(12) United States Patent
`Jiang
`
`USOO6278913B1
`(10) Patent No.:
`US 6,278,913 B1
`(45) Date of Patent:
`Aug. 21, 2001
`
`(54) AUTOMATED FLIGHT DATA
`MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
`
`(75) Inventor: Jimmy Liu Jiang, Singapore (SG)
`(73) Assignee: Mil-Com Technologies PTE Ltd. (SG)
`(*) Notice:
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days.
`
`(56)
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`4,122,522
`4,644,494
`5,761,625
`5,796,612
`
`10/1978 Smith ..................................... 701/15
`2/1987 Muller ...........
`... 711/152
`6/1998 Honcik et al. ......................... 701/14
`8/1998 Palmer ..................................... 701/4
`
`6,061,794 * 5/2000 Angelo et al. ....................... 713/200
`* cited by examiner
`Primary Examiner William A. Cuchlinski, Jr.
`Asin Examiner Gertrude Arthur
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Coudert Brothers
`(57)
`ABSTRACT
`A data processing System for automating the process of
`managing flight data and generating reports based on that
`data. The System accesses flight data transmitted on an
`(21) Appl. No.: 09/267,500
`airborne databus, where the data represents Sensor readings
`indicative of various flight parameters. The accessed flight
`(22) Filed:
`Mar 12, 1999
`(51) Int. Cl. ............................... G06F 1700, G06F 700 EEASE
`(52) U.S. Cl. ................................... 701/3; 701/14; 701/25;
`to an adaptive compression process prior to being stored on
`701/35; 701/120; 702/144; 73/181; 24.4/158 R
`a portable, Self-protected Secure memory device. After the
`58) Field of S s h
`s
`s
`701 3, 13, 14
`flight ends, the portable, Self-protected Secure memory
`(58) Field o ears 1/ 15, 16.24.25 29 33 34 s 5 120.
`device is transferred to ground perSonnel. The data Stored on
`244/158 R 7. R 220. 702/144. 73/17s R.
`the memory device is then accessed by authorized
`s 178 T isi: 340,967 959 960
`perSonnel, decompressed and decrypted. The flight data is
`s
`s
`s
`s
`analyzed and used to evaluate pilot performance and moni
`References Cited
`tor the operation of the aircraft through the generation of
`flight reports. Various data analysis techniques, including
`artificial intelligence based algorithms and expert Systems
`may be used to examine the flight data and determine its
`Significance.
`
`15 Claims, 13 Drawing Sheets
`
`ass aS 3 : (2 :
`
`SENSORFORENGINETEMPERATURE
`SENSORFORAIRSPEED
`ENSORFORALTITUDE S
`
`
`. .
`
`DIGITALARBORNEDATABUS
`
`AVIATIONSMART
`OGBOX
`
`27 Layer3
`
`SMARTCARDAVIATION
`MANAGEMENTSYSTEM
`
`LOGREPORT
`PRINTOUT
`GROUND STATION
`
`PILOTSMART
`CARDAVIATION
`OGBOOK
`
`v
`
`Layer 4
`
`Layer 5
`
`Layer 6
`
`MAINTENANCE
`WORKSHOP
`DATA CENTER
`
`FLIGHTMANAGEMENT
`CENTERDATABASE
`
`DATA CENTER
`
`WANTERNET 1
`OR PRIVATE -
`LINE Os
`
`
`
`INFORMATIONKIOSKS
`
`DJI-1011
`IPR2023-01106
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Aug. 21, 2001
`
`Sheet 1 of 13
`
`US 6,278,913 B1
`
`SENSORFOR ENGINE TEMPERATURE
`SENSORFOR ARSPEED
`SENSORFOR ALTITUDE
`
`
`
`
`
`DIGITAL AIRBORNE DATABUS
`
`AVIATION SMART
`LOGBOX
`
`Layer 1
`
`Layer 2
`
`Layer3
`
`Layer 4
`
`SMART CARDAVIATION
`MANAGEMENTSYSTEM
`
`LOGREPORT
`PRINTOUT
`GROUND STATION
`
`
`
`PILOTSMART
`CARDAVIATION
`LOG BOOK
`
`a
`
`aaaar am
