Patent Publication Number: US-7907067-B2

Title: System and method for displaying air traffic information

Description:
REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 11/550,131 filed on Oct. 17, 2006 now U.S. Pat. No. 7,786,899, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention generally relates to a system and method for receiving and processing flight tracking information for presentation. More particularly, the present invention can be used as a customizable flight tracking display including value added content provided by the local airport user that is triggered or sequenced by criteria that uses the flight tracking data. 
     BACKGROUND 
     In modern society, a growing number of people frequently travel long distances, for both business and pleasure. For large corporations, private business owners, and the affluent, private air travel has become the preferred method of travel in these instances. In addition, many business people and groups of vacationers are upset about high costs and inconvenient and/or inflexible schedules of air travel on commercial aircraft, and therefore are looking more and more to fly on private aircraft or to charter aircraft. Some business executives have simply stopped taking domestic commercial flights due to the time, hassle and cost involved, particularly considering the value of the executives&#39; time. 
     In the United States, there are almost 20,000 airports. Of these, over 5,000 are open to the public, but only 550 regularly accommodate regularly scheduled airline flights. Making use of these runways is a fleet of more than 210,000 aircraft, of which only 8,000 are used for regularly scheduled commercial flights. This means that approximately 200,000 actively registered private aircraft are flying in and out of nearly 20,000 airfields large and small, flown by the roughly 250,000 private pilots. 
     Whether the individual owns the private aircraft or leases it from an aircraft provider, or charters it, the amenities inside the aircraft are typically upscale. Modern private aircraft often include such amenities as leather ergonomic seating, custom designed interiors, gourmet meals, and high tech entertainment systems. As such, the passengers aboard many of these private aircraft have come to expect top of the line service and amenities. 
     While a large number of the 200,000 registered private aircraft may not be extravagant private jets, a shift is occurring at the airports which service these private aircraft towards more upscale and efficient operations. For example, most airports provide Fixed Based Operators (FBOs) which are service providers which offer aircraft services such as fueling and de-fueling, aircraft parking, tie-down and hangar storage, aircraft and instrument service, aircraft towing, baggage handling, and cleaning. In addition, FBOs commonly provide accommodations, such as lounges and catering services, coordinate transportation such as limousine pick up, and a wide variety of related and non-related services. 
     SUMMARY 
     Various technologies and techniques are disclosed for providing a customized display, containing at least a portion of flight tracking information obtained from a near real-time source. In one form, the user accesses a service through a series of web pages presented to the user. The user is able to select a set of flights from a set of flights scheduled for arrival/departure from a designated airport/facility that typically are not regularly scheduled commercial flights. A customized display is then presented on a monitor operated by the user which presents the information in a value added format that is triggered or sequenced based on flight tracking data. Value added information can include an automatic instruction for the line crew to get the fuel truck, or for the ground transportation services to be called, as a condition of the estimated time of arrival. Similarly, it can include advertisements related to the flight information such that some advertisements are shown only before arrival and others only after arrival or shortly before departure. By automatically linking display of value-added information to the status of the flight, many benefits can be realized. 
     In another embodiment, the service allows the user to customize messages with personal content for display on the monitor based upon a number of criteria, such as the status of a particular flight as determined from the flight tracking data. 
     Yet other forms, embodiments, objects, advantages, benefits, features, and aspects of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description and drawings contained herein. 
     This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are described in further detail in the detailed description and drawings contained herein. This summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. Yet other forms, embodiments, objects, advantages, benefits, features, and aspects of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description and drawings contained herein, as well as from the claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a diagrammatic view of a computer system of one implementation. 
         FIG. 2  is a process flow diagram illustrating the stages involved in creating a customized display using the system of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a representative web page suitable for use in selecting flights for inclusion in a display in one form of the present invention, such as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is representative web page suitable entering flight specific information for a selected flight in one form of the present invention, such as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5   a  is an illustrative screen segment containing scheduled flight arrival information, suitable for use with the invention shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5   b  is an illustrative screen segment containing scheduled flight departure information, suitable for use with the invention shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5   c  is an illustrative screen segment containing a personalized message, suitable for use with the invention shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5   d  is an illustrative screen segment containing scheduled flight service status and preparation information, suitable for use with the invention shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 6  is an illustrative layout containing several screen segment portions, suitable for display on a monitor of  FIG. 1  in one aspect of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     For the purposes of promoting and understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiment illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended. Any alterations and further modifications in the described embodiments, and any further applications of the principles of the invention as described herein are contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates. 
