Attendant cabin display system

• US 20060163430A1
• Filed: 03/23/2006
• Published: 07/27/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: I-Tex Wireless Incorporated
• Original Assignee: I-Tex Wireless Incorporated
• Inventors: Cordina, Joseph L., Couzelis, Anthony B.
• Application Number:
  US11/387,657
• Publication Number:
  US 20060163430A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 244/118.500
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/00 Passenger or crew accommodation; Flight-deck installations not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/0015 Arrangements for entertainment or communications, e.g. radio, television
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 45/0059 by communicating emergency situations to ground control or between crew members

Abstract

A system providing a graphical display of information on passengers and their baggage. The system includes a control data analysis equipment (CDAE) for compiling information from various sources. A display unit is located in the aircraft cabin and communicates with the CDAE. The system includes seat sensors which can detect when a passenger is seated in the seat, the tray table is properly stowed, and if the passenger has his seat belt fastened. Additionally, the system may optionally include an RFID system which includes a RFID tag affixed to each piece of luggage. The tag provides information on the passenger'"'"'s name and other relevant information to the CDAE. The CDAE compiles all the information and provides a graphical display to the display unit.

Claims

1. A display system providing information on the status of an aircraft cabin, the system comprising:

a control data analysis equipment (CDAE) for compiling information;

a display unit located in the aircraft cabin and communicating with the CDAE; and

a plurality of seat sensors, each seat sensor located in a passenger seat to determine if a seat is occupied by a passenger;

each seat sensor sensing if a seat is occupied and sending the information about the occupancy of the seat to the CDAE;

whereby the CDAE compiles the received seat information and provides a graphical display of the compiled information on the display unit.

2. The display system of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of tray sensors for sensing if a tray is in a stowed position, each tray sensor sending information on a position of the tray to the CDAE;

whereby the CDAE compiles the received tray information and provides a graphical display of the compiled information on the display unit.

3. The display system of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of seat position sensor for sensing if a seat is in a fully upright position, each seat position sensor sending information on a position of the seat to the CDAE;

whereby the CDAE compiles the received seat position information and provides a graphical display of the compiled information on the display unit.

4. The display system of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of seatbelt sensors for sensing if a seatbelt is fastened, each seatbelt sensor sending information on if a seatbelt is fastened to the CDAE;

whereby the CDAE compiles the received seat position information and provides a graphical display of the compiled information on the display unit.

5. The display system of claim 1 wherein the CDAE receives information about passengers and a ticketed location of each passenger, whereby the CDAE compiles the passenger information and graphically displays each seat ticketed with a passenger.

6. The display system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of seat sensors are in wireless communication with the CDAE.

7. The display system of claim 1 further comprising a radio frequency identification (RFID) system, the RFID system including a plurality of RFID tags affixed to passenger luggage carried by the aircraft;

the RFID system detecting the RFID tags and sending luggage information to the CDAE;

whereby the CDAE receives the luggage information, correlates the luggage information with boarded passengers and graphically presents information on boarded passenger with the detected luggage on the display unit.

8. The display system of claim 7 wherein the RFID tags includes information on a passenger associated with each piece of luggage, the RFID system sending the passenger information to the CDAE.

9. The display system of claim 1 wherein the CDAE times the amount of time each seat sensor detects a passenger sitting in the seat, the CDAE providing a graphical representation on the display unit of the length of time each passenger continuously sits in the seat.

10. The display system of claim 9 wherein the CDAE provides an alert on the display unit when a passenger continuously sits in the seat beyond a specified period of time.

11. The display system of claim 1 wherein the display unit provides a graphical representation when an unreserved seat is occupied.

12. The display system of claim 1 wherein the display unit provides a graphical representation when the CDAE determines that luggage is boarded on the aircraft and an associated passenger of the luggage has not boarded the aircraft.

13. The display system of claim 1 wherein the CDAE generates a graphical display on the display unit when a passenger is not seat belted and the seat does not have a tray table stowed.

14. A display system to monitor the status of an aircraft cabin, the system comprising:

a control data analysis equipment (CDAE) for compiling information;

a display unit located in the aircraft cabin and communicating with the CDAE; and

means for determining if a seat is occupied and sending occupancy information to the CDAE;

whereby the CDAE compiles the received seat information and provides a graphical display of the compiled information on the display unit.

15. The display system of claim 14 further comprising a means for determining if each tray table at each seat is stowed and sending the tray table information to the CDAE, the CDAE compiling the received information on the display unit.

16. The display system of claim 14 further comprising a radio frequency identification (RFID) system, the RFID system including a plurality of RFID tags affixed to passenger luggage carried by the aircraft;

the RFID system detecting the RFID tags and sending luggage information to the CDAE;

whereby the CDAE receives the luggage information, correlates the luggage information with boarded passengers and graphically presents information on boarded passenger with the detected luggage on the display unit.

17. A display system to monitor the status of an aircraft cabin, the system comprising:

a control data analysis equipment (CDAE) for compiling information;

a display unit located in the aircraft cabin and communicating with the CDAE; and

a plurality of seat sensors, each seat sensor located in a passenger seat to determine if a seat is occupied by a passenger, each seat sensor sensing if a seat is occupied and sending the information about the occupancy of the seat to the CDAE;

a plurality of seatbelt sensors for sensing if a seatbelt is fastened, each seatbelt sensor sending information on if a seatbelt is fastened to the CDAE;

a plurality of tray sensors for sensing if a tray is in a stowed position, each tray sensor sending information on a position of the tray to the CDAE;

whereby the CDAE compiles the received information and provides a graphical display of the compiled information on the display unit.

18. The display system of claim 17 further comprising a radio frequency identification (RFID) system, the RFID system including a plurality of RFID tags affixed to passenger luggage carried by the aircraft;

the RFID system detecting the RFID tags and sending luggage information to the CDAE;

whereby the CDAE receives the luggage information, correlates the luggage information with boarded passengers and graphically presents information on boarded passenger with the detected luggage on the display unit.