`
`all-es
`
`Layer 5
`
`MAINTENANCE
`WORKSHOP
`
`DATA CENTER
`
`
`
`VIA INTERNET -1
`OR PRIVATE
`LINE
`
`
`
`FLIGHT MANAGEMENT
`CENTER DATABASE
`
`DATA CENTER
`
`a
`
`-
`
`-
`
`-
`
`-
`
`Y
`se
`
`Layer 6
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`U.S. Patent
`
`Aug. 21, 2001
`
`Sheet 2 of 13
`
`US 6,278,913 B1
`US 6,278,913 B1
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`U.S. Patent
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`Aug. 21, 2001
`
`Sheet 3 of 13
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`US 6,278,913 B1
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`U.S. Patent
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`Aug. 21, 2001
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`Sheet 4 of 13
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`Aug. 21, 2001
`Aug. 21, 2001
`
`Sheet 5 of 13
`Sheet 5 of 13
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`US 6,278,913 B1
`US 6,278,913 B1
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`U.S. Patent
`
`Aug. 21, 2001
`
`Sheet 6 of 13
`
`US 6,278,913 B1
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`SMART CARD
`
`FIG. 7
`
`
`
`
`
`Collect New Data
`
`Separate Tag
`From Data
`
`Separated
`Tag Compared With
`Tag Stored in Data
`Tag File List
`
`
`
`Tag Exist in
`Tag List
`Store Collected
`Data
`
`Send For
`Fijitering Process
`
`FIG. 8(a)
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Aug. 21, 2001
`
`Sheet 7 of 13
`
`US 6,278,913 B1
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`SAMPLED DATA
`
`Compare
`Present Collected
`Data With Previous
`Collected
`Data
`
`Different Data
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Store Collected
`Data With
`Timing
`
`Send For
`Compression And
`Encryption
`
`FIG. 8(b)
`
`
`
`Compression Routine
`(Compression Ratio)
`
`
`
`Threshold Walue =
`Compression Ratio
`
`
`
`Past Data =
`Get Data ( )
`
`
`
`Present Data =
`Get Next Data ( )
`
`Present Data
`-Past Data
`> Threshold
`Value?
`
`
`
`
`
`Record Present
`Data
`Past Data =
`Present Data
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Present Data =
`Get Next Data ( )
`
`
`
`
`
`Record
`File in Card
`Ful?
`
`
`
`
`
`Compression Ratio = (Bigger)
`Compression Ratio
`Re-Compress (Compression Ratio)
`
`FIG. 8(c)
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Aug. 21, 2001
`
`Sheet 8 of 13
`
`US 6,278,913 B1
`
`
`
`
`
`Record The Present Data Yes
`In SRAM
`Past Data = Present Data
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Re-Compress
`(Compression Ratio)
`
`
`
`Threshold Value =
`Compression Ratio
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Past Data =
`Get Data ( )
`
`
`
`Present Data =
`Get Next Data ( )
`
`Present Data
`-Past Data
`> Threshold
`Value?
`
`Present Data =
`Get Next Data ( )
`
`Erase The Old Record in The
`Current Flight Data File and
`Copy The Re-Compressed
`Records From SRAM into The
`Current Flight Data File
`
`FIG. 8(d)
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Aug. 21, 2001
`
`Sheet 9 of 13
`
`US 6,278,913 B1
`
`Memory Space
`For Flying Data
`Mapping
`
`Memory Space
`For Other Usage
`
`-:
`
`:
`
`ry
`y
`(For The Current Flight DataFile)
`
`Board Memory
`(SRAM)
`
`FIG. 9(a)
`
`
`
`H
`O
`
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`O
`
`s s ?
