초록 ▼

Methods and apparatus are provided for displaying appropriate identifiers on aircraft taxiways on an aircraft flight deck display. Data representative of taxiway segments, in which each taxiway segment at least partially defines the aircraft taxiway, are supplied. At least a portion of the taxiway s

Methods and apparatus are provided for displaying appropriate identifiers on aircraft taxiways on an aircraft flight deck display. Data representative of taxiway segments, in which each taxiway segment at least partially defines the aircraft taxiway, are supplied. At least a portion of the taxiway segments that define the aircraft taxiway are rendered on the flight deck display. The rendered taxiway segments include identified segments and non-identified segments. The identified segments have the identifier associated with the aircraft taxiway rendered thereon. The non-identified segments do not have the identifier associated with the aircraft taxiway rendered thereon.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A method of displaying an aircraft taxiway and its associated identifier on a flight deck display, the method comprising the steps of: supplying data representative of taxiway segments, each taxiway segment at least partially defining the aircraft taxiway; processing the data

What is claimed is: 1. A method of displaying an aircraft taxiway and its associated identifier on a flight deck display, the method comprising the steps of: supplying data representative of taxiway segments, each taxiway segment at least partially defining the aircraft taxiway; processing the data to classify at least a portion of the taxiway segments as identified segments and non-identified segments; and rendering, on the flight deck display, at least a portion of the taxiway segments that define the aircraft taxiway, the rendered taxiway segments including taxiway segments classified as identified segments and non-identified segments, wherein: identified segments have the identifier associated with the aircraft taxiway rendered thereon, and non-identified segments do not have the identifier associated with the aircraft taxiway rendered thereon. 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising: determining if a taxiway segment defines a taxiway intersection, a taxiway intersection being a taxiway segment that adjoins three or more taxiway segments; and classifying at least a portion of the rendered taxiway segments that define taxiway intersections as non-identified segments. 3. The method of claim 2, further comprising: determining if a taxiway segment is an end segment, an end segment being a taxiway segment that adjoins only one taxiway segment; and if all of the segments that define the taxiway are defined as taxiway intersections, classifying as identified segments the taxiway segments that both (i) define taxiway intersections and (ii) are end segments. 4. The method of claim 2, wherein each taxiway segment comprises a plurality of vertices, and wherein the step of determining if a taxiway segment defines a taxiway intersection, comprises: determining if the vertices of the taxiway segment coincide with the vertices of at least three other taxiway segments. 5. The method of claim 4, further comprising: comparing the vertices of each taxiway segment to determine which taxiway segments adjoin one another. 6. The method of claim 1, further comprising: supply data representative of non-taxiway segments, each non-taxiway segment at least partially defining an aircraft pathway that is not an aircraft taxiway; determining if a taxiway segment adjoins a non-taxiway segment; and classifying the taxiway segments that adjoin a non-taxiway segment as identified segments. 7. The method of claim 6, wherein each non-taxiway segment is selected from the group consisting of one or more airport taxiways, one or more airport runways, one or more airport stopways, and one or more airport apron elements. 8. The method of claim 1, further comprising: determining if a taxiway segment is an end segment, an segment being a taxiway segment that adjoins only one taxiway segment; and classifying at least a portion of the rendered taxiway segments that are end segments as identified segments. 9. The method of claim 8, further comprising: determining if a taxiway segment defines a taxiway intersection, a taxiway intersection being a taxiway segment that adjoins three or more taxiway segments; and selectively classifying the rendered taxiway segments that are end segments as non-identified segments if the end segments are also taxiway intersections. 10. The method of claim 8, further comprising: classifying an end segment as a non-identified segment if the end segment adjoins an identified segment. 11. The method of claim 1, further comprising: determining if the aircraft taxiway is defined by one segment and, if so, rendering the one segment as an identified segment. 12. The method of claim 1, wherein the other aircraft pathway is another taxiway. 13. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the one or more taxiway segments is a polygon, and wherein the method further comprises: determining a centroid of each taxiway segment; and rendering, on the flight deck display, the identifier associated with the aircraft taxiway at the centroid of each identified segment. 14. The method of claim 1, further comprising: selectively rendering, on the flight deck display, one or more non-taxiway airport elements. 