System and method for associating a wireless mobile communications device with a specific vehicle

• US 7,957,735 B1
• Filed: 09/15/2010
• Issued: 06/07/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Lee, Donald B., Mitchell, Bradley J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dao, Minh D
• Application Number:
  US12/882,740
• Time in Patent Office: 265 Days
• Field of Search: 455/431, 455/507, 455/508, 455/524, 455/115, 455/126, 455/67.1, 455/41.2
• US Class Current: 455/431
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18506 Communications with or from aircraft, i.e. aeronautical mobile service
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6066 including a wireless connection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6075 adapted for handsfree use in a vehicle H04M1/6058 takes precedence; arrangements for holding telephones in a vehicle B60R11/0241
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/42 for mass transport vehicles, e.g. buses, trains or aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/14 Direct-mode setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/005 Moving wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/18 between terminal devices

Abstract

A communications system may include a first transceiver and a second transceiver both mountable to a vehicle. The first transceiver may include a range substantially limited to a close proximity of the vehicle. The communications system may also include a mobile communications device. The mobile communications device may be adapted to receive a signal from the first transceiver when within the range of the first transceiver. The signal may include information useable by the mobile communications device for configuration of the mobile communications device for two-way communications with the second transceiver.

Claims

1. A vehicle, comprising:

a vehicle structure;

a first transceiver mountable to the vehicle structure, wherein the first transceiver includes a range substantially limited to a close proximity of the vehicle; and

a second transceiver mountable to the vehicle structure, for two-way voice communications with a mobile communications device, wherein the mobile communications device is configurable for direct two-way communications with the second transceiver based on a signal received from the first transceiver when the mobile communications device is within the range of the first transceiver.

2. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the vehicle is one of a group comprising an aircraft, a watercraft, and a terrestrial vehicle.

3. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the first transceiver comprises a signal transmission power to prevent interference with any other short-range transceiver mounted to another proximately located vehicle.

4. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the first transceiver is one of a group comprising a radio frequency (RFID) target, a radio transceiver, an ultrasonic transceiver, an infrared transceiver, and a B-field transceiver.

5. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the vehicle is an aircraft and wherein the first transceiver is mounted to one of a nose wheel landing gear and a main landing gear.

6. The vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of first transceivers each mounted at predetermined locations on the vehicle and at about a selected distance between one another.

7. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the vehicle is an aircraft and the first transceiver is mounted proximate to a door of the aircraft to communicate with a third transceiver mountable in a jet way of an airport.

8. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the vehicle is an aircraft and wherein the second transceiver is couplable to at least one of an airplane interphone system and a flight deck communications system of the aircraft.

9. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the first transceiver and the second transceiver are integrated in a single transceiver.

10. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein a plurality of mobile communications devices is configurable for direct two-way communications with the second transceiver and with each of the mobile communications devices.

11. An aircraft, comprising:

a fuselage;

a short-range transceiver mounted to the aircraft, wherein the short-range transceiver includes a range limited to prevent interference with any other short-range transceiver mounted on another aircraft;

a primary transceiver mounted to the aircraft for two-way voice communications with a communications device useable by a ground crew person, wherein the communications device is configurable for direct two-way communications with the primary transceiver based on a signal received from the short-range transceiver when the communications device is within the range of the short-range transceiver.

12. The aircraft of claim 11, wherein the short-range transceiver is mounted at a predetermined location on the aircraft for communication with another transceiver located at a gate of an airport.

13. The aircraft of claim 11, wherein the short-range transceiver in mounted proximate to one of a nose wheel landing gear and a main landing gear.

14. The aircraft of claim 11, wherein the short-range transceiver transmits one of a squelch ID code, a signal preamble code, a service set identifier (SSID), a token ID, a frequency and a channel for configuring the communications device for two-way communications with the primary transceiver.

15. The aircraft of claim 11, further comprising a plurality of short-range transceiver, each mounted at a predetermined location on the aircraft.

16. The aircraft of claim 11, wherein the short-range transceiver in mounted proximate a door of the aircraft for communication with a wireless transceiver in a jet way of an airport.

17. The aircraft of claim 11, wherein the primary transceiver is connected to at least one of an interphone system of the aircraft and a flight deck communications system of the aircraft for communications between personnel onboard the aircraft and ground crew personnel.

18. A method for establishing wireless communications between personnel onboard an aircraft and ground crew personnel, the method comprising:

transmitting a signal from a short-range transceiver mounted to the aircraft to a communications device useable by ground crew personnel when the communications device is within a range of the short-range transceiver, wherein the range of the short-range transceiver is a distance to prevent interference with any other short-range transceiver mounted on another aircraft; and

wherein the signal comprises information useable by the communications device for configuration of the communication device for direct two-way communications with a primary transceiver mounted to the aircraft.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein transmitting the signal comprises transmitting one of a group including a squelch ID code, a signal preamble code, a service set identifier (SSID), a token ID, a frequency, and a channel.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the primary transceiver has a substantially longer range than the short-range transceiver.