`
`Compressed
`Data Stored
`
`Compressed
`Data Stored
`
`Card Memory
`
`Board Memory
`
`FIG. 9(b)
`
`
`
`
`
`Compressed Data
`Full On Card
`
`Compressed
`Data Full
`
`s
`
`e Card Memory
`
`Board Memory
`
`FIG. 9(c)
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Aug. 21, 2001
`
`Sheet 10 of 13
`
`US 6,278,913 B1
`
`
`
`
`
`Data
`Stored in
`Card File is
`Still Full
`
`Re-Compressed
`Data According
`To New Ratio
`
`|
`
`
`
`New Data
`Re-Compressed
`Data
`
`99.99
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`
`FIG. 9(d)
`
`recompressed
`data to the card
`
`Board Memory
`FIG. 9(e)
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Aug. 21, 2001
`
`Sheet 11 of 13
`
`US 6,278,913 B1
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`U.S. Patent
`
`Aug. 21, 2001
`
`Sheet 12 of 13
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`US 6,278,913 B1
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`U.S. Patent
`U.S. Patent
`
`Aug. 21, 2001
`Aug. 21, 2001
`
`Sheet 13 of 13
`Sheet 13 of 13
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`US 6,278,913 B1
`US 6,278,913 B1
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`

`US 6,278,913 B1
`
`1
`AUTOMATED FLIGHT DATA
`MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`1. Field of the Invention
`The present invention relates to Systems for collecting,
`processing, and analyzing data generated during the flight of
`an aircraft, and more specifically, to a data processing
`System for collecting flight data and producing pilot log
`reports from that data.
`2. Description of the Prior Art
`A pilot log is a document used to record information
`concerning an aircraft flight for the purpose of tracking pilot
`hours and performance, and assisting in the identification of
`problems with the aircraft. Presently, every pilot has an
`individual Pilot Log Book in which certain flight informa
`tion and a report of the flight are recorded. After each flight,
`the pilot reports to a ground Station and Someone at the
`station fills in the Log Book based on the pilot's description
`of the flight and the limited flight information (e.g., time of
`flight, fuel consumption, altitude level, airspeed, etc.) known
`to the pilot and ground Station perSonnel. This flight infor
`mation is typically restricted to that available from a pilot's
`recollections or air traffic control data. The Log Book
`provides the only easily accessible report on the flight
`conditions and the pilot's response to any problems encoun
`tered during the flight. It also provides a record of the
`aircraft's performance, and hence any indications of
`mechanical or System failures on board the aircraft.
`However, the current System has inherent disadvantages.
`A manually prepared Pilot Log may include inaccuracies,
`both due to a pilot's failure to notice or recall potentially
`important details, and as a result of a pilot attempting to
`exclude events which might Suggest pilot error. This can
`present a Safety risk and can also cause the next pilot flying
`the aircraft to encounter a problem caused or not reported by
`a previous pilot. Being a manually prepared data record, the
`current Pilot Log System also is time consuming to prepare
`and is prone to errors in transcription, etc. In addition, with
`the large amount of data which can be used to describe a
`flight and track the response of both the pilot and aircraft, it
`desirable to have access to more of it than may be available
`through a pilot's recollections or recording of data during
`the flight, or that available to ground perSonnel from air
`traffic control computers.
`An automated System for collection and management of
`flight data indicative of aircraft operating parameters and a
`pilot's actions would be useful, both to eliminate errors
`present in the preparation of current Pilot Logs and to
`provide a more complete record of events occurring during
`the flight of an aircraft. Such an error-free and more com
`plete record could be used for evaluation of pilot perfor
`mance and also to assist aircraft mechanics in monitoring the
`operation of the aircraft Systems for purposes of mainte
`nance Scheduling and repairs.
`One automated flight data collection System presently in
`use is a flight data recorder, conventionally termed a “Black
`Box'. A Black Box is installed on aircraft to record flight
`data for the purpose of assisting investigators in the event of
`an accident. However, Such devices do not provide a record
`of the flight data for an entire flight, being designed to record
`only the last 30 minutes of the flight. Furthermore, the partial
`flight record on the data recorder is typically not accessible
`by a ground Station or pilot to review the pilot and aircraft
`performance during the flight. Even if the data Stored inside
`the Black Box were accessible, it would be difficult to
`
`15
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`analyze and extrapolate that partial flight information to
`provide a reliable understanding of the entire flight.
