Title of Invention	A TELEMETER AND A TELEMETRY SYSTEM
Abstract	A telemeter (10) comprising a processor (150) coupled to the output of one or more condition sensors (320); said processor configured to convert the output of said one or more condition sensors to a diagnostic message, and to provide said diagnostic message at a processor output; a transmitter (118) coupled to said processor output (151), said transmitter configured to transmit said diagnostic message in a radio frequency band and characterized by a receiver (116) coupled to said processor (150), said receiver configured to receive diagnostic messages transmitted in a radio frequency band.

Title of Invention

A TELEMETER AND A TELEMETRY SYSTEM

Abstract

A telemeter (10) comprising a processor (150) coupled to the output of one or more condition sensors (320); said processor configured to convert the output of said one or more condition sensors to a diagnostic message, and to provide said diagnostic message at a processor output; a transmitter (118) coupled to said processor output (151), said transmitter configured to transmit said diagnostic message in a radio frequency band and characterized by a receiver (116) coupled to said processor (150), said receiver configured to receive diagnostic messages transmitted in a radio frequency band.

Full Text	French Patent Application 2 693 068 published December 31, 1993 discloses a telemetry system for transmission of status messages from a transmitter on board a mobile craft to a receiving device on the ground. EP publication 0 292 811 published November 30, 1988 discloses a vehicle monitoring arrangement and system for transmitting messages from a vehicle to a base. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A telemeter comprising a processor coupled to the output of one or more condition sensors; said processor configured to convert the output of said one or more condition sensors to a diagnostic message, and to provide said diagnostic message at a processor output; a transmitter coupled to said processor output, said transmitter configured to trasnmit said diagnostic message in a radio frequency band and characterized bys a receiver coupled to said processsor, said receiver configured to receive diagnostic messages transmitted in a radio frequency band. A telemetry system comprising a telemeter, as previously described, carried on board a mobile asset; and a remote station including a receiver for receiving transmitted messages; a station processor for processing said transmitted messages; an output from said remote station for providing information related to the performance of said asset to a device adapted to utilize said information. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a pictorial block diagram of a telemetry system according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a telemeter according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 illustrates an example of a circle of coverage to an aircraft at an altitude of 20,000 ft. FIG. 4 is a pictorial diagram showing a plurality of remote stations configured in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 shows exemplary specifications for a mobile asset to remote station link according to one embodiment of the presen invention. FIG. 6 shows examplary specifications for a ground station to mobile asset link according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 shows an example diagnostic message format according to one embodiment of the invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION A telemetry system 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in FIG 1 and 2. Telemetry system 10 comprsies a telemeter 100, a transmitter 118 and a remote station 200. Telemeter 100 is carried upon a mobile asse4t, such as an aircraft 20, locomotive 22, ship 24, or the like and configured to monitor the condition of the asset upon which it is installed. Telemeter 100 in conjucntion with transmitter 118 transmits messages, referred to herein as diagnostic messages, containing information about the condition and performance of the assets to remote station 200. The term 'condition' refers to the state of readiness, or fitness for operation of an asset or of a particular component of an asset. According to one embodiment of the invention, diagnostic messages are relatyed directly from the asset, such as aircraft 20, being monitored (referred to herein as a source) to a remote station 200 (referred to herein as a destination). According to another embodiment of the present invention diagnostic messages are relayed in series from a source asset, such as aircraft 20, to a successor asset, such as aircraft 21, and in some cases from a successor asset to another successor asset, and so on until the diagnostic message arrives at its remote station destination 200. An exemplary format suitable for diagnostic messages is illustrated in FIG 7. The message format comprises a synchronization preamble, address bits, priority bits if desired, a data field, an encryption flag denoting the presence or absence