System and method for remotely controlling a passenger boarding bridge from an aircraft

Abstract

A system for aligning an aircraft-engaging end of a passenger boarding bridge to a doorway along a lateral surface of an aircraft includes a user interface that is located aboard the aircraft. The user interface is for receiving, from a user aboard the aircraft, an input signal relating to a command for controlling a movement of the passenger boarding bridge, and for providing data relating to the input signal. The system also includes a first transmitter that is located aboard the aircraft and that is in communication with the user interface. The first transmitter is for receiving the data relating to the input signal and for transmitting a first signal including the data relating to the input signal. A first receiver is provided at a location that is remote from the aircraft for receiving the first signal, and for providing an output signal relating thereto. Also provided is a bridge controller that is in communication with the first receiver for receiving the output signal from the first receiver, and for providing a control signal for performing automatically the movement of the passenger boarding bridge.

1 . A system for aligning an aircraft-engaging end of a passenger boarding bridge to a doorway disposed along a lateral surface of an aircraft, comprising: 
 a user interface disposed aboard the aircraft for receiving from a user aboard the aircraft an input signal relating to a command for controlling a movement of the passenger boarding bridge, and for providing data relating to the input signal;    a first transmitter disposed aboard the aircraft and in communication with the user interface, the first transmitter for receiving the data relating to the input signal and for transmitting a first signal including the data relating to the input signal;    a first receiver disposed at a location that is remote from the aircraft for receiving the first signal and for providing an output signal relating thereto; and,    a bridge controller in communication with the first receiver for receiving the output signal from the first receiver and for providing a control signal for performing automatically the movement of the passenger boarding bridge.    
   
   
       2 . A system according to  claim 1 , comprising an imager disposed at a location that is remote from the aircraft, the imager for capturing an image of the lateral surface of the aircraft.  
   
   
       3 . A system according to  claim 2 , comprising a second transmitter in communication with the imager for receiving image data relating to the captured image and for transmitting a second signal including the image data.  
   
   
       4 . A system according to  claim 3 , comprising a second receiver disposed aboard the aircraft for receiving the second signal including the image data.  
   
   
       5 . A system according to  claim 4 , comprising a display device disposed aboard the aircraft and in communication with the second receiver, the display device for receiving the image data from the first receiver and for displaying the image data in a human intelligible form to the user aboard the aircraft.  
   
   
       6 . A system according to  claim 5 , comprising a processor for processing the image data prior to display by the display device and for providing supplemental image data for display with the image data.  
   
   
       7 . A system according to  claim 5 , wherein the display device comprises a touch sensitive screen and wherein the user interface comprises at least one of a virtual button and an iconic symbol displayed by the touch sensitive screen.  
   
   
       8 . A system according to  claim 2 , comprising at least a light source for illuminating a portion of the lateral surface of the aircraft that is being imaged by the imager.  
   
   
       9 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein the user interface comprises controls for controlling the movement of the passenger boarding bridge.  
   
   
       10 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein the user interface comprises at least one of a biometric information reader and a security token reader.  
   
   
       11 . A system according to  claim 1 , comprising a centralized computer system in communication with the bridge controller for retrievably storing electronic data for use by the bridge controller in establishing communication with an authorized aircraft, for receiving the first signal including the data relating to the input signal only from that authorized aircraft.  
   
   
       12 . A system according to  claim 11 , wherein the centralized computer system includes a key server for providing session keys.  
   
   
       13 . A method of aligning an aircraft-engaging end of a passenger boarding bridge to a doorway disposed along a lateral surface of an aircraft, comprising: 
 receiving from a user aboard the aircraft an input signal relating to a command for controlling a movement of the passenger boarding bridge in a direction toward the doorway;    wirelessly transmitting a first electromagnetic signal including data relating to the input signal;    receiving the first electromagnetic signal at a location that is remote from the aircraft;    in response to the received first electromagnetic signal, providing an electrical output signal relating to the first electromagnetic signal to a controller of an automated alignment system of the passenger boarding bridge; and,    under control of the controller, automatically performing the movement of the passenger boarding bridge based upon the electrical output signal.    
   
   
       14 . A method according to  claim 13 , comprising capturing an image of a first portion of the lateral surface using an imager disposed at a location that is remote from the aircraft, wherein the image is captured prior to receiving the input signal from the user.  
   
   
       15 . A method according to  claim 14 , wherein the imager is disposed near an aircraft-engaging end of the passenger boarding bridge, and comprising wirelessly transmitting a second electromagnetic signal including image data relating to the captured image, from a transmitter disposed at a location that is remote from the aircraft to a receiver that is disposed aboard the aircraft.  
   
