Real time and in-flight dynamic personalization of an aircraft

• US 9,523,985 B1
• Filed: 08/11/2009
• Issued: 12/20/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc. (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Original Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc. (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Inventors: Timm, Stephen J., Vester, Bryan R., Barnes, Geoffrey J., Dirks, Charles B., Moore, Richard G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Bao Long T
• Application Number:
  US12/462,895
• Time in Patent Office: 2,688 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/00 Passenger or crew accommodation; Flight-deck installations not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 43/00 Arrangements or adaptations of instruments arrangements of cameras B64D47/08; aeronautical measuring instruments per se G01C
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0653 during a phase of take-off or landing
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0661 specially adapted for take-off

Abstract

A method and system for dynamically personalizing an aircraft is provided. Users of an aircraft store their environmental preferences in a file on a storage device. When the users use the aircraft or ride on the aircraft, the aircraft computer system communicates with and uploads the users'"'"' files containing the users'"'"' environmental preferences. The aircraft computer system then implements the users'"'"' preferences by configuring a system of modules.

Claims

1. A method, executed by an aircraft computer system, for dynamically personalizing an aircraft environment, comprising:

storing a first plurality of user environmental variables on a first portable storage device corresponding to preferences of a first user, the first user being a pilot of an aircraft;

communicating the first plurality of user environmental variables from the first portable storage devices to the aircraft computer system;

determining a phase of flight of the aircraft, the phase of the flight including one of pre-takeoff, takeoff, flight, landing, or post-landing;

effecting a transformation of an aircraft environment in accordance with the plurality of user environmental variables and in accordance with the phase of flight;

wherein said step of effecting a transformation of an aircraft environment comprises effecting a transformation of

aircraft seat position;

display position;

display color; and

display orientation.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the first portable storage device includes a personal digital assistant.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the first portable storage device includes a key fob.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of effecting a transformation of an aircraft environment comprises effecting a transformation further includes:

aircraft cabin ambient lighting;

aircraft cabin air temperature; and

aircraft cabin airflow.

5. A dynamic personalization method, executed by an aircraft computer system, for customization of an aircraft environment, comprising:

identifying a user of an aircraft;

storing a plurality of user environmental variables corresponding to the user on a storage device;

determining a phase of flight of the aircraft, the phase of the flight including one of pre-takeoff, takeoff, flight, landing, or post-landing;

communicating the plurality of user environmental variables from the storage device to the aircraft computer system; and

effecting a transformation of an aircraft environment in accordance with the plurality of user environmental variables and the phase of the flight;

wherein said step of effecting a transformation of an aircraft environment comprises effecting a transformation of;

aircraft seat position;

aircraft cabin ambient lighting;

aircraft cabin air temperature;

display position;

display color; and

display orientation.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the storage device is portable.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the storage device is a key fob.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein the storage device is a personal digital assistant.

9. The method of claim 5 wherein the storage device is a network device connected to a wireless communication network.

10. A system for customization of an aircraft environment, comprising:

a plurality of user environmental variables corresponding to a user of an aircraft wherein said plurality of user environmental variables comprises;

aircraft seat position;

aircraft cabin ambient lighting;

aircraft cabin air temperature;

aircraft cabin airflow;

display position;

display color; and

display orientation

a record storing the plurality of user environmental variables on a storage device;

a computer system on the aircraft implementing the user environmental variables, depending upon a phase of flight of the aircraft, the phase of the flight including one of pre-takeoff, takeoff, flight, landing, or post-landing; and

a wireless communication network in communication with the storage device and the computer system for sending the record to the computer system.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the storage device is portable.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the storage device is a key fob.

13. The system of claim 11 wherein the storage device is a personal digital assistant.

14. The system of claim 10 wherein the storage device is a network device connected to the wireless communication network.