of encryption of the data in the data field, and an error detection field. Diagnostic messages are relayed between source assets, successors assets and remote station destinations via down lines 45. Down links 45 according to the present invention are communications channels comprising unlicensed or Industrial/Scientific/Medical (ISM) band, transmissions, Three ISM bands are now available in the United States for using spread- spectrum communications techniques: 902-928 MHz; 2400-2483.5 MHz; and 5725-5850 MHz. Accordingly, transmitter 118, according to one embodiment of the Invention, is adapted to transmit in an ISM frequency band, in one embodiment of the present invention data links 45 further include non ISM band radio frequency channels such as those licensed by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). In one embodiment of the present invention telemeter 100 is Installed upon aircraft 20. Telemeter 100 monitors one or more Jet engine conditions of aircraft 20 and transmits messages containing information about the performance of the aircraft between aircraft 20 and remote station 200. Remote station 200 utilizes the information contained In the messages to assess engine performance, identify and predict failure conditions, and in one embodiment to relay corrective signals to aircraft 20 via data uplink 30 to correct or compensate for failure conditions. In one embodiment of the invention data uplink 30 comprises ISM band transmissions. In another embodiment of the invention data uplink 30 comprises commands and data in an FCC licensed radio frequency band. As will be readily understood by those skilled in the art, the invention is not limited to aircraft telemeters and remote stations. Rather, the telemeters of the present invention may be Installed upon any mobile asset, and the messages relayed to a remote station, such as a satellite, shipboard or other receiving station which is not ground based. A telemeter 100 according to an embodiment of the invention is illustrated in block diagram form In FIG. 2. Telemeter 100 comprises as major components transmitter 118, receiver 116 diagnostic message processor 150, memory 152, display 190, and condition sensors 320, as shown in FIG, 2. Condition sensors 320 monitor performance conditions and parameters such as turbine speed, and exhaust gas temperature. In one embodiment of the invention telemeter 100 is implemented using avionics equipment already hi place on aircraft 20, as for example VHF, or UHF transcervers for other avionics applications licensed by the FCC for operation in RF bands. For example, Very High Frequency (VHF) transceiver units, not used over oceans where there is no line of sight to a ground station, may be employed to transmit and receive diagnostic messages on licensed bands during periods when these VHF transceivers are inactive. In one embodiment of the invention transmitter 118 includes an ISM modem of a type readily commercially available. In one embodiment of the present invention, telemeter 100 includes a low power 2.4 GHZ ISM transceiver, represented in FIG. 2 by receiver 116 and transmitter 118. Receiver 116 and transmitter 118 include modems employing typical direct sequence spread spectrum modulation schemes to modulate a carrier with diagnostic message information. Such schemes may be implemented in synchronous mode or in transmitted reference mode to alleviate the synchronization overhead. The ISM band embodiment of the present invention relies on in-flight use of the 2.4 GHz ISM at 2.4GHz -2.4835 GHz. Commercially available chip sets such as the Harris PRISM™ chip set and a wide variety of support electronics are readily commercially available for use in this embodiment. For example, one embodiment of the invention employs Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum (DSSS) techniques to maintain a spreading factor of at least 10, as required by United States FCC regulations. The Harris PRISM set spreads with a factor of 11 and is programmable for up to a factor of 16, making it advantageous for use in implementing an embodiment of the present invention. An alternative embodiment of the present invention employs 5.7GHz band transceivers. Table 1 shows exemplary link specifications developed by simulating an asset-to-asset link according to one embodiment of the present invention. According to the example shown in Table 1, an airplane to airplane link in the 2.4 GHz ISM band between two aircraft, each at a minimum cruise altitude of 20,000 feet and separated by a line of sight distance of about 400 miles will support about a 1.2kilobit per second link between the two aircraft, without coding, at a bit error rate of no greater than 10 '5. In an alternative embodiment of the present invention the link is operated at a variable data rate depending on the available link margin. In that case, both ends of the link are configured to observe the received error rates, calculated over groups of known bits or by observing various check sum failure rates, and increase or decrease their signaling rates