System and method for virtual information

• US 8,543,259 B2
• Filed: 10/29/2007
• Issued: 09/24/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Schalla, James P., Robb, Calsee N., Harkness, William A., Sharpe, Buddy L., Kneller, Heidi J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, John Q
• Assistant Examiner(s): WHALEN, MICHAEL F
• Application Number:
  US11/927,394
• Publication Number:
  US 20090112377A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,157 Days
• Field of Search: 725 74- 77, 715/706, 701/3, 701/36, 701/14, 701/19, 701/21, 340/286.09, 340/905, 705/15, 244/118.5
• US Class Current: 701/3
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/00 Passenger or crew accommodation; Flight-deck installations not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/0007 Devices specially adapted for food or beverage distribution services
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/0015 Arrangements for entertainment or communications, e.g. radio, television
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/04 Galleys
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/12 Hotels or restaurants

Abstract

A system for providing information to at least one passenger onboard a mobile platform (such as a train, marine vessel, aircraft or automobile) is provided. The system includes a display device that displays the information. The system also includes a source of user input coupled to the display device that enables the at least one passenger to request the information. The information includes at least galley information. The system further includes a galley control module that generates galley data that includes at least one food service item available onboard the mobile platform, and a graphical user interface module that displays the at least one food service item available onboard the mobile platform to enable the at least one passenger to select at least one of the at least one food service item.

Claims

1. A system for providing information to at least one passenger onboard a mobile platform comprising:

a display device that displays the information;

a source of user input coupled to the display device that enables the at least one passenger to request the information, the information including at least galley data;

a galley control module that receives real time inventory data concerning food service items available for passenger consumption, and which generates the galley data that includes which ones of a plurality of the food service items are available onboard the mobile platform for passenger consumption;

a graphical user interface module that displays;

the food service items available onboard the mobile platform on the display device to enable the at least one passenger to select at least one of the at least one food service item; and

a graphical representation of a status of an operational aspect of the mobile platform relative to a seat location where the passenger is located;

a source of user identification data that includes a name of the at least one passenger that requests the information;

a flight deck control module that generates flight deck data based on user identification data and weather data, the flight deck data including a personalized message from a flight crew member of the aircraft to the at least one passenger, by name of the at least one passenger, that describes a current status of weather conditions experienced by the aircraft; and

wherein the graphical user interface module displays the personalized message from the flight crew member on the display device of the at least one passenger.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the mobile platform is an aircraft and the information further comprises flight data.

3. The system of claim 2, further comprising:

a source of user identification data that includes an assigned seat of the at least one passenger that requests the information;

a source of mobile platform data that includes a layout of the aircraft;

a source of flight plan data that includes a status of operation of the aircraft based on a planned route of travel for the aircraft; and

a flight control module that generates the flight data based on the user identification data, the mobile platform data and the flight plan data, the flight data including the status of the operation of the aircraft relative to the assigned seat of the at least one passenger.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the graphical user interface module displays the status of the operation of the aircraft relative to the assigned seat of the at least one passenger on the display device and enables the at least one passenger to request additional detail regarding the status of operation of the aircraft relative to the assigned seat of the at least one passenger.

5. The system of claim 2,

wherein the weather data includes current weather conditions experienced by the aircraft.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the personalized message from the pilot is delivered by a pilot avatar.

7. The system of claim 6, further comprising:

an avatar database that stores data that includes pre-selected avatars for at least one of the at least one passenger and the pilot avatar; and

an avatar module that determines, based on the user identification data, which of the pre-selected avatars corresponds to the at least one passenger.

8. A method of providing virtual information to at least one passenger onboard an aircraft comprising:

receiving at least one user input requesting information regarding the aircraft, the request for information including at least a request for flight deck data;

determining weather conditions currently experienced by the aircraft;

using real time inventory information pertaining to food service items available for distribution to passengers, and using a galley control module to provide such information upon request to the at least one passenger via the display device;

providing a source of user identification data that includes a name of the at least one passenger that requests the information;

generating flight deck data based on user identification data and weather data, the flight deck data including a personalized message from a flight crew member of the aircraft to the at least one passenger, by name of the at least one passenger, that describes current weather conditions experienced by the aircraft; and

wherein a display device having a graphical user interface module, and being associated with a seat of the at least one passenger, displays;

the personalized message from the flight crew member on the display device of the at least one passenger;

a graphical representation of a flight deck of the aircraft with a pilot avatar; and

a graphical representation of a status of an operational aspect of the mobile platform relative to a seat location where the passenger is located.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein receiving at least one user input requesting information further comprises:

receiving at least one user input requesting information that includes galley data; and

displaying the inventory of the food service items on the display device to enable the at least one passenger to select at least one of the food service items.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein determining the inventory of the food service items further comprises:

updating the inventory of the food service items to indicate if any one of the food service items is no longer available.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

receiving a user input that includes a selection by the at least one passenger; and

notifying a crew member of the selection.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein receiving at least one user input requesting information further comprises:

receiving at least one user input requesting information that includes flight data;

determining a location of the at least one passenger requesting the flight data; and

displaying the status of the operational aspect of the aircraft relative to the location of the at least one passenger.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein determining the location of the at least one passenger further comprises:

providing a source of mobile platform data that includes a layout of the aircraft;

providing the source of user identification data with data that includes an assigned seat of the at least one passenger; and

determining the location of the at least one passenger in the aircraft based on the layout of the aircraft and the assigned seat of the at least one passenger.

