Passenger seat pairing system

• US 10,412,173 B2
• Filed: 03/13/2017
• Issued: 09/10/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Avionics Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Avionics Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Watson, Philip, Bates, Steven, Pimple, Sanjiv Sitaram
• Primary Examiner(s): Zanelli, Michael J
• Application Number:
  US15/458,001
• Publication Number:
  US 20170182957A1
• Time in Patent Office: 911 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0224 Non-manual adjustments, e.g. with electrical operation
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/56 Heating or ventilating devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/90 Details or parts not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0012 Seats or parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/00155 Individual entertainment or communication system remote controls therefor, located in or connected to seat components, e.g. to seat back or arm rest
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/20 Binding and programming of remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/48 for in-vehicle communication

Abstract

Systems and methods for pairing a personal electronic device of a passenger with a passenger seat in a vehicle using a PWM light identification, and for allowing the personal electronic device to control passenger in-seat functions and features. The system comprises an on-board video system having an in-seat display system for installation in a vehicle. The on-board video system is configured to communication a PWM light identification from a monitor of the in-seat display system which is captured by an imaging device of the personal electronic device. The on-board video system receives pairing information from the personal electronic device corresponding to the captured light identification via a wireless communication link. The on-board video system then validates the pairing information and pairs the personal electronic device to the passenger seat and authorizes the personal electronic device to control passenger seat functions associated with the passenger seat.

Claims

1. A system for pairing a personal electronic device (PED) of a passenger with a seat in a vehicle and controlling a seat function for the seat, the system comprising:

an on-board video system configured to be installed in a vehicle, the on-board video system comprising an on-board management system and an in-seat display system in network communication with the on-board management system;

the on-board management system having a server and a vehicle wireless communication module configured to establish a wireless communication link with the PED;

the in-seat display system having a video monitor installed at the seat in the vehicle;

wherein the on-board video system is configured to communicate, using the monitor a light identification associated with the seat via a pulse width modulation communication produced by modulating a backlight of the monitor, receive, via the wireless communication link, pairing information from the PED including (1) a light identification code generated by the PED based on the light identification as received by an imaging device of the PED, the light identification code corresponding to the light identification and (2) a PED identifier identifying the PED, and determine whether the light identification code received from the PED is valid; and

wherein the on-board video system is further configured to;

receive passenger identification data from the PED via the wireless communication link;

store passenger manifest data including each passenger identity associated with a respective assigned passenger seat;

determine, using the passenger manifest, whether the passenger identification data and the seat associated with the light identification correspond to a passenger identity and associated assigned passenger; and

only pair the PED to the seat and authorizing the PED to control at least one passenger seat function associated with the seat when (1) the passenger identification data and the seat associated with the light identification correspond to a passenger identity and associated assigned passenger, and (2) the light identification code received from the PED is determined to be valid.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the light identification corresponds to a seat code associated with the seat and the light identification code received from the PED is a conversion of the light identification received by the PED to the seat code, and the on-board video system determines whether the light identification code is valid by determining whether the light identification code matches the seat code.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the on-board video system is configured to block any other PED from using the light identification to pair to the seat after receiving from a first PED a light identification code corresponding to the light identification.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the on-board video system is configured to assign a seat code to the seat, and generate the light identification based on the seat code.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a device pairing software application stored on a non-transitory computer program carrier and configured to program the PED to receive the light identification using the imaging device on the PED, convert the light identification into a light identification code, transmit the pairing information including the light identification code and the PED identifier to the on-board management system via the wireless communication link, and transmit a control instruction to control the at least one passenger seat function.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising a seat function controller installed in the vehicle and configured to control the at least one passenger seat function based upon a control instruction transmitted from the PED.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the seat function controller comprises a passenger services system in communication with the on-board management system, the passenger services system configured to control the at least one passenger seat function based upon a management system instruction received from the on-board management system which is based upon the control instruction received from the personal electronic device.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the monitor is a smart monitor configured to execute at least one passenger seat function based upon a control instruction transmitted from the personal electronic device.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising the PED of the passenger, the PED having a processor, memory, a storage device, an imaging device, a wireless communication module configured to establish a wireless communication link with the on-board management system, and a device pairing software application installed on the PED and configured to program the PED to receive the light identification using the imaging device, convert the light identification into the light identification code, transmit the pairing information including the light identification code and the PED identifier to the on-board management system via the wireless communication link, and transmit a control instruction to control the at least one passenger seat function.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the on-board video system is further configured to control a seat function based upon a control instruction received from the PED via the wireless communication link.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one seat function comprises at least two or more of the following:

an on-board entertainment system, an air conditioning system, a lighting system, a telephony communication system, an on-board drink or meal service request system, an attendant call system, a passenger status system, and a seat adjustment system.

12. A method for pairing a personal electronic device (PED) of a passenger with a seat in a vehicle and controlling a seat function for the seat, the system comprising:

communicating from a monitor installed at the seat of the passenger a light identification associated with the seat via a pulse width modulation communication produced by modulating a backlight of the monitor;

receiving, via a wireless communication link, pairing information from the PED including a light identification code corresponding to the light identification received by the PED and a PED identifier identifying the PED;

determining whether the light identification code received from the PED is valid;

receiving passenger identification data from the PED via the wireless communication link;

storing passenger manifest data including each passenger identity associated with a respective assigned passenger seat;

determining, using the passenger manifest, whether the passenger identification data and the seat associated with the light identification correspond to a passenger identity and associated assigned passenger; and

only pairing the PED to the seat and authorizing the PED to control at least one passenger seat function associated with the seat when (1) the passenger identification data and the seat associated with the light identification correspond to a passenger identity and associated assigned passenger and (2) the light identification code received from the PED is determined to be valid.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the light identification corresponds to a seat code associated with the seat and the light identification code received from the PED is a conversion of the light identification received by the personal electronic to the seat code, and determining whether the light identification code is valid comprises determining whether the light identification code matches the seat code.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

after pairing the PED to the seat, blocking any other PED from using the light identification to pair to the seat.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

after receiving from a first PED a light identification code corresponding to the light identification, blocking any other PED from using the light identification to pair to the seat.

16. The method of claim 12, further comprising assigning a seat code to the seat, and generating the light identification based on the seat code.

17. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

receiving control instructions from the PED via the wireless communication link; and

controlling the at least one passenger seat function based upon the control instructions received from the PED.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the at least one seat function comprises at least two or more of the following:

an on-board entertainment system, an air conditioning system, a lighting system, a telephony communication system, an on-board drink or meal service request system, an attendant call system, a passenger status system, and a seat adjustment system.