1. A method for managing separation between vehicles, the method comprising:
predicting a closest point of approach between a first vehicle traveling along a first path and a second vehicle traveling along a second path;
generating a number of compensation commands for altering the first path of the first vehicle using the closest point of approach and a desired level of separation between the first vehicle and the second vehicle; and
integrating the number of compensation commands with a number of control commands for the first vehicle to form a final number of control commands configured to maneuver the first vehicle to substantially maintain the desired level of separation between the first vehicle and the second vehicle, wherein a response of the first vehicle to the final number of control commands is a desired response.
2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
predicting a time to the closest point of approach, wherein the closest point of approach is predicted to occur when a distance between the first vehicle and the second vehicle has a minimum value if the first vehicle continues traveling along the first path and the second vehicle continues traveling along the second path.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of predicting the closest point of approach comprises:
predicting the distance between the first vehicle and the second vehicle when the distance has the minimum value if the first vehicle continues traveling along the first path and the second vehicle continues traveling along the second path; and
predicting a direction of the second vehicle with respect to the first vehicle when the distance has the minimum value.
4. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of generating the number of compensation commands comprises:
generating the number of compensation commands for altering the first path of the first vehicle using the closest point of approach, the desired level of separation between the first vehicle and the second vehicle, and the time to the closest point of approach.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first vehicle is a first aircraft and the second vehicle is a second aircraft and wherein the number of control commands is generated using a flight control module in the first aircraft and further comprising:
applying a first set of limit functions to the number of control commands; and
applying a second set of limit functions to the number of compensation commands, wherein the first set of limit functions and the second set of limit functions are configured to reduce a possibility of the first aircraft flying in an undesired manner.
6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
selecting a number of parameters for generating the number of compensation commands, wherein the number of parameters is selected such that the response of the first vehicle to the final number of control commands is the desired response.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein the desired level of separation is selected from one of a required level of separation, a safe level of separation, and an imposed level of separation.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein the first vehicle is a first aircraft, the second vehicle is a second aircraft, the first path is a first flight path, and the second path is a second flight path and further comprising:
maneuvering the first aircraft to alter the first flight path of the first aircraft to form an altered flight path for the first aircraft in response to the final number of control commands, wherein the altered flight path provides the desired level of separation at the closest point of approach between the first aircraft and the second aircraft.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein the maneuvering step comprises:
changing at least one of a speed, an acceleration, and a direction of travel for the first aircraft to form the altered flight path in response to the final number of control commands, wherein the altered flight path provides the desired level of separation at the closest point of approach between the first aircraft and the second aircraft.
10. The method of claim 1, wherein the desired response comprises at least one of a desired ride quality, a desired level of passenger comfort, a desired range of acceleration, a desired response time, and a desired turning rate.
11. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of generating the number of compensation commands comprises:
identifying the desired level of separation between the first vehicle and the second vehicle using an uncertainty in a prediction of the closest point of approach.
12. The method claim 1, wherein the first vehicle and the second vehicle are selected from at least one of an aircraft, an unmanned aerial vehicle, a helicopter, a submarine, a surface ship, a missile, a spacecraft, and a ground vehicle.
13. A system comprising:
a separation management module configured to predict a closest point of approach between a first vehicle traveling along a first path and a second vehicle traveling along a second path using the first path and the second path; generate a number of compensation commands for altering the first path of the first vehicle using the closest point of approach and a desired level of separation between the first vehicle and the second vehicle; and integrate the number of compensation commands with a number of control commands for the first vehicle to form a final number of control commands configured to maneuver the first vehicle to substantially maintain the desired level of separation between the first vehicle and the second vehicle, wherein a response of the first vehicle to the final number of control commands is a desired response.
14. The system of claim 13, wherein the separation management module is further configured to predict a time to the closest point of approach, wherein the closest point of approach is predicted to occur when a distance between the first vehicle and the second vehicle has a minimum value if the first vehicle continues traveling along the first path and the second vehicle continues traveling along the second path.
15. The system of claim 14, wherein in being configured to predict the closest point of approach, the separation management module is configured to predict the distance between the first vehicle and the second vehicle when the distance has the minimum value while the first vehicle travels along the first path and the second vehicle travels along the second path; and predict a direction of the second vehicle with respect to the first vehicle when the distance has the minimum value.