14. An aircraft comprising:

a fuselage that includes a cockpit and a passenger cabin, the passenger cabin including at least one passenger seat, the at least one passenger seat including an in-flight entertainment system for use by at least one passenger onboard the aircraft;

a source of user identification data that includes a name of the at least one passenger that requests the information;

the in-flight entertainment system including a display that is operable to provide the at least one passenger with information regarding an operation of the aircraft, with display of the information controlled by a virtual information control system including;

a virtual information control module that outputs a flight graphical user interface, a galley graphical user interface or a flight deck graphical user interface to the display based on at least one user input; and

a galley control module that generates galley data that includes real time information of an inventory of available food service items available onboard the aircraft,

a flight deck control module that generates flight deck data based on user identification data and weather data, the flight deck data including a personalized message from a flight crew member of the aircraft to the at least one passenger, by name of the at least one passenger, that describes a current status of the operation of the aircraft based on the weather conditions experienced by the aircraft; and

wherein the graphical user interface module displays;

the personalized message from the flight crew member on the display of the at least one passenger;

a graphical representation of a flight deck of the aircraft;

a graphical representation of a status of an operational aspect of the aircraft relative to a seat location where the passenger is located; and

a detail button by which the passenger is able to request additional information on a status and workings of the aircraft relative to the passenger'"'"'s seat location.

15. The aircraft of claim 14, wherein the virtual information control module further comprises:

a graphical user interface module that displays at least one of the food service items available onboard the aircraft as the galley graphical user interface based on the at least one user input to enable the at least one passenger to select at least one of the at least one of the food service items.

16. The aircraft of claim 14, wherein the virtual information control module further comprises:

the source of user identification data including an assigned seat of the at least one passenger;

a source of mobile platform data that includes a layout of the aircraft;

a source of flight plan data that includes a status of operation of the aircraft based on a planned route of travel for the aircraft; and

a flight control module that generates flight data based on the user identification data, the mobile platform data and the flight plan data, the flight data including a status of operation of the aircraft relative to the assigned seat of the at least one passenger.

17. The aircraft of claim 14, wherein the virtual information control module further comprises:

a source of user identification data that includes a name of the at least one passenger;

a source of weather data that includes current weather conditions experienced by the aircraft;

a flight deck control module that generates the flight deck data based on the user identification data and the weather data, the flight deck data including a personalized message from a pilot of the aircraft that describes a current status of the operation of the aircraft based on the weather conditions experienced by the aircraft; and

wherein the graphical user interface module displays the personalized message from the pilot on the display device as the flight deck graphical user interface.

18. The aircraft of claim 17, wherein the personalized message from the pilot is delivered by the pilot avatar.

19. A system for providing information to at least one passenger onboard an aircraft via at least one avatar comprising:

a display device that displays the information and the avatar;

a source of user input coupled to the display device that enables the at least one passenger to request the information, the information including galley data, flight deck data or flight data;

a source of user identification data that includes an assigned seat of the at least one passenger that requests the information, a layout of the aircraft, a status of operation of the aircraft based on a planned route of travel for the aircraft, a name of the at least one passenger that requests the information, and weather data that includes weather conditions experienced by the aircraft;

a galley control module that receives real time food service item inventory information to generate the galley data, the galley data including a graphical representation of at least one food service item available onboard the aircraft;

a flight control module that generates the flight data based on the user identification data and the flight plan data, the flight data including the status of the operation of the aircraft relative to the assigned seat of the at least one passenger illustrated by an avatar of the passenger requesting the information;

a flight deck control module that generates the flight deck data based on the user identification data and the weather data, the flight deck data including a message from a pilot avatar, directed to the at least one passenger by name, that describes a current status of the operation of the aircraft based on the weather conditions experienced by the aircraft;

a graphical user interface module that displays to the at least one user on the display device;

the galley data, the flight deck data, the flight data, and the message;

a graphical representation of a flight deck of the aircraft with a pilot avatar;

a graphical representation of a status of an operational aspect of the aircraft relative to a seat location where the passenger is located; and

a detail button by which the passenger is able to request additional information on a status and workings of the aircraft relative to the passenger'"'"'s seat location.

20. A method of providing virtual information to at least one passenger onboard an aircraft via at least one avatar comprising:

providing a display device adjacent to the at least on passenger;

providing at least one avatar for each of the at least one passengers;

providing a source of user identification data that includes a name of the at least one passenger that requests the information;

receiving at least one user input requesting information regarding the aircraft, the request for information including at least a request for flight deck data, galley data or flight data;

determining a location of the at least one passenger requesting the information;

using a flight deck control module that generates flight deck data based on user identification data and weather data, the flight deck data including a personalized message from a flight crew member of the aircraft directed to the at least one passenger, by name of the at least one passenger, that describes a current status of the operation of the aircraft based on the weather conditions experienced by the aircraft;

using a galley control module to receive a real time inventory of food service items available on the aircraft;

using the galley control module to update the real time inventory of food service items to indicate if a food service item is no longer available; and

displaying;

the inventory of food service items on the display device as a graphical representation to enable the at least one passenger to browse the inventory of food service items using the at least one avatar;

generating the personalized message using a pilot avatar on the display device of the at least one passenger;

a graphical representation of a flight deck of the aircraft with a pilot avatar; and

a graphical representation of a status of an operational aspect of the aircraft relative to a seat location where the passenger is located.