     Currently, systems exist which provide general flight status information using visual monitors. The most common example of this is the well known and universally used arrival and departure boards present at virtually every commercial airport. Users can easily view information such as flight number, arrival/departure time, origin/destination, gate, baggage carousel number, and status of a flight. This enables passengers and others in the airport to find the proper time and location for their flight and baggage. Until applicants&#39; invention, this method of presenting flight information had been difficult for air traffic that is not regularly-scheduled commercial flights, such as private or chartered aircraft. In addition, due to the smaller number of passengers and flights, a high level of customization and personalization may be included by the operator. Applicants have incorporated many of the features disclosed herein into a fully functioning website at http://flightaware.com/airportaware/, incorporated herein by reference. 
     In 1995, the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) made a wealth of minute-by-minute flight tracking information available for distribution to the public with the creation of the Aircraft Situation Display to Industry (ASDI) service. Through this service, flight tracking data is made available to several vendors who are subsequently able to provide information in a value-added format to their subscribers. The ASDI information includes the location, altitude, airspeed, origin, destination, estimated time of arrival and tail number or designated identifier of air carrier and general aviation aircraft operating on at least the corresponding IFR flight plans within U.S. airspace. General aviation VFR flights that include air traffic control flight following are often included. Early adopters of the information provided by the ASDI service include air charter operators, limousine firms, and fixed base operators (FBOs). 
     As the growth of the private aviation industry increases, a shift has occurred in the level and efficiency of services demanded by the corporate passengers and affluent individuals commonly aboard. FBOs and other service providers are renovating their facilities in order to compete for the business of a higher end clientele. By incorporating a personalized display capable of visually welcoming passengers and providing pertinent information to them a higher level of client satisfaction is achieved. The present invention is directed toward receiving and processing aviation information and content and providing information of interest to the passengers in one or more aspects of the invention, but the present invention also serves other purposes in addition to these. 
       FIG. 1  is a diagrammatic view of computer system  20  of one embodiment of the present invention. In the illustrative embodiment, computer system  20  includes aviation information service  10 , flight tracking information provider  40 , and client system  30 . Computer system  20  also includes computer network  22 . Computer network  22  couples together a number of computers  21   a - 21   d  over network pathways  23   a - 23   d , respectively. More specifically, system  20  includes several servers, namely Web Server  11  and Database Server  12  of aviation information service  10 , and ASDI Server  41  of flight tracking information provider  40 . System  20  also includes client computer  31  and display  32 . While computers  21   a - 21   d  are each illustrated as being a server or client, it should be understood that any of computers  21   a - 21   d  may be arranged to include both a client and server. Furthermore, it should be understood that while four computers  21   a - 21   d  are illustrated, more or fewer may be utilized in alternative embodiments. Preferably, service  10  includes a collection of Web servers  11  for handling content delivery to number of client computers, such as client computer  31 . 
     Computers  21   a - 21   d  include one or more processors or CPUs ( 50   a ,  50   b ,  50   c , and  50   d , respectively) and one or more types of memory ( 52   a ,  52   b ,  52   c ,  52   d , respectively). Each memory  52  preferably includes a removable memory device. Each processor  50  may be comprised of one or more components configured as a single unit. When of a multi-component form, a processor  50  may have one or more components located remotely relative to the others. One or more components of each processor  50  may be of the electronic variety defining digital circuitry, analog circuitry, or both. In one embodiment, each processor  50  is of a conventional, integrated circuit microprocessor arrangement, such as one or more OPTERON processors supplied by ADVANCED MICRO DEVICES Corporation of One AMD Place, Sunnyvale, Calif. 94088, USA. 
     Each memory  52  (removable, fixed or both) is one faun of a computer-readable device. Each memory may include one or more types of solid-state electronic memory, magnetic memory, or optical memory, just to name a few. By way of non-limiting example, each memory may include solid-state electronic Random Access Memory (RAM), Sequentially Accessible Memory (SAM) (such as the First-In, First-Out (FIFO) variety or the Last-In-First-Out (LIFO) variety), Programmable Read Only Memory (PROM), Electronically Programmable Read Only Memory (EPROM), or Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory (EEPROM); an optical disc memory (such as a DVD or CD ROM); a magnetically encoded hard disc, floppy disc, tape, or cartridge media; or a combination of any of these memory types, or other types not included in the above list. Also, each memory may be volatile, nonvolatile, or a hybrid combination of volatile and nonvolatile varieties. 