accordingly. FIG. 5 shows exemplary link specifications for an asset to remote station link wherein the remote station is a ground based station. FIG. 6 shows exemplary link specifications for a remote station to asset link wherein the remote station is a ground station and the asset is an aircraft. Telemeter 100 also includes read/write memory 152. Read/write memory 152, which is dynamic random access memory in one embodiment of the present invention, performs storage of incoming messages for retransmission and keeps a history of system performance measures. System performance measures include, but are not limited to, measures selected from the group comprising: number and size of messages successfully received, number of messages successfully transmitted, latency time distribution, i.e., a histogram of the times that the successfully received messages were stored by the receiving aircraft before they were successfully retransmitted, link quality indicators such as signal to noise estimates, and communications protocol efficiency, e.g. number of transmission retries per message. A system 100 for telemetry of information from aircraft in flight to a ground station according to one embodiment of the present invention typically comprises a plurality of mobile assets, referred to hereinafter as nodes, in radio communication with each other. Each node may be selected from the group comprising aircraft, land vehicles such as a railroad locomotives, ships, ground transmitting or receiving stations, or communications satellites. Each node is equipped with a telemeter 100 for relaying diagnostic messages between nodes and from a source node to a destination ground station. The source node originates the diagnostic message and determines the most efficient link; to the desired destination ground station through intermediate nodes. The source node then transmits the diagnostic message to the first node in the link, that node receives and retransmits the diagnostic message to the next mode in the link, etc. until the message is finally received by the desired ground station. In this manner the aircraft pass the data by relay between aircraft in mutual line of sight such that the data is efficiently migrated from the source node to the ground station. According to one embodiment of the invention, remote station 250 employs a phased array antenna that has a line of sight to aircraft at cruise altitude. In order to establish an efficient link, the source node, and each successive node in the link, must select its successor node such that the message is transmitted from node to node while the successor node is in line of site with the predecessor node. In one embodiment of the present invention each node's transceiver is provided with flight plan information in order to facilitate the selection of a successor node to which to transmit the diagnostic message. Flight plan information is information related to the altitudes, flight paths, and times for flights of specific aircraft. In one embodiment of the invention flight plan Information is obtained from an aircraft tracking services. An example of such a system includes, but is not limited to Air Track. Airtrack is a real-time aircraft tracking program available from METSYS Software and Services, Cropton, Pickering, North Yorkshire, Y018 8HL, England. Flight plan data from the database is loaded into the Diagnostic message processor 150 of each aircraft's telemeter 100. Thereafter, processor 100 of the source node selects successors based on the flight plan data and desired destination remote station. As shown in FIG. 1, remote station 200 comprises a receiver 250 adapted to receive frequencies in an unlicensed frequency band such as an ISM frequency band. One embodiment of the present invention employs a receiving network 500 comprising several spaced apart remote stations 200 as illustrated in FIG. 4. Remote stations 200 are spaced from each other so as to provide receiver coverage over the entire geographical area of interest 120, In this case the United States, as illustrated in FIG. 4. The radio horizon for a line of sight path from an object at H feet above the earth is 2H miles. Thus, a radio receiver on the ground near Evendale, Ohio is capable of line of sight contact with a plane at 20,000 feet whose ground point falls in the circle 300 as shown in Figure 3. The circle is about 200 miles In radius. For planes at higher altitudes, the circle of coverage expands. Figure 4 shows a virtual covering of the Continental United States with only 40 receiver sites. A site center is marked with an V. The system Includes a protocol for fixing and monitoring schedule and performing monitoring hand-off from receiver site to receiver site. The protocol relies upon a ground- to-air link for flow or transmission control including. Examples of ground to air links suitable for transmission control include, but are not limited to: adaptive transmission rate control; provision/non-provision of error correction coding; power control; and time of transmission. ft will be apparent to those