System and method for accessing a personal computer device onboard an aircraft and aircraft equipped with such system

• US 8,321,611 B2
• Filed: 09/19/2008
• Issued: 11/27/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Airbus
• Original Assignee: Airbus
• Inventors: Francois, Bruno, Smith, Garrett
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Chun-Kuan
• Assistant Examiner(s): ABAD, FARLEY J
• Application Number:
  US12/679,997
• Publication Number:
  US 20100205333A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,530 Days
• Field of Search: 710/62, 710/9
• US Class Current: 710/62
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/0015 Arrangements for entertainment or communications, e.g. radio, television
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/00151 Permanently mounted seat back monitors
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/00155 Individual entertainment or communication system remote controls therefor, located in or connected to seat components, e.g. to seat back or arm rest

Abstract

The invention generally pertains to onboard systems for passengers such as In-Flight Entertainment (IFE) Systems. The invention more particularly relates to a system and a method for accessing a personal computer device (3) onboard an aircraft and to an aircraft including such a system. The system includes an onboard network (12) to which is connected at least one interface (4) at a passenger'"'"'s seat (si) and connection means. The system is arranged so that said interface and said personal computer device interact via the transmission of data on said onboard network.

Claims

1. A system for accessing a personal computer equipment item on board an aircraft, comprising:

an on-board network over which services are distributed;

passenger seats, each equipped with an individual passenger interfacing unit for a passenger to interact with the services distributed over the on-board network; and

a network interface configured to connect the personal computer equipment item of the passenger to the on-board network, wherein

the system is configured such that the individual passenger interfacing unit and the personal computer equipment item interact through transmission of data over the on-board network based on identification data of an antenna associated with the passenger seat.

2. The system according to claim 1, further comprising at least one data-entry peripheral at the passenger seat, the at least one data-entry peripheral being configured to connect to the on-board network and to interact with the personal computer equipment item through the transmission of data on the on-board network.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein the data-entry peripheral includes a projector/sensor that projects a virtual keyboard on a flat surface.

4. The system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the interface includes a pointer configured to connect to the on-board network and to interact with the personal computer equipment item.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one interface includes a display screen.

6. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a housing that accommodates and supplies the personal computer equipment item with the connection to the on-board network.

7. The system according to claim 6, wherein the housing includes an electrical connection configured to supply the personal computer equipment item in an accommodation position.

8. The system according to claim 6, wherein the network interface is a local wireless network provided to the housing.

9. The system according to claim 8, wherein the on-board network is configured to automatically associate the personal computer equipment item with the passenger seat on the basis of identification data that identifies an antenna coupled to the local wireless network provided to the housing.

10. The system according to claim 1, wherein the on-board network is a wireless network and the network interface includes a terminal that provides a wireless connection to the wireless network.

11. An aircraft comprising the system according to claim 1.

12. The system according to claim 1, wherein the services distributed over the on-board network comprise video on demand, music, games, and flight information.

13. The system according to claim 1, wherein the services distributed over the on-board network belong to an In-Flight Entertainment system.

14. The system according to claim 1, wherein the individual passenger interfacing unit of a passenger seat comprises an individual passenger control unit and an individual display screen provided on a back of a seat in front of the passenger seat.

15. A method for accessing a personal computer equipment item on board an aircraft comprising an on-board network, passenger seats, each equipped with an individual passenger interfacing unit for a passenger to interact with services, and at least one interface configured to connect to the personal computer equipment item of the passenger to the on-board network at the passenger seat, the method comprising:

distributing the services over the on-board network;

connecting the personal computer equipment item of the passenger to the on-board network; and

interacting between the individual passenger interfacing unit and the personal computer equipment item through transmission of data over the on-board network based on identification data of an antenna associated with the passenger seat.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the services distributed over the on-board network comprise video on demand, music, games, and flight information.

17. The method according to claim 15, wherein the services distributed over the on-board network belong to an In-Flight Entertainment system.

18. The method according to claim 15, wherein the individual passenger interfacing unit of a passenger seat comprises an individual passenger control unit and an individual display screen provided on a back of a seat in front of the passenger seat.