System and method for enhanced playback of air traffic control communication
Inventors
Kolcarek, Pavel • De Mers, Robert • Finseth, Tor
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12451116-B2
Publication Date
2025-10-21
Expiration Date
Abstract
A method and system for providing playback of air traffic control (ATC) communications for a pilot of an aircraft has been developed. First, an audio communication is received from the ATC for the pilot of the aircraft. The audio communication is segmented into three separate audio channels including: a raw channel of the audio communication as received, an enhanced channel of a filtered version of the audio communication, and a synthesized channel of a speech synthesized version of the audio communication. An identification function identifies segments of each audio communication with reference to identifying data for the aircraft. The separate audio channels are then stored in an electronic memory for later retrieval by the pilot of the aircraft.
Core Innovation
The invention provides playback of air traffic control (ATC) communications for a pilot of an aircraft. An audio communication from the ATC for the pilot is received and segmented into three separate audio channels: a raw channel as received, an enhanced channel comprising a filtered version, and a synthesized channel comprising a speech synthesized version.
The invention identifies each audio channel with reference to identifying data for the aircraft. The identifying data includes aircraft identifying data such as a tail number and/or callsign, and the identification function references each segment of an audio channel with identifying data for the aircraft. The separate audio channels are stored in an electronic memory for later retrieval by the pilot of the aircraft.
The enhanced channel supports filtering actions to improve comprehension and usability, including noise reduction and filtering out replies by the pilot. The synthesized channel supports speech synthesis functionality including converting voice accents into a generic accent, and may also include speech translation. Voice activity detection (VAD) may be used for voice utterances and utterance boundaries, and speaker diarization may be used to remove pilot replies.
Claims Coverage
The document describes two independent claims covering both a method and an onboard system. Across these independent claims, three inventive channel types are segmented, each is identified using aircraft identifying data (e.g., tail number/callsign), and the separate channels are stored for later pilot retrieval.
Segmenting ATC audio into three channels for pilot playback
Receiving an audio communication from the ATC for the pilot of the aircraft; segmenting the audio communication into three separate audio channels including a raw channel as received, an enhanced channel comprising a filtered version, and a synthesized channel comprising a speech synthesized version.
Identifying each audio channel using aircraft identifying data
Identifying each audio channel with reference to identifying data for the aircraft; the identification function references each segment of an audio channel with identifying data for the aircraft.
Storing segmented channels in electronic memory for later retrieval
Storing the separate audio channels in an electronic memory for later retrieval by the pilot of the aircraft; the system memory stores the separate audio channels in an electronic memory for later retrieval.
Onboard aircraft communication and computing arrangement
A communication device located onboard the aircraft that receives an audio communication from the ATC for the pilot of the aircraft; and a computing device located onboard the aircraft that segments the audio communication into three separate audio channels and performs the associated identification function.
The independent claims collectively require an onboard or method-based workflow that receives ATC speech for the pilot, segments it into raw, enhanced/filtered, and speech-synthesized channels, associates each channel/segment with aircraft identifying data via an identification function, and stores the separate channels in electronic memory for later pilot retrieval.
Stated Advantages
reducing repeated ATC messages
improving intelligibility
reduced pilot errors
Documented Applications
Playback of air traffic control (ATC) communications for a pilot of an aircraft via later retrieval of separately stored audio channels.
Use with an onboard computing device and communication device, including storage for later retrieval by a pilot using an electronic flight bag (EFB) and an HMI, as described.
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