Patent ID: 8290638
Filing Date: 2012-10-16
Classification: G01C

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for providing updated mission control data to an embedded control system carried by an aircraft, the apparatus comprising: a mobile display unit positionable to display mission control data to a user during aircraft in flight operations; a user interface unit operably coupled to the mobile display unit and configured to communicate mission control data to the mobile display unit and to store user modifications to the mission control data defining modified mission control data; and a mission system interface unit operably coupled to at least one component of an embedded aircraft mission control system storing mission control data created during off-board preflight mission planning, and operably coupled to the user interface unit and configured to receive the modified mission control data therefrom and to provide at least portions of the modified mission control data to the embedded control system during in-flight aircraft operations, the at least portions of the modified mission control data formatted for use by the embedded control system and representing an in-flight updated mission plan, the mission system interface unit including at least one processor, memory operably coupled to the at least one processor, and mission planning program code stored in the memory of the mission system interface unit, the mission planning program code adapted to cause the mission system interface unit to receive the modified mission control data, to format at least portions of the modified mission control data for use by the embedded control system defining formatted mission control data, and to communicate the formatted mission control data to the embedded control system.