     Although not shown to preserve clarity, one or more of computers  21   a - 21   d  may be coupled to a display and/or may include an integrated display. Computers  21   a - 21   d  may be of the same type, or a heterogeneous combination of different computing devices. Likewise, displays may be of the same type, or a heterogeneous combination of different visual devices. Although again not shown to preserve clarity, each computer  21   a - 21   d  may also include one or more operator input devices such as a keyboard, mouse, track ball, light pen, and/or microtelecommunicator, to name just a few representative examples. Also, besides a display, one or more other output devices may be included such as a loudspeaker or printer. Various display and input device arrangements are possible. 
     Computer network  22  can be in the form of a wireless or wired Local Area Network (LAN), Municipal Area Network (MAN), Wide Area Network (WAN), such as the Internet, a combination of these, or such other network arrangement as would occur to those skilled in the art. The operating logic of system  20  can be embodied in signals transmitted over network  22 , in programming instructions, dedicated hardware, or a combination of these. It should be understood that more or fewer computers like computers  21   a - 21   d  can be coupled together by computer network  22 . 
     In one embodiment, system  20  operates at one or more physical locations. Web Server  11  is configured as a web server that hosts application business logic  33  for an value added flight tracking information engine, Database Server  12  is configured as a database server for storing aviation information provided by ASDI Server  41 , and client computer  31  is configured for providing a user interface  36  for accessing the value added flight tracking information service  10  and providing a video signal to display  32 . User interface  36  of client computers  31  can be an installable application such as one that communicates with Web Server  11 , can be browser-based, and/or can be embedded software, to name a few non-limiting examples. In one form, display  32  is a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD), but may be a Cathode Ray Tube (CRT), plasma, laser display device, Digital Light Processing (DLP) monitor, projector or other video display currently known in the art or later developed. Preferably, display  32  is at least 37″ in size allowing it to be easily read from a variety of different locations and distances. 
     In one embodiment, software installed locally on client computer  31  is used to communicate with Web Server  11 . In another embodiment, Web Server  11  provides content such as video clips, images, templates, and/or advertising in addition to flight tracking information to client computers  31  when requested. One of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the term web server is used generically for purposes of illustration and is not meant to imply that network  22  is required to be the Internet. As described previously, network  22  can be one of various types of networks as would occur to one of ordinary skill in the art. Database (data store)  34  on Database Server  12  can store data such as flight tracking information, departure/arrival notices, flight plans, historical flight information, aircraft information, aviation related content, and/or advertisement messages to name a few representative examples. 
     In the illustrative embodiment, flight tracking information is received from ASDI Server  41  which is at least one server that is a part of the Aircraft Situation Display to Industry Service (ASDI) provided by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The feed provided by the ASDI service may be in real time or delayed, such as subject to a five minute delay. Connections to the feed are established in a structured format according to  Aircraft Situation Display to Industry: Functional Description and Interface Control Document  (available at http://www.fly.faa.gov/ASDI/asdi.html) which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     Typical applications of system  20  would include more client computers coupled to displays, like client computer  31  and display  32  at more physical locations, but only one has been illustrated in  FIG. 1  to preserve clarity. In an alternate form, client computers  31  may be coupled to more than one display. Furthermore, although two servers  11  and  12  are shown, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that the one or more features provided by Web Server  11  and Database Server  12  could be provided by the same computer or varying other arrangements of computers at one or more physical locations and still be within the spirit of the invention. Farms of dedicated servers, a single proprietary system, and/or a Storage Area Network (SAN) could also be provided to support the specific features if desired. In the illustrative embodiment, in order to flexibly handle the large quantity of flight information received by service  10 , Database Server  12  includes a relational database as in known to one of skill in the art. 
     In the illustrative embodiment, value added flight tracking information service  10  is associated with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Enhanced Traffic Management System (ETMS) through the Aircraft Situation Display to Industry (ASDI) feed provided from the Volpe National Transportation System Center (VNTSC). The feed may include all flight plan information for flights in the National Airspace System (NAS). 
     Using the ASDI feed provided by the FAA, flight tracking data including information regarding flights for all aircraft flying using “instrument flight rules” (IFR) is obtained by the service  10 . The information includes regularly-scheduled commercial airlines and most charter, private, and corporate airlines, while general aviation VFR (Visual Flight Rules) flights that include air traffic control flight following are often also included. The information provided by the ASDI feed and utilized by the service  10  includes the location, altitude, airspeed, origin, destination, estimated time of arrival and tail number or designated identifier of air carrier and general aviation aircraft. This information is provided through a continuous stream of messages, each message having a type such as those described below: 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
             
