System and method for wireless communication between an aircraft and a passenger boarding bridge

1. A method of initiating wireless communication between an aircraft and a controller of a passenger boarding bridge, a parking space being defined adjacent to the passenger boarding bridge within which parking space the aircraft is parked during a current alignment operation, the method comprising:

parking the aircraft within the parking space;

determining human intelligible information visually displayed proximate the parking space, the human-intelligible information being uniquely associated with the passenger boarding bridge;

using an input device that is disposed aboard the aircraft, providing the human-intelligible information to a communication module that is also disposed aboard the aircraft; and,

transmitting a signal including the human-intelligible information from the communication module to a receiver that is in communication with the passenger boarding bridge

wherein the transmitted signal is accepted as a valid signal for the current alignment operation when it is determined that the transmitted signal includes the human intelligible information.

2. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the human-intelligible information comprises an alpha-numeric string of characters.

3. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the human-intelligible information is indicative of a unique identifier that is associated with the passenger boarding bridge.

4. A method according to claim 1 , comprising encoding the signal with the human-intelligible information prior to transmitting the signal.

5. A method according to claim 1 , wherein determining human intelligible information is performed by a user disposed aboard the aircraft.

6. A method according to claim 1 , wherein transmitting a signal comprises providing control signal data relating to a current bridge alignment operation and attaching the human-intelligible information to the control signal data.

7. A method according to claim 6 , wherein the control signal data comprises a call signal for initiating an automated bridge alignment operation.

8. A method according to claim 6 , wherein the control signal data comprises an instruction for initiating a movement of the passenger boarding bridge during a current bridge alignment operation.

9. A method according to claim 6 , wherein the control signal data comprises a beacon signal for providing an indication of a location of the doorway to which the one end of the passenger boarding bridge is to be aligned.

10. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the human intelligible-information is included in the transmitted signal for verifying that the one end of the passenger boarding bridge is being aligned with a doorway of an aircraft that is parked within the parking space adjacent to that passenger boarding bridge.

11. A method of initiating wireless communication between an aircraft and a controller of a passenger boarding bridge, a parking space being defined adjacent to the passenger boarding bridge within which parking space the aircraft is parked during a current alignment operation, the method comprising:

providing a passenger boarding bridge including a bridge alignment control system;

associating a unique identifier with the passenger boarding bridge;

displaying a target at a location that is proximate the passenger boarding bridge, the target comprising human-intelligible information relating to the unique identifier;

using a receiver that is in communication with the bridge alignment control system, receiving a wireless signal transmitted from the aircraft;

processing the wireless signal to determine data relating to the unique identifier within the wireless signal; and,

accepting the wireless signal as a control signal for a current bridge alignment operation when it is determined that the wireless signal includes the data relating to the unique identifier.

12. A method according to claim 11 , wherein displaying the target comprises displaying the target such that the target is substantially obscured when viewed from a location outside the aircraft parking space.

13. A method according to claim 11 , wherein the target comprises an alpha-numeric string of characters.

14. A method according to claim 11 , wherein the control signal comprises a call signal transmitted from the aircraft for initiating an automated bridge alignment operation.

15. A method according to claim 11 , wherein the control signal comprises an instruction signal transmitted from the aircraft for initiating a movement of the passenger boarding bridge during a current bridge alignment operation.

16. A method according to claim 11 , wherein the control signal comprises a beacon signal transmitted from the aircraft for providing an indication of a location of the doorway to which the one end of the passenger boarding bridge is to be aligned.

17. A system for initiating wireless communication between an aircraft and a controller of a passenger boarding bridge, a parking space being defined adjacent to the passenger boarding bridge within which parking space the aircraft is parked during a current alignment operation, the system comprising:

a target disposed at a location that is proximate the passenger boarding bridge and comprising human-intelligible information that is indicative of a unique identifier associated with the passenger boarding bridge;

an input device disposed aboard the aircraft for receiving from a user an input signal relating to the human-intelligible information that is indicative of the unique identifier associated with the passenger boarding bridge;

a communication module disposed aboard the aircraft and in communication with the input device, the communication module for encoding a signal with the unique identifier and for wirelessly transmitting the encoded signal;

a receiver disposed at a location that is remote from the aircraft for receiving the encoded signal; and,

a processor in communication with the receiver for processing the received signal for determining whether or not the received signal is encoded with a unique identifier associated with the passenger boarding bridge having the one end.

18. A system according to claim 17 , wherein the target is mounted adjacent a surface of the passenger boarding bridge.

19. A system according to claim 17 , wherein the passenger boarding bridge comprises a pivotal cabin disposed at an outboard end thereof, and wherein the target is mounted adjacent a top surface of the pivotal cabin.

20. A system according to claim 17 , wherein the passenger boarding bridge comprises a pivotal cabin disposed at an outboard end thereof, and wherein the target is mounted adjacent a lower surface of the pivotal cabin.

21. A system according to claim 17 , wherein the passenger boarding bridge comprises a passageway section having an inboard end and an outboard end, and wherein the target is mounted adjacent a surface of the passageway section.

22. A system according to claim 17 , wherein the target includes a plurality of information display portions, each information display portion containing a different unique identifier for being displayed in a selectable fashion.

23. A system according to claim 17 , comprising a shroud disposed around a portion of the target for preventing viewing of the target from outside of a predetermined viewing area within or proximate the parking space.

24. A system according to claim 17 , comprising one of a film and a screen disposed in front of the target for preventing viewing of the target from outside of a predetermined viewing area within or proximate the parking space.

25. A system according to claim 17 , wherein the target comprises a display portion of a visual guidance docking system.

26. A system according to claim 25 , wherein the display portion of the visual guidance docking system is mounted adjacent an outside surface of a terminal building and adjacent to the parking space.