Methods and systems for automated presence verification, location confirmation, and identification of objects in defined zones

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10671848-B2
Application number	US-201815951465-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 12, 2018
Priority date	Apr 12, 2018
Publication date	Jun 2, 2020
Grant date	Jun 2, 2020

Abstract

Provided are methods and systems for automated location and identification of multiple objects in an aircraft cabin. A method utilizes a wireless client, RFID reader, and camera, which together form a set. Each set is associated with a specific inspection zone in the cabin. The RFID reader determines the presence of a RFID tag in only one zone. Further, the camera captures an image of that zone. A data feedback is generated based on both the image and the RFID reader response. The data feedback is transmitted by the wireless client to a router and is analyzed to determine the presence of the object in the inspection zone and, if present, the identity of the object. The data feedback is associated with the location of the zone in the aircraft cabin, which is known or may be determined using a set of wireless routers positioned throughout the cabin.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method for automated location and identification of multiple objects disposed in an aircraft cabin, the method comprising:
wirelessly transmitting a first data request from a first wireless router to a first wireless client, wherein the first wireless router is one of wireless routers disposed throughout the aircraft cabin, and wherein the first wireless client is one of wireless clients, each one of the wireless clients associated with a different one of the multiple objects;
transmitting a first interrogation signal using a first RFID reader, communicatively coupled to the first wireless client, wherein the first wireless client instructs the first RFID reader to transmit the first interrogation signal upon receiving the first data request at the first wireless client;
monitoring a first response signal using the first RFID reader, wherein the first response signal depends on presence of a first RFID tag in a first inspection zone and, if present, information encoded on the first RFID tag;
capturing a first image of the first inspection zone using a first camera, communicatively coupled to the first wireless client, wherein the first wireless client instructs the first camera to capture the first image of the first inspection zone upon receiving the first data request at the first wireless client;
generating a first data feedback using the first wireless client, wherein the first data feedback is generated based on the first response signal and the first image;
wirelessly transmitting the first data feedback from the first wireless client o the first wireless router;
analyzing the first data feedback to determine at least one of presence of a first object of the multiple objects in the first inspection zone or identification of the first object; and
determining a location of the first inspection zone based on wirelessly transmitting a first location feedback from the first wireless client to the first wireless router and a second location feedback from the first wireless client to a second wireless router and analyzing the first location feedback, the second location feedback, location of the first wireless router in the aircraft cabin, and location of the second wireless router in the aircraft cabin to determine the location of the first inspection zone.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein wirelessly transmitting the first data request from the first wireless router to the first wireless client is performed over a 60 GHz network.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first inspection zone is one of a space under a seat or a space in an overhead compartment in the aircraft cabin.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first object is a personal flotation device.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising wirelessly transmitting inflight entertainment data from the first wireless router to the first wireless client.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the irst inspection zone is specific to only one seat in the aircraft cabin.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein analyzing the first data feedback comprises analyzing the first image in the first data feedback to determine at least the presence of the first object.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein analyzing the first data feedback further comprises comparing results of analyzing the first image with the first response signal.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
analyzing the first data feedback comprises generating a report validating the presence of the first object in the first inspection zone and the identification of the first object; and
if one of the presence of the first object in the first inspection zone or the identification of the first object does not meet corresponding predetermined criteria, the report comprises instructions to manually inspect the first inspection zone.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the predetermined criteria comprise at least one of an indicium associated with the first object or an expiration date associated with the first object.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the report is generated using an off-board controller positioned outside of the aircraft cabin.

12. The method of claim 9 , further comprising, if the report comprises instructions to manually inspect the first inspection zone, manually inspecting the first inspection zone.

13. The method of claim 9 , wherein the report comprises validation of the presence of each one of the multiple objects disposed in the aircraft cabin and the identification of each one of the multiple objects.

14. The method of claim 9 , wherein the report validates presence of an object corresponding to each of aircraft seats in the aircraft cabin.

15. The method of claim 1 , wherein analyzing the first data feedback comprises associating the first data feedback with the location of the first inspection zone in the aircraft cabin.

16. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the location of the first inspection zone further comprises:
wirelessly transmitting a first location request from the first wireless router to the first wireless client, wherein the first location feedback is generated by the first wireless client upon receipt of the first location request from the first wireless router; and
wirelessly transmitting a second location request from a second wireless router to the first wireless client wherein the second location feedback is generated by the first wireless client upon receipt of the second location request from the second wireless router.

17. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the location of the first inspection zone comprises validating the location of the first inspection zone using an expected location area of the first inspection zone.

18. A method for automated location and identification of multiple objects disposed in an aircraft cabin, the method comprising:
wirelessly transmitting a first data request from a first wireless router to a first wireless client, wherein the first wireless router is one of wireless routers disposed throughout the aircraft cabin, and wherein the first wireless client is one of wireless clients, each one of the wireless clients associated with a different one of the multiple objects;
transmitting a first interrogation signal using a first RFID reader, communicatively coupled to the first wireless client, wherein the first wireless client instructs the first RFID reader to transmit the first interrogation signal upon receiving the first data request at the first wireless client;
monitoring a first response signal using the first RFID reader, wherein the first response signal depends on presence of a first RFID tag in a first inspection zone and, if present, information encoded on the first RFID tag;
capturing a first image of the first inspection zone using a first camera, communicatively coupled to the first wireless client, wherein the first wireless client instructs the first camera to capture the first image of the first inspection zone upon receiving the first data request at the first wireless client;
generating a first data feedback using the first wireless client, wherein the first data feedback is generated based on the first response signal and the first image;
wirelessly transmitting the first data feedback from the first wireless client to the first wireless router;
analyzing the first data feedback to determine at least one of presence of a first object of the multiple objects in the first inspection zone or identification of the first object;
wirelessly transmitting a second data request from a second wireless ro

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Kumar Anil
• Pei Guangyu

Classifications

• G06K7/10475

  arrangements to facilitate interaction with further interrogation devices, e.g. such that at least two interrogation devices may function and cooperate in a network of such devices · CPC title

• H04N5/247

  Electricity · mapped topic

• G06K9/00671 Primary

  Physics · mapped topic

• G06K9/00832

  Physics · mapped topic

• H04W64/00

  Locating users or terminals {or network equipment} for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management · CPC title