   
       16 . A method according to  claim 15 , comprising displaying in a human intelligible form using a display device disposed aboard the aircraft, the image data relating to the captured image.  
   
   
       17 . A method according to  claim 16 , comprising subsequent to automatically performing the movement of the passenger boarding bridge, capturing a second image of the lateral surface using the imager disposed near the aircraft-engaging end of the passenger boarding bridge.  
   
   
       18 . A method according to  claim 17 , comprising updating the displayed image data based upon the captured second image.  
   
   
       19 . A method according to  claim 18 , comprising repeating the steps of claims  13  through  18  until the aircraft-engaging end of the passenger boarding bridge is aligned to the doorway disposed along the lateral surface of an aircraft.  
   
   
       20 . A method according to  claim 13 , wherein the movement of the passenger boarding bridge in a direction toward the doorway is for pointing the passenger boarding bridge toward the doorway, and wherein the input signal includes a command for initiating an automated alignment process to the doorway subsequent to the movement being performed.  
   
   
       21 . A method according to  claim 13 , wherein the user aboard the aircraft observes a position of the aircraft-engaging end of the passenger boarding bridge from the aircraft and absent the use of an imager.  
   
   
       22 . A method according to  claim 13 , wherein the input signal is provided for remotely controlling the movement of the passenger boarding bridge in real time.  
   
   
       23 . A method according to  claim 13 , wherein the wirelessly transmitted first electromagnetic signal includes a unique identifier for supporting secure communication between the controller and the aircraft during a current alignment operation.  
   
   
       24 . A method according to  claim 13 , comprising prior to receiving the first electromagnetic signal at a location that is remote from the aircraft, a step of transmitting an electromagnetic signal including data comprising a cryptokey for use in establishing secure communication with the controller of the automated alignment system of the passenger boarding bridge.  
   
   
       25 . A method according to  claim 13 , comprising prior to receiving the first electromagnetic signal at a location that is remote from the aircraft, a step of transmitting an electromagnetic signal including data for requesting transmission of a cryptokey from a centralized computer system to the aircraft, the cryptokey for use in establishing secure communication with the controller of the automated alignment system of the passenger boarding bridge.  
   
   
       26 . A method according to  claim 13 , comprising prior to receiving the first electromagnetic signal at a location that is remote from the aircraft, a step of transmitting an electromagnetic signal including data for identifying a type of model of the aircraft.  
   
   
       27 . A method according to  claim 13 , comprising prior to receiving the first electromagnetic signal at a location that is remote from the aircraft, a step of transmitting an electromagnetic signal including data for identifying the aircraft uniquely.  
   
   
       28 . A method according to  claim 13 , comprising prior to receiving the first electromagnetic signal at a location that is remote from the aircraft, a step of transmitting an electromagnetic signal including data for verifying the aircraft as being authorized to dock with the passenger boarding bridge during a current alignment operation.  
   
   
       29 . A method of aligning an aircraft-engaging end of a passenger boarding bridge to a doorway disposed along a lateral surface of an aircraft, comprising: 
 parking the aircraft within a parking space that is adjacent to a selected passenger boarding bridge of a plurality of passenger boarding bridges;    using a transmitter disposed aboard the aircraft, transmitting a first signal including data for use in establishing communication with only the selected passenger boarding bridge of the plurality of passenger boarding bridges;    receiving the first signal at a location that is remote from the aircraft;    extracting the data from the first signal;    comparing the extracted data to other data that is indicative of the aircraft being authorized to dock at the selected passenger boarding bridge during a current alignment operation; and,    when the comparison is indicative of the aircraft being authorized, enabling a bridge controller of the selected passenger boarding bridge to receive commands transmitted from the aircraft.    
   
   
       30 . A method according to  claim 29 , wherein enabling the bridge controller comprises switching the bridge controller from a first mode of operation in which a command transmitted from a transmitter disposed aboard an aircraft is not accepted to a second mode of operation in which a command transmitted from a transmitter disposed aboard an aircraft is accepted.  
   
   
       31 . A method according to  claim 29 , wherein the extracted data comprises data for identifying a type and sub-type of the aircraft.  
   
   
       32 . A method according to  claim 29 , wherein the extracted data comprises data for identifying the aircraft uniquely.  
   
   
       33 . A method according to  claim 29 , wherein the extracted data comprises a cryptokey for establishing secure communication with the bridge controller of the selected passenger boarding bridge.  
   
   
       34 . A method according to  claim 29 , wherein the extracted data comprises data for requesting transmission of a cryptokey from a centralized computer system to the aircraft, the cryptokey for establishing secure communication with the bridge controller of the selected passenger boarding bridge.