Automatic airplane seat location mapping
First Claim
1. A method for identifying units in a wireless network comprising an access point (AP) and at least one column of wireless units, the method comprising:
- supplying power to the units in a first column;
providing a ground signal to a first unit in the first column;
transmitting physical location/address information between the first unit and the AP;
providing the ground signal to a second unit in the first column; and
transmitting physical location/address information between the second unit and the AP.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
During a system reconfiguration, a selected column or column of wireless units, such as associated with airplane seats, are powered up. The first unit in the column detects a ground and begins a wireless identification process with an access point which allows the system to determine a corresponding physical location for each node'"'"'s logical address. The first unit then closes a switch, which connects the ground to the next unit. As the next unit detects the ground on the line, such as a token line, the second unit communicates with the AP. This process continues sequentially down the column until the last unit is assigned a physical location/address. The next column of units can then be powered up and identified.
32 Citations
23 Claims
-
1. A method for identifying units in a wireless network comprising an access point (AP) and at least one column of wireless units, the method comprising:
-
supplying power to the units in a first column;
providing a ground signal to a first unit in the first column;
transmitting physical location/address information between the first unit and the AP;
providing the ground signal to a second unit in the first column; and
transmitting physical location/address information between the second unit and the AP. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. A wireless network, comprising:
-
an access point (AP);
a first wireless unit capable of wireless communication with the AP, wherein the first wireless unit includes a first switch;
a second wireless unit capable of wireless communication with the AP, wherein the second wireless unit includes a second switch;
a first line segment connected to a ground and to the first wireless unit; and
a second line segment connected the first switch and to the second wireless unit, wherein the first switch is operable to connect the ground to the second wireless unit. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
-
-
18. A method for automatically identifying seats located in a plurality of columns in an airplane, wherein the first seat in each column of seats is connected to a ground, the method comprising:
-
determining a column of seats for reconfiguration;
supplying power to the column of seats;
assigning a physical location/address to the first seat in the column;
propagating the ground to a second seat in the column; and
assigning a physical location/address to the second seat in the column. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22)
-
-
23. A system in an airplane for identifying seats, comprising:
-
an access point (AP);
a server in communication with the AP;
a first column of seats, wherein each seat is associated with a wireless unit and a switch;
a first power supply coupled to the server for supplying power to the first column of seats;
a first serial ground line connectable to adjacent wireless units in the first column by the switches in the seats, wherein the first ground line is sequentially connected to subsequent seats in the first column as each seat is identified to the AP;
a second column of seats, wherein each seat is associated with a wireless unit and a switch;
a second power supply coupled to the server for supplying power to the second column of seats; and
a second serial ground line connectable to adjacent wireless units in the second column by the switches in the seats, wherein the ground line is sequentially connected to subsequent seats in the second column as each seat is identified to the AP.
-
Specification