System and Method for Communication by Architecture

• US 20090112407A1
• Filed: 10/29/2007
• Published: 04/30/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Kneller, Heidi J., Harkness, William A., Robb, Calsee N., Sharpe, Buddy L., Schalla, James P.
• Application Number:
  US11/927,540
• Publication Number:
  US 20090112407A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/45
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/0015 Arrangements for entertainment or communications, e.g. radio, television
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/062 Belts or other passenger restraint means for passenger seats
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/0624 Arrangements of electrical connectors, e.g. for earphone, internet or electric supply
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 45/0056 detecting passenger or crew behavior by sensors, e.g. biometrics

Abstract

A system for communicating with passengers onboard a mobile platform (such as a train, marine vessel, aircraft or automobile) using at least one structure onboard the mobile platform is provided. The system includes at least one seat for receipt of the at least one passenger. The seat includes a seatbelt that is operable to be fastened to retain the at least one passenger in the seat. The system also includes at least one source of data regarding a status of the mobile platform, and a structure control module that generates communication data for at least the seatbelt based on the status of the mobile platform. The communication data may be operable to communicate to the at least one passenger by the seatbelt that the seatbelt is to be fastened.

Claims

1. A system for communicating with at least one passenger onboard a mobile platform by using at least one structure onboard the mobile platform comprising:

at least one seat for receipt of the at least one passenger that includes a seatbelt that is operable to be fastened to retain the at least one passenger in the seat;

at least one source of data regarding a status of the mobile platform; and

a structure control module that generates communication data for at least the seatbelt based on the status of the mobile platform, the communication data operable to communicate to the at least one passenger by the seatbelt that the seatbelt is to be fastened.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the source of data regarding the status of the mobile platform further comprises data from an occupant of a control center of the mobile platform, data from a crew member of the mobile platform, and data provided by at a planned route of travel of the mobile platform.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the data from the occupant of the cockpit comprises cockpit communication data indicative of an emergency in the cockpit or a request for the seatbelt to be fastened.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the data from the crew member comprises crew communication data that indicates that an announcement is to be made to the passengers, a food service is going to begin or a request for the seatbelt to be fastened.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein the mobile platform comprises an aircraft and the data from the planned route of travel comprises data associated with a flight plan of the aircraft.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one lavatory onboard the mobile platform for use by the at least one passenger; and

wherein the structure control module generates communication data for the at least one lavatory based on the status of the mobile platform, the communication data operable to communicate to the at least one passenger by the lavatory that the at least one lavatory is available or unavailable.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the at least one lavatory further comprises at least one occupant sensor in communication with the structure control module to enable the structure control module to generate communication data to communicate to the at least one passenger by the lavatory that the at least one lavatory is occupied or unoccupied.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the at least one lavatory further comprises a door in communication with the structure control module to receive the communication data, the door operable to communicate to the at least one passenger whether the at least one lavatory is available, unavailable, occupied or unoccupied.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the seatbelt further comprises at least one light emitting device in communication with and responsive to the structure control module to receive the communication data, the at least one light emitting device operable to illuminate to communicate to the at least one passenger whether the seatbelt should be fastened or unfastened.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the seatbelt further comprises at least one power source in communication with and responsive to the structure control module to receive the communication data, the at least one power source operable to apply a current to the seatbelt to change a state of the seatbelt to communicate to the at least one passenger whether the seatbelt should be fastened or unfastened.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the mobile platform further comprises a flooring surface adjacent to the at least one seat, the flooring surface including at least one illumination device, the at least one illumination device in communication with the structure control module to receive the communication data, the at least one illumination device operable to illuminate the flooring surface to communicate the status of the mobile platform to the at least one passenger.

12. A method of communicating with passengers onboard a mobile platform by using at least one structure onboard the mobile platform comprising:

receiving an input from at least one of an occupant of a control center on the mobile platform and a crew member of the mobile platform;

determining, based on the input, a message to communicate to the passengers;

selecting the at least one structure onboard the mobile platform to communicate the message with, the at least one structure selected from the group comprising;

flooring onboard the mobile platform, a lavatory onboard the mobile platform, a galley complex onboard the mobile platform, a seatbelt onboard the mobile platform and combinations thereof; and

communicating the message to the passengers via the selected at least one structure on the mobile platform.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the message includes a request to fasten the seatbelt and communicating the message to the passengers further comprises:

illuminating at least one illumination device coupled to the flooring to communicate that the passengers are to remain seated; and

