Computerized airspace control system

United States Patent m

Thurman

[ii] Patent Number: 4,706,198 [45] Date of Patent: Nov. 10, 1987

[54] COMPUTERIZED AIRSPACE CONTROL SYSTEM

[76] Inventor: Daniel M. Thurman, P.O. Box 457, Crested Butte, Colo. 81224

[21] Appl. No.: 707,859

[22] Filed: Mar. 4,1985

[51] IntCl.4 G06F 15/48

[52] U.S. CI 364/439; 364/441;

364/461

[58] Field of Search 364/439, 440, 441, 460,

364/461, 443, 444, 138, 424; 343/454, 456, 6.5 R, 5 G, 5 C; 340/907; 342/454, 456

[56] References Cited

U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS

2,514,436 7/1950 Alvarez 364/439 X

2,972,742 2/1961 Ross 364/439

3,159,831 12/1964 Muth 343/456

3,534,367 10/1970 Laughlin et al 364/439

3,668,403 6/1972 Meilander 343/456

3,766,552 10/1973 Hajduk 343/456

3,868,497 2/1975 Vietor 364/440

4,196,474 4/1980 Buchanan et al 364/461

Primary Examiner—Enrol A. Krass Assistant Examiner—Thomas G. Black

Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Richards, Harris, Medlock & Andrews

[57] ABSTRACT

A computerized system is provided for automated aircraft traffic control. The system includes a master control unit having stored information identifying and characterizing all aircraft flying in the controlled airspace. A plurality of regional control units are linked for communication with the master control unit. Airport terminal and enroute control stations in each region are linked to the regional control unit for that region. Each aircraft flying in the region is equipped with a data-link console for communication with the regional control unit. The aircraft data-link provides identification and flight condition data to the regional control unit, and the regional control unit provides weather data and guidance signals to the aircraft. The guidance signals guide each aircraft along flight paths formed by a plurality of airway grids disposed at fixed angles with respect to each other and at each of a plurality of flight levels. The system improves flight safety by guiding each aircraft along a flight path selected from a multitude of possible flight paths to ensure separation from other aircraft.

8 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures

I AIRPORT TERMINALK | EN-ROUTE AREA |_ SJATI0_NS | 12a [CONTROL STATIONS

Y~l2b

FIG. 2