Layout of passenger arrangements implementation using previously designed configurations

• US 10,181,005 B2
• Filed: 10/09/2015
• Issued: 01/15/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Whang, Chongman, Anderson, Anthony Earl
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim, Eunhee
• Application Number:
  US14/879,372
• Publication Number:
  US 20170103159A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,194 Days
• Field of Search: 703 1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/13 Architectural design, e.g. computer-aided architectural design [CAAD] related to design of buildings, bridges, landscapes, production plants or roads
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/15 Vehicle, aircraft or watercraft design

Abstract

A system and method for implementing a layout of passenger arrangements using previously designed configurations. A plurality of tools for implementing a layout of passenger arrangements using previously designed configurations is provided. The plurality of tools comprise a previously designed configurations identification and selection tool configured for selecting previously designed configurations to include in the layout of passenger arrangements and a previously designed configuration visualization tool for displaying a degree to which the layout of passenger arrangements comprises previously designed configurations. A tool selection user interface may be provided to receive input from an operator identifying a one of the plurality of tools to run.

Claims

1. A method of implementing a layout of passenger arrangements for an aircraft comprising:

displaying a graphical representation of the layout;

displaying an indicator on the graphical representation of the layout indicating a location of a commodity, in the layout, for which a previously designed configuration exists;

displaying, in response to an operator selecting the location of the commodity, a list of previously designed configurations for the location;

receiving a selection of a selected previously designed configuration from the list of the previously designed configurations; and

changing the layout via including the selected previously designed configuration at the location.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

displaying the graphical representation of the layout divided into a number of zones;

receiving additional selections of additionally selected previously designed configurations from the list of the previously designed configurations;

changing the layout via including the additionally selected previously designed configurations at additional locations within the number of zones;

and

displaying a visualization indication on the graphical representation of the layout indicating all selected previously designed configurations in each zone in the number of zones in the layout.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

displaying a commodity list user interface identifying a commodity in the layout and prompting an operator to indicate whether a previously designed configuration is used for the commodity in the layout.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising:

in response to receiving an input from an operator indicating that the previously designed configuration is used for the commodity in the layout, changing a portion of the graphical representation of the layout corresponding to the commodity to indicate that the previously designed configuration is used for the commodity.

5. The method of claim 3 further comprising:

prompting an input to the commodity list user interface indicating an approval for implementing a configuration for the commodity in the layout; and

implementing, in response to receiving the approval, the commodity in the layout.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

displaying a previously designed layout of passenger arrangements identification tool user interface prompting an operator to define a plurality of characteristics of the aircraft;

receiving input via the previously designed layout of passenger arrangements identification tool user interface defining the plurality of characteristics of the aircraft;

searching a database to identify a number of previously designed layouts of passenger arrangements defined in the database comprising the plurality of characteristics of the aircraft;

displaying graphical representations of the number of previously designed layouts; and

selecting a one of the number of previously designed layouts as the layout of passenger arrangements for the aircraft.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising selecting the plurality of characteristics of the aircraft from a group comprising:

number of seats, type of seats, seat supplier, ratio of lavatories to seats, ratio of galleys to seats, and ratio of closets to seats.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the number of previously designed layouts defined in the database are selected from previously used layouts implemented in manufactured aircraft and previously defined layouts.

9. A method of implementing a layout of passenger arrangements for an aircraft comprising:

displaying a graphical representation of the layout;

receiving a selection of a selected previously designed configuration from a list of previously designed configurations for a commodity at a location in the layout;

and

displaying a visualization indication on the graphical representation of the layout indicating locations on the graphical representation incorporating the selected previously designed configuration in the layout.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising:

displaying the graphical representation of the layout divided into a plurality of zones;

receiving additional selections of additionally selected previously designed configurations from the list of the previously designed configurations;

changing the layout via including the additionally selected previously designed configurations at additional locations within the plurality of zones;

and

displaying the visualization indication comprises displaying the visualization indication on the graphical representation of the layout indicating all selected previously designed configurations in each zone in the plurality of zones.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the visualization indication comprises a color of each zone in the graphical representation of the layout indicating the all selected previously designed configurations in each zone.

12. An apparatus that comprises:

a plurality of tools configured to implement a layout of passenger arrangements that comprises new and previously designed configurations, such that the plurality of tools comprises;

a previously designed configurations identification and selection tool configured to select previously designed configurations to include in the layout;

a previously designed configurations visualization tool configured to display the new and the previously designed configurations in the layout of passenger arrangements; and

a tool selection user interface configured to receive input that selects a one of the plurality of tools to use.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising the previously designed configurations identification and selection tool configured to:

display a graphical representation of the layout;

display an indicator on the graphical representation of the layout, that indicates a location of a commodity in the layout for which previously designed configurations exist;

display, in response to a selection of the location of the commodity via a user interface, a list of the previously designed configurations;

receive a selection by an operator of a selected previously designed configuration from the list of the previously designed configurations; and

change the layout to include the selected previously designed configuration.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the previously designed configurations visualization tool is configured to:

display a graphical representation of the layout divided into a number of zones;

determine a level of use of previously designed configurations in each zone in the number of zones in the layout; and

display a visualization indication on the graphical representation of the layout indicating the level of use of previously designed configurations in each zone in the number of zones.

15. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the plurality of tools further comprises an installation management and tracking tool configured to:

display a graphical representation of the layout;

display a commodity list user interface that identifies a commodity in the layout and prompts an input that indicates a use of a previously designed configuration for the commodity in the layout; and

in response to receiving the input of the use, change a portion, that corresponds to the commodity, of the graphical representation of the layout to indicate the use.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the installation management and tracking tool is further configured to:

prompt an input that indicates an approval for implementation for a configuration for the commodity in the layout.

17. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the plurality of tools further comprises a previously designed layout of passenger arrangements identification tool configured to:

display a previously designed layout of passenger arrangements identification tool user interface configured to prompt definitions for a plurality of characteristics of an aircraft;

receive, via the previously designed layout of passenger arrangements identification tool user interface, the definitions for the plurality of characteristics of the aircraft;

search a database to identify a number of previously designed layouts of passenger arrangements defined in the database that comprise the plurality of characteristics of the aircraft;

display graphical representations of the number of previously designed layouts; and

receive a selection of a one of the number of previously designed layouts as the layout of passenger arrangements for the aircraft.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising:

a selection of the plurality of characteristics of the aircraft from a group that comprises;

number of seats, type of seats, seat supplier, ratio of lavatories to seats, ratio of galleys to seats, and ratio of closets to seats; and

a selection of the number of previously designed layouts defined in the database from a group that comprises;

previously used layouts of passenger arrangements implemented in previously manufactured aircraft, and previously defined layouts of passenger arrangements.

19. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the plurality of tools further comprises a coding tool configured to view and change code information for configurations of commodities in the layout.

20. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the plurality of tools further comprises a parts used on tool configured to display part information for parts used to implement commodities in the layout.