Interval Management Using Data Overlay

摘要

Computer assistance in interval management may be beneficial in a number of ways. For example, digital communication of interval management instructions or information related to interval management may beneficially be communicated to aircraft with respect to other aircraft. This information may be communicated overlaid on air traffic control (ATC) communications, or otherwise. A method can include, for example, obtaining a spacing goal for an aircraft relative to a target aircraft. The method can also include determining clearance instructions for the aircraft, wherein the speed guidance is based on the spacing goal. The method can further include transmitting the clearance instructions in a computer-readable format to the aircraft. The instructions can be provided by an overlay-modulated signal of a provided modulated ATC signal. The instructions can be configured to enable control of the aircraft to achieve the spacing goal.

主权项

1. A method of providing interval management by encoding an overlay message onto a provided modulated air traffic control (ATC) signal, the method comprising:
employing a selected overlay modulation protocol; and modulating the provided modulated ATC signal with the overlay message using the selected overlay modulation protocol, wherein the provided modulated ATC signal is modulated with a pulse position modulation protocol, wherein the overlay message is configured to provide interval management with respect to a flight path of a target aircraft, and wherein: the ATC signal is independently demodulatable from the overlay message; and the ATC signal modulated with the overlay message is recognizable as an ATC signal by legacy ATC equipment.