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 plurality of docking guidance subsystems, wherein each docking guidance subsystem is associated with a respective gate, at which the aircraft is to be guided to the parking position, each docking guidance subsystem comprising: 
 a control computer;  
 at least one detector connected to the control computer, wherein the detector is configured to recognize a type of the aircraft approaching the gate and to track a current position of the aircraft, and wherein the detector is configured to supply information regarding the type and the current position of the aircraft to the control computer;  
 a display connected to the control computer, wherein the display is configured to indicate the type of the aircraft and to indicate directional information to a pilot of the aircraft, in response to which the pilot moves the aircraft; and  
 a local operator panel to operate the docking guidance subsystem.  
   
     
     
         2 . The docking guidance system of  claim 1 , wherein the detector comprises a camera.  
     
     
         3 . The docking guidance system of  claim 2 , wherein the camera comprises a video camera.  
     
     
         4 . The docking guidance system of  claim 1 , wherein the local operator panel is configured to operate the docking guidance subsystem in response to manual inputs of an operator.  
     
     
         5 . The docking guidance system of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a network interconnecting the plurality of docking guidance subsystems; and    a central control unit connected to the network, wherein the central control unit is configured to monitor and to control the docking guidance system.    
     
     
         6 . The docking guidance system of  claim 1 , wherein the docking guidance system is configured to be protected by at least one password.  
     
     
         7 . The docking guidance system of  claim 1 , wherein a plurality of operator stations are connected to the network.  
     
     
         8 . The docking guidance system of  claim 1 , wherein the docking guidance system is configured to grant different authorizations to different users of the docking guidance system.  
     
     
         9 . The docking guidance system of  claim 1 , wherein the docking guidance system is configured to log interactions of system operators with the docking guidance system.  
     
     
         10 . The docking guidance system of  claim 1 , wherein the docking guidance system is configured to print error messages on at least one of an operator screen or an alarm printer.  
     
     
         11 . The docking guidance system of  claim 1 , wherein the docking guidance system is configured to exchange status messages of a selected gate between components of the docking guidance system.  
     
     
         12 . The docking guidance system of  claim 1 , further comprising a control room configured to display detector image pictures of at least part of the aircraft to be guided to the parking position.  
     
     
         13 . The docking guidance system of  claim 1 , wherein the docking guidance system is configured to automatically start a docking process for the aircraft to be guided to the parking position.  
     
     
         14 . The docking guidance system of  claim 1 , wherein the docking guidance system is configured to automatically test connections of the network to the respective control computer of each docking guidance subsystem.  
     
     
         15 . The docking guidance system of  claim 1 , further comprising a graphical user interface to integrate monitoring and control functions into a software of the docking guidance system for an additional docking guidance subsystem that is associated with an additionally installed gate of the airport.  
     
     
         16 . The docking guidance system of  claim 1 , wherein the docking guidance system is configured to execute test programs for troubleshooting errors in the docking guidance system.  
     
     
         17 . The docking guidance system of  claim 1 , wherein the docking guidance system is configured to receive an “emergency stop” signal by an operator of the docking guidance system.  
     
     
         18 . The docking guidance system of  claim 1 , wherein the docking guidance system is configured to receive manual commands by an operator of the docking guidance system in order to start a docking process of the aircraft to be guided to the parking position.  
     
     
         19 . A docking guidance system for guiding an aircraft of one of plural aircraft types to a parking position of an airport, comprising: 
 a plurality of docking guidance subsystems, wherein each docking guidance subsystem is associated with a respective airport gate, each docking guidance subsystem comprising: 
 at least one detection unit connected to the control computer and configured to produce signals for recognizing the aircraft type of the aircraft and for tracking a current position of the aircraft;  
 a control computer receiving the signals and processing the signals into output information;  
 a display utilizing the output information to display the aircraft type and directional information to a pilot of the aircraft; and  
 a local operator panel to operate the docking guidance subsystem.