Continuous flight slot monitoring

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2025209929-A1
Application number	US-202418670586-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 21, 2024
Priority date	Dec 22, 2023
Publication date	Jun 26, 2025
Grant date	—

Abstract

The present disclosure provides techniques and systems for improved slot allocation. Slot scheduled data and flight tracking data for a flight are accessed, where the slot scheduled data indicates a first slot assigned to the flight at a departure airport, and the flight tracking data comprises an anticipated takeoff time. Slot occupancy data of the departure airport is examined to identify slot usage patterns. A slot adjustment for the flight is determined based on the anticipated takeoff time and the slot usage patterns at the departure airport. A notification of the slot adjustment for the flight is generated.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method, comprising:
accessing slot scheduled data and flight tracking data for a flight, wherein the slot scheduled data indicates a first slot assigned to the flight at a departure airport, and the flight tracking data comprises an anticipated takeoff time; examining slot occupancy data of the departure airport to identify slot usage patterns; determining a slot adjustment for the flight based on the anticipated takeoff time and the slot usage patterns at the departure airport; and generating a notification of the slot adjustment for the flight.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the flight tracking data further comprises at least one of the following:
(i) a flight identification number for the flight; (ii) a callsign for the flight; (iii) a registration number for an aircraft associated with the flight; (iv) an arrival airport of the flight; (v) a departure airport of the flight; (vi) a date of the flight; (vii) an estimated off-block time (EOBT), (viii) an estimated take-off time (ETOT); (vx) a calculated take-off time (CTOT); (x) an actual take-off time (ATOT); or (xi) an Air Traffic Flow Management (ATFM) message.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the first slot is determined based at least on one of the CTOT or the ETOT.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first slot assigned to the flight corresponds to a first runway.

5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the slot adjustment further comprises assigning a second slot, within the first runway, to the flight, wherein the second slot aligns with the anticipated takeoff time.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the slot adjustment further comprises assigning a second slot, within a second runway, to the flight, wherein the second slot aligns with the anticipated takeoff time.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the slot occupancy data of the departure airport comprises at least one of (i) a number of available slots at the departure airport; (ii) a number of scheduled outbound flights from the departure airport; or (iii) slot allocations between the available slots and the scheduled outbound flights.

8 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
updating a data store to save the slot adjustment for the flight; and updating a user interface to display the slot adjustment for the flight.

9 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving a first set of flight tracking data for the flight at a first time; receiving a second set of flight tracking data for the flight at a second time, wherein the second set of flight tracking data is received at a later time than the first set of flight tracking; and generating a visual representation that displays the first and second sets of flight tracking data on a user interface.

10 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising storing each respective set of flight tracking data, of the first and second sets of flight tracking data, in a data store, with a respective timestamp.

11 . A system comprising:
one or more computer processors; and one or more memories collectively containing one or more programs, which, when executed by the one or more computer processors, perform operations, the operations comprising: accessing slot scheduled data and flight tracking data for a flight, wherein the slot scheduled data indicates a first slot assigned to the flight at a departure airport, and the flight tracking data comprises an anticipated takeoff time; examining slot occupancy data of the departure airport to identify slot usage patterns; determining a slot adjustment for the flight based on the anticipated takeoff time and the slot usage patterns at the departure airport; and generating a notification of the slot adjustment for the flight.

12 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the flight tracking data further comprises at least one of the following:
(i) a flight identification number for the flight; (ii) a callsign for the flight; (iii) a registration number for an aircraft associated with the flight; (iv) an arrival airport of the flight; (v) a departure airport of the flight; (vi) a date of the flight; (vii) an estimated off-block time (EOBT), (viii) an estimated take-off time (ETOT); (vx) a calculated take-off time (CTOT); (x) an actual take-off time (ATOT); or (xi) an Air Traffic Flow Management (ATFM) message.

13 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the first slot is determined based at least on one of the CTOT or the ETOT.

14 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the first slot assigned to the flight corresponds to a first runway.

15 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the slot adjustment further comprises assigning a second slot, within the first runway, to the flight, wherein the second slot aligns with the anticipated takeoff time.

16 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the slot adjustment further comprises assigning a second slot, within a second runway, to the flight, wherein the second slot aligns with the anticipated takeoff time.

17 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the slot occupancy data of the departure airport comprises at least one of (i) a number of available slots at the departure airport; (ii) a number of scheduled outbound flights from the departure airport; or (iii) slot allocations between the available slots and the scheduled outbound flights.

18 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the one or more programs, which, when executed on any combination of the one or more computer processors, perform the operations further comprising:
updating a data store to save the slot adjustment for the flight; and updating a user interface to display the slot adjustment for the flight.

19 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the one or more programs, which, when executed on any combination of the one or more computer processors, perform the operations further comprising:
receiving a first set of flight tracking data for the flight at a first time; receiving a second set of flight tracking data for the flight at a second time, wherein the second set of flight tracking data is received at a later time than the first set of flight tracking; and generating a visual representation that displays the first and second sets of flight tracking data on a user interface.

20 . One or more non-transitory computer-readable media containing, in any combination, computer program code that, when executed by operation of a computer system, performs operations comprising:
accessing slot scheduled data and flight tracking data for a flight, wherein the slot scheduled data indicates a first slot assigned to the flight at a departure airport, and the flight tracking data comprises an anticipated takeoff time; examining slot occupancy data of the departure airport to identify slot usage patterns; determining a slot adjustment for the flight based on the anticipated takeoff time and the slot usage patterns at the departure airport; and generating a notification of the slot adjustment for the flight.

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Güemes Jiménez Alejandro
• Costas Pablo
• Lopez Leones Javier
• Peña Ortiz Nicolas
• Muñoz Hernández Andrés
• Morales Tirado Elisa

Classifications

• G08G5/56 Primary

  for two or more aircraft · CPC title

• G08G5/22

  located on the ground · CPC title

• G06Q10/06312 Primary

  Adjustment or analysis of established resource schedule, e.g. resource or task levelling, or dynamic rescheduling · CPC title