Automatic weather monitoring and adaptive transmitting system

Abstract

A method for automatically providing weather advisories for an airport to pilots comprises monitoring weather conditions at the airport and then generating weather advisories in response to these weather conditions. The broadcast traffic on a common traffic advisory channel is also simultaneously monitored and then menus providing for selectable weather advisories and radio check options are broadcast to the pilots. The weather advisories or radio check can then be selected by the pilot by clicks of their transmit button. The time spacing between the menus is adaptively changed in response to traffic on the common traffic advisory frequency. Also, the length of the weather advisories is also changed in response to this traffic. The radio check option is provided automatically by first confirming selection of the radio check option and then allowing the broadcaster to broadcast a short message which is recorded by the system and then rebroadcast.

Description

[0001]This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 08 / 411,583, filed Mar. 29, 1995, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,565,863 which is a divisional of U.S. Ser. No. 08 / 215,926, filed Mar. 22, 1994, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,434,565, the entire teachings of which are incorporated herein by reference.[0002]More than one reissue application has been filed for the reissue of 08 / 617,617, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,181,260 filed Mar 19, 1996. The reissue applications are application Nos. 10 / 179,086 (the present application), filed Jun. 11, 2002 and 10 / 691,429, filed Oct. 22, 2003 which is a divisional of 10 / 170,086.<?insert-end id="INS-S-00001" ?>BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]At large airports, takeoff and landing slots, runway assignments, holding patterns, and approaches are handled by the towers air traffic controllers during operating hours of the control tower. Smaller airports, however, rarely have the traffic to justify the expenses associated with the equipment and salaries of the to...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0012]In general according to another aspect, the invention relates to a system for broadcasting weather advisories to pilots. The system includes an automatic weather station which generates weather data indicative of ambient weather conditions. A transceiver monitors the radio frequency and generates a carrier detect signal in response to transmissions from other sources on a radio frequency. A central processing unit monitors the carrier detect signal for activity on the radio frequency and generates the weather advisories in response to transmission of an activating signal over the radio frequency. The lengths of the weather advisories are modified in response to the level of the activity to minimize the conflict between the system and other parties using the frequency.

Problems solved by technology

Smaller airports, however, rarely have the traffic to justify the expenses associated with the equipment and salaries of the tower crew.

Images