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 Message Type: 
                 Content: 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
            
               
                   
                 NAS AF 
                 revised flight plan data whenever 
               
               
                   
                   
                 a flight plan is amended 
               
               
                   
                 NAS AZ 
                 arrival data for all eligible 
               
               
                   
                   
                 arriving flights 
               
               
                   
                 NAS DZ 
                 departure message 
               
               
                   
                 NAS FZ 
                 initial flight plan data 
               
               
                   
                 NAS RZ 
                 cancellation data 
               
               
                   
                 NAS TZ 
                 flight position updates 
               
               
                   
                 NAS UZ 
                 ARTCC boundary crossing data 
               
               
                   
                 NAS RT 
                 prediction data, such as ETA 
               
               
                   
                 NAS TO 
                 oceanic flight position data 
               
               
                   
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     These messages are used to compile and update a database of records for each flight within the applicable airspace system, such as for the U.S. and/or Canada. In the illustrative embodiment, the database is maintained in data store  34  of Database Server  12  and accessible via Web Server  11 . Further information relating to the processing of ASDI messages can be found in pending application Ser. No. 11/530,357, which is herein incorporated by reference, filed on Sep. 8, 2006, and commonly assigned to FlightAware LLC, assignee of the present application. 
     Using the data stored in Database Server  12 , Web Server  11  is able to provide content, containing flight information among other things, to client computer  31  for storage, configuration, and subsequent presentation on display  32 . In the preferred form, the content is substantially aviation/business related. Additionally, client computer  31  is operable to customize the flight information it receives from Web Server  11  as well as download/create content to be incorporated into the visual display. 
     Turning to  FIG. 2 , with continued reference to  FIG. 1 , a process flow diagram illustrates the stages involved in creating a customized display for presentation on the provided monitor. In the illustrative embodiment, the user is an employee/manager of a FBO using client computer  31  behind a desk, and the FBO operates monitor  32  within its main lounge. The process  200  begins at start point  202  with an authorized user logging into the service  10 . In the illustrative embodiment, the user accesses interactive web pages stored on Web Server  11  of service  10  over network  22  using client computer  31 . 
     In one form, service  10  allows the user to log in using a username and password combination (stage  204 ). However, it shall be appreciated that other log in methods known to those of skill in the art may be utilized depending upon the level of security and ease of use desired. 
     Once the user is logged in, service  10  retrieves a listing of the current flights scheduled to arrive at or depart from the airport associated with the user (stage  206 ). In the illustrative embodiment, the airport upon which the FBO user is located is associated with the FBO account when created. In alternate forms, the user may select the airport of interest. In service  10 , Web Server  11  retrieves a listing from Database Server  12  all flights scheduled to arrive or depart from the associated airport. The scheduled arrivals and departures are populated within Database Server  12  by the flight tracking information feed provided from ASDI Server  41 . In one form, the flight plan data is utilized to identify arriving and departing flights. 
     Once service  10  populates the listing, the scheduled flights for the associated airport are presented to the user. The user selects a set of flights for inclusion in the display sent to monitor  32  (stage  208 ). In the illustrative embodiment, the user selects only the flights which are scheduled for service at their FBO. Therefore, the display is highly tailored to upcoming clients. In one form, client computer receives and stores flight information regarding all flights associated with the airport of the user. In an alternate form, the client computer receives and stores only information regarding only the selected flights. 
