Method and system for displaying symbologies on an aircraft

1. A display method for an aircraft, for displaying at least one symbology, wherein the at least one symbology has a fixed position within at least one geographical frame of reference, a method according to which:

a) a computer ( 2 ) emits, in a repetitive manner, to a destination of at least one display device ( 3 ), at least one symbology in the form of a protocol which comprises at least one graphic object provided with geographical coordinates which are defined in said geographical frame of reference;

b) said display device ( 3 ) carries out the following operations comprising:

automatically analyzing each symbology being received so as to identify the corresponding graphic object;

automatically projecting such graphic object into a display frame of reference which is linked to a visualisation screen ( 6 ) in such a manner as to obtain the auxiliary coordinates which are defined in this display frame of reference; and

automatically transmitting display information to said visualisation screen ( 6 ), including the said graphic object and said auxiliary coordinates; and

c) said symbology (S) is displayed on said visualisation screen ( 6 ), in accordance with said display information,

wherein,

each symbology emitted by said computer ( 2 ) and destined for said display device ( 3 ) is automatically recorded in a memory ( 11 A, 11 B) outside said computer ( 2 );

the emission of symbology performed by said computer is automatically monitored in such a way as to detect a possible malfunction; and

when such a malfunction is detected, a switch is automatically effected:

from a normal mode of operation, which utilises the symbologies received from said computer ( 2 ) to carry out steps b) and c) and is activated when no malfunction is present;

to a back-up mode of operation, which utilises the last symbology stored in said memory ( 11 A, 11 B) to carry out steps b) and c), wherein, after a malfunction is detected, the emission of symbology continues to be monitored in such a way as to be able to detect a return to normal operation and, in the event of detection of a return to normal operation, a switch is made from back-up operating mode to normal operating mode in which the symbologies received from a computer ( 2 , 26 ) are again taken into account for carrying out steps b) and c).

2. Method according to claim 1 , wherein, when a malfunction is detected, the recording in said memory ( 11 A, 11 B) of the symbology received from said computer ( 2 ) is automatically suspended.

3. Method according to claim 1 , wherein said memory ( 11 A) is integrated into said display device ( 3 ).

4. Method according to claim 1 , wherein said memory ( 11 B) is integrated into an auxiliary computer ( 30 ).

5. Display system for an aircraft, for displaying at least one symbology, having a fixed position within at least one geographical frame of reference, said system ( 1 ) comprising:

a computer ( 2 ) which transmits, in a repetitive manner, to a destination of at least one display device ( 3 ), at least one symbology in the form of a protocol which includes at least one graphic object provided with geographical coordinates which are defined in said geographical frame of reference;

said display device ( 3 ) which comprises:

first means ( 8 ) for automatically analysing each symbology received, in such a way as to identify the corresponding graphic object;

second means ( 9 ) for automatically projecting this graphic object into a display frame of reference linked to a visualisation screen ( 6 ) in such a way as to obtain the auxiliary coordinates which are defined in said display frame of reference; and

third means ( 10 ) for automatically transmitting display information to said visualisation screen, including said graphic object and said auxiliary coordinates; and

said visualisation screen ( 6 ) which displays said symbology (S), in accordance with said display information received from said third means ( 10 ),

further comprising:

a memory ( 11 A, 11 B) which is external to said computer ( 2 ) and which is formed in such a way as to automatically record each symbology transmitted by said computer ( 2 ) and intended for said display device ( 3 );

monitoring means ( 13 ) for automatically monitoring the emission of symbology performed by said computer ( 2 ) in such a manner as to be able to detect a possible malfunction;

switching means ( 14 ) which are integrated into said display device ( 3 ) and which are designed in such a manner as to automatically carry out, when a malfunction is detected by said monitoring means ( 13 ), a switching:

from a normal mode of operation, for which said first means ( 8 ) take into account the symbologies received from said computer ( 2 ) and which is active in the absence of a malfunction;

to a back-up mode of operation, for which said first means ( 8 ) utilises the last symbology recorded in said memory ( 11 A, 11 B);

auxiliary means ( 17 ) to perform, when a return to normal operation is detected, a switching from a back-up mode of operation to the normal mode of operation, in which said first means ( 8 ) again take into account the symbologies received from a computer ( 2 , 26 ).

6. Display system according to, claim 5 wherein said auxiliary means ( 17 ) comprise:

monitoring means ( 13 ) for automatically monitoring the emission of symbology carried out by said computer ( 2 ) in such a manner as to be able to detect a return to normal operation;

an interactive screen ( 6 ) which displays, when a return to normal function is detected, a sensitive object ( 18 ) able to be activated, an activation of which sensitive object ( 18 ) causes an automatic switch from the back-up mode of operation to the normal mode of operation; and

means ( 20 ) enabling an operator to activate said sensitive object ( 18 ).

7. Display system according to, claim 6 wherein said auxiliary means ( 17 ) are automatically ordered by switch of the display device ( 3 ) to an auxiliary computer ( 26 ), which is used in place of said computer ( 2 ) to emit symbologies.

8. Display system according to claim 5 , wherein said memory ( 11 A) is integrated into said display device ( 3 ).

9. Display system according to claim 5 , wherein said memory ( 11 B) is integrated into an auxiliary computer ( 30 ).

10. Aircraft, comprising a display system ( 1 ) such as that specified in claim 5 .

11. A display method for an aircraft, for displaying at least one symbology, having a fixed position within at least one geographical frame of reference, a method according to which:

a) a computer ( 2 ) emits, in a repetitive manner, to a destination of at least one display device ( 3 ), at least one symbology in the form of a protocol which comprises at least one graphic object provided with geographical coordinates which are defined in said geographical frame of reference, wherein said geographical frame of reference is defined in a horizontal plane;

b) said display device ( 3 ) carries out the following operations comprising:

automatically analyzing each symbology being received so as to identify the corresponding graphic object;

automatically projecting such graphic object into a display frame of reference which is linked to a visualisation screen ( 6 ) in such a manner as to obtain the auxiliary coordinates which are defined in this display frame of reference; and

automatically transmitting display information to said visualisation screen ( 6 ), including the said graphic object and said auxiliary coordinates; and

c) said symbology (S) is displayed on said visualisation screen ( 6 ), in accordance with said display information,

wherein:

each symbology emitted by said computer ( 2 ) and destined for said display device ( 3 ) is automatically recorded in a memory ( 11 A, 11 B) outside said computer ( 2 );

the emission of symbology performed by said computer is automatically monitored in such a way as to detect a possible malfunction; and

when such a malfunction is detected, a switch is automatically effected:

from a normal mode of operation, which utilises the symbologies received from said computer ( 2 ) to carry out steps b) and c) and is activated when no malfunction is present;

to a back-up mode of operation, which utilises the last symbology stored in said memory ( 11 A, 11 B) to carry out steps b) and c).

12. Method according to claim 1 , wherein said geographical frame of reference comprises a terrestrial frame of reference which defines any point on the terrestrial globe by longitude and latitude.

13. Display system according to claim 5 , wherein said geographical frame of reference comprises a terrestrial frame of reference which defines any point on the terrestrial globe by longitude and latitude.