Docking system for airport terminals

Abstract

A docking system for airport terminals has a docking station subsystem and a docking station for each gate. The docking station subsystem is connected via a communication network to a central working position (control device). The docking station subsystem includes an airfield situation monitoring and processing segment ASMPS, at least one advisor and guidance display segment AGDS, a data and status handler segment DSHS having at least one video camera for each center line of the gate, and at least one ground operation panel segment GOPS. The docking station subsystem has an auxiliary subsystem connected to it, by which information relating to aircraft models and the gate can be entered in the docking station subsystem. A docking guidance system is connected to other systems of an airport and includes a docking guidance subsystem for each gate of the airport.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A docking guidance system for guiding an aircraft to a parking position of an airport, comprising: 
 a server of a central control device;    a plurality of operator stations of the control device, which are connected to the server of the central control device via a communications interface, wherein each of the operator stations is configured for a respective terminal of the airport to monitor a guiding process of the aircraft;    a plurality of stand alone systems connected to the server of the central control device via a network interface, wherein each of the stand alone systems is associated with a respective gate of the airport, at which the aircraft is to be guided to the parking position; and    at least one interface to connect the server of the central control device to external airport systems.    
     
     
         2 . The docking guidance system of  claim 1 , wherein a respective one of the plurality of stand alone systems that is associated with the respective gate of the airport, at which the aircraft is to be guided to the parking position, is configured to receive guidance data regarding the guidance of the aircraft to the parking position; 
 wherein the respective one of the plurality of stand alone systems is configured to forward the guidance data to the server of the central control device via the network interface; and    wherein the server of the central control device is configured: 
 to process the guidance data,  
 to send first control signals responsive to the guidance data to the external airport systems via the interface,  
 to send second control signals responsive to the guidance data to at least one of the plurality of operator stations via the communications interface,  
 to process external-airport-systems-data responsive to the first control signals and received from the external airport systems via the interface,  
 to process operator-station-data responsive to the second control signals and received from the at least one operator station via the communications interface,  
 to forward third control signals responsive to the external-airport-systems-data to the respective one of the plurality of stand alone systems via the network interface, and  
 to forward fourth control signals responsive to the operator-station-data to the respective one of the plurality of stand alone systems via the network interface.  
   
     
     
         3 . A docking guidance system for guiding an aircraft to a parking position of an airport, comprising: 
 an operator station of a central control device;    a plurality of stand alone systems connected to the operator station via a network interface, wherein each stand alone system is associated with a respective gate of the airport, at which the aircraft is to be guided to the parking position; and    at least one interface to connect the operator station to external airport systems.    
     
     
         4 . The docking guidance system of  claim 3 , 
 wherein a respective one of the plurality of stand alone systems associated with the respective gate of the airport, at which the aircraft is to be guided to the parking position, is configured to receive guidance data regarding the guidance of the aircraft to the parking position;    wherein the respective one of the plurality of stand alone systems is configured to forward the guidance data to the operator station of the central control device via the network interface; and    wherein the operator station of the central control device is configured: 
 to process the guidance data,  
 to send first control signals responsive to the guidance data to the external airport systems via the interface,  
 to process external-airport-systems-data responsive to the first control signals and received from the external airport systems via the interface, and to forward second control signals responsive to the external-airport-systems-data to the respective one of the plurality of stand alone systems via the network interface.  
   
     
     
         5 . A docking guidance system for guiding an aircraft to a parking position of an airport, comprising a plurality of stand alone systems interconnected via a network, wherein each stand alone system is associated with a respective gate of the airport, at which the aircraft is to be guided to the parking position.  
     
     
         6 . The docking guidance system of  claim 5 , wherein a first stand alone system associated with the respective gate of the airport, at which the aircraft is to be guided to the parking position, is configured to receive data regarding the guidance of the aircraft to the parking position, and wherein the first stand alone system is configured to forward the data, via the network, to a second stand alone system, at which an operator monitors and influences the guidance of the aircraft at the respective gate associated with the first stand alone system.