Patent ID: 7221290
Filing Date: 2007-05-22
Classification: G08G,H04B

Abstract:
1. A method for performing air traffic control (ATC) communications, comprising: employing multiple ATC radio facilities to facilitate a plurality of virtual radio communication channels used to communicate with aircraft within an ATC airspace division controlled by an ATC control facility, the multiple ATC radio facilities broadcasting radio signals having at least one of different radio frequencies and radio frequency with different associated transmission domains; assigning communications for each aircraft within the ATC airspace division to a virtual radio communication channel employing an underlying physical radio communication channel having one of a radio frequency or radio frequency and associated transmission domain; sending verbal communications between the ATC control facility and aircraft within the airspace division as digitally-encoded messages using the virtual radio communication channels assigned to each aircraft, wherein each digitally-encoded message is enabled to be decoded and played back at a destined aircraft or ATC control facility to replicate the verbal communication associated with that message.