle positions, as well as an inference about
part or all of instructions to pilots.
Although in the above-mentioned embodiments, the
server has been assigned the FD, and the other three
clients have been assigned the CD, the GC, the LC, four
or a .plurality of terminals may have a means for
changing over the function of control seats or of
server/client.
Further, there may be used a means for providing
all control seats with the same function and allowing
them to be mutually communicated in a distributed
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form, even in a form having a dedicated server so as to
perform independently control support processing. At
this point, even when one seat performs the role as a
server, if a state such as a trouble is detected, the
server may be changed over by manual operation or
automatically.
Although in the above-mentioned embodiments, as a
method of displaying visually the progress of the
drag & drop (D & D) operation for the air operation
slip information transmission, the method of
transmitting the D & D information through the server
has been used, any method of performing efficiently the
communication such as a means of communicating directly
with control seats may be used.
Although in the above-mentioned embodiments, even
a function other than the D & D has performed the
communication through the server, there may be used a
means for determining the communication path for part
or all of information by a direct or dynamic judging
processing without passing through the server.
Although in the above-mentioned embodiments,
a case where the air operation slip management data of
own control seats had been mutually specified by the
drag & drop operation has been neglected, there may be
used an arrangement change processing means for judging
the case as an arrangement change and inserting the air
operation slip management data at the drag source into
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a position after or before the drag destination. Also,
there may be used a means for performing the arrangement
change by an operation procedure different from the
above.
Although the above-mentioned embodiments have been
in a form of LAN connection of FIG. 1, the form may be
of a star type and the like with the server as a
center. Also, the LAN may be configured by a plurality
of circuits in a double systems to overcome any down.
Industrial Applicability
It will be appreciated that various modifications
are possible within a spot not changing the subject
matter of the present invention.
Industrial Applicability
As described above, a user interface unit for .an
airport air operation slip management system in
connection with the present invention is useful such
that it can reduce the load on controllers in status
understanding and decision, and in operation and
feedback to personnel concerned so as to make more
accurate and prompt instructions possible, and can
transmit the understanding between the pilot and the
controllers not only in an audile manner but also in a
visual manner.
Particularly, in the present invention, through
the interaction with assigned computer terminal
screens, controllers perform mutually the transmission
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of air operation slip management data by using a
communication system similar to the electronic male
system, in the same format as conventional air
operation slips or in a modified format depending to
purposes and status. For example, from the knowledge
base on the monitoring results by conventional visual
observation and by visual confirmation with radar
screen and from the knowledge base on the status and
air operation of aircrafts in the airport on the
screen, the computer infers the next air operation
instruction candidate for an aircraft to be controlled
and presents automatically the candidate to
controllers, whereby a load on the judgment of
controllers can be reduced.
While referring to the status of aircrafts in the
airport and the status of processing by other
controllers on the same screen, each controller
specifies the transmission destination of appropriate
air operation slips to perform the transmission,
thereby supporting the controller to make the control
operation more efficient.
Messages from the inquiry destination by pilots
and the like, and the speaking contents by controllers
are converted by a voice recognition technique to text
information, whereby part of the information required
for the control is automatically identified. On the
basis of the information, the contents of the air
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operation slip management data are automatically
changed through the confirmation by controllers. The
feedback of information to other controllers and pilots
is performed in either of or both voice and text
display forms by the use of the air operation
information defined at each control step and of
usually-used fixed transmission messages. This allows
the load on controllers to be further reduced.
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It will be understood that the user interface unit
can comprise information processing means having a
knowledge storage means for storing prior knowledge data
to perform an inference in regard to an optimum guide
route presentation and a flight plan confirmation when
the check for an adequacy of the response/confirmation
items to the request from pilots, and the advice request
of sending messages to pilots are instructed from the
instruction input devices and an inference processing
means for fetching applicable knowledge data from the
knowledge storage means according to the advice request
instruction and inferring on the basis of the data; and
the information output means includes an inference result
display means for displaying inference results by the
inference processing means.
The information output means can also comprise an
alarm message display means for checking to see that the
information items of the transmitted air operation strip
management information accepted at the transmission
destination are complete, and if a fact that the items
are not accepted is instructed through said instruction
input, devices, displaying incomplete information items on
the control seat at the transmission source, and at the
same time, displaying an alarm message.
The information obtaining and managing means can
further include a position detection sensor for detecting
the positional coordinates of aircrafts and vehicles on
said airport map.
