Universal passenger seat system and data interface

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11847548-B2
Application number	US-201815903153-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 23, 2018
Priority date	Feb 23, 2018
Publication date	Dec 19, 2023
Grant date	Dec 19, 2023

Abstract

A universal passenger seat system includes a system controller and a physical connection interface with a standardized communication protocol for coupling the system controller with seating hardware, at least one peripheral device, and at least one network connection. The system controller can also be in communication with a biometric sensor, a physiological sensor, and/or a situational data sensor. An artificial intelligence engine is communicatively coupled to or embedded within the system controller. The artificial intelligence engine is configured to determine a passenger status based on data received from the biometric sensor, the physiological sensor, and/or the situational data sensor and is further configured to generate one or more communication signals based on the data. For example, the communication signals can include control signals for the seating hardware, information signals for peripheral devices, or status signals for transmission via the network connection.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A universal passenger seat system, comprising:
an enclosure configured to be coupled to a seat support structure;
a system controller disposed within the enclosure;
a physical connection interface comprising a standardized communication protocol for coupling the system controller with seating hardware, at least one peripheral device, and at least one network connection, the standardized communication protocol including at least one of USB, Ethernet, CAN bus, SAE, J1939, IEEE 802++, or Bluetooth;
at least one of a biometric sensor, a physiological sensor, or a situational data sensor;
an artificial intelligence engine communicatively coupled to or embedded within the system controller, the artificial intelligence engine configured to determine a passenger status based on data received from the at least one of the biometric sensor, the physiological sensor, or the situational data sensor and data from a passenger profile, wherein the artificial intelligence engine is configured to generate one or more communication signals based on the data received from the at least one of the biometric sensor, the physiological sensor, or the situational data sensor and the data from the passenger profile, the passenger profile including age and health condition information;
wherein the one or more communication signals include at least one of a control signal for the seating hardware, an information signal for the at least one peripheral device, or a status signal for transmission via the at least one network connection;
a global aeronautical distress and safety system communicatively coupled to or embedded within the system controller, wherein the artificial intelligence engine is configured to generate one or more additional communication signals based on information collected by the global aeronautical distress and safety system when the data received from the at least one of the biometric sensor, the physiological sensor, or the situational data sensor indicates at least a threshold distress level, the global aeronautical distress and safety system including an aircraft-grade black box with data recording components; and
a location determining component communicatively coupled to the system controller, wherein the artificial intelligence engine is configured to determine the passenger status at least partially based on positioning signals detected by the location determining component, the positioning signals including position coordinates of a location of the system controller and associated with a particular passenger seat.

2. The universal passenger seat system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one network connection comprises at least one of an internet connection, an on-board network connection, a mesh network connection, a neural network system connection, or a cloud computing system connection.

3. The universal passenger seat system of claim 1 , further comprising actuation control hardware coupled to or embedded within the system controller, wherein the actuation control hardware is configured to generate the control signal for the seating hardware.

4. The universal passenger seat system of claim 1 , wherein the artificial intelligence engine is configured to determine the passenger status at least partially based on a passenger identity detected by the biometric sensor.

5. The universal passenger seat system of claim 1 , wherein the artificial intelligence engine is configured to determine the passenger status at least partially based on a passenger vital status detected by the physiological sensor.

6. The universal passenger seat system of claim 1 , wherein the artificial intelligence engine is configured to determine the passenger status at least partially based on a passenger activity level detected by the situational data sensor.

7. A passenger seat, comprising:
a lower body support member disposed upon a seat support structure;
an upper body support member adjacent to the lower body support member;
a seat support structure coupled to at least one of the lower body support member or the upper body support member;
an enclosure coupled to the seat support structure;
a system controller disposed within the enclosure;
a physical connection interface comprising a standardized communication protocol for coupling the system controller with seating hardware, at least one peripheral device, and at least one network connection, the standardized communication protocol including at least one of USB, Ethernet, CAN bus, SAE, J1939, IEEE 802++, or Bluetooth;
at least one of a biometric sensor, a physiological sensor, or a situational data sensor;
an artificial intelligence engine communicatively coupled to or embedded within the system controller, the artificial intelligence engine configured to determine a passenger status based on data received from the at least one of the biometric sensor, the physiological sensor, or the situational data sensor and data from a passenger profile, wherein the artificial intelligence engine is further configured to generate one or more communication signals based on the data received from the at least one of the biometric sensor, the physiological sensor, or the situational data sensor and the data from the passenger profile, the passenger profile including age and health condition information;
wherein the one or more communication signals include at least one of a control signal for the seating hardware, an information signal for the at least one peripheral device, or a status signal for transmission via the at least one network connection;
a global aeronautical distress and safety system communicatively coupled to or embedded within the system controller, wherein the artificial intelligence engine is configured to generate one or more additional communication signals based on information collected by the global aeronautical distress and safety system when the data received from the at least one of the biometric sensor, the physiological sensor, or the situational data sensor indicates at least a threshold distress level, the global aeronautical distress and safety system including an aircraft-grade black box with data recording components; and
a location determining component communicatively coupled to the system controller, wherein the artificial intelligence engine is configured to determine the passenger status at least partially based on positioning signals detected by the location determining component, the positioning signals including position coordinates of a location of the system controller and associated with the passenger seat.

8. The passenger seat of claim 7 , wherein the at least one network connection comprises at least one of an internet connection, an on-board network connection, a mesh network connection, a neural network system connection, or a cloud computing system connection.

9. The passenger seat of claim 7 , further comprising actuation control hardware coupled to or embedded within the system controller, wherein the actuation control hardware is configured to generate the control signal for the seating hardware.

10. The passenger seat of claim 7 , wherein the artificial intelligence engine is configured to determine the passenger status at least partially based on a passenger identity detected by the biometric sensor.

11. The passenger seat of claim 7 , wherein the artificial intelligence engine is configured to determine the passenger status at least partially based on a passenger vital status detected by the physiological sensor.

12. The passenger seat of claim 7 , wherein the artificial intelligence engine is configured to determine the passenger status at least partially based on a passenger act

Assignees

• Rockwell Collins Inc

Inventors

• Johnson Glenn A

Classifications

• B60N2/0024 Primary

  for identifying, categorising or investigation of the occupant or object on the seat · CPC title

• B60N2220/30

  using a neural network · CPC title

• B60N2220/20

  using a deterministic algorithm · CPC title

• B60N2220/10

  using a database · CPC title

• B60N2210/24

  Cameras · CPC title