Approach system selection

1 . A method comprising:

receiving an approach identifier for selecting an initial approach mode, wherein the initial approach mode is a system for providing initial guidance to a vehicle towards a destination;

identifying a plurality of approach modes associated with the approach identifier, wherein each approach mode in the plurality of approach modes represents a system for providing guidance along an approach;

identifying approach modes in the identified plurality of approach modes having valid deviations from an associated approach;

determining an integrity measure of navigation guidance for the identified approach modes having valid deviations in the identified plurality of approach modes, wherein the integrity measure quantifies reliability of measurements for the identified approach modes and specifies at least one of an exclusion threshold and a protection level of the measurements;

selecting an approach mode in the identified approach modes to be the initial approach mode using the determined integrity measure of navigation guidance associated with the identified approach modes in the plurality of approach modes, wherein no approach modes have been selected before the selection of the initial approach mode;

providing the navigation guidance for the initial approach mode to an approach system;

guiding a vehicle through an approach for the initial approach mode;

continuing to monitor integrity measures for the plurality of approach modes while the vehicle uses the navigation guidance for the initial approach mode;

determining at least one of that the integrity measure of the initial approach mode fails a comparison against a specified integrity threshold, and a second integrity measure associated with a second approach mode indicates that the second approach mode has better integrity; and

automatically selecting the second approach mode based on the determination.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the approach identifier identifies a runway.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the navigation guidance comprises deviations from an intended approach path for the initial approach mode.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein identifying the plurality of approach modes associated with the approach identifier comprises acquiring approach information from an approach database stored in one or more storage devices on the vehicle.

5 . The method of claim 4 , further comprising:

receiving approach information updates; and

updating the approach database with the approach information updates.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein identifying the plurality of approach modes comprises:

transmitting the approach identifier to an external system; and

receiving approach information from the external system, wherein the approach information identifies the plurality of approach modes associated with the approach identifier.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein selecting an approach mode to be the initial approach mode further comprises providing an assessment of the suitability of each of the plurality of approach modes.

8 . A system comprising:

one or more processors on a vehicle; and

at least one receiver coupled to the one or more processors;

wherein the one or more processors executes computer-executable instructions that direct the one or more processors to:

receive an approach identifier for selecting an initial approach mode, wherein the initial approach mode is a system for providing initial guidance to a vehicle towards a destination associated with the approach identifier;

identify a plurality of approach modes associated with the approach identifier, wherein each approach mode in the plurality of approach modes represents a system for providing guidance along an approach;

identify approach modes in the identified plurality of approach modes having valid deviations from an associated approach;

determine an integrity measure of navigation guidance for the identified approach modes having valid deviations in the identified plurality of approach modes, wherein the integrity measurement quantifies reliability of measurements for the identified approach modes and specifies at least one of an exclusion threshold and a protection level of the measurements;

select an approach mode in the identified approach modes to be the initial approach mode using the integrity measure of navigation guidance associated with the identified approach modes in the plurality of approach modes, wherein no approach modes have been selected before the selection of the initial approach mode;

provide the navigation guidance for the initial approach mode to an approach system;

guide the vehicle through an approach for the initial approach mode; and

continue to evaluate the initial approach mode and other approach modes in the plurality of approach modes based on the integrity measure while guiding the vehicle through an approach associated with the initial approach mode;

determine at least one of that the integrity measure of the initial approach mode fails a comparison against a specified threshold, and a second integrity measure associated with a second approach mode in the plurality of approach modes indicates that the second approach mode has better integrity; and

automatically select the second approach mode based on the determination.

9 . The system of claim 8 , further comprising a storage device having an approach database stored thereon, wherein approach information is stored on the approach database.

10 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the computer-executable instructions further direct the one or more processors to update the approach database with approach information updates received from an external system through the at least one receiver.

11 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the computer executable instructions direct the one or more processors to identify the approach information by identifying the approach information in the approach database.

12 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the computer executable instructions direct the one or more processors to identify the approach information by:

transmitting the approach identifier to an external system; and

receiving the approach information from the external system, wherein the approach information identifies the plurality of approach modes associated with the approach identifier.

13 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the navigation guidance comprises at least one of deviations and distance to a threshold from an intended approach path for the initial approach mode.

14 . A system comprising:

one or more processors on a vehicle; and

at least one receiver coupled to the one or more processors;

wherein the one or more processors executes computer-executable instructions that direct the one or more processors to:

receive an approach identifier for selecting an initial approach mode wherein the initial approach mode is a system for providing initial guidance to a vehicle towards a destination associated with the approach identifier;

identify a plurality of approach modes associated with the approach identifier, wherein each approach mode in the plurality of approach modes represents a system for providing guidance along an approach;

identify approach modes in the identified plurality of approach modes having valid deviations from an associated approach;

determine an integrity measure of navigation guidance for the identified approach modes having valid deviations in the identified plurality of approach modes, wherein the integrity measure quantifies reliability of measurements for the identified approach modes and comprises at least one of a protection level and an exclusion threshold;

select an approach mode in the plurality of approach modes to be the initial approach mode using the integrity measure of navigation guidance associated with identified approach modes in the plurality of approach modes, wherein no approach modes have been selected before the selection of the initial approach mode;

provide the navigation guidance for the initial approach mode to an approach system;

guide the vehicle through an approach for the initial approach mode; and

continue to evaluate the initial approach mode and other approach modes in the plurality of approach modes based on the integrity measure while guiding the vehicle through the initial approach;

determine at least one of that the integrity measure of the initial approach mode fails a comparison against a specified threshold, and a second integrity measure associated with a second approach mode in the plurality of approach modes indicates that the second approach mode has better integrity; and

automatically select the second approach mode based on the determination.