System for recording and real-time transmission of in-flight of aircraft cockpit to ground services

Abstract

A system, method and device for monitoring an aircraft, including activity taking place within an aircraft and conditions of the aircraft, where one or more a percepting component such as a camera, microphone, or other sensor, is situated at a location within the aircraft from which information may be ascertained. Preferably the component is disguised within the surfaces or instrumentation of the aircraft. The percepting component is connected with a communication mechanism to transmit communications from the system resident within the aircraft to a grounds portion of the system through a communication link, such as a satellite communication link. The system may process the information corresponding with the aircraft condition or activity and generate alerts when a trigger is met or exceeded. The system components on the aircraft may monitor conditions and activity without using or interfering with the aircraft instrumentation, the system using only the aircraft power.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for real-time monitoring an aircraft comprising:
 (a) providing a flight recorder system, wherein said flight recorder system is separate from the aircraft's own avionics, and includes at least one percepting component comprising one or more sensors for sensing a condition; and situating the percepting component at a location on or within the aircraft from which information may be ascertained;   (b) ascertaining a condition of the aircraft with the at least one percepting component;   (c) transmitting and/or receiving communications over a communications network with a communication mechanism connected with said percepting component; and   (d) operating a control mechanism connected with said percepting component to receive information from the percepting component and to communicate the information via the communication mechanism;   (e) wherein said at least one or more sensors comprises a barometric pressure sensor, an accelerometer sensor, and an altitude sensor, and wherein said one or more sensors are independent from the aircraft's avionics and guidance components;   (f) detecting an emergency condition experienced by the aircraft with said sensors;   (g) issuing an alert via a speaker situated within the aircraft cockpit, when the system detects an emergency condition;   (h) providing an indication of when the aircraft is taking off and climbing out, or landing using a combination of said accelerometer, said altitude sensor and said barometric pressure sensor, and programming the system to only record, or only to record and transmit, during those periods when said aircraft is taking off and climbing out, or landing.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the percepting component comprises one or more of a camera, microphone and speaker. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the percepting component comprises at least a plurality of cameras. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , providing a remotely situated ground operations portion, the method further comprising monitoring a condition of the aircraft with the remotely situated ground operations portion, and receiving transmissions with the remotely situated ground operations that include at least an indication of when the aircraft is taking off and climbing out, or landing, said indication being provided by said accelerometer sensor, said attitude sensor and said barometric pressure sensor. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein said percepting component is provided on the aircraft and comprises an aircraft portion of said system, said aircraft portion including a communication mechanism having a satellite radio transceiver and an antenna for radiating signals for communicating via satellite communications link with said ground operations portion; wherein said ground operations portion comprises a receiving component configured to receive communications transmitted from the communication mechanism of the aircraft portion; the method further comprising receiving communications with the receiving component of the ground operations portion, and communicating between said aircraft portion communicates and said ground operations portion via said satellite communication link. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 ,
 wherein the ground operations portion includes a computer with a processing component and software configured with instructions to instruct the processing component to analyze the information communicated from the aircraft portion by comparing the information to one or more threshold or predetermined values;   processing with the ground operations portion computer an analysis of the information communicated from the aircraft portion by comparing the information to one or more threshold or predetermined values;   generating a response when a threshold value or predetermined value is detected;   communicating said response to said aircraft cockpit through one or more components of the aircraft portion of the system;   wherein said response is communicated via said ground operations portion satellite transceiver through a satellite link to said aircraft portion transceiver through said aircraft portion antenna;   wherein the control mechanism comprises one or more of a computing component or control circuitry means; wherein said response is communicated to said computing component or control circuitry means;   wherein said computing component or control circuitry means of said aircraft portion is configured to process said response received from said ground operations portion and issue an alert via one or more components of said aircraft portion;   processing said response received from said ground operations portion and issuing an alert via one or more components of said aircraft portion;   wherein said ground operations portion comprises an artificial intelligence system, and wherein the method includes detecting conditions of the aircraft from the communications providing information obtained by the percepting component of the aircraft portion of the system, wherein said conditions include unusual conditions detected by said accelerometer sensor and said attitude sensor of said system.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein communication of the unusual conditions are communicated to the aircraft cockpit via said ground operations portion satellite transceiver through said satellite link and to said aircraft portion transceiver through said aircraft portion antenna. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the aircraft portion of said system includes a speaker provided in the cockpit, and wherein communicating the unusual conditions comprises an audible communication through said speaker. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the aircraft being monitored has a cockpit and an instrument panel in said cockpit, and wherein the system includes one or more cameras situated in said cockpit, the method including recording the instrument panel of the aircraft with at least one of said one or more cameras positioned to record the instrument panel of the aircraft. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the aircraft being monitored has a cockpit and an instrument panel in said cockpit, and wherein the system includes one or more cameras situated in said cockpit, the method including recording the instrument panel of the aircraft with at least one of said one or more cameras positioned to record the instrument panel of the aircraft. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the aircraft being monitored has a cockpit and an instrument panel in said cockpit, and wherein the system includes one or more cameras situated in said cockpit, the method including recording the instrument panel of the aircraft with at least one of said one or more cameras positioned to record the instrument panel of the aircraft. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , including designating a threshold value or threshold change in a value for one or more conditions sensed by said one or more sensors, and monitoring and processing information from the sensors to determine whether a threshold value or change in value has been met, and wherein when the threshold value or change in value has been met, actuating the camera to record images. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said communications take place via satellite communications between said ground operations portion and said aircraft, and delivering a message from the ground operations portion to the aircraft through the cockpit speaker. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , including determining with said system via said sensors that are independent of said aircraft avionics, when an aircraft is in a detected or declared emergency situation, and implementing an artificial intelligence function of the system to provide advisement to the pilots via the speaker in the aircraft through the satellite link. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , including determining with said system via said sensors that are independent of said aircraft avionics, when an aircraft is in a detected or declared emergency situation, and implementing a function of the system wherein a human selectively employs the satellite link and the speaker in the aircraft to provide advisement to the pilots. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the aircraft being monitored has a cockpit and an instrument panel in said cockpit, and wherein the system includes one or more cameras situated in said cockpit, and wherein said one or more cameras includes a capture element that is installed within an aircraft cockpit component, and wherein the capture element is disguised to integrate with the cockpit component. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the aircraft being monitored has a cockpit and an instrument panel in said cockpit, and wherein the system includes one or more cameras situated in said cockpit, and wherein said one or more cameras includes a capture element that is installed within an aircraft cockpit component, and wherein the capture element is disguised to integrate with the cockpit component. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said one or more cameras includes a capture element that is installed within an aircraft cockpit component, and wherein the capture element is disguised to integrate with the cockpit component. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the ground operations portion operates computer software and
 a) processes the information and stores the information received from the aircraft portion;   b) identifies a subscriber;   c) associates the subscriber with an access provision; and   d) provides access to aircraft information to the subscriber based on the subscriber access provision.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the subscriber designates an aircraft, or category in which one or more aircrafts are classified; and wherein the method includes generating alerts, including a subscriber alert, and communicating the subscriber alert to a subscriber of a designated aircraft or category to which one or more aircrafts are classified, based on a trigger generated from the processing of information communicated from the aircraft portion.