INDICATING SYSTEM FOR SECURITY OF SPACES IN AN AIRCRAFT

• US 20090243891A1
• Filed: 03/31/2008
• Published: 10/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Mitchell, Bradley J., Lamoree, Bret L., Schalla, James P., Wentland, Mark E.
• Granted Patent: US 7,965,200 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/945
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/04 Galleys
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/0629 the storage means being specially adapted for emergency equipment
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 25/18 Flotation gear aircraft alighting gear B64C

Abstract

A method and apparatus for managing security of areas in an aircraft. The method is provided for managing aircraft security. A set of sensors associated with a set of secured areas is monitored for an indication of a compromised space within a cabin of the aircraft. In response to receiving a signal from a sensor in the set of sensors identifying a breach, an area for the breach in the cabin is identified to form an identified area. A visual indication device associated with the identified area is identified to form an identified visual indication device. A presentation of an alert on the identified visual indication device is initiated.

Claims

1. A method for managing aircraft security, the method comprising:

monitoring a set of sensors associated with a set of secured areas for an indication of a compromised space within a cabin of an aircraft;

responsive to receiving a signal from a sensor in the set of sensors identifying a breach, identifying an area for the breach in the cabin to form an identified area;

identifying a visual indication device associated with the identified area to form an identified visual indication device; and

initiating a presentation of an alert on the identified visual indication device.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

responsive to the presentation of the alert, initiating an inspection of the area.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

after completion of a flight, visually inspecting a plurality of visual indicator devices in the cabin;

determining whether a new alert has been presented on any of the plurality of visual indication devices; and

responsive to identifying the new alert, initiating an inspection of a specific area associated with the alert.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the visual indication device is a light and further comprising:

initiating a flashing of the light identifying the identified area using one of a sequence of light flashes to locate the identified area.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the visual indication device is a light and further comprising:

initiating a flashing of the light having a color that locates the identified area.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the visual indication device is a monitor located in the cabin and further comprising:

displaying a location of the identified area.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of sensors include at least one of a vanity cabinet door sensor, a compartment door sensor, a toilet shroud sensor, and a life vest sensor.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the set of sensors is a plurality of wireless sensors.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the visual indication device is located in the cabin.

7. The method of clam 1 further comprising:

resetting the visual indication device after the alert has been seen.

11. An aircraft security system for identifying a compromised space in an aircraft, the aircraft security system comprising:

a sensor network capable of monitoring a set of secured areas in a cabin of the aircraft;

a display indication device network in communication with the sensor network capable of generating visual alerts within the cabin of the aircraft; and

a data processing system capable of monitoring the sensor network for an indication of the compromised space within the set of secured areas;

identifying a breach, identifying an area for the breach in the cabin to form an identified area in response to receiving a signal from a sensor in a plurality of sensors, identifying a visual indication device within the display indication device network in which the visual indication device is associated with the identified area to form an identified visual indication device, and initiating a presentation of an alert on the identified visual indication device.

12. The aircraft security system of claim 11, wherein the display indication device network comprises at least one of a light attached to an aircraft seat and the sensor associated with the display indication device network is a life vest sensor.

13. The aircraft security system of claim 11, wherein the visual indication device network is a light and identifies the identified area using a sequence of light flashes to locate the identified area.

14. The aircraft security system of claim 11, wherein the visual indication device network is a light having a color that locates the identified area.

15. The aircraft security system of claim 11, wherein the visual indication device network is a monitor located in the cabin and displays a location of the identified area.

16. The aircraft security system of claim 11, wherein the display indication device network is a display located in a galley.

17. The aircraft security system of claim 11, wherein the secured areas comprise at least one of a vanity cabinet in a lavatory, a light bezel, an undersink cabinet in the lavatory, a toilet shroud in the lavatory, a life vest package under an aircraft seat, a seat cushion, and an air grill.

18. The aircraft security system of claim 11, wherein the visual indication device is located in the cabin.