Apparatus for planning air refueling for aircraft

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016371986-A1
Application number	US-201615256702-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 5, 2016
Priority date	Apr 4, 2007
Publication date	Dec 22, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method, apparatus, and computer usable program code for planning refueling. In one advantageous embodiment, the apparatus includes an air refueling plug-in application capable of calculating air refueling routes for a formation of aircraft and a plurality of plug-in applications. A framework capable of providing framework services to the air refueling plug-in application and the plurality of plug-in applications is present. The apparatus also includes a first interface for the air refueling plug-in application and the plurality of plug-in applications to receive the framework services from the framework. The apparatus also has a second interface for the air refueling plug-in application and plurality of plug-in applications to provide services from one plug-in application to another plug-in application. The first interface and the second interface are independent of the air refueling plug-in application and plurality of plug-in applications.

First claim

1 . An apparatus for planning refueling, the apparatus comprising:
an air refueling plug-in application capable of calculating air refueling routes for a formation of aircraft; a plurality of plug-in applications; a framework capable of providing framework services to the air refueling plug-in application and the plurality of plug-in applications; a first interface for the air refueling plug-in application and the plurality of plug-in applications to receive the framework services from the framework; and a second interface for the air refueling plug-in application and plurality of plug-in applications to provide services from one plug-in application to another plug-in application, wherein the first interface and the second interface are independent of the air refueling plug-in application and plurality of plug-in applications.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the framework provides display services and wherein the first interface allows the plurality of plug-in applications to extend display services to other plug-in applications.

3 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a location information plug-in application is present in the plurality of plug-in applications and wherein the location information plug-in application provides location information about the formation of aircraft and provides a display service to display the location information.

4 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a weather information plug-in application is present in the plurality of plug-in applications and wherein the weather information plug-in application provides weather information and provides a display service to display the weather to other plug-in applications.

5 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a performance model plug-in application is present in the plurality of plug-in applications and wherein the performance model plug-in application provides information about aircraft to other plug-in applications.

6 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a set of plug-in applications within the plurality of plug-in applications provides current data about the formation of aircraft to the air refueling plug-in while the formation of aircraft are in flight and wherein the air refueling plug-in uses the current data to modify the refueling routes for the formation of aircraft.

7 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus further comprises:
a data processing system on which the framework executes.

8 - 33 . (canceled)

34 . An apparatus for planning refueling, the apparatus comprising:
a computer comprising a processor, a bus connected to the processor, a memory, and instructions in the memory which, when executed by the processor, plan refueling for a plurality of receiver aircraft, wherein the instructions include an air refueling plug-in application, and wherein the air refueling plug-in application comprises: instructions for generating a refueling plan for refueling the plurality of receiving aircraft using at least a first tanker aircraft and a second tanker aircraft, wherein the refueling plan includes a split time between the first tanker aircraft and the second tanker aircraft.

35 . The apparatus of claim 34 , wherein the split time comprises a time in which, before the split time, all air refueling requests by the plurality of receiving aircraft will be serviced by the first tanker aircraft, and in which, after the split time, all refueling requests by the plurality of receiving aircraft will be serviced by the second tanker aircraft.

36 . The apparatus of claim 34 , wherein the instructions further comprise:
instructions for requesting a hose from one of the first tanker aircraft and the second tanker aircraft based on an estimated time en route for the first tanker aircraft and the second tanker aircraft, and based on the split time.

37 . The apparatus of claim 34 , wherein the instructions further comprise:
a plurality of plug-in applications; a framework capable of providing framework services to the air refueling plug-in application and the plurality of plug-in applications; a first interface for the air refueling plug-in application and the plurality of plug-in applications to receive the framework services from the framework; and a second interface for the air refueling plug-in application and plurality of plug-in applications to provide services from one plug-in application to another plug-in application, wherein the first interface and the second interface are independent of the air refueling plug-in application and plurality of plug-in applications.

38 . The apparatus of claim 37 , wherein the framework provides display services and wherein the first interface allows the plurality of plug-in applications to extend display services to other plug-in applications.

39 . The apparatus of claim 37 , wherein a location information plug-in application is present in the plurality of plug-in applications and wherein the location information plug-in application provides location information about the formation of aircraft and provides a display service to display the location information.

40 . The apparatus of claim 37 , wherein a weather information plug-in application is present in the plurality of plug-in applications and wherein the weather information plug-in application provides weather information and provides a display service to display the weather to other plug-in applications.

41 . The apparatus of claim 37 , wherein a performance model plug-in application is present in the plurality of plug-in applications and wherein the performance model plug-in application provides information about aircraft to other plug-in applications.

42 . The apparatus of claim 37 , wherein a set of plug-in applications within the plurality of plug-in applications provides current data about the formation of aircraft to the air refueling plug-in while the formation of aircraft are in flight and wherein the air refueling plug-in uses the current data to modify the refueling routes for the formation of aircraft.

43 . The apparatus of claim 37 , wherein the apparatus further comprises:
a data processing system on which the framework executes.

44 . An apparatus comprising:
a computer comprising a processor, a bus connected to the processor, a memory, and instructions in the memory which, when executed by the processor, plan refueling for a plurality of receiver aircraft, wherein the instructions include an air refueling plug-in application, and wherein the air refueling plug-in application comprises: instructions for setting a split time; instructions for selecting an unprocessed receiver aircraft; instructions for calculating a receiver abort point; and instructions for requesting a hose from a given tanker aircraft from a plurality of tanker aircraft based on an estimated time en-route to the unprocessed receiver aircraft and further based on the split time.

45 . The apparatus of claim 44 , wherein the air refueling plug-in application further comprises:
instructions for clearing old air refueling points from an older refueling plan.

46 . The apparatus of claim 44 , wherein the air refueling plug-in application further comprises:
instructions for placing begin and end waypoints for the given tanker aircraft; instructions for optimizing downstream altitudes and airspeeds for a formation route for the plurality of receiver aircraft; instructions for checking reserves of fuel for the given tanker aircraft; and instructions for calculating total fuel used and save values for

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Bush Larry Wayne
• Aspen Sven David
• Boorn Luther
• Thieme Randall E

Classifications

• H04B7/18506

  Communications with or from aircraft, i.e. aeronautical mobile service · CPC title

• H04L12/40

  Bus networks · CPC title

• B64D39/00

  Refuelling during flight · CPC title

• G08G5/76

  for monitoring atmospheric conditions · CPC title

• G08G5/55

  for a single aircraft · CPC title