     Turning to  FIG. 3 , a representative web page suitable for use in selecting flights for inclusion in a display in one form of the present invention is shown. Web page  300  is served by Web Server  11  to client computer  31  in the illustrative embodiment. Web page  300  includes an information section  302 , an arrival section  304 , and a departure section  306 . Information section  302  includes information identifying the airport and location associated with the user. Arrival section  304  contains a listing of all flights arriving at the identified airport  310  and a listing of the currently selected flights  312 . Preferably, the listing is filtered to include only non-regularly scheduled commercial and non-cargo fights. Using the user interface buttons  314 , the user may easily select flights from listing  310  for inclusion in selected listing  312 , deselect flight from listing  312 , or clear listing  314  completed. Additionally, in other forms, the user may select flights by dragging and dropping a listing from listing  312  to selected listing  314 . Similarly, the user may utilize buttons  324  to select departing flight from departure listing  320  into selected listing  322 . 
     In a further form, the user may simply transmit a flight identifier, such as a flight or tail number to service  10  in order to select flights for inclusion. Additionally, a user may create a listing of loyal customers, identified by tail number, who frequently utilize the FBO&#39;s services. In the event service  10  identifies a flight having a tail number entered in this loyal customer list, the flight may be automatically selected for inclusion. Conversely, tail number of cargo flights or other aircraft that frequent the airport but do not use the FBO can be automatically excluded. In a still further form, the selection of flights may be automated by incorporation of client computer  31  or Web Server  11  with a scheduling system or other record keeping means of the FBO. It shall also be appreciated that various arrangements of web page  300  in addition to additional forms of selecting flights may be utilized without departing from the spirit of the present invention. 
     Returning to  FIG. 2 , once the user has selected flights, the user proceeds to enter flight specific information for one or more of the selected flights (stage  210 ). In the illustrative embodiment, the user may enter messages, upload images/videos, or select other content which may be selectively displayed depending upon the status of the associated flight. In the illustrative embodiment, the content is provided for viewing by the arriving/departing passengers, but in an alternate form, the content may be suitable for the staff/workers of the FBO. For example, monitor  32  may display the time left until arrival of a flight and a checklist of the tasks left to be completed in order to prepare for arrival. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a representative web page suitable entering flight specific information for a selected flight in one form of the present invention is shown. Web page  400  includes flight information  402  associated with the selected flight, such as flight number, tail number, aircraft type, arrival/departure time, and origin/destination. Web page  400  allows the user to input flight specific information such as the name of the client  404 , the name of the entity or corporation associated with the client,  406 , an image/video associated with the client or organization  408 , and the number of passengers aboard  410 . Web page  400  also allows the user to input a series of messages, such as pre-arrival message  412 , arrival message  414 , pre-departure message  416 , and post-departure message  418 . In this form, depending upon the nature of the flight, the user may enter information to be displayed based upon the status of the flight. For example, arrival message  414  may contain a message such as “Welcome Mr. Jones and guests, your limousine is waiting” or “Greetings XYZ, Inc.—Lunch will be served shortly.” Additionally, web page  300  may also enable to user to select options such as the color coding of flights, the number of flights to display, and/or the background or layout of the display to name just a few representative examples. 
     Returning to  FIG. 2 , once the user has completed the selection of flights and their associated information, the user proceeds to configure and customize the display for presentation on the monitor (stage  212 ). 
     Once the screen layout of the display is set by the user, the system transfers the content required for the customized display (stage  214 ). In the illustrative embodiment, a screen layout is a combination of one or more display segments which can be combined. Display segments may be flight listings, images, videos, web pages, tickers, and other visual data utilized in a screen layout for display on monitor  32  and stored by service  10 . The content, which is included within display segments, may be streamed to the client computer  31 , along with flight status information, for incorporation into a signal suitable for transmission to and display upon monitor  32 . Additionally, large content, such as video, may be downloaded from service  10  and stored upon client computer  31  or an attached data storage device, for subsequent use. In the preferred form, high definition content, such as news updates, advertisements, and aviation related information is provided in this form. In an alternate form, content may be provided on CD, DVD, or other digital storage medium for use by client computer  31  within display segments. 
