System and method for dynamically augmenting raster charts displayed on a cockpit display

A controller for selectively displaying information from raster charts is disclosed. The controller is configured to: retrieve raster data; assign a different priority level to each of a plurality of types of raster data; cause raster data having a predetermined priority level to be displayed with first augmentation information and prevent from being displayed raster data not having the first predetermined priority level, wherein the first augmentation information comprises database data retrieved from a database and is assigned a first predetermined augmentation information priority level; generate a hidden layer of second augmentation information comprising database data from the database that is correlated to a geographical location of the displayed raster data and assigned a second predetermined augmentation information priority level; and cause the hidden layer of second augmentation information to be displayed over a portion of the displayed raster data when the geographical location is selected.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to Indian Provisional Patent Application No. 202011049239, filed Nov. 11, 2020, the entire content of which is incorporated by reference herein.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Embodiments of the subject matter described herein relate generally to flight deck display systems. More particularly, embodiments of the subject matter relate to flight deck display systems for displaying raster charts.

BACKGROUND

Raster charts, such as sectional, Hi/Lo IFR charts published by the FAA, can be very useful for pilots. A raster chart is an electronic picture of a paper chart obtained typically through an accurate, detailed scanning of the paper chart. Raster charts, typically, have exactly the same information as the paper chart. When raster charts are used within an integrated Navigation display environment, a typical approach is to position the raster data underneath the navigational data. The raster data forms an image and many existing Navigational display elements overlap with raster image elements. The overlapping elements may have different features, such as different colors, shapes, and/or dimensions. These differences and the overlap can lead to significant display clutter and increased flight crew workload to declutter and deconflict navigational data associated with chart image data.

Hence, it is desirable to provide a raster data display without significant display clutter. Furthermore, other desirable features and characteristics of the present invention will become apparent from the subsequent detailed description and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and the foregoing technical field and background.

SUMMARY

A flight deck system in an aircraft for selectively displaying information from raster charts on a display device is disclosed. The flight deck system includes a controller configured to: retrieve raster data from a pre-stored raster chart; assign a different priority level from a plurality of priority levels to each of a plurality of types of raster data from the raster chart; cause raster data having a first predetermined raster data priority level from the plurality of priority levels to be displayed with first augmentation information for a geographic region of interest on the display device in the aircraft and prevent from being displayed raster data not having the first predetermined priority level, wherein the first augmentation information includes database data retrieved from a database stored on the aircraft and assigned a first predetermined augmentation information priority level; generate a hidden layer of second augmentation information including database data retrieved from the database that is correlated to a geographical location of the displayed raster data and assigned a second predetermined augmentation information priority level; and cause the hidden layer of second augmentation information to be displayed as an overlay over a portion of the displayed raster data when the geographical location is selected.

A processor implemented method in an aircraft for selectively displaying information from raster charts on a display device is disclosed. The method includes: retrieving raster data from a pre-stored raster chart; assigning a different priority level from a plurality of priority levels to each of a plurality of types of raster data from the raster chart; displaying raster data having a first predetermined raster data priority level from the plurality of priority levels with first augmentation information for a geographic region of interest on the display device in the aircraft and not displaying raster data not having the first predetermined priority level, wherein the first augmentation information includes database data retrieved from a database stored on the aircraft and assigned a first predetermined augmentation information priority level; generating a hidden layer of second augmentation information including database data retrieved from the database that is correlated to a geographical location of the displayed raster data and assigned a second predetermined augmentation information priority level; and displaying the hidden layer of second augmentation information as an overlay over a portion of the displayed raster data when the geographical location is selected.

