On-board vessel entertainment system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for providing service items to an aircraft passenger, the method comprising:
- receiving, by at least one computer aboard an aircraft, passenger preference data received from passengers prior to embarkation aboard the aircraft;
identifying, by the computer from the received passenger preference data, passenger preference data for a first passenger, the passenger preference data indicating a special meal type for the first passenger;
displaying to the first passenger aboard the aircraft on a first entertainment device a plurality of menu options, the menu options including a food ordering option;
receiving from the first passenger at the first entertainment device a selection of the food ordering option;
responsive to the selection of the food ordering option, displaying on the first entertainment device a description of the available food and beverage items associated with the special meal type indicated for the first passenger;
receiving, at the first entertainment device, a request from the first passenger for one of the displayed food or beverage items;
responsive to receiving the request from the first passenger for the displayed food or beverage items, displaying on an amenities module a description of the requested item and a seat location of the first passenger; and
receiving, at the amenities module, an indication that the requested item has been delivered to the first passenger in response to the displaying on the amenities module of the description of the requested item.
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Abstract
An improved user experience is provided for passengers on a vessel such as an airplane, train or ship. Passengers can customize their travel experience ahead of time by accessing a web-based server system to indicate preferences with respect to a number of in-flight entertainment options. The passenger'"'"'s experience is also enhanced by allowing passengers to share preferences such as media playlists with others. Meals can be ordered on-demand once on board, and seat-to-seat chat as well as group chatting is also made available through an in-seat or other proximate entertainment device.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. A method for providing service items to an aircraft passenger, the method comprising:
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receiving, by at least one computer aboard an aircraft, passenger preference data received from passengers prior to embarkation aboard the aircraft; identifying, by the computer from the received passenger preference data, passenger preference data for a first passenger, the passenger preference data indicating a special meal type for the first passenger; displaying to the first passenger aboard the aircraft on a first entertainment device a plurality of menu options, the menu options including a food ordering option; receiving from the first passenger at the first entertainment device a selection of the food ordering option; responsive to the selection of the food ordering option, displaying on the first entertainment device a description of the available food and beverage items associated with the special meal type indicated for the first passenger; receiving, at the first entertainment device, a request from the first passenger for one of the displayed food or beverage items; responsive to receiving the request from the first passenger for the displayed food or beverage items, displaying on an amenities module a description of the requested item and a seat location of the first passenger; and receiving, at the amenities module, an indication that the requested item has been delivered to the first passenger in response to the displaying on the amenities module of the description of the requested item. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A computer program product for providing service items to an aircraft passenger, the computer program product stored on a non-transitory computer readable medium and including program code for performing steps comprising:
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receiving passenger preference data received from passengers prior to embarkation aboard the aircraft; identifying, from the received passenger preference data, passenger preference data for a first passenger, the passenger preference data indicating a special meal type for the first passenger; displaying to the first passenger aboard the aircraft on a first entertainment device a plurality of menu options, the menu options including a food ordering option; receiving from the first passenger at the first entertainment device a selection of the food ordering option; responsive to the selection of the food ordering option, displaying on the first entertainment device a description of the available food and beverage items associated with the special meal type indicated for the first passenger; receiving, at the first entertainment device, a request from the first passenger for one of the displayed food or beverage items; responsive to receiving the request from the first passenger for the displayed food or beverage items, displaying on an amenities module a description of the requested item and a seat location of the first passenger; and receiving, at the amenities module, an indication that the requested item has been delivered to the first passenger in response to the displaying on the amenities module of the description of the requested item. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An aircraft entertainment system comprising:
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a passenger database, configured to receive, prior to passenger embarkation about an aircraft, passenger preference data, the passenger preference data including a special meal type preference for at least a first passenger; a vessel inventory database including inventory information describing available food and beverage items aboard the aircraft, the inventory information including an available quantity of each item, and pre-loaded with initial inventory information prior to departure of the aircraft; a plurality of entertainment devices aboard the aircraft, the plurality including a first entertainment device configured to; display a plurality of menu options, the menu options including a food ordering option; receive from a first passenger at the first entertainment device a selection of the food ordering option; receive from the first passenger at the first entertainment device a special meal type; responsive to the selection of the food ordering option, obtain from the vessel inventory database the information describing the available food and beverage items aboard the aircraft and display at least a portion of the information on the first entertainment device according to the received special meal type; receive a request from the first passenger for one of the displayed food or beverage items; and responsive to receiving the request for the displayed food or beverage item from the first passenger, providing to an amenities module a description of the requested item and a seat location of the first passenger; the amenities module, coupled to the plurality of entertainment devices, adapted to; display indicia of the requested item including the seat location of the first passenger; receive an indication that the requested item has been delivered to the first passenger in response to the displayed indicia; responsive to receiving the indication that the requested item has been delivered, decrementing the available inventory of the requested food or beverage item in the vessel inventory database; and a second of the plurality of entertainment devices, the second device coupled to the first entertainment device, the amenities module and the vessel inventory database, and adapted to; obtain from the vessel inventory database updated information describing the available food and beverage items aboard the aircraft, the updated information reflective of the decrementing by the amenities module, and to display a description of the available food and beverage items, wherein responsive to a determination that the available inventory of the item requested by the first passenger is zero, the description of the available food and beverage items displayed to the second passenger does not include the item requested by the first passenger.
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Specification