AIRCRAFT IFE SYSTEM INTERFACING WITH A PERSONAL ELECTRONIC DEVICE (PED) FOR REDEEMING AN IN-FLIGHT COUPON AND ASSOCIATED METHODS

• US 20110314488A1
• Filed: 06/22/2010
• Published: 12/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LiveTV LLC (Thales SA)
• Original Assignee: LiveTV LLC (Thales SA)
• Inventors: KEEN, R. MICHAEL, FRISCO, JEFFREY A.
• Granted Patent: US 9,143,738 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/23
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18506 Communications with or from aircraft, i.e. aeronautical mobile service
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18508 with satellite system used as relay, i.e. aeronautical mobile satellite service
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4126 The peripheral being portable, e.g. PDAs or mobile phones
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41422 located in transportation means, e.g. personal vehicle arrangements specially adapted for transportation systems in broadcast systems H04H20/62
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/478 Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/10 Adaptations for transmission by electrical cable H04N7/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/18 Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/06 Airborne or Satellite Networks space-based or airborne stations H04B7/185
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

A communications system for an aircraft includes at least one personal electronic device (PED) carried by an aircraft passenger, and an aircraft IFE system. The PED includes a PED display, a PED memory for storing an in-flight coupon to be redeemed by the passenger while in-flight, and a PED controller for displaying the stored in-flight coupon on the PED display. The in-flight coupon has an in-flight coupon token image associated therewith. The aircraft IFE system includes an IFE video entertainment source, IFE passenger seat displays, a respective IFE optical sensor associated with each IFE passenger seat display, and an IFE controller. The IFE controller selectively displays video from the IFE entertainment source on the IFE passenger seat displays, and receives the stored coupon for redemption based upon a respective IFE optical sensor sensing the displayed in-flight coupon token image associated therewith on the PED display.

Claims

1. A communications system for an aircraft comprising:

at least one personal electronic device (PED) carried by an aircraft passenger and comprising

a PED display,

a PED memory for storing an in-flight coupon to be redeemed by the passenger while in-flight, the in-flight coupon having an in-flight coupon token image associated therewith, and

a PED controller for displaying the stored in-flight coupon along with the in-flight coupon token image associated therewith on said PED display; and

an aircraft in-flight entertainment (IFE) system comprising

at least one IFE video entertainment source,

a plurality of IFE passenger seat displays,

a respective IFE optical sensor associated with each of said plurality of IFE passenger seat displays, and

at least one IFE controller for selectively displaying video from said at least one IFE entertainment source on said plurality of IFE passenger seat displays, and for receiving the stored coupon for redemption based upon a respective IFE optical sensor sensing the displayed in-flight coupon token image associated therewith on said PED display.

2. The communications system according to claim 1 wherein said aircraft IFE system further comprises at least one cabin display coupled to said at least one IFE controller for displaying a passenger'"'"'s coupon that is to be redeemed.

3. The communications system according to claim 1 wherein said at least one PED further comprises a PED wireless transceiver, and said PED controller generates a respective registration token image on said PED display, and communicates via said PED wireless transceiver;

and wherein said at least one IFE controller communicates with said PED wireless transceiver via said at least one IFE wireless transceiver based upon a respective IFE optical sensor sensing the registration token image on said PED display so that said PED controller is registered with said at least one IFE controller.

4. The communications system according to claim 3 wherein said at least one IFE controller receives the stored in-flight coupon for redemption after registration.

5. The communications system according to claim 1 wherein said PED wireless transceiver receives the in-flight coupon for storing in said PED memory prior to the passenger boarding the aircraft.

6. The communications system according to claim 3 wherein said at least one IFE controller provides the in-flight coupon to said PED memory by communicating with said PED wireless transceiver via said at least one IFE wireless transceiver after registration.

7. The communications system according to claim 6 wherein said aircraft IFE system further comprises an in-flight coupon generator coupled to said at least one IFE controller for providing the in-flight coupon thereto.

8. The communications system according to claim 7 wherein said in-flight coupon generator provides the in-flight coupon based on a passenger database.

9. The communications system according to claim 8 wherein said in-flight coupon generator comprises a memory for storing the passenger database.

10. The communications system according to claim 1 wherein said at least one IFE video entertainment source provides at least one premium video package, and wherein the in-flight coupon permits the passenger to complimentary access the at least one premium movie package.

11. The communications system according to claim 1 wherein the in-flight coupon permits the passenger to complimentary receive a set of headphones.

12. The communications system according to claim 1 wherein the in-flight coupon permits the passenger to complimentary receive at least one of food and an alcoholic beverage.

13. The communications system according to claim 1 wherein said optical sensor comprises a camera.

14. The communications system according to claim 3 wherein the registration token image is configured as a bar code.

15. The communications system according to claim 3 further comprising a registration token image generator coupled to said at least one IFE controller for generating the respective registration token image.

16. The communications system according to claim 3 wherein said PED wireless transceiver comprises a PED radio frequency (RF) transceiver, and said at least one IFE wireless transceiver comprises at least one IFE RF transceiver.