15. The method of claim 1, further comprising: selectively highlighting at least a portion of the rendered taxiway. 16. The method of claim 15, further comprising: rendering a movable cursor on the flight deck display; and determining if the movable cursor is placed on or near the rendered taxiway and, if so, highlighting at least a portion of the rendered taxiway. 17. The method of claim 1, further comprising: selectively rendering, on the flight deck display, a graphical user interface that is configured to receive user-entered data representative of an object; and rendering, on the flight deck display, the object represented by the data entered by a user into the graphical user interface. 18. The method of claim 1, further comprising: determining a present position of an aircraft in which the flight deck display is installed; and rendering, on the flight deck display, the present position of the aircraft. 19. The method of claim 18, wherein the present position of the aircraft is rendered textually. 20. The method of claim 18, wherein the present position of the aircraft is rendered as an aircraft icon at a location representative of the determined present position. 21. A flight deck display system for an aircraft, comprising: a processor adapted to receive data representative of one or more segments that at least partially define an aircraft taxiway and configured, upon receipt of the data, to (i) classify at least a portion of the taxiway segments as identified segments and non-identified segments and (ii) selectively supply image rendering display commands; and a display device coupled to receive the image rendering display commands and operable, in response thereto, to render at least a portion of the taxiway segments that define the aircraft taxiway as either identified segments or non-identified segments, wherein: identified segments have the identifier associated with the aircraft taxiway rendered thereon, and non-identified segments do not have the identifier associated with the aircraft taxiway rendered thereon. 22. The system of claim 21, wherein the processor, upon receipt of the data, is further configured to: determine if a taxiway segment defines a taxiway intersection, a taxiway intersection being a taxiway segment that adjoins three or more taxiway segments; and classify at least a portion of the taxiway segments that define taxiway intersections as non-identified segments. 23. The system of claim 22, wherein the processor, upon receipt of the data, is further configured: to determine if a taxiway segment is an end segment, an segment being a taxiway segment that adjoins only one taxiway segment; and if all of the segments that define the taxiway define taxiway intersections, to classify, as identified segments, the taxiway segments that both (i) define taxiway intersections and (ii) are end segments. 24. The system of claim 22, wherein: the data representative of each taxiway segment comprises a plurality of vertices; and if the processor determines a taxiway segment defines a taxiway intersection, the processor is further configured to determine if the vertices of the taxiway segment coincide with the vertices of at least three other taxiway segments. 25. The system of claim 24, wherein the processor, upon receipt of the data, is further configured to compare the vertices of each taxiway segment to determine which taxiway segments adjoin one another. 26. The system of claim 21, wherein the processor is further configured: to receive data representative of non-taxiway segments, each non-taxiway segment at least partially defining an aircraft pathway that is not an aircraft taxiway; upon receipt of the data, to determine if a taxiway segment adjoins a non-taxiway segment; and classify the taxiway segments that adjoin a non-taxiway segment as identified segments. 27. The system of claim 26, wherein each non-taxiway segment is selected from the group consisting of one or more airport taxiways, one or more airport runways, one or more airport stopways, and one or more airport apron elements. 28. The system of claim 21, wherein the processor, upon receipt of the data, is further configured to: determine if a taxiway segment is an end segment, an segment being a taxiway segment that adjoins only one taxiway segment; and classify at least a portion of the rendered taxiway segments that are end segments as identified segments. 29. The system of claim 28, wherein the processor, upon receipt of the data, is further configured to: determine if a taxiway segment defines a taxiway intersection, a taxiway intersection being a taxiway segment that adjoins three or more taxiway segments; and selectively classify the rendered taxiway segments that are end segments as non-identified segments if the end segments are also taxiway intersections. 30. The system of claim 28, wherein the processor, upon receipt of the data, is further configured to classify an end segment as a non-identified segment if the end segment adjoins an identified segment. 31. The system of claim 21, wherein the processor, upon receipt of the data, is further configured: to determine if the aircraft taxiway is defined by one segment; and if so, to classify the one segment as an identified segment. 