Method and system for obtaining and presenting turbulence data via communication devices located on airplanes

Abstract

A device, system and method is provided for obtaining and processing turbulence data via communication devices located on-board airplanes. Turbulence data obtained by a plurality of communication devices may be received during flights on-board respective ones of a plurality of airplanes. Turbulence map data may be generated by super-positioning the turbulence data received from the plurality of communication devices onto a single tempo-spatial frame of reference. The turbulence map data may be distributed to one or more of the communication devices. A device, system and method is also provided for generating turbulence map data that may reduce or eliminate “false positive” turbulence events. A device, system and method is also provided for communicating with on-board communication devices operating in a “flight crew mode” or a “passenger mode.”

1 . A method comprising:
 receiving turbulence data obtained by a plurality of communication devices during flights on-board respective ones of a plurality of airplanes;   generating accumulated tempo-spatial turbulence information by super-positioning the turbulence data received from the plurality of communication devices onto a single tempo-spatial frame of reference; and   distributing the accumulated tempo-spatial turbulence data information to one or more of the communication devices.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the turbulence data is received from one or more hand-held user communication devices. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the turbulence data is received from one or more embedded airplane communication devices. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the turbulence data is received from at least one hand-held user communication device and at least one embedded airplane communication device. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the turbulence data comprises: intensity level of the turbulence; geographic coordinates of the turbulence; altitude of the turbulence; and time of the turbulence. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the received turbulence data is obtained by: obtaining spatial acceleration data affecting each of the plurality of communication devices and converting the spatial acceleration data into turbulence data based on a conversion process. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein the conversion process comprises determining a vector along which variations of the acceleration are maximal and measuring said variations over time. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein the conversion process comprises obtaining a spatial orientation of each of the plurality of communication devices and determining acceleration variations for each of the plurality of communication devices given the measured spatial orientation thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 8 , further comprising: using the measured spatial orientation over time to rule out non-turbulence events. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the obtaining of the turbulence data is carried out responsive to manual input by respective users of one or more of: the communication devices on-board the airplanes and devices located remotely from the airplanes. 
     
     
         11 . A method comprising:
 obtaining turbulence data by a communication device during a flight on-board an airplane;   transmitting the turbulence data from the communication devices to a remote location;   receiving accumulated tempo-spatial turbulence information generated at the remote location by super-positioning the turbulence data received from the communication device with turbulence data received from one or more other communication devices during flights on-board other airplanes onto a single tempo-spatial frame of reference;   displaying the accumulated tempo-spatial turbulence information associated with regions surrounding the airplane of the communication device and the other airplanes.   
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the communication devices on board the airplane and the other airplanes include one or more hand-held user communication devices or embedded airplane communication devices. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the accumulated tempo-spatial turbulence information is displayed in a visual representation comprising a plurality of indicators superimposed on a map according to the respective locations at which the turbulence data was obtained. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the indicators visually distinguish between different levels of turbulence intensity. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the indicators visually distinguish between at least one of: sample time of the turbulence data, and whether or not the turbulence data was obtained manually via user input or automatically via measuring acceleration of the respective communication devices. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the visual representation is altered responsive to user selection to only show the visual indicators of at least one of: a specified altitude range, a specified time range, and a specified range of turbulence level. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the transmitting of the turbulence data by the communication devices is delayed to whenever a communication channel becomes available. 
     
     
         18 . A device comprising:
 a processor;   memory, and   one or more instructions stored in the memory and executable by the processor, which, when executed, configure the processor to:
 receive turbulence data obtained by the plurality of communication devices during the flights on-board respective ones of a plurality of airplanes; 
 generate accumulated tempo-spatial turbulence information by super-positioning the turbulence data received from the plurality of communication devices onto a single tempo-spatial frame of reference; and 
 distribute the accumulated tempo-spatial turbulence data information to one or more of the communication devices. 
   
     
     
         19 . The system according to  claim 18 , wherein the plurality of communication devices include one or more hand-held user communication devices or embedded airplane communication devices. 
     
     
         20 . The system according to  claim 18 , wherein the turbulence data comprises: intensity level of the turbulence; geographic coordinates of the turbulence; altitude of the turbulence; and time of the turbulence. 
     
     
         21 . The system according to  claim 18 , wherein the processor is configured to receive turbulence data by: obtaining spatial acceleration data affecting each of the plurality of communication devices and converting the spatial acceleration data into turbulence data based on a conversion process. 
     
     
         22 . The system according to  claim 18 , wherein the processor is configured to execute the conversion process by determining a vector along which variations of the acceleration are maximal and measuring said variations over time. 
     
     
         23 . The system according to  claim 18 , wherein the processor is configured to execute the conversion process by obtaining a spatial orientation of each of the plurality of communication devices and determining acceleration variations for each of the plurality of communication devices given the measured spatial orientation thereof. 
     
     
         24 . The system according to  claim 23 , wherein the processor is further configured to use the measured spatial orientation over time to rule out non-turbulence events. 
     
     
         25 . The system according to  claim 18 , wherein the processor is configured to obtain the turbulence data responsive to manual input by respective users of: one or more of the communication devices on-board the airplanes and devices located remotely from the airplanes. 
     
     
         26 . A communication device comprising:
 a processor;   memory, and   one or more instructions stored in the memory and executable by the processor, which, when executed, configure the processor to:
 obtain turbulence data during a flight on-board an airplane; 
 transmit the turbulence data from the communication devices to a remote location; 
 receive accumulated tempo-spatial turbulence information generated at the remote location by super-positioning the turbulence data received from the communication device with turbulence data received from one or more other communication devices during flights on-board other airplanes onto a single tempo-spatial frame of reference; and 
 display the accumulated tempo-spatial turbulence information associated with regions surrounding the airplane of the communication device and the other airplanes. 
   
     
     
         27 . The system according to  claim 26 , wherein the communication devices on board the airplane and the other airplanes include one or more hand-held user communication devices. 
     
     
         28 . The system according to  claim 26 , wherein the communication devices on board the airplane and the other airplanes include one or more embedded airplane communication devices. 
     
     
         29 . The system according to  claim 26 , wherein the communication devices on board the airplane and the other airplanes include at least one hand-held user communication device and at least one embedded airplane communication device. 
     
     
         30 . The system according to  claim 26 , wherein the accumulated tempo-spatial turbulence information is displayed in a visual representation comprising a plurality of indicators superimposed on a map according to the respective locations at which the turbulence data was obtained.