`U.S. Pat. No. 4,644,494 discloses a solid state memory
`unit for use in aircraft flight data recorder Systems. The
`memory unit includes an electronically erasable Solid State
`memory and a memory controller circuit. The flight data is
`continuously Stored during the flight, with the oldest data
`being overwritten with newly acquired flight data. The
`memory unit includes circuitry for minimizing power dis
`Sipation by applying power to the Solid State memory only
`when data is being transferred to the memory and a data
`protection circuit which prevents memory write and erase
`operations when the System operating potential falls below
`a specified level.
`U.S. Pat. No. 5,761,625 discloses an aircraft data man
`agement System which includes a reconfigurable algorithmic
`network used to define a set of operations to perform on the
`flight data. The network defines functional relationships
`between various flight data and performs data processing
`operations on the data, with the flight data Sources and
`relationships between data configured by a user.
`U.S. Pat. No. 5,796,612 discloses a method for three
`dimensional flight control based on using Sensors to obtain
`air pressure data at or near various aircraft Surfaces during
`flight. The air pressure differentials are processed to evaluate
`flight parameters and determine flight conditions and evalu
`ate aircraft performance.
`Thus, although the art does disclose the collection and
`processing of a limited amount of flight data over a limited
`time for the purpose of evaluating aircraft performance, it
`does not disclose a flight data processing System which can
`automate the preparation of a Pilot Log or Similar record of
`an entire flight. If available, Such a record could be used to
`evaluate a pilot's performance, monitor an aircraft's opera
`tion during a flight, and assist in identifying mechanical
`problems or other Safety concerns.
`What is desired is a data processing System which auto
`mates the collection and analysis of flight data generated
`during the operation of an aircraft over the entire time of a
`flight, and which can be used to produce a report of the flight
`for purposes of monitoring pilot and aircraft performance. It
`is also desirable that the System be accessible by ground
`Station perSonnel and aircraft mechanics, and that the databe
`protected from corruption or alteration by unauthorized
`perSonnel.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`The present invention is directed to a data processing
`System for automating the process of managing flight data
`and generating reports based on that data. The inventive
`System accesses Signals transmitted on an airborne databus,
`where the Signals represent Sensor readings indicative of the
`values of a desired Set of flight parameters. The Sensors are
`installed on or in the aircraft and are used to measure flight
`parameterS Such as airspeed, heading, fuel consumption,
`altitude, engine temperature, engine rpm, etc. The accessed
`Signals are sampled, filtered, decoded, encrypted, and Sub
`jected to an adaptive compression process prior to being
`Stored on a portable, Self-protected Secure memory device.
`In one embodiment of the invention, the memory device
`may be of the type conventionally termed a “Smart card' and
`is accessed by a card reader circuit which is installed on the
`aircraft. The values of a Set of desired flight parameters are
`continuously recorded on the memory device, with the
`compression ratio for the newly obtained and previously
`recorded data being adaptively varied as the memory capac
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`ity of the device is reduced during the flight. This permits
`data for the entire flight to be recorded on the memory
`device. After the flight ends, the portable memory device is
`transferred to ground perSonnel. The data is on the card is
`then accessed by authorized perSonnel, decompressed, and
`decrypted.
`The flight data is analyzed and used to evaluate pilot
`performance and monitor the operation of the aircraft over
`the course of the entire flight through the generation of flight
`reports. Various data analysis techniques, including artificial
`intelligence based algorithms, rule-based expert Systems,
`and Statistical methods may be used to examine the flight
`data and determine if it indicates any problems with either
`pilot or aircraft performance. The flight data may also be
`used to generate a record of the flight for purposes of
`updating a pilot's flight history and tracking the flight time
`of an aircraft.
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`operation of the aircraft, and identifying potential mechani
`cal or Safety problems. The System provides controls on the
`perSonnel authorized to access the recorded data and may be
`configured by a user to Specify the flight parameters to be
`tracked and the methods used to analyze the recorded data.