32. The system of claim 21, wherein: each of the one or more taxiway segments is polygonal in shape; and the processor, upon receipt of the data, is further configured to (i) determine a centroid of each taxiway segment and (ii) supply image rendering display commands to the display device that cause the display device, upon receipt of the image rendering display commands, to render the identifier associated with the aircraft pathway at the centroid of the rendered identified segments. 33. The system of claim 21, wherein the processor is further configured to supply image rendering display commands that cause the display device, upon receipt of the image rendering display commands, to selectively render one or more non-taxiway airport elements. 34. The system of claim 21, wherein the processor is further configured to: supply image rendering display commands that cause the display device to render a movable cursor; determine if the movable cursor is placed on or near the rendered taxiway; and supply image rendering display commands to that cause the display device to render the at least a portion of the rendered taxiway as a highlighted taxiway, if the movable cursor is placed on or near the rendered taxiway. 35. The system of claim 21, wherein the processor is further configured to supply image rendering display commands that cause the display device to: selectively render a graphical user interface that is configured to receive user-entered data representative of an aerodrome object; and render the aerodrome object represented by the data entered by a user into the graphical user interface. 36. The system of claim 21, wherein the processor is further configure to: receive data representative of a present position of the aircraft; and supply image rendering display commands that cause the display device to render the present position of the aircraft. 37. The system of claim 36, wherein image rendering display commands cause the display device to render the present position of the aircraft textually. 38. The system of claim 36, wherein the image rendering display commands cause the display device to render the present position of the aircraft as an aircraft icon at a location representative of the determined present position. 39. A flight deck display system for an aircraft, comprising: a cursor control device configured to move and, upon movement thereof, to supply cursor movement signals representative thereof a processor adapted to receive (i) data representative of one or more segments that at least partially define an aircraft taxiway and (ii) the cursor movement signals and configured, upon receipt thereof, to (i) classify at least a portion of the taxiway segments as identified segments and non-identified segments and (ii) selectively supply image rendering display commands; and a display device coupled to receive the image rendering display commands and operable, in response thereto, to (i) render at least a portion of the taxiway segments that define the aircraft taxiway as either identified segments or non-identified segments and (ii) selectively highlight the rendered taxiway segments, wherein: identified segments have the identifier associated with the aircraft taxiway rendered thereon, non-identified segments do not have the identifier associated with the aircraft taxiway rendered thereon, and the rendered taxiway segments are highlighted if the cursor is moved on or near the rendered taxiway segments. 40. A flight deck display system for an aircraft, comprising: a processor adapted to receive (i) data representative of one or more segments that at least partially define an aircraft taxiway and (ii) user interface selection commands and configured, upon receipt thereof, to (i) classify at least a portion of the taxiway segments as identified segments and non-identified segments and (ii) selectively supply image rendering display commands; and a display device coupled to receive the image rendering display commands and operable, in response thereto, to render (i) at least a portion of the taxiway segments that define the aircraft taxiway as either identified segments or non-identified segments, (ii) a graphical user interface that is configured to receive user-entered data representative of an object, and (iii) the object represented by the data entered by a user into the graphical user interface, wherein: identified segments have the identifier associated with the aircraft taxiway rendered thereon, and non-identified segments do not have the identifier associated with the aircraft taxiway rendered thereon. 41. A flight deck display system for an aircraft, comprising: a processor adapted to receive (i) data representative of one or more segments that at least partially define an aircraft taxiway and (ii) data representative of a present position of the aircraft and configured, upon receipt thereof, to (i) classify at least a portion of the taxiway segments as identified segments and non-identified segments and (ii) selectively supply image rendering display commands; and a display device coupled to receive the image rendering display commands and operable, in response thereto, to render (i) at least a portion of the taxiway segments that define the aircraft taxiway as either identified segments or non-identified segments and (ii) the present position of the aircraft, wherein: identified segments have the identifier associated with the aircraft taxiway rendered thereon, and non-identified segments do not have the identifier associated with the aircraft taxiway rendered thereon.