The Boeing Company

Mike Abbott

Thiru Srinivasan

Scott Reagan

Samuel Gilliss

Dan McGaw

A flight data service subscription system allows personnel to subscribe to flight data services using an electronic devices such as a multifunctional display (MFD) onboard an aircraft. The MFD is used to select regional areas of coverage and generate requests for subscriptions to flight data services. Flight data application software running on the MFD manages flight data and the subscription requests. A server operated by a flight data service provider receives the subscription requests from the MFD and dispatches flight data responsive to the requests for the selected region. A wireless local area network on the ground transfers flight data and subscription requests between the MFD and the flight data subscription server.

On-demand flight data service

Flight data and information update files such as electronic charts used by aircraft cockpit devices are automatically installed by a secure, wireless delivery system. A service provider downloads file updates through the Internet to servers at airport locations, within wireless transmission range of aircraft on the ground. A secure wireless link and router transmits the file updates from the server directly to a router on board the aircraft which routes the files to cockpit devices onboard the aircraft. Authentication procedures are used to assure that the cockpit device is authorized to receive the update. The servers are also connected to airport kiosks, where pilots may download the updates onto a media storage device, such as a flash memory card that can be used by the pilots to manually install the updates in the cockpit devices.

Growing community of inventors

Littleton, CO, United States of America

Mike Abbott