`In one embodiment of the invention, each user of the
`System has an associated Self-protected Secure memory
`device which contains their personal identification data,
`authorization codes, a digital version of their signature (if
`required for use in filing a report), and relevant data per
`taining to their performance of their job responsibilities. In
`the case of a pilot, this data would include a flight history
`and the memory device would be used to record the flight
`data while they are operating an aircraft. The memory device
`of a ground Station employee would contain their own
`personal data and data access codes for downloading or
`reviewing the flight or aircraft performance data generated
`during a pilot's flight. In addition, a pilot log card can
`include files in which specific operational parameters of an
`aircraft are identified for tracking during the flight to moni
`tor a pilot's mode of flying the aircraft or a specific aircraft's
`performance. For example, if a pilot has a history of oper
`ating aircraft under conditions of excessive Speed or engine
`RPM, then the pilot's log card can be configured to track
`those parameters more carefully than for the case of a pilot
`who does not operate an aircraft in that manner. Similarly, if
`a specific aircraft or type of aircraft is believed or known to
`have a problem which is indicated by certain parameters,
`those parameters can be tracked more carefully. In this
`manner, the inventive System can be used by different users
`in accordance with their individual job responsibilities and
`requirements.
`FIG. 1 is a diagram of the automated flight data manage
`ment System of the present invention. AS shown in the figure,
`the inventive System may be conveniently represented in the
`form of six discrete layers, although Such a representation is
`not required and is utilized for purposes of explanation. AS
`part of the system, each pilot has their own Pilot Log Card
`which is a portable, Self-protected Secure memory device. In
`a preferred embodiment of the invention, the memory device
`takes the form of a credit card sized "Smart card”. A Smart
`card is a portable memory device which may include an
`embedded processing unit and encryption capabilities to
`provide security for the stored data. Other possible portable
`memory devices Suitable for use with the present invention
`include a CD-ROM or PCMCIA card which can be utilized
`in conjunction with encryption Software or hardware to
`provide the Security aspects of the invention.
`The Pilot Log Card replaces the paper Pilot Log Book
`which is typically used in the aviation industry. The flight
`parameter data which is normally manually entered into the
`Pilot Log Book is instead stored in the Pilot Log Card. A
`pilot is required to insert his Pilot Log Card into the aviation
`Smart log box (layer 3) before flying the aircraft.
`During the aircraft's flight, flight parameter data is con
`tinuously Stored in the memory device. The flight parameter
`data are typically obtained from Sensors located within the
`aircraft or on its Surface (layer 1). These Sensors detect
`parameterS Such as engine temperature, airspeed, aircraft
`altitude, aircraft heading, fuel level, etc., and are conven
`tionally installed in aircraft to provide flight data to the flight
`crew during operation of the craft. If the Sensors conven
`tionally installed on an aircraft are not Sufficient to provide
`the type of flight parameter data desired, additional Sensors
`may be installed as part of implementing the present inven
`tion.
`The inventive system may be configured by the user to
`record all available flight parameter data, or only a desired
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`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`FIG. 1 is a diagram of the automated flight data manage
`ment System of the present invention.
`FIG. 2 is a Schematic diagram of the micro-controller and
`random access memory (RAM) circuitry which is part of the
`present invention.
`FIG. 3 is a Schematic diagram of the System power Supply
`circuitry which is part of the present invention.
`FIG. 4(a) is a schematic diagram of the signal decoder
`circuitry which is part of the present invention. FIG. 4(b) are
`waveforms showing the input signal (FIG. 4(b)-1) and
`output signal (FIG. 4(b)-2) for the decoder of FIG. 4(a).
`FIG. 5 is a Schematic diagram of the Smart card reader
`Signal circuit which is part of the present invention
`FIG. 6 shows the pin layout for the Smart card reader
`interface circuitry which is part of the present invention.
`FIG. 7 is a diagram Showing the data processing opera
`tions applied to the Signals acquired from the aircraft data
`bus or other Source (Such as a collection of Sensors) prior to
`Storing the data in the memory of the Smart card or other
`Secure memory device.