Non-transitory computer readable media encoded with programming instructions configurable to cause a processor in flight deck equipment in an aircraft to perform a method is disclosed. The method includes: retrieving raster data from a pre-stored raster chart; assigning a different priority level from a plurality of priority levels to each of a plurality of types of raster data from the raster chart; displaying raster data having a predetermined priority level from the plurality of priority levels for a geographic region of interest on the display device in the aircraft and not displaying raster data not having the first predetermined priority level, wherein the first augmentation information includes database data retrieved from a database stored on the aircraft and assigned a first predetermined augmentation information priority level; generating a hidden layer of second augmentation information including database data retrieved from the database that is correlated to a geographical location of the displayed raster data and assigned a second predetermined augmentation information priority level; and displaying the hidden layer of second augmentation information as an overlay over a portion of the displayed raster data when the geographical location is selected.

Furthermore, other desirable features and characteristics will become apparent from the subsequent detailed description and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and the preceding background.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the application and uses. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any expressed or implied theory presented in the preceding technical field, background, summary, or the following detailed description. As used herein, the term “module” refers to any hardware, software, firmware, electronic control component, processing logic, and/or processor device, individually or in any combination, including without limitation: application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field-programmable gate-array (FPGA), an electronic circuit, a processor (shared, dedicated, or group) and memory that executes one or more software or firmware programs, a combinational logic circuit, and/or other suitable components that provide the described functionality.

The subject matter described herein discloses apparatus, systems, techniques, and articles for providing a dynamically augmented raster data display on a cockpit display. The apparatus, systems, techniques, and articles provided herein can allow a raster data display priority to be dynamically adjusted, and/or localized areas on a raster map to be dynamically associated with geographically collocated Nav/culture/structural information.

The apparatus, systems, techniques, and articles provided herein can allow user triggering or automatic triggering of dynamic information augmentation for raster data areas of interests. Dynamic information augmentation for raster data areas of interests can provide flight crews with additional information for operation planning or other purposes.

FIG.1is a block diagram depicting an example aircraft environment100for implementing a raster chart display system102for causing raster chart data106from a raster chart to be displayed on a cockpit display device104(e.g., a head down display (HDD), a head up display (HUD), a primary flight display (PFD), a multifunction display (MFD), a navigation display, an electronic flight bag (EFB), a tablet computer, or other types of display devices used in an aircraft cockpit). A raster chart is an electronic picture of a paper chart obtained typically through an accurate, detailed scanning of the paper chart.

The raster chart display system102is implemented by flight deck equipment in an aircraft. The flight deck equipment may be dedicated hardware in the aircraft for implementing the raster chart display system102or may be flight deck equipment that implements other flight deck functions. The raster chart display system includes a controller that includes at least one processor and a computer-readable storage device or media encoded with programming instructions for configuring the controller. The processor may be any custom-made or commercially available processor, a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA), an auxiliary processor among several processors associated with the controller, a semiconductor-based microprocessor (in the form of a microchip or chip set), any combination thereof, or generally any device for executing instructions.

The computer readable storage device or media may include volatile and nonvolatile storage in read-only memory (ROM), random-access memory (RAM), and keep-alive memory (KAM), for example. KAM is a persistent or non-volatile memory that may be used to store various operating variables while the processor is powered down. The computer-readable storage device or media may be implemented using any of a number of known memory devices such as PROMs (programmable read-only memory), EPROMs (electrically PROM), EEPROMs (electrically erasable PROM), flash memory, or any other electric, magnetic, optical, or combination memory devices capable of storing data, some of which represent executable programming instructions, used by the controller.

The raster chart display system102is configured to generate a dynamically augmented raster data display for use on the cockpit display device104. The dynamically augmented raster data display, in normal operation, displays some, but not all, the raster data106from the paper chart from which the raster data display was derived. The dynamically augmented raster data display is augmented, by the raster chart display system102, to display various portions of the non-displayed data from one or more geo-referenced data sources upon certain conditions occurring. The geo-referenced data sources may include one or more of an EGPWS (enhanced ground proximity warning system) terrain database108, an airports database110, a navigation aids (NAVAID) database112, an airspace database114, flight plan data, weather data, traffic data, or some other source.