illuminating at least one light emitting device on the seatbelt to communicate that the seatbelt is to be fastened or applying a current to the seatbelt to change a shape of the seatbelt to communicate to the passengers that the seatbelt is to be fastened.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the message is a status of at least one lavatory on the mobile platform and communicating the message to the passengers further comprises:

providing a door on the at least one lavatory that is responsive to a signal to change opacity between opaque and transparent;

communicating that the at least one lavatory is occupied by changing the opacity of the door to opaque; and

communicating that the at least one lavatory is unoccupied by changing the opacity of the door to transparent.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the message comprises a status of an impending departure or an impending arrival of the mobile platform and communicating the message to the passengers further comprises:

illuminating at least one illumination device coupled to the flooring to communicate the impending departure or the impending arrival of the mobile platform;

illuminating at least one light emitting device on the seatbelt to communicate that the seatbelt is to be fastened or applying a current to the seatbelt to change a shape of the seatbelt to communicate to the passengers that the seatbelt is to be fastened; and

changing the opacity of the door to communicate to the passengers that the lavatory is unavailable for use.

16. An aircraft comprising:

a fuselage that includes a cabin and a cockpit, with the cabin including at least one passenger seat having a seatbelt, at least one lavatory, at least one galley complex and flooring, with the seatbelt of the at least one passenger seat, the at least one lavatory, the at least one galley complex and the flooring controlled by a communication system including;

an architecture communication control module that generates communication data that communicates at least information received from an occupant of the cockpit to at least one passenger onboard the aircraft through the seatbelt of the at least one passenger seat, the at least one lavatory, the at least one galley complex, the flooring and combinations thereof.

17. The aircraft of claim 16, wherein the architecture communication control module communicates information received from a crew member of the aircraft to the at least one passenger onboard the aircraft.

18. The aircraft of claim 16, wherein the architecture communication control module communicates a request to fasten the seatbelt to the at least one passenger through the seatbelt of the at least one passenger seat.

19. The aircraft of claim 16, wherein the at least one lavatory further comprises:

at least one occupant sensor coupled to the at least one lavatory, the at least one occupant sensor in communication with and responsive to the architecture communication control module to transmit a signal that indicates if the at least one lavatory is occupied;

a door coupled to the at least one lavatory, the door in communication with and responsive to the architecture communication control module to change opacity from transparent to opaque; and

wherein the architecture communication control module communicates whether the at least one lavatory is occupied, unoccupied, available or unavailable by changing the opacity of the door.

20. The aircraft of claim 16, wherein the architecture communication control module communicates to the at least one passenger that the aircraft is preparing for departure from an airport or preparing for arrival into an airport through the flooring.

21. A system for communicating with at least one passenger onboard an aircraft having a fuselage that includes a cabin and a cockpit, the cabin including at least one passenger seat having a seatbelt, at least one lavatory, at least one galley complex and flooring, the system comprising:

at least one food service preparation device located within the galley complex, the at least one food service device including at least one sensor;

at least one source of data regarding a status of the aircraft;

at least one occupant sensor coupled to the at least one lavatory, the at least one occupant sensor operable to transmit a signal that indicates if the at least one lavatory is occupied;

a seatbelt control module that generates communication data for at least the seatbelt based on the status of the aircraft, the communication data operable to communicate to the at least one passenger by the seatbelt that the seatbelt is to be fastened;

a galley control module that generates communication data for at least the at least one food service preparation device that indicates that the at least one food service preparation device is ready for service;

a lavatory control module that generates communication data for the at least one lavatory based on the signal from the at least one occupant sensor, the communication data operable to communicate to the at least one passenger by the lavatory that the at least one lavatory is occupied or unoccupied; and

a flooring control module that generates communication data for the flooring such that the flooring is operable to communicate the status of the aircraft to the at least one passenger.

22. A method of communicating with passengers onboard an aircraft having a fuselage that includes a cockpit and a cabin that includes at least one passenger seat having a seatbelt, at least one lavatory, at least one galley complex and flooring comprising:

receiving an input from at least one of an occupant of the cockpit or a crew member of the aircraft;

determining, based on the input, a message to communicate to the passengers;

communicating the message to the passengers by at least one of;

illuminating the flooring to communicate the message;

illuminating at least one light source on the seatbelt to communicate the message or applying a current to the seatbelt to change a shape of the seatbelt to communicate the message;

changing a door coupled to the lavatory to communicate the message;

and

combinations thereof.