skilled in the art that, while the invention has been illustrated and described herein in accordance with the patent statutes, modifications and changes may be made in the disclosed embodiments without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention, ft is, therefore, to be understood that the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit of the invention. WE CLAIM: 1. A telemeter (10) comprising a processor (150) coupled to the output of one or more condition sensors (320); said processor configured to convert the output of said one or more condition sensors to a diagnostic message, and to provide said diagnostic message at a processor output; a transmitter (118) coupled to said processor output (151), said transmitter configured to transmit said diagnostic message in a radio frequency band and characterized by a receiver (116) coupled to said processor (150), said receiver configured to receive diagnostic messages transmitted in a radio frequency band. 2. The telemeter (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said radio frequency band is an ISM frequency band. 3. The telemeter (100) as claimed in claim 1 comprising a memory (152) for storing diagnostic measurement. 4. The telemeter (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said receiver (116) Is configured to receive commands transmitted from a ground station (200) in a radio frequency band. 5. The telemeter (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said condition sensor (320) comprises an exhaust gas temperature sensor. 6. The telemeter (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said condition sensor (320) is a turbine speed sensor. 7. The telemeter (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said processor (150) has a diagnostic message processor comprising a message assembler adapted to receive digital data from said a condition sensor output and for converting said digital data into one or more diagnostic messages and for providing diagnostic messages to an assembler output; a memory (152) for receiving and storing said diagnostic messages from said assembler output and from said receiver (116); and, a router for directing said diagnostic messages to designated destinations and for providing said diagnostic messages to said transmitter (118) when said designated destination is not the host platform. 8. The telemeter as claimed in claim 1 wherein said telemeter (100) is carried upon an aircraft (20,21). 9. The telemeter as claimed in claim 1, wherein said telemeter (100) is carried upon a locomotive (22). 10. The telemeter as claimed in claim 1, wherein said telemeter (100) is carried upon a ship (24). 11.A telementry system (100) comprising a telemeter (10) carried on board a mobile asset (20), said telemeter comprising a processor (150) coupled to the output of one or more condition sensors (320) of said asset; an output (151) for providing diagnostic messages containing information related to the sensed performance of said asset; a transmitter (118) having an input coupled to said output of said telemeter for transmitting said diagnostic messages in an ISM band; and, a remote station (200) including a receiver (250) for receiving transmitted messages; a station processor for processing said transmitted messages; an output (30) from said remote station for providing information related to the performance of said asset to a device (190) adapted to utilize said information; and, characterized by a receiver (116) coupled to said processor (150), said receiver configured to receive diagnostic messages transmitted in a ISM band. 12. The telemetry system (100) as claimed in claim 11, comprising a plurality of said remote stations (200) configured so as to cover a geographical area of interest (500). 13. The telemetry system (100) as claimed in claim 12, wherein said geographical area of interest if the continental United States. 14. The telemetry system (100) as claimed in claim 13, wherein said transmitter (118) transmits electromagnetic energy in the 3.2 GHz ISM band. 15. The telemetry system (100) as claimed in claim 13, wherein said transmitter (118) transmits in the 5 GHz band. 16. The telemetry system (100) as claimed in claim 13, wherein said device adapted to utilize said information is a display (190). 17. The telemetry system (100) as claimed in claim 13, wherein the remote station comprises an antenna array (120) adapted to receive radio frequency communications in the ISM band. A telemeter (10) comprising a processor (150) coupled to the output of one or more condition sensors (320); said processor configured to convert the output of said one or more condition sensors to a diagnostic message, and to provide said diagnostic message at a processor output; a transmitter (118) coupled to said processor output (151), said transmitter configured to transmit said diagnostic message in a radio frequency band and characterized by a receiver (116) coupled to said processor (150), said receiver configured to receive diagnostic messages transmitted in a radio frequency band.