The certain conditions may occur upon one or more of: a cursor touch action or hovering over a geographical region of the dynamically augmented raster data display, selection of a geographical region of the dynamically augmented raster data display (e.g., via click action using a cursor), automatically upon an aircraft reaching a geographical area, and/or the aircraft reaching a geographical area coupled with a cursor hovering action or touch action on a touchscreen over the geographical region or selection of the geographical region of the dynamically augmented raster data display. Upon the certain conditions occurring, the raster chart display system102causes certain portions of the previously non-displayed data related to the objects in the paper chart from which the raster data display was derived and/or data from other sources to be displayed as an overlay over the dynamically augmented raster data display.

This allows the raster chart display system102to provide flight crew on a cockpit display in an aircraft with essential information from a paper chart without cluttering the display with nonessential information, and on demand or automatically augment the display with additional, geographically relevant information via an overlay. The data included in the overlay are limited to geographically relevant data. The geographically relevant data includes data that are related to an automatically selected geographical region (e.g., upon the aircraft reaching a predetermined geographical location) and/or data that are related to a manually selected geographical region (e.g., via cursor hovering or cursor selection).

The raster chart display system102can accomplish the generation of a dynamically augmented raster data display by assigning priority levels to different types of raster data106from a raster chart and only causing the augmented raster data having a predetermined priority level(s) to be displayed until certain conditions occur. When those certain conditions occur, the raster chart display system102is configured to cause augmented raster data with a different priority level(s) that are geographical relevant to be displayed as an overlay over the prior display.

The raster chart display system102is also configured to geographically correlate different types of database data (e.g., data from databases108,110,112,114) to the raster data106and make the correlated database data available to the display device104in one or more hidden layers that are hidden from display. The raster chart display system102is also configured to assign priority levels to the different types of database data and when certain conditions occur cause database data having predetermined priority levels that are geographical relevant to be displayed as an overlay.

The raster chart display system102is also configured to geographically correlate different types of dynamically generated information related to a flight path or plan for the aircraft to the raster data106and make the correlated dynamically generated information related to a flight path or plan available to the display device104in one or more hidden layers that are hidden from display. The raster chart display system102is also configured to assign priority levels to the different types of dynamically generated information and when certain conditions occur cause different types of dynamically generated information having predetermined priority levels that are geographical relevant to be displayed as an overlay. The different types of dynamically generated information may include flight plan data, weather data, and traffic data and others.

The raster chart display system102may allow a user to select the type of raster data106, database data, and dynamically generated information to be displayed in a normal raster data display (e.g., before dynamic augmentation is applied) by allowing a user to select the data priority levels for the data to be displayed in the normal raster data display. The raster chart display system102may also allow a user to select the type of raster data106, database data, and/or dynamically generated information to displayed in a dynamically augmented display when certain conditions occur by allowing a user to select the data priority levels for the data to be displayed when the certain conditions occur.

FIGS.2A and2Bare diagrams depicting example augmented raster charts that may be generated by the raster chart display system102.FIG.2Ais an example sectional chart depicting an example augmented raster data display200that depicts some, but not all, the aeronautical information from an example IFR enroute low altitude chart for navigation under instrument flight rules. An IFR chart may include, in addition to topography information, information regarding: air traffic services, airports that have an instrument approach procedure or a minimum 3000′ hard surface runway, airways/route data, cruising altitudes, fixes/ATC reporting points, limits of controlled airspace, military training routes, off route obstruction clearance altitudes (OROCA), radio aids to navigation, RNAV routes, special use airspace areas, tabulations (MTRs, SUAs, MOAs, airport data), and other relevant information. The various types of information are assigned to different priority levels. The assignment to the different priority levels may be configurable by a user or predetermined. The example raster data display200has been augmented to include geographically relevant flight plan information including a flight path202and waypoint204.

