Real time and in-flight dynamic personalization of an aircraft

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9523985-B1
Application number	US-46289509-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Aug 11, 2009
Priority date	Aug 11, 2009
Publication date	Dec 20, 2016
Grant date	Dec 20, 2016

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.

First claim

What is claimed is:

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.

Assignees

• Barnes Geoffrey J
• Timm Stephen J
• Vester Bryan R
• Dirks Charles B
• Moore Richard G
• Rockwell Collins Inc

Inventors

• Barnes Geoffrey J
• Timm Stephen J
• Vester Bryan R
• Dirks Charles B
• Moore Richard G

Classifications

• G05D1/0653 Primary

  during a phase of take-off or landing · CPC title

• B64D43/00 Primary

  Arrangements or adaptations of instruments · CPC title

• B64D45/0005

  Devices specially adapted to indicate the position of a movable element of the aircraft, e.g. landing gear · CPC title

• G05D1/0661

  specially adapted for take-off · CPC title

• B64D11/00

  Passenger or crew accommodation; Flight-deck installations not otherwise provided for · CPC title