IP Library › Granted Patent US 12700319

Granted Patent B2

US 12700319 · App. 18/806,150 · Granted Aug 4, 2026

Method for managing taxiing paths

Inventors: Benjamin Mazoin (Toulouse, FR); Laura Fersing (Blagnac, FR)

Assignees: AIRBUS SAS; AIRBUS OPERATIONS SAS

G08G5/53 B64D43/00 G08G5/55 G06F3/04842

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Quick Facts

Patent No.: US 12700319
App. No.: 18/806,150
Granted: Aug 4, 2026
Kind: B2

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Abstract

A method for managing taxiing paths of an aircraft includes at least one computer system, the method being implemented by the computer system. The method includes the following steps: editing an initial path; displaying a route of the initial path on a screen using a first route symbolism; obtaining a validation of the initial path; displaying a route of the validated initial path on the screen using a second route symbolism; implementing the validated initial path in a taxiing setpoint of the aircraft. The method further includes an editing process and an independent display process.

Claims (95)

1 . A method for managing taxiing paths of an aircraft, the aircraft comprising at least one computer system comprising electronic circuitry and a human-machine interface comprising at least one display screen, the method being implemented by the computer system and wherein a status is associated with each taxiing path and in that it comprises at least the following steps:

receiving from a user, via the human-machine interface, editing instructions and editing an initial path depending on said instructions;

associating with the initial path a status the value of which corresponds to a path being edited;

commanding display on the screen of a route of the initial path being edited, using a first route symbolism;

receiving a validation instruction indicating validation of the initial path by the user via the human-machine interface;

associating with the initial path a status the value of which corresponds to a validated path;

commanding display on the screen of a route of the initial path validated by the user, using a second route symbolism;

implementing the initial path validated by the user in a taxiing setpoint of the aircraft;

the method further comprising an editing process which comprises the following steps:

receiving from the user, via the human-machine interface, editing instructions and editing an alternative path depending on said editing instructions;

associating with the alternative path a status the value of which corresponds to a path being edited;

commanding display on the screen of a route of the alternative path being edited, using the first route symbolism;

receiving a validation instruction indicating validation of the alternative path by the user via the human-machine interface;

associating with the alternative path a status the value of which corresponds to a validated path;

replacing display of the route of the initial path validated by the user, with display of the route of the alternative path validated by the user, on the screen using the second route symbolism;

implementing the alternative path validated by the user in the taxiing setpoint of the aircraft; and

the method comprising in parallel an independent display process which comprises:

commanding display on the screen of a graphical object selectable via the human-machine interface, the graphical object being distinct for each path and having a visual appearance dependent on the status associated with the path with which this graphical object is associated; and

receiving a selection instruction indicating selection by the user of the graphical object via the human-machine interface and displaying on said screen the path corresponding to the selected graphical object,

wherein, following receipt of a selection instruction by the user of a graphical object associated with a validated path or with a received path and receipt of an editing instruction by the user on said displayed path, the method comprises:

creating a new path being edited by copying the selected validated or received path;

displaying a new graphical object associated with this new path being edited; and

keeping the original validated or received path and its associated graphical object unchanged and available for selection.

2 . The method according to claim 1 , further comprising the following steps, performed on the new path being edited:

editing the new path being edited depending on instructions received from the user and updating the display on the screen of the route of the new path being edited, using the first route symbolism;

receiving a validation instruction indicating validation of the new path being edited by the user via the human-machine interface;

associating with the new path a status the value of which corresponds to a validated path;

displaying a selectable graphical object associated with the validated new path;

replacing display of the route of a path previously validated by the user, with display of the route of the new path validated by the user, on the screen using the second route symbolism;

implementing the new path validated by the user in the taxiing setpoint of the aircraft.

3 . The method according to claim 1 , comprising editing a plurality of distinct alternative paths.

4 . The method according to claim 1 , comprising receiving a cancellation instruction, through selection of the graphical object by the user on the human-machine interface, and comprising cancelling the path corresponding to the graphical object.

5 . The method according to claim 1 , comprising receiving an editing instruction, through selection of the graphical object by the user on the human-machine interface, and implementing the editing process on the path corresponding to the graphical object.

6 . The method according to claim 1 , comprising:

receiving a path from an air-traffic-control authority;

receiving from the user, via the human-machine interface, an instruction to display the path received from the air-traffic-control authority;

associating with the path a status the value of which corresponds to a path received from an air-traffic-control authority;

commanding display on the screen of a route of the path received from the air-traffic-control authority, using a third route symbolism;

receiving from the user, via the human-machine interface, a validation instruction indicating validation of the path received from air-traffic control;

associating with the path a status the value of which corresponds to a validated path;

replacing display of the route of the path validated by the user, with display of the route of the path received from the air-traffic-control authority then validated by the user, on the screen using the second route symbolism;

implementing the path received from the air-traffic-control authority then validated by the user, in a taxiing setpoint of the aircraft.

7 . The method according to claim 1 , comprising:

receiving a path from an air-traffic-control authority;

receiving from the user, via the human-machine interface, an instruction to display the path received from the air-traffic-control authority;

associating with the path a status the value of which corresponds to a path received from an air-traffic-control authority;

commanding display on the screen of a route of the path received from the air-traffic-control authority, using a third route symbolism;

receiving from the user, via the human-machine interface, editing instructions and editing the path received from the air-traffic-control authority depending on said editing instructions;

associating with the path a status the value of which corresponds to a path being edited;

commanding display on the screen of a route of the path being edited using a first route symbolism;

receiving from the user, via the human-machine interface, a validation instruction indicating validation of the path being edited;

associating with the path a status the value of which corresponds to a validated path;

replacing display of the route of the path validated by the user, with display of the route of the path received from the air-traffic-control authority then edited and validated by the user, on the screen using the second route symbolism;

implementing the path received from the air-traffic-control authority then edited and validated by the user, in a taxiing setpoint of the aircraft.

8 . A non-transitory storage medium on which is stored a computer program comprising program code instructions for executing the method according to claim 1 , when said instructions are read from said non-transient storage medium and executed by a processor.

9 . The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

identifying and flagging selectable path states to differentiate path selection options.

10 . The method according to claim 9 , wherein the selectable path states include ATC approved/cleared states.

11 . A computer system for managing a taxiing route of an aircraft comprising electronic circuitry for implementing a method for managing a taxiing route of an aircraft in which a status is associated with each taxiing path, the method comprising at least the following steps: