In-vehicle services through attendant devices, user-provided devices, and/or an in-vehicle computer system

• US 8,751,646 B1
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Issued: 06/10/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kwivo, LLC
• Original Assignee: Kwivo, LLC
• Inventors: Heron, Alexandra Kathleen, Silva, Julio Toro, Mendis, Manimeldura Janaka
• Primary Examiner(s): JEAN GILLES, JUDE
• Application Number:
  US13/843,990
• Time in Patent Office: 452 Days
• Field of Search: 709/224, 709/223, 709/219, 709/220
• US Class Current: 709/224
• 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: H04L 43/0876 Network utilisation, e.g. volume of load or congestion level
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/104 Peer-to-peer [P2P] networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/42 for mass transport vehicles, e.g. buses, trains or aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/48 for in-vehicle communication
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 50/40 Weight reduction

Abstract

An approach to facilitating in-vehicle services through attendant devices, user-provided devices, and/or an in-vehicle computer system is provided. In one implementation, one or more communication sessions with the in-vehicle computer system may be facilitated by an attendant device. Passenger information relating to one or more passengers of a vehicle and service information relating to one or more services to be provided to the one or more passengers may be obtained by the attendant device from the in-vehicle computer system via the one or more communication sessions. The passenger information and the service information may be provided by the attendant device. An indication that at least one service is in progress or is complete is received by the attendant device.

Claims

1. A method for facilitating services by an attendant to a passenger through a computer system of a vehicle and an attendant-operated wireless mobile device, wherein the computer system receives passenger service requests from passenger-operated wireless mobile devices, the method being implemented on the attendant-operated wireless mobile device that includes one or more physical processors executing one or more computer program instructions which, when executed, perform the method, the method comprising:

receiving, by the attendant-operated wireless mobile device from the computer system, passenger service request information relating to one or more services to be provided to one or more passengers of the vehicle, wherein the attendant-operated wireless mobile device is a wireless mobile device programmed with one or more computer program instructions for communicating with the computer system and different types of passenger-operated wireless mobile devices, and further capable of other general wireless device functionalities;

causing, by the attendant-operated wireless mobile device, a presentation of one or more service tasks to be performed by at least one attendant based on the passenger service request information, wherein the one or more service tasks relate to the one or more services; and

receiving, by the attendant-operated wireless mobile device, an indication that at least one service task of the one or more service tasks is in progress or is complete.

2. The method of claim 1, the method further comprising:

receiving, by the attendant-operated wireless mobile device, a user input specifying an assignment of the at least one service task to a second attendant associated with a second attendant-operated wireless mobile device;

assigning, by the attendant-operated wireless mobile device, the at least one service task to the second attendant; and

receiving, by the attendant-operated wireless mobile device, the indication that the at least one service task is in progress or is complete based on a second user input received at the second attendant-operated wireless mobile device, wherein the second user input specifies that the at least one service task is in progress or is complete.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the presentation of the one or more service tasks specifies one or more passenger preferences associated with the one or more service tasks, and wherein the one or more passenger preferences are based on one or more previous passenger service requests of the one or more passengers during one or more previous trips taken by the one or more passengers, the one or more previous trips being taken by the one or more passengers prior to transport of the one or more passengers on the vehicle.

4. The method of claim 1, the method further comprising providing, by the attendant-operated wireless mobile device, one or more of emergency information or safety-related instructions to one or more passenger-operated wireless mobile devices associated with the one or more passengers.

5. The method of claim 1, the method further comprising:

facilitating, by the attendant-operated wireless mobile device, one or more peer-to-peer communication sessions between the attendant-operated wireless mobile device and one or more passenger-operated wireless mobile devices associated with the one or more passengers; and

providing, by the attendant-operated wireless mobile device to the one or more passenger-operated wireless mobile devices via the one or more peer-to-peer communication sessions, a communication relating to servicing the one or more passengers.

6. The method of claim 1, the method further comprising receiving, by the attendant-operated wireless mobile device, one or more passenger communications from one or more passenger-operated wireless mobile devices associated with the one or more passengers, wherein the one or more passenger communications comprise one or more of voice communications, video communications, or text communications from the one or more passenger-operated wireless mobile devices.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein an intermediary computer device located at a facility for boarding of the vehicle is programmed with one or more computer program instructions for communicating with the computer system, wherein one or more passenger service requests of the one or more passengers are received at the intermediary computer device from one or more passenger-operated wireless mobile devices associated with the one or more passengers before boarding of the vehicle, wherein the one or more passenger service requests are received at the computer system from the intermediary computer device, and wherein the passenger service request information is based on the one or more passenger service requests.