`FIGS. 8(a) to 8(d) are flow charts showing the processing
`Steps in the sampling (8(a)), filtering (8(b)), adaptive com
`pression (8(c)), and re-compression (8(d)) operations uti
`lized in the present invention.
`FIGS. 9(a) to 9(e) are diagrams illustrating how the
`available memory capacity of the SRAM and secure
`memory device varies during data collection and application
`of the inventive data processing operations.
`FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the file structure of a sample
`pilot log card.
`FIG. 11 is a diagram showing the data processing opera
`tions applied to the data downloaded from a pilot's log card.
`FIG. 12 shows an example of a flight log report which
`may be generated by the present invention.
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`INVENTION
`The present invention is directed to a data processing
`System for the acquisition, Storage, and analysis of flight
`parameter data generated during the flight of an aircraft. The
`inventive System provides a Secure method of recording
`flight data for the entire duration of a flight and then
`downloading that data to a data analysis module which
`processes the data. The processed data are used to generate
`reports Suitable for evaluating the performance of a pilot, the
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`Subset of the data, by identifying and Selectively storing only
`data corresponding to the desired parameters. This aspect
`may be implemented in the form of a parameter tag list
`Stored on a pilot's log card. The list identifies those param
`eters which are to be tracked and can be reconfigured by an
`authorized ground officer. In this manner, each pilot can
`have a flight record file tailored to their experience level
`and/or the requirements of the fleet manager, to provide
`better evaluation of pilot performance and aircraft operation.
`The flight parameter Sensors produce either an analog or
`digital signal indicative of the value of the Sensed parameter.
`If the Sensor output signal is of an analog nature, it may be
`converted to digital Signals by means of an analog-to-digital
`converter (ADC). The Sensor output signals are convention
`ally transmitted from the Sensor locations through the air
`craft to a common location by a digital airborne databuS
`(layer 2), which is installed in the aircraft.
`The data Signals carried by the databus are intercepted by
`either a direct (conductive) tap or an indirect (inductive) tap,
`depending upon the databuS Specifications. If no databuS is
`present in the aircraft or if additional Sensors have been
`installed on the aircraft, the Sensor output Signals may be
`tapped directly (hard-wired) and routed to the aviation Smart
`log box. The Sensor output Signals are generated in a
`real-time mode during the operation of the aircraft. The
`real-time data is intercepted from the databuS or acquired
`from the Sensors and provided to the Smart log box (layer 3).
`The Smart log box contains circuitry for identifying the
`Signals of interest, Sampling the data represented by those
`Signals, filtering the signals (if necessary), decoding the
`Signals (if necessary, to remove any encoding introduced by
`the Sensors or placement of the signals on the databus),
`encrypting the signals, and compressing the encrypted Sig
`nals. The compressed signals are then Stored in the Self
`protected Secure memory device.
`AS will be described in greater detail, because the amount
`of memory Storage Space available on the Pilot Log Card is
`limited, it may not be possible to store the desired data for
`an entire flight in the memory Space available at a fixed,
`pre-Set compression ratio. Since the amount of data required
`to be Stored is a function of the number of Sensor Signals
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`acquired, the Sampling rate, and the flight duration, a com
`pression ratio which is Satisfactory for certain flights or
`Stages of a flight may not be optimal for longer or more
`complex flights. Thus, in accordance with the present
`invention, the encrypted data is compressed using an adap
`tive compression method having a varying compression
`ratio, where the ratio used is dependent upon the memory
`Volume available. This adaptive updating of the compres
`Sion ratio as the data is acquired permits flight data for an
`entire flight to be stored in the memory device, instead of
`only a Smaller time Sample of the data or data corresponding
`to a limited number of flight parameters.