17. The communications system according to claim 1 wherein said at least one IFE controller comprises a plurality of IFE seat electronic box (SEB) controllers arranged throughout the aircraft;

and wherein said at least one IFE wireless transceiver comprises at least one IFE SEB wireless transceiver in each IFE SEB controller.

18. An aircraft in-flight entertainment (IFE) system for use with at least one personal electronic device (PED) carried by an aircraft passenger, the at least one PED comprising a PED display, a PED memory for storing an in-flight coupon to be redeemed by the passenger while in-flight, the in-flight coupon having an in-flight coupon token image associated therewith, and a PED controller for displaying the stored in-flight coupon along with the in-flight coupon token image associated therewith on the PED display, the aircraft IFE system comprising:

at least one IFE video entertainment source;

a plurality of IFE passenger seat displays;

a respective IFE optical sensor associated with each of said plurality of IFE passenger seat displays; and

at least one IFE controller for

selectively displaying video from said at least one IFE entertainment source on said plurality of IFE passenger seat displays, and

receiving the stored coupon for redemption based upon a respective IFE optical sensor sensing the displayed in-flight coupon token image associated therewith on the PED display.

19. The aircraft IFE system according to claim 18 further comprising at least one cabin display coupled to said at least one IFE controller for displaying a passenger'"'"'s coupon that is to be redeemed.

20. The aircraft IFE system according to claim 18 wherein the at least one PED further comprises a PED wireless transceiver, and the PED controller generates a respective registration token image on the PED display, and communicates via the PED wireless transceiver;

and wherein said at least one IFE controller communicates with the PED wireless transceiver via said at least one IFE wireless transceiver based upon a respective IFE optical sensor sensing the registration token image on the PED display so that the PED controller is registered with said at least one IFE controller.

21. The aircraft IFE system according to claim 20 wherein said at least one IFE controller receives the stored in-flight coupon for redemption after registration.

22. The aircraft IFE system according to claim 18 wherein said PED wireless transceiver receives the in-flight coupon for storing in said PED memory prior to the passenger boarding the aircraft.

23. The aircraft IFE system according to claim 20 wherein said at least one IFE controller provides the in-flight coupon to said PED memory by communicating with said PED wireless transceiver via said at least one IFE wireless transceiver after registration.

24. The aircraft IFE system according to claim 18 wherein said at least one IFE video entertainment source provides at least one premium video package, and wherein the in-flight coupon permits the passenger to complimentary access the at least one premium movie package.

25. The aircraft IFE system according to claim 18 wherein the in-flight coupon permits the passenger to complimentary receive a set of headphones.

26. The aircraft IFE system according to claim 18 wherein the in-flight coupon permits the passenger to complimentary receive at least one of food and an alcoholic beverage.

27. A personal electronic device (PED) to be carried by an aircraft passenger and for use with an aircraft in-flight entertainment (IFE) system comprising at least one IFE video entertainment source, a plurality of IFE passenger seat displays, a respective IFE optical sensor associated with each of the plurality of IFE passenger seat displays, and at least one IFE controller for selectively displaying video from the at least one IFE entertainment source on the plurality of IFE passenger seat displays, the PED comprising:

a PED display;

a PED memory for storing an in-flight coupon to be redeemed by the passenger while in-flight, the in-flight coupon having an in-flight coupon token image associated therewith; and

a PED controller for displaying the stored in-flight coupon along with the in-flight coupon token image associated therewith on said PED display so that the at least one IFE controller receives the stored coupon for redemption based upon a respective IFE optical sensor sensing the displayed in-flight coupon token image associated therewith on said PED display.

28. The PED according to claim 27 further comprising at least one cabin display coupled to the at least one IFE controller for displaying a passenger'"'"'s coupon that is to be redeemed.

29. The PED according to claim 27 further comprising a PED wireless transceiver, and wherein said PED controller generates a respective registration token image on the PED display, and communicates via said PED wireless transceiver;

and wherein the at least one IFE controller communicates with the PED wireless transceiver via the at least one IFE wireless transceiver based upon a respective IFE optical sensor sensing the registration token image on said PED display so that said PED controller is registered with the at least one IFE controller.

30. The PED according to claim 29 wherein said at least one IFE controller receives the stored in-flight coupon for redemption after registration.

31. The PED according to claim 27 wherein said PED wireless transceiver receives the in-flight coupon for storing in said PED memory prior to the passenger boarding the aircraft.

32. The PED according to claim 29 wherein the at least one IFE controller provides the in-flight coupon to said PED memory by communicating with said PED wireless transceiver via the at least one IFE wireless transceiver after registration.

33. The PED according to claim 27 wherein the at least one IFE video entertainment source provides at least one premium video package, and wherein the in-flight coupon permits the passenger to complimentary access the at least one premium movie package.

34. The PED according to claim 27 wherein the in-flight coupon permits the passenger to complimentary receive a set of headphones.