8. The method of claim 1, the method further comprising receiving, by the attendant-operated wireless mobile device, history information about one or more previous passenger service requests of the one or more passengers during one or more previous trips taken by the one or more passengers, the one or more previous trips being taken by the one or more passengers prior to transport of the one or more passengers on the vehicle.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the passenger service request information further comprises receiving the passenger service request information in response to one or more passenger service requests being initiated at one or more passenger-operated wireless mobile devices associated with the one or more passengers.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the indication that the at least one service task is in progress or is complete comprises receiving the indication that the at least one service task is in progress or is complete from at least one passenger-operated wireless mobile device associated with at least one passenger of the one or more passengers.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the vehicle is an airplane, wherein the computer system is a fixed computer system affixed within the airplane and programmed with one or more computer program instructions for communicating with different types of attendant-operated wireless mobile devices and different types of passenger-operated wireless mobile devices, wherein the one or more passenger are scheduled for a flight on the airplane, and wherein the one or more services are to be provided to the one or more passengers during the flight.

29. The method of claim 1, the method further comprising:

receiving, by the attendant-operated wireless mobile device, the indication that the at least one service task is in progress or is complete based on a second user input received at a second attendant-operated wireless mobile device, wherein the second user input specifies that the at least one service task is in progress or is complete.

30. The method of claim 1, the method further comprising:

receiving, by the attendant-operated wireless mobile device, a user input specifying an assignment of the at least one service task to a second attendant associated with a second attendant-operated wireless mobile device; and

assigning, by the attendant-operated wireless mobile device, the at least one service task to the second attendant.

12. A method for facilitating obtaining of in-vehicle services through a computer system of a vehicle and a passenger-operated wireless mobile device, the method being implemented on the passenger-operated wireless mobile device that includes one or more physical processors executing one or more computer program instructions which, when executed, perform the method, the method comprising:

presenting, by the passenger-operated wireless mobile device, one or more options relating to services available to a passenger on the vehicle, wherein the passenger-operated wireless mobile device is a wireless mobile device programmed with one or more computer program instructions for communicating with the computer system and different types of attendant-operated wireless mobile devices, and further capable of other general wireless device functionalities;

determining, by the passenger-operated wireless mobile device, a selection of at least one option of the one or more options by the passenger;

providing, by the passenger-operated wireless mobile device, the selection of the at least one option for transmission to the computer system, wherein the at least one option relates to at least one service of the services; and

providing, by the passenger-operated wireless mobile device to the computer system, an indication that at least one service task relating to the at least one service is in progress or is complete.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the selection of the at least one option is provided to the computer system without an Internet connection.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein an intermediary computer device located at a facility for boarding of the vehicle is programmed with one or more computer program instructions for communicating with the computer system, and wherein providing the selection of the at least one option comprises:

providing, by the passenger-operated wireless device, the selection of the at least one option to the intermediary computer device before boarding of the vehicle,

wherein the selection of the at least one option is received at the computer system from the intermediary computer device.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the passenger is associated with the passenger-operated wireless mobile device, the method further comprising:

providing, by the passenger-operated wireless mobile device to the computer system, a search request for content items, wherein a time remaining in transit for the passenger is determined in response to the search request, and wherein a list of one or more content items is generated based on the determined time remaining;

receiving, by the passenger-operated wireless mobile device from the computer system, the list of the one or more content items, wherein the one or more options are based on the received list, and wherein the selection of the at least one option includes a selection of at least one content item of the one or more content items; and

receiving, by the passenger-operated wireless mobile device via the one or more communication sessions, access to the at least one content item based on the selection of the at least one content item.

16. The method of claim 12, the method further comprising:

facilitating, by the passenger-operated wireless mobile device, one or more peer-to-peer communication sessions between one or more attendant-operated wireless mobile devices and the passenger-operated wireless mobile device; and

receiving, by the passenger-operated wireless mobile device via the one or more peer-to-peer communication sessions, a communication relating to servicing the passenger.

17. The method of claim 12, the method further comprising providing, by the passenger-operated wireless mobile device, one or more passenger communications to one or more attendant-operated wireless mobile devices associated with one or more attendants on the vehicle, wherein the one or more passenger communications comprise one or more of voice communications, video communications, or text communications of the passenger, and wherein the passenger is associated with the passenger-operated wireless mobile device.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein the at least one service includes a service to be provided by an attendant on the vehicle to the passenger.

19. The method of claim 12, the method further comprising:

determining, by the passenger-operated wireless mobile device, that the passenger has a frequent flyer status,

wherein providing the one or more options further comprise providing, based on the passenger having the frequent flyer status, a set of options relating to services available to the passenger that are not available to passengers without the frequent flyer status.

20. The method of claim 12, wherein the vehicle is an airplane, wherein the computer system is a fixed computer system affixed within the airplane and programmed with one or more computer program instructions for communicating with different types of attendant-operated wireless mobile devices and different types of passenger-operated wireless mobile devices, wherein the one or more passenger are scheduled for a flight on the airplane, and wherein the one or more options relate to services available to the passenger during the flight.

21. A method for facilitating in-vehicle services through a computer system of a vehicle, a passenger-operated wireless mobile device, and an attendant-operated wireless mobile device, the method being implemented on the computer system that includes one or more physical processors executing one or more computer program instructions which, when executed, perform the method, the method comprising:

receiving, by the computer system, at least one request from at least one passenger-operated wireless mobile device that is programmed with one or more computer program instructions for communicating with the computer system, wherein the computer system is programmed with one or more computer program instructions for communicating with different types of attendant-operated wireless mobile devices and different types of passenger-operated wireless mobile devices;

providing, by the computer system, the at least one request to one or more attendant-operated wireless mobile devices that are programmed with one or more computer program instructions for communicating with the computer system;

receiving, by the computer system, acknowledgement information associated with the at least one request from at least one attendant-operated wireless mobile device of the one or more attendant-operated wireless mobile devices; and

providing, by the computer system, the acknowledgement information to the at least one passenger-operated wireless mobile device.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the one or more attendant-operated wireless mobile devices include one or more wireless mobile devices that are programmed with one or more computer program instructions for communicating with the computer system and that are further capable of other general wireless device functionalities, and wherein the at least one passenger-operated wireless mobile device include at least one wireless mobile device that is programmed with one or more computer program instructions for communicating with the computer system and that is further capable of other general wireless device functionalities.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the at least one request includes at least one passenger service request relating to a service that at least one passenger seeks from an attendant on the vehicle, and wherein the at least one passenger is associated with the at least one passenger-operated wireless mobile device, the method further comprising:

providing, by the computer system to the one or more attendant-operated wireless mobile devices, history information about one or more previous passenger service requests of the at least one passenger during one or more previous trips taken by the at least one passenger, the one or more previous trips being taken by the at least one passenger prior to boarding of the vehicle by the at least one passenger.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein the at least one request includes at least one passenger service request relating to a service that at least one passenger seeks from an attendant on the vehicle, and wherein the at least one passenger is associated with the at least one passenger-operated wireless mobile device, the method further comprising:

providing, by the computer system to the one or more attendant-operated wireless mobile devices, one or more passenger preferences associated with one or more services that are available to the at least one passenger, wherein the one or more passenger preferences are based on one or more previous passenger service requests of the at least one passenger during one or more previous trips taken by the at least one passenger, the one or more previous trips being taken by the at least one passenger prior to boarding of the vehicle by the at least one passenger.

25. The method of claim 21, the method further comprising:

receiving, by the computer system from at least another attendant-operated wireless mobile device of the one or more attendant-operated wireless mobile devices that is different than the at least one attendant-operated wireless mobile device, an indication that at least one service associated with the at least one request is in progress or is complete; and

providing, by the computer system to the at least one attendant-operated wireless mobile device, the indication that the at least one service is in progress or is complete based on the receipt of the indication.

26. The method of claim 21, the method further comprising:

receiving, by the computer system from the at least one passenger-operated wireless mobile device, an indication that at least one service associated with the at least one request is complete; and

providing, by the computer system to the at least one attendant-operated wireless mobile device, the indication that the at least one service is complete based on the receipt of the indication.

27. An attendant-operated wireless mobile device for facilitating services by an attendant to a passenger through a computer system of a vehicle, wherein the computer system receives passenger service requests from passenger-operated wireless mobile devices, the attendant-operated wireless mobile device comprising:

one or more physical processors programmed with one or more computer program instructions for communicating with the computer system and different types of passenger-operated wireless mobile devices, and for performing other general wireless device functionalities, such that the one or more computer program instructions, when executed, cause the one or more physical processors to;

receive, from the computer system, passenger service request information relating one or more services to be provided to one or more passengers of the vehicle;

causing a presentation of one or more service tasks to be performed by at least one attendant based on the passenger service request information, wherein the one or more service tasks relate to the one or more services; and

receive an indication that at least one service task of the one or more service tasks is in progress or is complete.

28. The attendant-operated wireless mobile device of claim 27, wherein the one or more physical processors are further caused to:

receive a user input specifying an assignment of the at least one service task to a second attendant associated with a second attendant-operated wireless mobile device;

assign the at least one service task to the second attendant; and

receive the indication that the at least one service task is in progress or is complete based on a second user input received at the second attendant-operated wireless mobile device, wherein the second user input specifies that the at least one service task is in progress or is complete.