Method and apparatus for graphically inserting waypoints for a flight management system

[0002] This application is related to the below listed co-pending patent applications which are filed on even date herewith, are assigned to the same assignee, and are incorporated herein in their entirety by these references:

[0003] An application entitled “Method and Apparatus For Interactively Selecting Display Parameters For An Avionics Flight Display” by Sarah Barber, Norm W. Arons, and George W. Palmer;

[0004] An application entitled “Method and Apparatus For Interactively Selecting, Controlling and Displaying Parameters For An Avionics Radio Tuning Unit” by George W. Palmer, Claude Eyssautier, and Matt Smith;

[0005] An application entitled “Method and Apparatus For Interactively Displaying A Route Window For A Flight Management System” by Gary L. Owen, Sarah Barber, and George W. Palmer; and

[0006] An application entitled “Method And Apparatus For Interactively And Automatically Selecting, Controlling And Displaying Parameters For An Avionics Electronic Flight Display System” By Matt Smith and Gary L. Owen.

[0007] The present invention generally relates to avionics, and more particularly relates to flight management systems (FMSs), and even more particularly relates to FMS displays having a graphical user interface.

[0008] In the past, designers of avionics displays and flight computer systems have endeavored to achieve a reduction in pilot workload. One area of concern has been the FMS, which typically requires a significant amount of “heads-down” time. This “heads-down” time occurs when the pi primary flight displays nor out the wind screen, but instead is focused upon a task in an oblique direction, such as when using a typical FXMS control display unit (CDU), which has an integrated keyboard and a textual display unit. One approach has been proposed in which a large multi-functional display, disposed in front of the pilot is used for both viewing FMS information, as well as data input through a cursor. In some prior art applications, a map display of the various legs of a flight is provided to the pilot, showing the waypoints, or flight leg end points, as well as other significant features, such as VOR navigation radio points, airports etc. If a pilot wishes to insert a waypoint into a particular leg of the flight, the desired waypoint would be highlighted by interaction with a cursor. Once the waypoint is selected, then the cursor is used to select the desired flight leg from a textual list of flight legs. While this method of picking a flight leg from a textual list is similar to well-known prior art methods of flight leg selection, it also has significant drawbacks.

[0009] During times of moderate and severe turbulence, otherwise very simple tasks can become difficult and time consuming. For example, the step of requiring a pilot to reposition the cursor to select a flight leg from a textual list of flight legs may require considerable time. Additionally, during take-off and approach, the workload on a pilot can already be extreme, leaving the pilot with little or no time to spare. This additional effort, at an already busy time, is quite undesirable.

[0010] Consequently, there exists a need for improved methods and apparatuses for effecting the selection of flight legs into which waypoints can be inserted into a flight plan in a flight management system.

[0011] It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved avionics FMS.

[0012] It is a feature of the present invention to include an automatic leg selection feature.

[0013] It is another feature of the present invention to include a leg selection feature which is accomplished through a graphical selection of a waypoint on an FMS map.

[0014] It is an advantage of the present invention to reduce pilot workload.

[0015] The present invention is an apparatus and method for selecting a flight plan leg into which a new waypoint can be inserted, which is designed to satisfy the aforementioned needs, provide the previously stated objects, include the above-listed features, and achieve the already articulated advantages. The present invention is carried out in a “textual list-less” manher in a sense that the undesirable requirement to select a flight plan leg from a textual list has been eliminated for this insert operation.

[0016] Accordingly, the present invention is an avionics FMS display having a graphical flight plan leg selection feature which includes an automatic leg suggestion feature.

[0017] The invention may be more fully understood by reading the following description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, in conjunction with the appended drawings wherein:

[0018] FIG. 1 is a representation of an avionics display of the prior art, showing an FMS map having a two-legged flight plan.

[0019] FIG. 2 is a representation of an avionics display of the prior art, showing a pop-up menu having an insert feature.

[0020] FIG. 3 is a representation of an avionics display of the present invention, showing, in dotted lines, an automatically drawn suggested flight plan adjustment.

[0021] FIG. 4 is a representation of an avionics display of the present invention, showing the pop-up menu giving the pilot the option to execute or cancel the automatically drawn flight plan of FIG. 3.

[0022] Now referring to the drawings wherein like numerals refer to like matter throughout, there is shown in FIG. 1 a display of the prior art, generally designated 100, having a flight plan 102, with two legs. A final leg 104 and a first leg 106 are shown extending between origination point 108 and termination point 112 with an intermediate point 110 therebetween.

[0023] Now referring to FIG. 2, there is shown a display of FIG. 1 after selecting the waypoint 201 labeled ALO. A pop-up menu 202 has appeared to give the pilot an option of inserting the waypoint 201 into the flight plan by clicking the insert button 204.

[0024] Now referring to FIG. 3, there is shown a display of the present invention, generally designated 300, which results from clicking the insert button 204 of FIG. 2. FIG. 3 shows an automatically calculated waypoint insertion scheme, where the newly inserted waypoint 201 is shown to be inserted in first leg 106. A proposed first new leg 302, which extends from origination point 108 to waypoint 201, is shown, together with a proposed intermediate leg 304, which extends from waypoint 201 to intermediate point 110. The FMS automatically generates the new legs 302 and 304 based upon a predetermined criteria. This dotted line is programmed to be a “rubber line”, which snaps lines from the waypoint to the end points of whatever flight plan leg is nearest the cursor on the displayed map at any given time. If the cursor were to move so that it is closer to final leg 104 than to first leg 106, then the “rubber line” will automatically (i.e. without requiring further pilot interaction) snap new lines from the waypoint to endpoints of final leg 104 and thereby generate a new proposed flight plan. This automatic selection of the leg into which the new waypoint is inserted, takes advantage of two important factors: 1) the statistical fact that most pilots fly routes such that newly added waypoints are inserted into the closest flight plan legs; and 2) once the waypoint has been selected, the FMS is then capable of calculating the location of the closest flight plan leg.

[0025] Now referring to FIG. 4, there is shown a display of the present invention, generally designated 400, which is the result of a single click from FIG. 3. FIG. 4 shows a confirmation window 402 having an execute button 404 and a cancel button 406. Clicking the appropriate button will inform the FMS on whether to adjust the flight plan or not. This process eliminates the need for the pilot to search for and select, from a textual list, the flight leg into which the way point is to be inserted. This is not a trivial enhancement. During times of high turbulence and high pilot workload (take-offs and approaches), the elimination of but a single step may be of tremendous value.

[0026] The hardware and software to create the displays of the present invention are either well known in the art or could be adapted, without undue experimentation, from well-known hardware and software, by persons having ordinary skill in the art, once they have carefully reviewed the description of the present invention included herein.

[0027] Throughout this description a pilot is described as the operator of the system. This is merely exemplary, and it should be understood that other persons associated with planning a flight, whether they pilot the aircraft or whether they are either on or off the aircraft, are capable of operating the present invention. The use of “pilot” is, therefore, not intended to limit the invention to merely pilots.

[0028] It is thought that the method and apparatus of the present invention will be understood from the foregoing description and that it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construct steps, and arrangement of the parts and steps thereof, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of their material advantages. The form herein described is merely a preferred exemplary embodiment thereof.