Full Text

French Patent Application 2 693 068 published December 31,
1993 discloses a telemetry system for transmission of status
messages from a transmitter on board a mobile craft to a
receiving device on the ground. EP publication 0 292 811
published November 30, 1988 discloses a vehicle monitoring
arrangement and system for transmitting messages from a vehicle
to a base.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A telemeter comprising a processor coupled to the output of
one or more condition sensors; said processor configured to
convert the output of said one or more condition sensors to a
diagnostic message, and to provide said diagnostic message at a
processor output; a transmitter coupled to said processor output,
said transmitter configured to trasnmit said diagnostic message
in a radio frequency band and characterized bys a receiver
coupled to said processsor, said receiver configured to receive
diagnostic messages transmitted in a radio frequency band.
A telemetry system comprising a telemeter, as previously
described, carried on board a mobile asset; and a remote station
including a receiver for receiving transmitted messages; a
station processor for processing said transmitted messages; an
output from said remote station for providing information related
to the performance of said asset to a device adapted to utilize
said information.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a pictorial block diagram of a telemetry system
according to one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a telemeter according to one
embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 illustrates an example of a circle of coverage to an
aircraft at an altitude of 20,000 ft.
FIG. 4 is a pictorial diagram showing a plurality of remote
stations configured in accordance with one embodiment of the
present invention.
FIG. 5 shows exemplary specifications for a mobile asset to
remote station link according to one embodiment of the presen
invention.
FIG. 6 shows examplary specifications for a ground station
to mobile asset link according to one embodiment of the present
invention.
FIG. 7 shows an example diagnostic message format according
to one embodiment of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
A telemetry system 10 according to one embodiment of the
present invention is illustrated in FIG 1 and 2. Telemetry system
10 comprsies a telemeter 100, a transmitter 118 and a remote
station 200. Telemeter 100 is carried upon a mobile asse4t, such
as an aircraft 20, locomotive 22, ship 24, or the like and
configured to monitor the condition of the asset upon which it is
installed. Telemeter 100 in conjucntion with transmitter 118
transmits messages, referred to herein as diagnostic messages,
containing information about the condition and performance of the
assets to remote station 200. The term 'condition' refers to the
state of readiness, or fitness for operation of an asset or of a
particular component of an asset.
According to one embodiment of the invention, diagnostic
messages are relatyed directly from the asset, such as aircraft
20, being monitored (referred to herein as a source) to a remote
station 200 (referred to herein as a destination). According to
another embodiment of the present invention diagnostic messages
are relayed in series from a source asset, such as aircraft 20,
to a successor asset, such as aircraft 21, and in some cases
from a successor asset to another successor asset, and so on
until the diagnostic message arrives at its remote station
destination 200.
An exemplary format suitable for diagnostic messages is
illustrated in FIG 7. The message format comprises a
synchronization preamble, address bits, priority bits if
desired, a data field, an encryption flag denoting the presence
or absence of encryption of the data in the data field, and an
error detection field.
Diagnostic messages are relayed between source assets,
successors assets and remote station destinations via down lines
45. Down links 45 according to the present invention are
communications channels comprising unlicensed or
Industrial/Scientific/Medical (ISM) band, transmissions, Three
ISM bands are now available in the United States for using spread-
spectrum communications techniques: 902-928 MHz; 2400-2483.5 MHz; and 5725-5850
MHz.
Accordingly, transmitter 118, according to one embodiment of the Invention, is
adapted to transmit in an ISM frequency band, in one embodiment of the present
invention data links 45 further include non ISM band radio frequency channels such as
those licensed by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
In one embodiment of the present invention telemeter 100 is Installed upon aircraft
20. Telemeter 100 monitors one or more Jet engine conditions of aircraft 20 and transmits
messages containing information about the performance of the aircraft between aircraft
20 and remote station 200. Remote station 200 utilizes the information contained In the
messages to assess engine performance, identify and predict failure conditions, and in
one embodiment to relay corrective signals to aircraft 20 via data uplink 30 to correct or
compensate for failure conditions. In one embodiment of the invention data uplink 30
comprises ISM band transmissions. In another embodiment of the invention data uplink
30 comprises commands and data in an FCC licensed radio frequency band.
As will be readily understood by those skilled in the art, the invention is not limited
to aircraft telemeters and remote stations. Rather, the telemeters of the present invention
may be Installed upon any mobile asset, and the messages relayed to a remote station,
such as a satellite, shipboard or other receiving station which is not ground based.
A telemeter 100 according to an embodiment of the invention is illustrated in block
diagram form In FIG. 2. Telemeter 100 comprises as major components transmitter 118,
receiver 116 diagnostic message processor 150, memory 152, display 190, and condition
sensors 320, as shown in FIG, 2. Condition sensors 320 monitor performance conditions
and parameters such as turbine speed, and exhaust gas temperature.
In one embodiment of the invention telemeter 100 is implemented using avionics
equipment already hi place on aircraft 20, as for example VHF, or UHF transcervers for
other avionics
applications licensed by the FCC for operation in RF bands. For