FIG.2Bis a chart depicting another example augmented raster data display210. The example augmented raster data display210depicts the aeronautical information and flight plan information from the example raster data display200, plus additional information for dynamically augmenting the raster data display210. In this example, a geographical region212on the augmented raster data display210was selected (e.g., by hovering the cursor over the region or direct selection using the cursor). Responsive to the selection, the raster chart display system102caused additional aeronautical information214to be displayed in an overlay on the augmented raster data display210. In this example, the selected geographical region212is around the location of an airport and the additional aeronautical information214includes the name of the airport at the selected geographical region212. This can allow a user (e.g., flight crew member) to extract additional information related to the airport and view data with much better resolution and/or much better visualization.

FIGS.3A and3Bare diagrams depicting example augmented raster charts that may be generated by the raster chart display system102.FIG.3Ais a chart depicting an example raster data display300that depicts some of the interactively augmented aeronautical information from an example FAA published paper chart. The example raster data display300has been augmented to include geographically relevant flight plan information including a flight path302and waypoint304and geographically relevant range, location, and identifiers information.

FIG.3Bis a chart depicting another example augmented raster data display310. The example augmented raster data display310depicts the aeronautical information and flight plan information from the example raster data display300, plus additional information for dynamically augmenting the raster data display310. In this example, a geographical region312on the augmented raster data display310was selected (e.g., by hovering the cursor over the region or direct selection using the cursor). Responsive to the selection, the raster chart display system102caused additional aeronautical information314to be displayed in an overlay on the augmented raster data display310. In this example, the selected geographical region312is around the location of an airport and the additional aeronautical information314includes the name of the airport at the selected geographical region312. This can allow a user (e.g., flight crew member) to extract additional information related to the airport and view data with much better resolution and/or much better visualization.

FIGS.4A and4Bare diagrams depicting example raster charts that may be generated by the raster chart display system102.FIG.4Ais a chart depicting an example raster data display400that depicts some, but not all, the aeronautical information from an example airspace paper chart. The example raster data display400has been augmented to include geographically relevant flight plan information including a flight path402and waypoints404and geographically relevant information.

FIG.4Bis a chart depicting another example augmented raster data display410. The example augmented raster data display410depicts the aeronautical information and flight plan information from the example raster data display400, plus additional information for dynamically augmenting the raster data display410. In this example, a geographical region412on the augmented raster data display410was selected (e.g., by hovering the cursor over the region or direct selection using the cursor). Responsive to the selection, the raster chart display system102caused additional aeronautical information414to be displayed in an overlay on the augmented raster data display410. In this example, the selected geographical region412is the location of an airport and the additional aeronautical information414includes the name of the airport at the selected geographical region412, the type of the airspace (class C in this example), and airspace dimensions. This can allow a user (e.g., flight crew member) to extract additional information related to the airport and airspace and view data with much better resolution and/or much better visualization.

In these examples, the controller in the raster chart display system102may be configured to determine the overall priorities of various display elements for the display device104as configurable settings and/or to be dynamically set. In some implementations, the display of flight plan information may be highly desirable and made visible fulltime. In such implementations, flight plan information may always be displayed on top of a raster display. Other elements such as airport, NAVAID, and airways information may generally not be made visible over the raster data but can be dynamically placed over the raster data in an overlay, for example, at certain ranges or on demand. For instance, if an aircraft begins to enter a restricted airspace, information regarding the restricted airspace may be dynamically displayed over the raster area to immediately alert the flight crew. In some implementations, most of the navigational data, airspace, culture, and structural layers information may not be shown over the raster layer.

In one example, the controller that implements the example raster chart display system102is configured to: retrieve raster data106from a pre-stored raster chart; assign a different priority level from a plurality of priority levels to each of a plurality of types of raster data from the raster chart; cause raster data having a predetermined priority level from the plurality of priority levels to be displayed for a geographic region of interest on the display device in the aircraft during flight and prevent from being displayed raster data not having the predetermined priority level; retrieve database data relating to a flight path of the aircraft from one or more databases; geographically correlate the retrieved database data to the displayed raster data and make the correlated database data available to the display device in one or more hidden layers that are hidden from display; cause a hidden layer of database data that is correlated to a geographical location of the displayed raster data to be displayed as an overlay over a portion of the displayed raster data when the geographical location is selected; cause one or more of flight plan data, weather data, and traffic data to be displayed over the displayed raster data; and cause previously non-displayed raster data having a second priority level that is correlated to a geographical location of the displayed raster data to be displayed as an overlay over a portion of the displayed raster data when the geographical location is selected.

