Indicating system for security of spaces in an aircraft

• US 7,965,200 B2
• Filed: 03/31/2008
• Issued: 06/21/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Wentland, Mark E., Mitchell, Bradley J., Lamoree, Bret L., Schalla, James P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bugg; George A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fan; Hongmin
• Application Number:
  US12/059,185
• Publication Number:
  US 20090243891A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,177 Days
• Field of Search: 340/945, 340/541, 340/691.1, 340/426.1, 340/426.24, 340/426.25, 340/425.5, 340/539.22
• 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 inspections, the method comprising:

dividing a plurality of aircraft cabin locations into a plurality of secured areas and a plurality of alert areas;

providing a sensor network connected to a plurality of sensors in the plurality of secured areas and a visual indication device network connected to a plurality of visual indication devices in the plurality of alert areas, each of the plurality of alert areas corresponding to one of the plurality of secured areas, wherein the plurality of secured areas includes a number of aircraft seats and a number of lavatories and the plurality of sensors includes a life vest sensor and a seat cushion sensor in each of the number of aircraft seats, and a toilet shroud sensor, an under sink cabinet sensor, a light bezel sensor, and a vanity cabinet sensor in each of the number of lavatories;

monitoring the sensor network for an indication of a potential breach of a secured area; and

identifying the potential breach of the secured area by an indication at a display of the sensor network on the aircraft wherein the display presents an identification of the component for which a breach has been detected and a date and time at which the breach was detected, and a visual signal from one or more of the visual indication devices, wherein a number of visual indication devices corresponding to the life vest sensor and the seat cushion sensor are positioned at an end of a row of seats and visible from an aisle, and wherein the visual indication devices for sensors monitoring the undersink cabinet, the toilet shroud, the light bezel, and the vanity cabinet within one of the number of lavatories are located within a sign for the one of the number of lavatories.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

responsive to receiving a signal from a sensor, identifying an area in the plurality of alert areas to form an identified area;

identifying the visual signal of the visual indication device associated with the identified area; and

responsive to identifying the visual signal, one of an authorized airline service personnel, an authorized inspector, and a ground crew member inspects the area.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

after completion of a flight, visually inspecting, by one of an authorized airline service personnel, an authorized inspector, and a ground crew member, 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, by the aircrew member, 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.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of visual indication devices includes an airplane to ground message alerting a ground crew for a required level of inspection and a replacement equipment.

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 plurality of secured areas in a cabin of the aircraft;

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

a data processing system connected to a computer readable memory and to a computer readable storage;

first program instructions for dividing a plurality of aircraft cabin locations into a plurality of secured areas and a plurality of alert areas;

second program instructions for connecting a sensor network to a plurality of sensors in the plurality of secured areas and a visual indication device network connected to a plurality of visual indication devices in the plurality of alert areas, each of the plurality of alert areas corresponding to one of the plurality of secured areas, wherein the plurality of secured areas a number of aircraft seats and a number of lavatories and the plurality of sensors includes a life vest sensor and a seat cushion sensor in each of the number of aircraft seats, and a toilet shroud sensor, an under sink cabinet sensor, a light bezel sensor, and a vanity cabinet sensor in each of the number of lavatories;

third program instructions for monitoring the sensor network for an indication of a potential breach of a secured area; and

fourth program instructions for identifying the potential breach of the secured area by one of an indication at a display of the sensor network on the aircraft and a visual signal from one of the visual indication devices, wherein the display presents an identification of the component for which a breach has been detected and a date and time at which the breach was detected, and a visual signal from one or more of the visual indication devices, wherein a number of visual indication devices corresponding to the life vest sensor and the seat cushion sensor are positioned at an end of a row of seats and visible from an aisle, and wherein the visual indication devices for sensors monitoring the undersink cabinet, the toilet shroud, the light bezel, and the vanity cabinet within one of the number of lavatories are located within a sign for the one of the number of lavatories;

wherein the first, second, third, and fourth program instructions are stored in the computer readable storage for execution via the computer readable memory.

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 visual indication device is located in the cabin.

19. The aircraft security system of claim 11, wherein the plurality of visual indication devices includes an airplane to ground message alerting a ground crew for a required level of inspection and a replacement equipment.