16. The system of claim 14, wherein in being configured to generate the number of compensation commands, the separation management module is configured to generate the number of compensation commands for altering the first path of the first vehicle using the closest point of approach, the desired level of separation between the first vehicle and the second vehicle, and the time to the closest point of approach.
17. The system of claim 13, wherein the first vehicle is a first aircraft and the second vehicle is a second aircraft and further comprising:
a flight control module, wherein the flight control module is configured to generate the number of control commands and apply a first set of limit functions to the number of control commands and the separation management module is configured to apply a second set of limit functions to the number of compensation commands, wherein the first set of limit functions and the second set of limit functions are configured to reduce a possibility of the first aircraft flying in an undesired manner.
18. The system of claim 13, wherein the desired level of separation is selected from one of a required level of separation, a safe level of separation, and an imposed level of separation.
19. The system of claim 13, wherein in being configured to generate the number of compensation commands, the separation management module is configured to generate the number of compensation commands using a number of parameters selected such that the response of the first vehicle to the final number of control commands is the desired response.
20. The system of claim 19, wherein the desired response comprises at least one of a desired ride quality, a desired level of passenger comfort, a desired range of acceleration, a desired response time, and a desired turning rate.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A method of broadcasting navigation prompts to a radio receiver system with an electronic device, comprising:
broadcasting a message to the radio receiver system, the message including data that invokes a programmed response by the radio receiver system to carry out at least one of increase a volume level or switch audio sources; and
broadcasting a navigation prompt for audible playback by the radio receiver system, the navigation prompt providing a direction to a user for traveling to a specified destination.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating the navigation prompt with the electronic device.
3. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving the navigation prompt with the electronic device.
4. The method of claim 1, further comprising broadcasting audio content for audible playback by the radio receiver system and mixing the navigation prompt with the audio content.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic device is a mobile telephone.
6. The method of claim 1, further comprising monitoring a broadcast frequency used to broadcast the navigation prompt for the presence of a radio station and if presence of a radio station is detected, prompting the user to change the broadcast frequency.
7. The method of claim 6, wherein the monitoring is carried out on a repeated basis based on elapsed time since a previous monitoring.
8. The method of claim 6, wherein the monitoring is carried out on a repeated basis based on distance traveled since a previous monitoring.
9. The method of claim 1, wherein broadcasting of the message and the navigation prompt is made using an FM transmitter.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein the broadcasting is made in accordance with radio data system (RDS).
11. The method of claim 10, wherein the message contains at least one of a traffic announcement flag or a traffic program flag.
12. A mobile radio terminal, comprising:
a broadcast transceiver for generating FM broadcasts in accordance with radio data system (RDS); and
a controller configured to control the broadcast transceiver to broadcast a message to a radio receiver system, the message including data that invokes a programmed response by the radio receiver system to carry out at least one of increase a volume level or switch audio sources, and to broadcast a navigation prompt for audible playback by the radio receiver system, the navigation prompt providing a direction to a user for traveling to a specified destination.
13. The mobile radio terminal of claim 12, wherein the controller generates the navigation prompt.
14. The mobile radio terminal of claim 12, wherein the mobile radio terminal receives the navigation prompt from an external device.
15. The mobile radio terminal of claim 12, wherein the controller further controls the broadcast transceiver to broadcast audio content for audible playback by the radio receiver system, the navigation prompt being mixed with the audio content.
16. The mobile radio terminal of claim 12, wherein the mobile radio terminal is a mobile telephone having call circuitry to establish a call over a communications network.
17. The mobile radio terminal of claim 12, wherein the controller further controls the broadcast transceiver to monitor a broadcast frequency used to broadcast the navigation prompt for the presence of a radio station.
18. The mobile radio terminal of claim 17, wherein the monitoring is carried out on a repeated basis based on at least one of elapsed time since a previous monitoring or distance traveled since a previous monitoring.
19. The mobile radio terminal of claim 12, wherein the message contains at least one of a traffic announcement flag or a traffic program flag.