The raster data may comprise topography image data, aeronautical data, railroad data, visual reference points, city boundaries, and/or road data. The database data may comprise one or more of terrain data from an EGPWS terrain database108, airport data from an airports database110, navigation aid data from a navigation aids database112, airspace data from an airspace database114, communication frequency data, NOTAM data, or other data from another type of database.

The geographical location of the displayed raster data may be selected via touch action on a touchscreen or hovering a cursor over the geographical location on the display device. The geographical location of the displayed raster data may be selected via a cursor click action or touch action at the geographical location on the display device. The geographical location of the displayed raster data may be automatically selected when the aircraft reaches a certain geographically area on its flight path. The geographical location of the displayed raster data may only be selectable when the aircraft reaches a certain geographically area on its flight path.

FIG.5is a process flow chart depicting an example process500in an aircraft for selectively displaying information from raster charts on a cockpit display device (e.g., a navigation display). The order of operation within the process500is not limited to the sequential execution as illustrated in the figure, but may be performed in one or more varying orders as applicable and in accordance with the present disclosure.

The example process500includes retrieving raster data from a pre-stored raster chart (operation502). The raster data may comprise, for example, topography image data, aeronautical data, railroad data, visual reference points, city boundaries, and/or road data

The example process500includes assigning a different priority level from a plurality of priority levels to each of a plurality of types of raster data from the raster chart (operation504) and displaying raster data having a predetermined priority level from the plurality of priority levels for a geographic region of interest on the display device in the aircraft and not displaying raster data not having the predetermined priority level (operation506).

The example process500includes retrieving database data relating to a flight path of the aircraft from one or more databases (operation508). The database data may comprise, for example, one or more of terrain data from an EGPWS terrain database, airport data from an airports database, navigation aid data from a navigation aids database, and airspace data from an airspace database

The example process500includes geographically correlating the retrieved database data to the displayed raster data and make the correlated database data available to the display device in one or more hidden layers that are hidden from display (operation510).

The example process500includes displaying a hidden layer of database data that is correlated to a geographical location of the displayed raster data as an overlay over a portion of the displayed raster data when the geographical location is selected (operation512). Selecting a geographical location of the displayed raster data may include, for example, touch action on a touchscreen or hovering a cursor over the geographical location on the display device, explicit selection (e.g., via a cursor click action), and/or automatically selecting a geographical location of the displayed raster data when the aircraft reaches a certain geographically area on its flight path. A geographical location of the displayed raster data may only be selectable when the aircraft reaches a certain geographically area on its flight path.

The example process500further includes displaying previously non-displayed raster data having a second priority level that is correlated to a geographical location of the displayed raster data as an overlay over a portion of the displayed raster data when the geographical location is selected (operation514).

Described herein are apparatus, systems, techniques, and articles for providing a dynamically augmented raster data display on a cockpit display. The apparatus, systems, techniques, and articles provided herein can allow a raster data display priority to be dynamically adjusted, and/or localized areas on a raster map to be dynamically associated with geographically collocated Nav/culture/structural information.

In one embodiment, a flight deck system in an aircraft for selectively displaying information from raster charts on a display device is provided. The flight deck system comprises a controller configured to: retrieve raster data from a pre-stored raster chart; assign a different priority level from a plurality of priority levels to each of a plurality of types of raster data from the raster chart; cause raster data having a first predetermined raster data priority level from the plurality of priority levels to be displayed with first augmentation information for a geographic region of interest on the display device in the aircraft and prevent from being displayed raster data not having the first predetermined priority level, wherein the first augmentation information comprises database data retrieved from a database stored on the aircraft and assigned a first predetermined augmentation information priority level; generate a hidden layer of second augmentation information comprising database data retrieved from the database that is correlated to a geographical location of the displayed raster data and assigned a second predetermined augmentation information priority level; and cause the hidden layer of second augmentation information to be displayed as an overlay over a portion of the displayed raster data when the geographical location is selected.