example, Very High Frequency (VHF) transceiver units, not used over
oceans where there is no line of sight to a ground station, may be
employed to transmit and receive diagnostic messages on licensed
bands during periods when these VHF transceivers are inactive. In
one embodiment of the invention transmitter 118 includes an ISM
modem of a type readily commercially available.
In one embodiment of the present invention, telemeter
100 includes a low power 2.4 GHZ ISM transceiver, represented in
FIG. 2 by receiver 116 and transmitter 118. Receiver 116 and
transmitter 118 include modems employing typical direct sequence
spread spectrum modulation schemes to modulate a carrier with
diagnostic message information. Such schemes may be implemented
in synchronous mode or in transmitted reference mode to alleviate the
synchronization overhead.
The ISM band embodiment of the present invention
relies on in-flight use of the 2.4 GHz ISM at 2.4GHz -2.4835 GHz.
Commercially available chip sets such as the Harris PRISM™ chip set
and a wide variety of support electronics are readily commercially
available for use in this embodiment. For example, one embodiment
of the invention employs Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum (DSSS)
techniques to maintain a spreading factor of at least 10, as required by
United States FCC regulations. The Harris PRISM set spreads with a
factor of 11 and is programmable for up to a factor of 16, making it
advantageous for use in implementing an embodiment of the present
invention. An alternative embodiment of the present invention
employs 5.7GHz band transceivers.
Table 1 shows exemplary link specifications developed
by simulating an asset-to-asset link according to one embodiment of
the present invention. According to the example shown in Table 1, an
airplane to airplane link in the 2.4 GHz ISM band between two aircraft,
each at a minimum cruise altitude of 20,000 feet and separated by a
line of sight distance of about 400 miles will support about a 1.2kilobit
per second link between the two aircraft, without coding, at a bit error
rate of no greater than 10 '5. In an alternative embodiment of the
present invention the link is operated at a variable data rate depending
on the available link margin. In that case, both ends of the link are
configured to observe the received error rates, calculated over groups
of known bits or by observing various check sum failure rates, and
increase or decrease their signaling rates accordingly.
FIG. 5 shows exemplary link specifications for an asset
to remote station link wherein the remote station is a ground based
station.
FIG. 6 shows exemplary link specifications for a remote
station to asset link wherein the remote station is a ground station and
the asset is an aircraft.
Telemeter 100 also includes read/write memory 152.
Read/write memory 152, which is dynamic random access memory in
one embodiment of the present invention, performs storage of
incoming messages for retransmission and keeps a history of system
performance measures. System performance measures include, but
are not limited to, measures selected from the group comprising:
number and size of messages successfully received, number of
messages successfully transmitted, latency time distribution, i.e., a
histogram of the times that the successfully received messages were
stored by the receiving aircraft before they were successfully
retransmitted, link quality indicators such as signal to noise estimates,
and communications protocol efficiency, e.g. number of transmission
retries per message.
A system 100 for telemetry of information from aircraft in
flight to a ground station according to one embodiment of the present
invention typically comprises a plurality of mobile assets, referred to
hereinafter as nodes, in radio communication with each other. Each
node may be selected from the group comprising aircraft, land vehicles
such as a railroad locomotives, ships, ground transmitting or receiving
stations, or communications satellites. Each node is equipped with a
telemeter 100 for relaying diagnostic messages between nodes and
from a source node to a destination ground station. The source node
originates the diagnostic message and determines the most efficient
link; to the desired destination ground station through intermediate
nodes. The source node then transmits the diagnostic message to the
first node in the link, that node receives and retransmits the diagnostic
message to the next mode in the link, etc. until the message is finally
received by the desired ground station. In this manner the aircraft
pass the data by relay between aircraft in mutual line of sight such that
the data is efficiently migrated from the source node to the ground
station. According to one embodiment of the invention, remote station
250 employs a phased array antenna that has a line of sight to aircraft
at cruise altitude.
In order to establish an efficient link, the source node,
and each successive node in the link, must select its successor node
such that the message is transmitted from node to node while the
successor node is in line of site with the predecessor node. In one
embodiment of the present invention each node's transceiver is
provided with flight plan information in order to facilitate the selection
of a successor node to which to transmit the diagnostic message.
Flight plan information is information related to the altitudes, flight
paths, and times for flights of specific aircraft. In one embodiment of the invention flight
plan Information is obtained from an aircraft tracking services. An example of such a
system includes, but is not limited to Air Track. Airtrack is a real-time aircraft tracking
program available from METSYS Software and Services, Cropton, Pickering, North
Yorkshire, Y018 8HL, England. Flight plan data from the database is loaded into the
Diagnostic message processor 150 of each aircraft's telemeter 100. Thereafter, processor
100 of the source node selects successors based on the flight plan data and desired
destination remote station.
As shown in FIG. 1, remote station 200 comprises a receiver 250 adapted to
receive frequencies in an unlicensed frequency band such as an ISM frequency band.
One embodiment of the present invention employs a receiving network 500 comprising
