The Boeing Company

Sven David Aspen

Andreas Sindlinger

Larry Wayne Bush

Luther Boorn

Randall E Thieme

Robert L Henry

Patrick Ralf Wipplinger

Cindy Dorfmann

Stephen Lewis

Kevin S Schlatter

Danny M Price

Robert Black

A method, apparatus, and computer usable program code for planning refueling. In one advantageous embodiment, the apparatus includes an air refueling plug-in application capable of calculating air refueling routes for a formation of aircraft and a plurality of plug-in applications. A framework capable of providing framework services to the air refueling plug-in application and the plurality of plug-in applications is present. The apparatus also includes a first interface for the air refueling plug-in application and the plurality of plug-in applications to receive the framework services from the framework. The apparatus also has a second interface for the air refueling plug-in application and plurality of plug-in applications to provide services from one plug-in application to another plug-in application. The first interface and the second interface are independent of the air refueling plug-in application and plurality of plug-in applications.

Apparatus for planning air refueling for aircraft

A display system for dynamically displaying aircraft flight information. The system includes a processor, memory, and a display. The processor is capable of communicating with the memory, the display, and a system environment of the aircraft. The processor is configured to display a flight map for the aircraft on the display, to evaluate state variable(s) dynamically representing state(s) in the aircraft system environment, and dynamically modify the flight map based at least in part on the evaluation.

Dynamic display of navigational information

A method for depicting own ship on a display is described. The method includes receiving position data and heading data for own ship from at least one system, correlating, with a processing device, the position data and heading data with data from a map database, generating a map display on the display based on the correlation between the position data and the data from the map database, overlaying a depiction of own ship on the map display, the depiction based on the correlation between the position and heading data and the data from the map database, and encircling the own ship depiction with a circle overlay and a north indicator overlay proximate the circle overlay, the north indicator indicating a north direction.

Methods and systems for depicting own ship

Method and apparatus for planning air refueling for aircraft

The advantageous embodiments provide a computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer usable program code for presenting terrain along a route of an aircraft. A display of a vertical profile side view of terrain data along the route of the aircraft on an aircraft display is provided. A number of graphical indicators of a position of terrain are displayed on the display relative to the aircraft along the route.

Method and apparatus for displaying vertical terrain information

A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer usable program code for presenting terrain along a route on an aircraft display. A display is presented of a top view, a side view, and a transverse vertical profile view of terrain data along the route on the aircraft display. A plurality of graphical indicators of distance along the route is overlaid such that a graphical indicator in the plurality of graphical indicators in the top view corresponds to a same distance to a second graphical indicator in the side view and a third graphical indicator in the transverse vertical profile view.

Transverse vertical profile display for aeronautical routes

A method of managing the display of overlay information in one or more views. For each overlay item available for display in a current view, it is determined whether the available item has an item type currently selected for display. For each available item having a currently selected item type, the item is included for display in the current view and the type of the item is included for display in a legend. Omitted from the legend are any item type(s) for which no item is included for display in the current view. Overall ease of use of electronic displays can be improved and electronic flight box display screens can be de-cluttered.

Selecting and identifying view overlay information for electronic display

Methods and systems for displaying an en-route visible terrain display for an aircraft are provided. The method includes representing each pixel of a terrain display using a geographical location and an elevation above the location, each pixel further represented using at least one of a color value and a grayscale value, receiving a minimum elevation value, setting the at least one of a color value and a grayscale value of the pixels represented by an elevation value less than the received minimum elevation value to a uniform value, and displaying the en-route visible terrain display such that pixels representing terrain that includes an elevation value less than the minimum elevation value are displayed with the uniform value such that non-terrain-impacted, primary-navigation areas of the display are more easily readable.

Methods and systems for generating en-route visible terrain displays

A method is described for generating a navigation chart. The navigation chart includes a plurality of allocated areas corresponding to symbols for a plurality of chart features. The method includes identifying an unallocated area of the navigation chart proximate to a symbol for one chart feature of the plurality of chart features. A first label and a second label are determined for the one chart feature. The first label includes a plurality of feature attribute indicators, and the second label includes a subset of the plurality of feature attribute indicators. A label is selected from among the first label and the second label based on dimensions of the unallocated area. At least a portion of the unallocated area is allocated to the selected label, and the navigation chart is displayed.

Methods and apparatus for generating a navigation chart

Methods and systems for a displaying a moving map display for an aircraft is provided. The method includes determining a route of intended travel of the aircraft on the moving map display, determining a rank of relative importance of a plurality of aeronautical symbols displayed on the moving map display based on the determined route of intended travel, and de-emphasizing at least one navigation symbol with the moving map display based on the at least one navigation symbol determined rank.

Methods and systems for controlling display of en-route maps

A method of overlaying information onto a view for electronic display. A scale of the view is determined. A significance of the overlay information is also determined. A display transparency of the overlay information is selected based on the determined scale and the determined significance. This method makes it possible for a pilot to view weather imagery overlaid on an electronically displayed map without having to switch back and forth between overlay and underlying map to see detail information when zooming in or out of the map.

Overlaying information onto a view for electronic display

A method of facilitating the use of a navigational chart. The method is performed by a computer including a display and a rotary input device, e.g., a mouse wheel. A view of the navigational chart is provided on the display. Movement of the mouse wheel is detected. In response to the movement, the computer uses one or more geographical locations to identify one or more points on the chart, and pans the view in the display to center in the view at least one of the one or more points. This method provides an easy, intuitive way for a pilot or other user to follow a route in a charting application.

Growing community of inventors

Sherwood, OR, United States of America

Sven David Aspen