초록 ▼

Weather information, periodically collected from throughout a global region, is periodically assimilated and compiled at a central source and sent via a high speed data link to a satellite communication service, such as COMSAT. That communication service converts the compiled weather information to

Weather information, periodically collected from throughout a global region, is periodically assimilated and compiled at a central source and sent via a high speed data link to a satellite communication service, such as COMSAT. That communication service converts the compiled weather information to GSDB format, and transmits the GSDB encoded information to an orbiting broadcast satellite, INMARSAT, transmitting the information at a data rate of no less than 10.5 kilobits per second. The INMARSAT satellite receives that data over its P-channel and rebroadcasts the GDSB encoded weather information, in the microwave L-band, throughout the global region at a rate of no less than 10.5 KB/S. The transmission is received aboard an aircraft by means of an onboard SATCOM receiver and the output is furnished to a weather information processor. A touch sensitive liquid crystal panel display allows the pilot to select the weather function by touching a predefined icon overlain on the display's surface and in response a color graphic display of the weather is displayed for the pilot.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [3.] The method of acquiring and displaying to an aircraft pilot in-flight weather information covering a global region during flight within said global region, comprising the steps of:acquiring weather information periodically from a plurality of sources dispersed throughout

[ What is claimed is:] [3.] The method of acquiring and displaying to an aircraft pilot in-flight weather information covering a global region during flight within said global region, comprising the steps of:acquiring weather information periodically from a plurality of sources dispersed throughout the global region at a first acquisition location, and transmitting said weather information to a ground based satellite communication service;transmitting said weather information from said ground based satellite communication service to a satellite in orbit over said global region;receiving said weather information in said satellite and amplifying and re-transmitting said weather information throughout said global region;receiving said satellite broadcast within the aircraft;storing said encoded weather information in a mass memory;providing a color liquid crystal display including a touch screen overlay having a first icon for selection of RADAR to provide radar mosaic images, a second icon for selection of the images of lightning; a third icon for selection of weather conditions at a selected airport; a fourth icon for selection of a code for the airport selected; a fifth icon for showing previously received maps of weather data; a sixth icon for display of a definition of the surface observation symbol displayed subsequent to selection of the third icon; a seventh icon for selecting an airport from a listing; an eighth icon for displaying a smaller geographic region than the region on display; and a ninth icon for displaying a larger geographic region than the region on display;detecting pilot selection of a display function by touching the icon associated with the selected display function; anddisplaying said weather information in graphical form upon the flat panel color liquid crystal display in accordance with the display function selected by the pilot.