These aspects and other embodiments may include one or more of the following features. The first augmentation information may comprise dynamically generated information related to a flight path or plan for the aircraft that is assigned the first predetermined augmentation information priority level and the controller may be configured to cause the dynamically generated information that is assigned the first predetermined augmentation information priority level to be displayed with the raster data having a first predetermined raster data priority level and the database data assigned the first predetermined augmentation information priority level. The second augmentation information may comprise dynamically generated information related to the flight path or plan that is assigned a second predetermined augmentation information priority level and the controller may be configured to cause the dynamically generated information assigned the second predetermined augmentation information priority level to be displayed as an overlay over the portion of the displayed raster data when the geographical location is selected. The dynamically generated information may comprise one or more of flight plan data, weather data, and traffic data. The controller may be further configured to cause previously non-displayed raster data having a second priority level that is correlated to a geographical location of the displayed raster data to be displayed as an overlay over a portion of the displayed raster data when the geographical location is selected. The raster data may comprise topography image data, aeronautical data, railroad data, visual reference points, city boundaries, and/or road data. The database data may comprise one or more of terrain data from an EGPWS terrain database, airport data from an airports database, navigation aid data from a navigation aids database, and airspace data from an airspace database. The geographical location of the displayed raster data may be selected via touch action or hovering a cursor over the geographical location on the display device. The geographical location of the displayed raster data may be automatically selected when the aircraft reaches a certain geographically area on its flight path. The geographical location of the displayed raster data may be selectable only when the aircraft reaches a certain geographically area on its flight path.

In another embodiment, a method in an aircraft for selectively displaying information from raster charts on a display device is provided. The method comprises: retrieving raster data from a pre-stored raster chart; assigning a different priority level from a plurality of priority levels to each of a plurality of types of raster data from the raster chart; displaying raster data having a first predetermined raster data priority level from the plurality of priority levels with first augmentation information for a geographic region of interest on the display device in the aircraft and not displaying raster data not having the first predetermined priority level, wherein the first augmentation information comprises database data retrieved from a database stored on the aircraft and assigned a first predetermined augmentation information priority level; generating a hidden layer of second augmentation information comprising database data retrieved from the database that is correlated to a geographical location of the displayed raster data and assigned a second predetermined augmentation information priority level; and displaying the hidden layer of second augmentation information as an overlay over a portion of the displayed raster data when the geographical location is selected.

These aspects and other embodiments may include one or more of the following features. The first augmentation information may comprise dynamically generated information related to a flight path or plan for the aircraft that is assigned the first predetermined augmentation information priority level and the method may further comprise displaying the dynamically generated information that is assigned the first predetermined augmentation information priority level with the raster data having a first predetermined raster data priority level and the database data assigned the first predetermined augmentation information priority level. The second augmentation information may comprise dynamically generated information related to the flight path or plan that is assigned a second predetermined augmentation information priority level and the method may further comprise displaying the dynamically generated information assigned the second predetermined augmentation information priority level as an overlay over the portion of the displayed raster data when the geographical location is selected. The dynamically generated information may comprise one or more of flight plan data, weather data, and traffic data. The method may further comprise displaying previously non-displayed raster data having a second priority level that is correlated to a geographical location of the displayed raster data as an overlay over a portion of the displayed raster data when the geographical location is selected. The raster data may comprise topography image data, aeronautical data, railroad data, visual reference points, city boundaries, and/or road data. The database data may comprise one or more of terrain data from an EGPWS terrain database, airport data from an airports database, navigation aid data from a navigation aids database, and airspace data from an airspace database. The geographical location of the displayed raster data may be selected via touch action or hovering a cursor over the geographical location on the display device. The geographical location of the displayed raster data may be automatically selected when the aircraft reaches a certain geographically area on its flight path. The geographical location of the displayed raster data may be selectable only when the aircraft reaches a certain geographically area on its flight path.