several spaced apart remote stations 200 as illustrated in FIG. 4. Remote stations 200
are spaced from each other so as to provide receiver coverage over the entire
geographical area of interest 120, In this case the United States, as illustrated in FIG. 4.
The radio horizon for a line of sight path from an object at H feet above the earth is
2H miles. Thus, a radio receiver on the ground near Evendale, Ohio is capable of line
of sight contact with a plane at 20,000 feet whose ground point falls in the circle 300 as
shown in Figure 3. The circle is about 200 miles In radius. For planes at higher altitudes,
the circle of coverage expands. Figure 4 shows a virtual covering of the Continental
United States with only 40 receiver sites. A site center is marked with an V.
The system Includes a protocol for fixing and monitoring schedule and performing
monitoring hand-off from receiver site to receiver site. The protocol relies upon a ground-
to-air link for flow or transmission control including. Examples of ground to air links
suitable for transmission control include, but are not limited to: adaptive transmission rate
control; provision/non-provision of error correction coding; power control; and time of
transmission.
ft will be apparent to those skilled in the art that, while the invention has been
illustrated and described herein in accordance with the patent statutes, modifications and
changes may be made in the disclosed embodiments without departing from the true
spirit and scope of the invention, ft is, therefore, to be understood that the appended
claims are intended to cover all such modifications and changes as fall within the true
spirit of the invention.
WE CLAIM:
1. A telemeter (10) comprising a processor (150) coupled to the output of one or
more condition sensors (320); said processor configured to convert the output of
said one or more condition sensors to a diagnostic message, and to provide said
diagnostic message at a processor output; a transmitter (118) coupled to said
processor output (151), said transmitter configured to transmit said diagnostic
message in a radio frequency band and characterized by a receiver (116) coupled
to said processor (150), said receiver configured to receive diagnostic messages
transmitted in a radio frequency band.
2. The telemeter (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said radio frequency band is an
ISM frequency band.
3. The telemeter (100) as claimed in claim 1 comprising a memory (152) for storing
diagnostic measurement.
4. The telemeter (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said receiver (116) Is
configured to receive commands transmitted from a ground station (200) in a radio
frequency band.
5. The telemeter (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said condition sensor (320)
comprises an exhaust gas temperature sensor.
6. The telemeter (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said condition sensor (320) is a
turbine speed sensor.
7. The telemeter (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said processor (150) has a
diagnostic message processor comprising a message assembler adapted to
receive digital data from said a condition sensor output and for converting said
digital data into one or more diagnostic messages and for providing diagnostic
messages to an assembler output; a memory (152) for receiving and storing said
diagnostic messages from said assembler output and from said receiver (116);
and, a router for directing said diagnostic messages to designated destinations and
for providing said diagnostic messages to said transmitter (118) when said
designated destination is not the host platform.
8. The telemeter as claimed in claim 1 wherein said telemeter (100) is carried upon
an aircraft (20,21).
9. The telemeter as claimed in claim 1, wherein said telemeter (100) is carried upon a
locomotive (22).
10. The telemeter as claimed in claim 1, wherein said telemeter (100) is carried upon a
ship (24).
11.A telementry system (100) comprising a telemeter (10) carried on board a mobile
asset (20), said telemeter comprising a processor (150) coupled to the output of
one or more condition sensors (320) of said asset; an output (151) for providing
diagnostic messages containing information related to the sensed performance of
said asset; a transmitter (118) having an input coupled to said output of said
telemeter for transmitting said diagnostic messages in an ISM band; and, a remote
station (200) including a receiver (250) for receiving transmitted messages; a
station processor for processing said transmitted messages; an output (30) from
said remote station for providing information related to the performance of said
asset to a device (190) adapted to utilize said information; and, characterized by a
receiver (116) coupled to said processor (150), said receiver configured to receive
diagnostic messages transmitted in a ISM band.
12. The telemetry system (100) as claimed in claim 11, comprising a plurality of said
remote stations (200) configured so as to cover a geographical area of interest
(500).
13. The telemetry system (100) as claimed in claim 12, wherein said geographical area
of interest if the continental United States.
14. The telemetry system (100) as claimed in claim 13, wherein said transmitter (118)
transmits electromagnetic energy in the 3.2 GHz ISM band.
15. The telemetry system (100) as claimed in claim 13, wherein said transmitter (118)
transmits in the 5 GHz band.
16. The telemetry system (100) as claimed in claim 13, wherein said device adapted to
utilize said information is a display (190).
17. The telemetry system (100) as claimed in claim 13, wherein the remote station
comprises an antenna array (120) adapted to receive radio frequency
communications in the ISM band.
A telemeter (10) comprising a processor (150) coupled to the output of one or more
condition sensors (320); said processor configured to convert the output of said one or
more condition sensors to a diagnostic message, and to provide said diagnostic message
at a processor output; a transmitter (118) coupled to said processor output (151), said
transmitter configured to transmit said diagnostic message in a radio frequency band and
characterized by a receiver (116) coupled to said processor (150), said receiver
configured to receive diagnostic messages transmitted in a radio frequency band.

