Airplane ground location methods and systems and airplanes

Abstract

Airplane ground location methods and systems are described. Airplane ground location methods and systems are described. In one embodiment, ground locations for one or more airplanes are electronically determined and a determination is made as to whether there is a likelihood of a runway incursion based on determined locations. In yet another embodiment, one or more airplanes have one or more transmitters that are configured to wirelessly communicate with one or more interrogators positioned about an airfield. The transmitters are configured to transmit, while its associated airplane is on the ground, wireless communication that can be used by a computer to ascertain locations of associated airplanes and determine, based on the locations, whether there is a likelihood of a runway incursion between airplanes that are also on the ground.

1 . An airplane ground location method comprising: 
 receiving wireless communication from one or more airplanes that are located on the ground at an airfield;    processing the wireless communication with one or more computers to ascertain the location of communicating airplanes; and    determining whether there is a likelihood of a runway incursion.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising displaying indicia associated with the locations of the airplanes on the ground.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising polling one or more airplanes on the ground and, responsive to said poling, receiving wireless communication from the one or more airplanes from which airplane locations can be determined.  
     
     
         4 . An airplane ground location method comprising: 
 electronically determining ground locations for one or more airplanes on the ground at an airfield; and    determining whether there is a likelihood of a runway incursion based on the determined locations.    
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  further comprising if there is a likelihood of a runway incursion, implementing a remedial measure to reduce the likelihood of a runway incursion.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said act of implementing is performed by a computer.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein said act of electronically determining comprises receiving wireless communication from the one or more airplanes and using the communication to determine ground locations.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein said act of receiving wireless communication is performed using a single interrogator that is configured to receive the communication from the airplanes.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein said act of receiving wireless communication is performed using multiple interrogators that are configured to receive the communication from the airplanes.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said multiple interrogators are positioned along active runways and taxiways.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein said act of electronically determining comprises transmitting wireless communication to the one or more airplanes and, responsive to said transmitting, receiving wireless communication from the one or more airplanes and using the received wireless communication to determine ground locations.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said act of transmitting wireless communication is performed using a single interrogator that is configured to poll the airplanes.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said act of transmitting wireless communication is performed using a multiple interrogators that are configured to poll the airplanes.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said multiple interrogators are positioned along active runways and taxiways.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein said act of determining the likelihood of a runway incursion comprises doing so electronically.  
     
     
         16 . One or more computer-readable media having instructions which, when executed by one or more computers, cause the one or more computers to implement the method of  claim 4 .  
     
     
         17 . A system comprising: 
 one or more airplanes;    one or more transmitters, individual transmitters being disposed on individual airplanes;    said one or more transmitters being configured to wirelessly communicate with one or more interrogators positioned about an airfield;    said one or more transmitters being configured to transmit, while its associated airplane is on the ground, wireless communication that can be used by a computer to: 
 ascertain locations of associated airplanes; and  
 determine, based on the locations, whether there is a likelihood of a runway incursion between airplanes that are also on the ground.  
   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein said one or more transmitters comprise one or more transceivers.  
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein said one or more transceivers are configured to be polled by the one or more interrogators.  
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein said one or more transceivers are configured to be polled by the one or more interrogators, the interrogators being positioned about the airfield's runway(s).