     Turning to  FIGS. 5   a - 5   d , several illustrative screen segments are illustrated.  FIG. 5   a  depicts screen segment  500 , which includes arriving flight information  502 . Flight arrival information  502  includes flight listings, such as listing  504 , sorted by descending time of arrival and may include recently arrived flights. Listing  504  preferably includes associated flight #, aircraft type, estimated arrival time, and origin. In a further form, personalized message  506  may be displayed near the associated listing. Similarly,  FIG. 5   b  depicts screen segment  510 , which includes departing flight information  512 . Flight departing information  512  includes flight listings, such as listing  514 , sorted by descending time of departure and may include recently departed flights. Listing  514  preferably includes associated flight #, aircraft type, scheduled departure time, and destination. 
       FIG. 5   c  illustrates a representative client information screen segment  522 . In the illustrative embodiment, screen segment  522  may be displayed for a short time after the arrival of a scheduled flight, thereby presenting customized information to the client. Screen segment  522  may include a personalized message  524 , a status update  526 , a client association  528 , and a client image  530 . For example, in the event of a corporate executive and guest, the personalize message  524  may be a welcome message welcoming the group, status message  526  may update the passengers of their next activity, whether it be lunch, dinner, or the arrival of a limousine for transportation. Additionally, the display may be tailored to the corporation with whom the executive works by displaying the corporate name, such as client association  528 , and the corporate logo, client image  530 . 
     Additionally, in an alternate form, screen segment  530  may be displayed with a listing of the next scheduled flight  532  included along with a listing of the requirements for successfully servicing that flight  534 . Segment  530  may be displayed on monitor  32  when no guests are present in the FBO or on a second monitor, not shown, in the service area viewable only by the employees responsible for completing the listed tasks. 
       FIG. 6  illustrates a representative screen layout made up of several screen segments suitable for display on monitor  32 . Screen layout  600  includes screen segments  500 ,  510 ,  610 ,  620 ,  630  and  640 . Additionally, screen layout  600  may include a background  650  upon which each screen segment may be overlaid. Screen segment  500  and  510 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 5   a - 5   b , include flight arrival and departure information respectively which is periodically updated based upon information received from service  10 . Screen segment  610  is a header segment which indicates the name of the FBO or other desired information. Screen segments  620  and  630  may be selected from a variety of different screen segments, such as weather, news, text, video, or other available content. As illustrated, screen segment  620  includes weather information for the associated airport. Screen segment  630  includes video content, such as aviation related video or a map of the local airspace showing flights in the area. In a further form, weather content may be for the destination airport in the event of an upcoming scheduled departure. Finally, segment  640  may include scrolling information such as stock ticker, news wire, or other information. Preferably, the screen layouts also include the current time and airport name, such as in segment  610  or  640 . Additionally, the screen may include segments of any shape or size designated by the user. In a further form, templates are provided by service  10  for completion by the user and subsequent display. 
     In one form, a single screen layout is utilized and displayed, but in the preferred embodiment, numerous screen layouts are displayed sequentially for various times based upon flight information, with the display of targeted screen layouts based upon a variety of criteria, such as the status of a selected flight. For example, in one form, a set of three screen layouts may be sequentially displayed, the first displaying arrivals, the second departures, and the third displaying weather and news content. In a preferred form, a layout may be presented in response to an indication, derived from the substantially real time flight data, that a flight will be arriving soon. Such indication may be determined by a ARTCC boundary crossing, indicating that the flight has entered controlled airspace, an estimated time of arrival, a distance to the destination airport, or an air speed or altitude below a predetermined threshold. In the event that no flights are scheduled for service in the near future, the duration of the news and weather screen layout may be increased. In the event of a recent arrival, a personalized screen layout or series of layout may be displayed, as set by the user. 
     Returning to  FIG. 2 , once the user has customized the display for presentation on the monitor, the monitor displays the selected screen layout(s) (stage  216 ). The content of the screen segments is periodically updated by client computer  31  when information is received by service  10 , such as the change in a flight status criteria. In a further form, content from other sources may be included within a screen segment, such as a weather forecast, sports scores, or a skyline camera shot. The process ends at end point  218 . 
     While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only the preferred embodiment has been shown and described and that all equivalents, changes, and modifications that come within the spirit of the inventions as described herein and/or by the following claims are desired to be protected.