Documents:

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Patent Number

225006

Indian Patent Application Number

IN/PCT/2000/0249/KOL

PG Journal Number

44/2008

Publication Date

31-Oct-2008

Grant Date

29-Oct-2008

Date of Filing

23-Aug-2000

Name of Patentee

GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY

Applicant Address

1 RIVER ROAD, SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK

Inventors:

#	Inventor's Name	Inventor's Address
1	KORKOSZ RICHARD AUGUST	26 RIVERVIEW DRIVE ROTTERDAM JUNCTION, NEW YORK 12150
2	HERSHEY JOHN ERIK	4 VINES ROAD, BALLSTON LAKE NEW YORK 12019
3	ROSS JOHN ANDERSON FERGUS	1109 SUMNER AVE, SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK 12309
4	SHINGS BRUCE GUNTER	4027 SPRING MILL WAY, MAINVILLE, OHIO 45039
5	AL-DHAHIR NAOFAL MOHAMMED WASSEL	1197 HILLSIDE AVENUE, APARTMENT B41, NISKAYUNA, NEW YORK 12309
6	PUCKETTE IV CHARLES MCDONALD	28 VIA MARIA DRIVE SCOTIA, NEW YORK 12302
7	TOMLINSON JR HAROLD WOODRUFF	1001 ARAPANO PATH SCOTIA, NEW YORK 12302
8	MCKINNEY SR WILLIAM ROBERT	9063 COUNTRY VIEW LANE LOVELAND, OHIO 45140

PCT International Classification Number

G08C 15/12, 17/02

PCT International Application Number

PCT/US1999/04770

PCT International Filing date

1999-03-03

PCT Conventions:

#	PCT Application Number	Date of Convention	Priority Country
1	60/076,666	1998-03-03	U.S.A.
2	60/076,610	1998-03-03	U.S.A.