Passenger seat pairing system

• US 9,694,725 B2
• Filed: 04/22/2015
• Issued: 07/04/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Avionics Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Avionics Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Bates, Steven, Pimple, Sanjiv Sitaram, Watson, Philip
• Primary Examiner(s): Zanelli, Michael J
• Application Number:
  US14/693,541
• Publication Number:
  US 20160311348A1
• Time in Patent Office: 804 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0224 Non-manual adjustments, e.g. with electrical operation
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0233 Touchscreens
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0237 using portable terminals, e.g. smartphones
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0279 for detecting objects outside the vehicle, e.g. for user identification
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/56 Heating or ventilating devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/90 Details or parts not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2210/16 Electromagnetic waves
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2210/24 Cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2230/20 Wireless data transmission
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0229 for displays, e.g. cathodic tubes
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0252 for personal computers, e.g. laptops, notebooks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0012 Seats or parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/0015 Arrangements for entertainment or communications, e.g. radio, television
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/20 Binding and programming of remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network

Abstract

A system for pairing a personal electronic device of a passenger with a passenger seat in a vehicle, and for allowing the personal electronic device to control passenger in-seat functions and features such as entertainment systems in vehicles. The system comprises an on-board management system for installation in a vehicle. The on-board management system is configured to receive pairing information from the personal electronic device via a wireless communication link. The on-board management system can then pair the personal electronic device to the passenger seat and authorize the personal electronic device to control one or more passenger seat functions associated with the passenger seat. A device pairing software application is stored on a non-transitory carrier and is configured to program the personal electronic device to transmit the pairing information to the on-board management system, and transmit a command or control instruction to control one or more passenger seat functions.

Claims

1. A system for pairing a personal electronic device of a passenger with a passenger seat in a vehicle, the system comprising:

an on-board management system for installation in a vehicle, the on-board management system having a server and a vehicle wireless communication module configured to establish a wireless communication link with the personal electronic device, the on-board management system configured to receive pairing information from the personal electronic device via the wireless communication link, the pairing information including a passenger seat identifier identifying the passenger seat of the passenger and a personal electronic device identifier identifying the personal electronic device, the on-board management system configured to pair the personal electronic device to the passenger seat using the pairing information and to authorize the personal electronic device to control at least one passenger seat function associated with the passenger seat; and

a device pairing software application stored on a non-transitory computer program carrier and configured to program the personal electronic device upon download and/or installation to receive an electronic boarding pass, access passenger seat data identifying the passenger seat from the electronic boarding pass, transmit the pairing information including the passenger seat identifier and the personal electronic device identifier to the on-board management system via the wireless communication link, and transmit a control instruction to control the at least one passenger seat function,

wherein the system is further configured to authenticate the pairing of the personal electronic device to the predetermined passenger seat, the system further comprising;

the device pairing software application further configured to access passenger identification data and transmit passenger identification data to the on-board management system via the wireless communication link; and

the on-board management system further configured to receive and store passenger manifest data including each passenger identity associated with a respective assigned passenger seat for each passenger, receive the passenger identification data, determine the passenger identity on the passenger manifest using the passenger identification data, determine whether the assigned passenger seat matches the passenger seat associated with the passenger seat identifier, and only authorizing the personal electronic device to control the at least one passenger seat function associated with the passenger seat if the passenger seat matches the assigned passenger seat.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a seat function controller installed in the vehicle and configured to control the at least one passenger seat function based upon a control instruction transmitted from the personal electronic device.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the seat function controller comprises a passenger services system in communication with the on-board management system, the passenger services system configured to control the at least one passenger seat function based upon a management system instruction received from the on-board management system which is based upon the control instruction received from the personal electronic device.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising a smart monitor mounted in the vehicle proximate the passenger seat, the smart monitor configured to execute at least one passenger seat function based upon a control instruction transmitted from the personal electronic device.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising the personal electronic device of the passenger, the personal electronic device having a processor, memory, a storage device, and a wireless communication module configured to establish a wireless communication link with the on-board management system, and the device pairing software application stored on the storage device.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one seat function comprises at least two or more of the following:

an on-board entertainment system, an air conditioning system, a lighting system, a telephony communication system, an on-board drink or meal service request system, an attendant call system, a passenger status system, and a seat adjustment system.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the on-board management system comprises a vehicle entertainment system which controls audio and video entertainment provided at the passenger seat.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the on-board management system is further configured to receive from an authorized crew member a selection of an authorized personal electronic device and a request to pair and authorize the selected personal electronic device to a selected passenger seat other than the assigned passenger seat.

