Methods and systems for depicting own ship

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10041802-B1
Application number	US-201113247638-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Sep 28, 2011
Priority date	Sep 28, 2011
Publication date	Aug 7, 2018
Grant date	Aug 7, 2018

Abstract

A method for depicting own ship on a display is described. The method includes receiving position data and heading data for own ship from at least one system, correlating, with a processing device, the position data and heading data with data from a map database, generating a map display on the display based on the correlation between the position data and the data from the map database, overlaying a depiction of own ship on the map display, the depiction based on the correlation between the position and heading data and the data from the map database, and encircling the own ship depiction with a circle overlay and a north indicator overlay proximate the circle overlay, the north indicator indicating a north direction.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for depicting own ship on a display, said method comprising:
receiving, by a processing device, position data and heading data for own ship from at least one aircraft sensor;
correlating, by the processing device, the position data and heading data with data from a map database retrieved from a memory device coupled to the processing device;
generating, by the processing device, a map display on the display based on the correlation between the position data and the data from the map database;
generating, by the processing device on the map display, an own ship symbol that visually indicates a position and a heading of own ship relative to the map display and a north direction, the own ship symbol including a depiction of own ship, a circle surrounding the own ship depiction, and only one directional indicator proximate to and radially outward from the circle at a constant distance from a center of the circle, wherein the directional indicator translates circumferentially about the circle to remain radially outward from the circle and pointing towards the north direction, the directional indicator remaining viewable at all positions circumscribing the circle and at all altitudes based on the position and the heading of own ship; and
displaying, by the processing device to a user on the display, the own ship symbol relative to the map display.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein overlaying an own ship symbol on the map display further comprises encircling the own ship depiction with a compass rose overlay.

3. The method according to claim 1 wherein overlaying an own ship symbol on the map display further comprises at least one of an “N” within the circle, a north indicator outside of and proximate the circle, and a colored highlight proximate an “N” within a compass rose, the compass rose within the circle overlay.

4. The method according to claim 1 wherein overlaying, onto the map display on the unit, a depiction of own ship comprises orienting the own ship depiction with respect to the map display based on the map display being in one of a north up mode and a heading up mode.

5. The method according to claim 1 wherein overlaying an own ship symbol on the map display further comprises orienting the circle overlay and the directional indicator with respect to the own ship depiction based on the map display being in one of a north up mode and a heading up mode.

6. The method according to claim 1 further comprising rotating the directional indicator about the circle overlay and own ship depiction based on changes in heading data when the map display is in a heading up mode.

7. The method according to claim 1 further comprising rotating the own ship depiction within the circle overlay and with respect to the directional indicator based on changes in heading data when the map display is in a north up mode.

8. The method according to claim 1 further comprising rotating a compass rose overlay within the circle overlay about the own ship depiction based on changes in heading data when the map display is in a heading up mode.

9. The method according to claim 1 further comprising rotating the own ship depiction with respect to a compass rose overlay within the circle overlay based on changes in heading data when the map display is in a north up mode.

10. The method according to claim 1 wherein the directional indicator is one of a triangle or arrow that points in the north direction.

11. A system comprising:
a processing device;
a memory communicatively coupled to said processing device, said memory comprising map data;
a display communicatively coupled to said processing device; and
a communications interface communicatively coupled to said processing device, said processing device configured to:
receive position data and heading data for own ship from at least one aircraft sensor via said communications interface;
correlate the received position data and heading data with said map data retrieved from said memory;
generate a map display on said display based on the correlation between the position data and said map data;
generate an own ship symbol that visually indicates a position and a heading of own ship relative to the map display and a north direction, the own ship symbol including a depiction of own ship, a circle surrounding the own ship depiction, and only one directional indicator proximate to and radially outward from the circle at a constant distance from a center of the circle, wherein the directional indicator translates circumferentially about the circle to remain radially outward from the circle and pointing towards the north direction, the directional indicator remaining viewable at all positions circumscribing the circle and at all altitudes based on the position and the heading of own ship; and
display, to a user on said display, the own ship symbol relative to the map display.

12. The system according to claim 11 wherein to overlay an own ship symbol on said display, said processing device is operable to encircle the own ship depiction with a compass rose overlay.

13. The system according to claim 11 wherein to overlay an own ship symbol on said display, said processing device is operable to cause said display to display at least one of an “N” within the circle indicative of a north direction, a north indicator outside of and proximate the circle, and a colored highlight proximate an “N” within a compass rose, the compass rose within the circle overlay.

14. The system according to claim 11 wherein to overlay a depiction of own ship on said display said processing device is operable to orient the own ship depiction with respect to the map display based on the map display being in one of a north up mode and a heading up mode.

15. The system according to claim 11 wherein to overlay an own ship symbol on said display, said processing device is operable to orient the circle overlay and a north indicator with respect to the own ship depiction based on the map display being in one of a north up mode and a heading up mode.

16. The system according to claim 11 wherein said processing device is operable to cause the directional indicator to rotate about the circle overlay and own ship depiction based on changes in heading data received via said communications interface when the map display is in a heading up mode.

17. The system according to claim 11 wherein said processing device is operable to cause the own ship depiction to rotate within the circle and with respect to the directional indicator based on changes in heading data received via said communications interface when the map display is in a north up mode.

18. The system according to claim 11 wherein said processing device is operable to cause a compass rose within the circle overlay to rotate about the own ship depiction based on changes in heading data received via said communications interface when the map display is in a heading up mode.

19. The system according to claim 11 wherein said processing device is operable to cause the own ship depiction to rotate with respect to a compass rose within the circle overlay based on changes in heading data received via said communications interface when the map display is in a north up mode.

20. One or more computer-readable storage media having computer-executable instructions embodied thereon, wherein when executed by at least one processor, the computer-executable instructions cause the at least one processor to:
receive position data and heading data for

Assignees

• Dorfmann Cindy
• Sindlinger Andreas
• Aspen Sven David
• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Dorfmann Cindy
• Sindlinger Andreas
• Aspen Sven David

Classifications

• G01C21/32 Primary

  Structuring or formatting of map data · CPC title

• G09B29/106 Primary

  using electronic means · CPC title

• G01C21/26

  specially adapted for navigation in a road network · CPC title

• G01C21/3867

  Geometry of map features, e.g. shape points, polygons or for simplified maps · CPC title

• G01C23/00

  Combined instruments indicating more than one navigational value, e.g. for aircraft; Combined measuring devices for measuring two or more variables of movement, e.g. distance, speed or acceleration · CPC title