In another embodiment, non-transitory computer readable media encoded with programming instructions configurable to cause a processor in flight deck equipment in an aircraft to perform a method is provided. The method comprises: retrieving raster data from a pre-stored raster chart; assigning a different priority level from a plurality of priority levels to each of a plurality of types of raster data from the raster chart; displaying raster data having a predetermined priority level from the plurality of priority levels for a geographic region of interest on the display device in the aircraft and not displaying raster data not having the first predetermined priority level, wherein the first augmentation information comprises database data retrieved from a database stored on the aircraft and assigned a first predetermined augmentation information priority level; generating a hidden layer of second augmentation information comprising database data retrieved from the database that is correlated to a geographical location of the displayed raster data and assigned a second predetermined augmentation information priority level; and displaying the hidden layer of second augmentation information as an overlay over a portion of the displayed raster data when the geographical location is selected.

These aspects and other embodiments may include one or more of the following features. The first augmentation information may comprise dynamically generated information related to a flight path or plan for the aircraft that is assigned the first predetermined augmentation information priority level and the method may further comprise displaying the dynamically generated information that is assigned the first predetermined augmentation information priority level with the raster data having a first predetermined raster data priority level and the database data assigned the first predetermined augmentation information priority level. The second augmentation information may comprise dynamically generated information related to the flight path or plan that is assigned a second predetermined augmentation information priority level and the method may further comprise displaying the dynamically generated information assigned the second predetermined augmentation information priority level as an overlay over the portion of the displayed raster data when the geographical location is selected. The dynamically generated information may comprise one or more of flight plan data, weather data, and traffic data. The method may further comprise displaying previously non-displayed raster data having a second priority level that is correlated to a geographical location of the displayed raster data as an overlay over a portion of the displayed raster data when the geographical location is selected. The raster data may comprise topography image data, aeronautical data, railroad data, visual reference points, city boundaries, and/or road data. The database data may comprise one or more of terrain data from an EGPWS terrain database, airport data from an airports database, navigation aid data from a navigation aids database, and airspace data from an airspace database. The geographical location of the displayed raster data may be selected via touch action or hovering a cursor over the geographical location on the display device. The geographical location of the displayed raster data may be automatically selected when the aircraft reaches a certain geographically area on its flight path. The geographical location of the displayed raster data may be selectable only when the aircraft reaches a certain geographically area on its flight path.

In another embodiment, a flight deck system in an aircraft for selectively displaying information from raster charts on a display device is provided. The flight deck system comprises a controller configured to: retrieve raster data from a pre-stored raster chart, wherein the raster data includes one or more of topography image data, aeronautical data, railroad data, visual reference points, city boundaries, and road data; assign a different priority level to each of a plurality of types of raster data from the raster chart; display the augmented raster data for a geographic region of interest from the raster chart having a predetermined priority level on the display device in the aircraft and hide from display the raster data not having the predetermined priority level; retrieve database data relating to a flight path of the aircraft from one or more databases, wherein the database data includes one or more of terrain data from an EGPWS terrain database, airport data from an airports database, navigation aid data from an navigation aids database, and airspace data from an airspace database; geographically correlate the retrieved database data to the displayed raster data and make the correlated database data available to the display device in one or more hidden layers that are hidden from display; reveal, for display over the displayed raster data, a hidden layer containing database data that is geographically correlated to displayed raster data in a region of interest when the database data in the layer is correlated to a geographical location of the displayed raster data that has been selected, wherein the hidden layer containing database data correlated to the selected geographical location of the displayed raster data is caused to overlay the displayed raster data; and reveal, for display with the displayed raster data, previously non-displayed raster data having a second priority level when the previously non-displayed raster data having the second priority level is related to a geographical location of the displayed raster data that has been selected.