9. A system for pairing a personal electronic device of a passenger with a passenger seat in a vehicle, the system comprising:

an on-board management system for installation in a vehicle, the on-board management system including a server and a vehicle wireless communication module configured to establish a wireless communication link with the personal electronic device, the on-board management system configured to receive and store a passenger manifest including an assigned passenger seat for each passenger and the identity of each passenger,

a webpage hosted by the on-board management system and accessible by the personal electronic device via the wireless communication link for the passenger to communicate to the on-board management system a request to pair the personal electronic device with a seat and passenger identification data, and

the on-board management system configured to, after receiving the request and passenger identification data, determine the passenger identity on the passenger manifest using the passenger identification data, determine the passenger seat assigned to the passenger based upon the passenger identity and the passenger manifest, pair the personal electronic device to the assigned passenger seat based upon a personal electronic device identifier associated with communications from the personal electronic device, and authorizing the personal electronic device to control at least one passenger seat function associated with the assigned passenger seat.

10. The system of claim 9, further comprising a seat function controller installed in the vehicle and configured to control the at least one passenger seat function based upon a control instruction transmitted from the personal electronic device.

11. The system of claim 10, further comprising a smart monitor mounted in the vehicle proximate the passenger seat, the smart monitor configured to execute at least one passenger seat function based upon a control instruction transmitted from the personal electronic device.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the on-board management system is configured to receive said request and passenger identification via a pairing application running on the personal electronic device or via said webpage and a browser on a personal electronic device.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the at least one seat function comprises at least two or more of the following:

on-board entertainment system, an air conditioning system, a lighting system, a telephony communication system, an on-board drink or meal service request system, an attendant call system, a passenger status system, and a seat adjustment system.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the on-board management system comprises a vehicle entertainment system which controls audio and video entertainment provided at the passenger seat.

15. The system of claim 9, wherein the on-board management system is further configured to receive from an authorized crew member a selection of an authorized personal electronic device and a request to pair and authorize the selected personal electronic device to a selected passenger seat other than the assigned passenger seat.

16. A system for pairing a personal electronic device of a passenger with a seat in a vehicle and controlling a seat function for the seat, the system comprising:

an on-board management system disposed in the vehicle, the on-board management system having a server and a vehicle wireless communication module configured to establish a wireless communication link with the personal electronic device, the on-board management system configured to receive pairing information from the personal electronic device including a passenger seat identifier based on a passenger seat identification obtained from a seat identification device and a personal electronic device identifier identifying the personal electronic device via the wireless communication link, pair the personal electronic device to the passenger seat of the passenger and authorize the personal electronic device to control at least one passenger seat function associated with the passenger seat;

a seat identification device located proximate the passenger seat, the seat identification device configured to communicate a passenger seat identification identifying the passenger seat to the personal electronic device, the seat identification device including at least one of a radio frequency identification tag and a Bluetooth module; and

a device pairing software application stored on a non-transitory computer program carrier and configured to program the personal electronic device upon download and/or installation to detect the passenger seat identification from the seat identification device, and transmit a wireless message including the passenger seat identifier and personal electronic device identifier to the on-board management system via the wireless communication link, and transmit a control instruction to control the at least one passenger seat function,

wherein the system is further configured to authenticate the pairing of the personal electronic device to the predetermined passenger seat, the system further comprising;

the device pairing software application further configured to access passenger identification data and transmit passenger identification data to the on-board management system via the wireless communication link; and

the on-board management system further configured to receive and store passenger manifest data including each passenger identity associated with a respective assigned passenger seat for each passenger, receive the passenger identification data, determine the passenger identity on the passenger manifest using the passenger identification data, determine whether the assigned passenger seat matches the passenger seat associated with the passenger seat identifier, and only authorizing the personal electronic device to control the at least one passenger seat function associated with the passenger seat if the passenger seat matches the assigned passenger seat.

17. The system of claim 16, further comprising a seat function controller installed in the vehicle and configured to control the at least one passenger seat function based upon a control instruction transmitted from the personal electronic device.

18. The system of claim 16, further comprising a smart monitor mounted in the vehicle proximate the passenger seat, the smart monitor configured to execute the at least one passenger seat function based upon a control instruction transmitted from the personal electronic device.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein the at least one seat function comprises at least two or more of the following:

on-board entertainment system, an air conditioning system, a lighting system, a telephony communication system, an on-board drink or meal service request system, an attendant call system, a passenger status system, and a seat adjustment system.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein the on-board management system comprises a vehicle entertainment system which controls audio and video entertainment provided at the passenger seat.

21. The system of claim 16, wherein the system is further configured to authenticate the pairing of the personal electronic device to the passenger seat, the system further comprising:

the device pairing software application further configured to receive passenger seat data identifying an assigned passenger seat assigned to the passenger seat by a carrier, and to transmit an assigned passenger seat identifier identifying the assigned passenger seat to the on-board management system via the wireless communication link; and

the on-board management system further configured to receive the assigned passenger seat identifier and determine whether the assigned passenger seat matches the passenger seat associated with the passenger seat identifier, and only authorizing the personal electronic device to control the at least one passenger seat function associated with the passenger seat if the passenger seat matches the assigned passenger seat.

22. The system of claim 16, wherein the on-board management system is further configured to revoke a previous authorization of the personal electronic device to control the at least one passenger seat function associated with the passenger seat.