Airplane system for an atmospheric turbulence analysis system

Abstract

An airplane system on an airplane is for use in a turbulence analysis system. The airplane system comprises a communication interface, a processing system, and a user interface. The communication interface receives satellite signals from a plurality of satellites. The processing system processes the satellite signals to determine time variance metrics that correspond to variances in signal transfer times for individual satellite signals. The communication interface transfers the time variance metrics for the satellite signals. The time variance metrics are received by the turbulence analysis system. The communication interface receives at least a portion of a turbulence map into the airplane system. The turbulence map is generated by the turbulence analysis system based on the time variance metrics and indicates atmospheric turbulence in a three-dimensional area. The user interface displays the portion of the turbulence map.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The same reference number represents the same element on all drawings.

FIG. 1 illustrates a turbulence analysis system in an example of the invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates an airplane system for a turbulence analysis system in an example of the invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates a ground system for a turbulence analysis system in an example of the invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates a data system for a turbulence analysis system in an example of the invention.

FIG. 5 illustrates time variance determination in a turbulence analysis system in an example of the invention.

FIG. 6 illustrates turbulence map determination in a turbulence analysis system in an example of the invention.

Claims

1. A method of operating an airplane system on an airplane for a turbulence analysis system, the method comprising: receiving satellite signals from a plurality of satellites into the airplane system on the airplane;processing the satellite signals in the airplane system on the airplane to determine time variance metrics for the satellite signals, wherein the time variance metrics correspond to variances in signal transfer times for the individual ones of the satellite signals;transferring the time variance metrics for the satellite signals from the airplane system on the airplane, wherein the time variance metrics are received by the turbulence analysis system;receiving at least a portion of a turbulence map into the airplane system on the airplane, wherein the turbulence map is generated by the turbulence analysis system based on the time variance metrics and indicates atmospheric turbulence in a three-dimensional area; anddisplaying the portion of the turbulence map in the airplane system on the airplane.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising: processing the satellite signals in the airplane system on the airplane to determine a location of the airplane; andtransferring data indicating the location of the airplane from the airplane system on the airplane, wherein the data indicating the location of the airplane is received by the turbulence analysis system, and wherein the turbulence map is generated by the turbulence analysis system based on the location of the airplane.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein processing the satellite signals to determine one of the time variance metrics comprises: determining average signal transfer times during a plurality of sample periods;determining a mean signal transfer time during a variance period, wherein the variance period includes the sample periods; anddetermining differences between the average signal transfer times and the mean signal transfer time.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein processing the satellite signals to determine the one of the time variance metrics comprises squaring the differences, summing the squared differences, and dividing the sum by a number of differences to determine an average variance.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein processing the satellite signals to determine the one of the time variance metrics comprises determining a range for the average variance, wherein the range corresponds to the one of the time variance metrics.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein displaying the portion of the turbulence map comprises displaying a view of the atmospheric turbulence at a selected altitude.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein displaying the portion of the turbulence map comprises displaying a view of the atmospheric turbulence at a selected distance from the airplane.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising indicating a turbulence alarm in the airplane system on the airplane, wherein the turbulence alarm indicates that a flight plan for the airplane will traverse an area of turbulence and wherein the turbulence alarm is generated based on the turbulence map.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising receiving the turbulence alarm into the airplane system on the airplane, wherein the turbulence alarm is generated by the turbulence analysis system.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the satellites comprise Global Positioning System (GPS) satellites and the satellite signals comprise GPS signals.

11. An airplane system on an airplane for use in a turbulence analysis system, the airplane system comprising: a communication interface in the airplane system on the airplane configured to receive satellite signals from a plurality of satellites;a processing system in the airplane system on the airplane configured to process the satellite signals to determine time variance metrics for the satellite signals, wherein the time variance metrics correspond to variances in signal transfer times for individual ones of the satellite signals;the communication interface configured to transfer the time variance metrics for the satellite signals from the airplane system, wherein the time variance metrics are received by the turbulence analysis system;the communication interface configured to receive at least a portion of a turbulence map into the airplane system, wherein the turbulence map is generated by the turbulence analysis system based on the time variance metrics and indicates atmospheric turbulence in a three-dimensional area; anda user interface in the airplane system on the airplane configured to display the portion of the turbulence map.

12. The airplane system of claim 11 wherein the processing system is configured to process the satellite signals to determine a location of the airplane, and the communication interface is configured to transfer data indicating the location of the airplane from the airplane system, wherein the data indicating the location of the airplane is received by the turbulence analysis system, and wherein the turbulence map is generated by the turbulence analysis system based on the location of the airplane.

13. The airplane system of claim 11 wherein the processing system is configured to process the satellite signals to determine one of the time variance metrics by determining average signal transfer times during a plurality of sample periods, determining a mean signal transfer time during a variance period wherein the variance period includes the sample periods, and determining differences between the average signal transfer times and the mean signal transfer time.

14. The airplane system of claim 13 wherein the processing system is configured to process the satellite signals to determine the one of the time variance metrics by squaring the differences, summing the squared differences, and dividing the sum by a number of differences to determine an average variance.

15. The airplane system of claim 14 wherein the processing system is configured to process the satellite signals to determine the one of the time variance metrics by determining a range for the average variance, wherein the range corresponds to the one of the time variance metrics.

16. The airplane system of claim 11 wherein the user interface is configured to display a view of the atmospheric turbulence at a selected altitude.

17. The airplane system of claim 11 wherein the user interface is configured to display a view of the atmospheric turbulence at a selected distance from the airplane.

18. The airplane system of claim 11 wherein the user interface is configured to indicate a turbulence alarm that indicates that a flight plan for the airplane will traverse an area of turbulence and wherein the turbulence alarm is generated based on the turbulence map.

19. The airplane system of claim 18 wherein the communication interface is configured to receive the turbulence alarm, wherein the turbulence alarm is generated by the turbulence analysis system.

20. The airplane system of claim 11 wherein the satellites comprise Global Positioning System (GPS) satellites and the satellite signals comprise GPS signals.