35. The PED according to claim 27 wherein the in-flight coupon permits the passenger to complimentary receive at least one of food and an alcoholic beverage.

36. A method for operating an aircraft in-flight entertainment (IFE) system with at least one personal electronic device (PED) carried by an aircraft passenger, the at least one PED comprising a PED display, a PED memory for storing an in-flight coupon to be redeemed by the passenger while in-flight, the in-flight coupon having an in-flight coupon token image associated therewith, and a PED controller for displaying the stored in-flight coupon along with the in-flight coupon token image associated therewith on the PED display;

the aircraft IFE system comprising at least one IFE video entertainment source, a plurality of IFE passenger seat displays, a respective IFE optical sensor associated with each of the plurality of IFE passenger seat displays, and at least one IFE controller coupled to the least one IFE video entertainment source, the plurality of IFE passenger seat displays and the respective IFE optical sensors, the method comprising;

operating the at least one IFE controller for

selectively displaying video from the at least one IFE entertainment source on the plurality of IFE passenger seat displays, and

receiving the stored coupon for redemption based upon a respective IFE optical sensor sensing the displayed in-flight coupon token image associated therewith on the PED display.

37. The method according to claim 36 wherein the aircraft IFE system further comprises at least one cabin display coupled to the at least one IFE controller for displaying a passenger'"'"'s coupon that is to be redeemed.

38. The method according to claim 36 wherein the at least one PED further comprises a PED wireless transceiver, and the PED controller generates a respective registration token image on the PED display, and communicates via the PED wireless transceiver;

and wherein the at least one IFE controller communicates with the PED wireless transceiver via the at least one IFE wireless transceiver based upon a respective IFE optical sensor sensing the registration token image on the PED display so that the PED controller is registered with the at least one IFE controller.

39. The method according to claim 38 wherein the at least one IFE controller receives the stored in-flight coupon for redemption after registration.

40. The method according to claim 36 wherein the PED wireless transceiver receives the in-flight coupon for storing in the PED memory prior to the passenger boarding the aircraft.

41. The method according to claim 38 wherein the at least one IFE controller provides the in-flight coupon to the PED memory by communicating with the PED wireless transceiver via the at least one IFE wireless transceiver after registration.

42. The method according to claim 36 wherein the at least one IFE video entertainment source provides at least one premium video package, and wherein the in-flight coupon permits the passenger to complimentary access the at least one premium movie package.

43. The method according to claim 36 wherein the in-flight coupon permits the passenger to complimentary receive a set of headphones.

44. The method according to claim 36 wherein the in-flight coupon permits the passenger to complimentary receive at least one of food and an alcoholic beverage.

45. A method for operating a personal electronic device (PED) to be carried by an aircraft passenger and for use with an aircraft IFE system comprising at least one IFE video entertainment source, a plurality of IFE passenger seat displays, a respective IFE optical sensor associated with each of the plurality of IFE passenger seat displays, and at least one IFE controller for selectively displaying video from the at least one IFE entertainment source on the plurality of IFE passenger seat displays;

the PED comprising a PED display, a PED memory, and a PED controller coupled to the PED display and the PED memory, the method comprising;

storing in the PED memory an in-flight coupon to be redeemed by the passenger while in-flight, the in-flight coupon having an in-flight coupon token image associated therewith; and

operating the PED controller for

displaying the stored in-flight coupon along with the in-flight coupon token image associated therewith on the PED display so that the at least one IFE controller receives the stored coupon for redemption based upon a respective IFE optical sensor sensing the displayed in-flight coupon token image associated therewith on the PED display.

46. The method according to claim 45 wherein the aircraft IFE further comprises at least one cabin display coupled to the at least one IFE controller for displaying a passenger'"'"'s coupon that is to be redeemed.

47. The method according to claim 45 wherein the PED further comprises a PED wireless transceiver, and wherein the PED controller generates a respective registration token image on the PED display, and communicates via the PED wireless transceiver;

and wherein the at least one IFE controller communicates with the PED wireless transceiver via the at least one IFE wireless transceiver based upon a respective IFE optical sensor sensing the registration token image on the PED display so that the PED controller is registered with the at least one IFE controller.

48. The method according to claim 47 wherein the at least one IFE controller receives the stored in-flight coupon for redemption after registration.

49. The method according to claim 45 wherein the PED wireless transceiver receives the in-flight coupon for storing in the PED memory prior to the passenger boarding the aircraft.

50. The method according to claim 47 wherein the at least one IFE controller provides the in-flight coupon to the PED memory by communicating with the PED wireless transceiver via the at least one IFE wireless transceiver after registration.

51. The method according to claim 45 wherein the at least one IFE video entertainment source provides at least one premium video package, and wherein the in-flight coupon permits the passenger to complimentary access the at least one premium movie package.

52. The method according to claim 45 wherein the in-flight coupon permits the passenger to complimentary receive a set of headphones.

53. The method according to claim 45 wherein the in-flight coupon permits the passenger to complimentary receive at least one of food and an alcoholic beverage.