Passenger seat voice communication system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11190917-B2
Application number	US-201716642749-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 28, 2017
Priority date	Aug 28, 2017
Publication date	Nov 30, 2021
Grant date	Nov 30, 2021

Abstract

A passenger seat voice communication system ( 100 ) for a passenger seat of a passenger vehicle includes a first communication device ( 102 A) that supports voice communication. The first communication ( 102 A) device includes a receiver ( 108 ) and a video monitor ( 110 ). The system includes a second communication device ( 102 B) configured to support voice communication at a second passenger seat. The system also includes a controller ( 104 ) that receives from the first communication device ( 102 A) a selection and request to establish voice communication with the second passenger seat, and sends the request to the second communication device ( 102 B). If the request is accepted by the second communication device ( 102 B), the controller ( 104 ) establishes voice communication between the first communication device ( 102 A) and the second communication device ( 102 B).

First claim

That which is claimed:

1. A passenger seat voice communication system comprising:
a first communication device on a first passenger seat and configured to support voice communication at the first passenger seat, the first communication device comprising:
a receiver on the first passenger seat and configured to connect to an input device, receive a microphone signal from the input device, and distribute an audio signal to the input device; and
a video monitor associated with the first passenger seat;

a second communication device on a second passenger seat and configured to support voice communication at the second passenger seat;
an attendant communication device configured to support voice communication at an attendant station; and
a controller configured to:
provide to the first passenger seat a contact arrangement comprising a plurality of selectable indicators through the video monitor, wherein at least one selectable indictor is associated with the second passenger seat and at least one selectable indicator is associated the attendant station;
receive from the first communication device a selection and request to establish voice communication with the second passenger seat or the attendant communication device, wherein receiving the selection comprises receiving a selection of at least one of the selectable indicator associated with the second passenger seat or the selectable indicator associated with the attendant station and changing at least one characteristic of the selected indicator on the video monitor;
based on the selection of the second passenger seat, send the request to establish voice communication to the second communication device, and if the request to establish voice communication is accepted by the second communication device:
establish voice communication between the first communication device and the second communication device; and
provide an identification of the second passenger seat on the video monitor along with the contact arrangement; and

based on the selection of the attendant communication device, send the request to establish voice communication to attendant communication device, and if the request to establish voice communication is accepted by the attendant communication device:
establish voice communication between the first communication device and the attendant communication device; and
provide an identification of the attendant communication device on the video monitor along with the contact arrangement.

2. The passenger seat voice communication system of claim 1 , wherein the receiver comprises a multi-function jack on the first passenger seat.

3. The passenger seat voice communication system of claim 1 , wherein the receiver comprises a wireless receiver on the first passenger seat.

4. The passenger seat voice communication system of claim 3 , wherein the wireless receiver is a Bluetooth wireless receiver.

5. The passenger seat voice communication system of claim 1 , wherein the second communication device comprises:
a receiver on the second passenger seat and configured to connect to a second input device, receive a microphone signal from the second input device, and distribute an audio signal to the second input device; and
a video monitor on the second passenger seat.

6. The passenger seat voice communication system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to display a status message on the video monitor if the request is declined by the second communication device or attendant station based on the selection.

7. The passenger seat voice communication system of claim 1 , further comprising a third communication device on a third passenger seat and configured to support voice communication at a third passenger seat, wherein the controller is further configured to:
provide the third passenger seat with the contact arrangement to the first passenger seat;
receive from the first communication device a selection and request to establish voice communication with the second passenger seat and the third passenger seat; and
send the request to the second communication device and third communication device and if the request is accepted by the second communication device and third communication device, establish voice communication between the first communication device, second communication device, and third communication device.

8. The passenger seat voice communication system of claim 1 , wherein the attendant communication device comprises:
a receiver configured to connect to a third input device, receive a microphone signal from the third input device, and distribute an audio signal to the third input device; and
a video monitor.

9. The passenger seat voice communication system of claim 1 , wherein the video monitor of the first communication device is an In-Flight Entertainment monitor.

10. A passenger seat voice communication system comprising:
a first communication device on a first passenger seat and configured to support voice communication, the first communication device comprising:
a receiver on the first passenger seat and configured to connect to an input device, receive a microphone signal from the input device, and distribute an audio signal to the input device; and
a video monitor associated with the first passenger seat;

a second communication device on a second passenger seat and configured to support voice communication; and
a controller configured to:
provide to the first passenger seat a contact arrangement through the video monitor comprising a plurality of selectable indicators through the video monitor, wherein at least one selectable indictor is associated with the second passenger seat;
receive from the first communication device a request to establish voice communication with the second passenger seat, wherein receiving the selection comprises receiving a selection of the selectable indicator associated with the second passenger seat and changing at least one characteristic of the selected indicator on the video monitor; and
send the request to the second communication device, and if the request is accepted by the second communication device:
establish voice communication between the first communication device and the second communication device, and
provide an identification of the second passenger seat on the video monitor along with the contact arrangement.

11. The passenger seat voice communication system of claim 10 , further comprising a third passenger seat comprising a third communication device configured to support voice communication, wherein the controller is further configured to:
provide the third passenger seat with the contact arrangement to the first passenger seat;
receive from the first communication device a selection and request to establish voice communication with the second passenger seat and the third passenger seat; and
send the request to the second communication device and third communication device and if the request is accepted by the second communication device and third communication device, establish voice communication between the first communication device, second communication device, and third communication device.

12. The passenger seat voice communication system of claim 10 , wherein the second communication device comprises:
a receiver on the second passenger seat and configured to connect to a second input device, receive a microphone signal from the second input device, and distribute an audio signal to the second input device; and
a video monitor.

13. The passenger seat voice communication system of claim 10 , wherein the receiver comprises a multi-function jack on the first passenger seat.

Assignees

• Safran Seats Usa Llc

Inventors

• Herrera Mario
• Monje Eduardo
• Madrigal José
• Flores Raúl

Classifications

• B64D11/00155 Primary

  Individual entertainment or communication system remote controls therefor, located in or connected to seat components, e.g. to seat back or arm rest · CPC title

• G06F3/16

  Sound input; Sound output (speech processing G10L) · CPC title

• H04W4/42

  for mass transport vehicles, e.g. buses, trains or aircraft · CPC title

• G06F3/0482

  Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus · CPC title

• B64D11/0624

  Arrangements of electrical connectors, e.g. for earphone, internet or electric supply · CPC title