`After termination of the flight, the pilot withdraws the
`Pilot Log Card from the Smart log box and passes it to
`Ground Station personnel (layer 4). Data recorded in the
`memory device is then downloaded by an authorized perSon
`to a Ground Station processing Station. The downloaded data
`is decompressed, decrypted, and analyzed to generate a
`variety of Flight Log Reports. The data analysis may be
`assisted by use of artificial intelligence techniques, expert
`System analysis, or data analysis methods Such as Statistical
`analysis, graphing, etc. The data analysis is typically per
`formed to evaluate a pilot's responses to conditions encoun
`tered during the flight and monitor their skill at operating the
`aircraft, monitor the aircraft's operation during the flight,
`and identify conditions Suggesting pilot error or a potential
`mechanical problem with the aircraft.
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`The reports may then be examined by the pilot and
`authorized ground Station or other perSonnel. After confir
`mation of the reports, the Flight Reports are printed out for
`filing. Relevant data or information is then uploaded to the
`Flight Management Center Database (layer 5) and the Pilot
`Log file in the Pilot Log Card is updated to reflect a current
`Summary of the pilot's flight hours and experience. The data
`or information uploaded from the Ground Station is stored
`in the Flight Management Database along with other rel
`evant Aviation Management information. This information
`may be used for flight planning, flight analysis, fleet main
`tenance Scheduling, and tracking of pilot performance,
`among other purposes.
`The data (or a set of data authorized for release) Stored in
`the database may also be accessed through a WAN (Wide
`Area Network) or public INTERNET by pilots or authorized
`institutions by using a Flight Management Data Information
`Kiosk (layer 6). This may be done for purposes of accessing
`a pilot's flight records to evaluate their performance, to
`review the operational history of an aircraft or airlines, etc.
`The preceding overview of the present invention will now
`be expanded by describing the function and operation of
`each of the layers shown in FIG. 1 in greater detail.
`AS noted, Sensors are installed on the aircraft to obtain
`real time measurements of various flight parameters.
`Typically, all or Some of these measurements are displayed
`to the flight crew and used in the process of operating the
`aircraft. The Sensors used by the present invention may be
`Specially installed in the aircraft, or the invention may make
`use of existing Sensors. If the aircraft utilizes Sensors having
`an analog output, an AID converter may be used to convert
`the Signals to digital format. The digital Sensor output
`Signals are provided to the next layer, the Digital Airborne
`Databus (shown as layer 2 in FIG. 1).
`AS noted, in many modern aircraft, the output signals
`from the Sensors are fed to a common databus. The use of a
`common databuS permits all of the connected Sensors and
`other data generating or processing units on board the
`aircraft to use a Standard digital communication format to
`Send and receive information between the units. This makes
`the sharing of Sensor data and System data possible, and as
`recognized by the present inventor, enables the Signals to be
`intercepted and provided to the Smart log box (layer 3)
`instead of having to establish a direct connection to each
`Sensor. Note that if a common databuS is not available, then
`the Signals need to be hard-wired to the Smart log box as
`inputs, or otherwise provided to the Smart log box. For
`ARINC 429 and Mil-STD-1553 databus types, signals may
`be sent to and intercepted from the databuS by a conductive
`connection or tap. For an ARINC 629 databus, signals are
`transmitted inductively to the Smart log box.
`The Smart logbox of layer 3 contains circuitry and control
`code (typically micro-code) which act together to execute
`the operations performed on the acquired signals prior to
`Storage of the processed data. In a preferred embodiment of
`the invention, the data Storage device used in conjunction
`with the Smart log box takes the form of a “smart card”,
`which are a device combining a CPU (processor) with a
`protected memory. Such a device provides a combination of
`desirable features; portability (since Such cards are of
`approximately the same size as a credit card), data Security
`(since data encryption is a function performed on the data
`prior to Storage and transmission to external interfaces), and
`the ability to limit access to the data to authorized users.
`Although a large number of Signals may be present on the
`databus, in Some situations only a Subset of these signals
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`may be of interest. Thus, the type and number of parameters
`for which data Signals are acquired can be configured on a
`case by case basis. This is done by identifying and Selec
`tively acquiring only those signals representing parameters
`of interest. Typically, a data Stream for a particular parameter
`will have an identifying “tag” or data descriptor associated
`with it which can be used to Select those signals of interest
`for further processing by the inventive System. A user can
`configure a file on the Smart card or other memory device