Distributed control panel architecture

Abstract

Systems and methods for monitoring or controlling components or (sub) systems of an aircraft or other vehicle utilizing a decentralized control panel architecture are described herein. The controller may be to receive information from the plurality of input sources and send commands to the one or more output devices based on the received information. The received information may be of a different type or format that can be read by the controller. The controller may cause a visual or physical change to the actuator based on the command. One or more control panel entities may be communicatively coupled with the controller and used to access information about one or more (sub) systems of the vehicle and, if appropriate, send commands.

Description

[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. non-provisional patent application Ser. No. 17 / 746,609, filed May 17, 2022. This application and all other cited external materials are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. If a definition or use of a term in a reference incorporated by reference is inconsistent or contrary to the definition of that term provided herein, the definition of that term provided herein shall be deemed controlling. Technical Field

[0002] The field of the invention is control panels, in particular control panels for various systems within a vehicle. Background Art

[0003] The following description includes information that may be helpful in understanding the present invention. No admission is made that any of the information provided herein is prior art or relevant to the presently claimed invention, nor is any admission made that any publication specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.

[0004] In vehicle systems, control panels are often associated with the system they control. For example, control panels and control elements are often "hardwired" to their parent system, resulting in each system having a dedicated control panel that is typically mounted in a central location. Having a dedicated control panel for each system can be undesirable because each control panel requires its own physical space, a central location for all control panels reduces flexibility during planning and installation, and different control panels often use different control schemes and paradigms, increasing their overall complexity.

[0005] For example, a central location may limit crew access throughout the aircraft or other vehicles and may limit operational efficiency. Additionally, in most vehicles, space is at a premium. Especially for aircraft, each component adds to the overall weight of the aircraft, which increases the amount of fuel required to fly the aircraft.

[0006] All publications identified herein are incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each individual publication or patent application was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference. If a definition or use of a term in a referenced document is inconsistent or contrary to the definition of that term provided herein, the definition of that term provided herein applies and the definition of that term in the referenced document does not apply.

[0007] Therefore, there remains a need for systems and methods for operating or managing different subsystems or components in a vehicle using a decentralized control panel architecture. Summary of the invention

[0008] The present subject matter provides apparatus, systems and methods for a decentralized control panel architecture to manage and control various subsystems of a vehicle. Contemplated vehicles include, for example, airplanes, buses, trains, automobiles, ferries and other vessels. With the availability of wired / wireless links and sufficient processing power, a decentralized crew panel architecture can be implemented, thereby eliminating many of the above-mentioned disadvantages.

[0009] Contemplated systems and methods for monitoring or controlling vehicle components may include a controller having a processor and a memory, wherein the controller is communicatively coupled to a plurality of input devices and a plurality of output devices such that signals, queries, commands, and other data may be received from the controller and sent from the controller to at least some of the plurality of input devices and the plurality of output devices.

[0010] The processor may undertake a variety of functions including, for example, data collection, data interpretation, data processing, and encoding of control signals; storing data for later retrieval; rendering a user interface for a display; converting control inputs into control commands; arbitrating in the event of conflicting control inputs; performing access permission management; and the like.

[0011] Preferably, the plurality of input devices includes at least one input device, and more preferably, includes at least a first input device and a second input device. It is contemplated that each of the plurality of input devices is disposed within a vehicle. It is further contemplated that the first input device is a component of a first subsystem of the vehicle, and the second input device is a component of a second, different subsystem of the vehicle. In some embodiments, the first input device is configured to transmit data in a first format, and the second input device is configured to transmit data in a second format different from the first format.

[0012] Preferably, at least some of the plurality of input devices, including the first input device or the second input device, are configured to monitor at least one of an operating state of a vehicle component, a configuration state of a vehicle component, a device state of a vehicle component, a passenger request, and a passenger interaction.

[0013] Crucially, the controller is configured to receive and analyze data in both the first format and the second format such that a single controller can be used to monitor and control devices of multiple subsystems of the vehicle without requiring multiple different controllers.

[0014] Furthermore, it is contemplated that the controller may be accessed from a variety of devices, which may include a portable computing device, such as a tablet PC or a dedicated crew panel or other component mounted within the vehicle. Thus, this configuration allows the crew or other personnel of the vehicle to access information and control various systems or subsystems of the vehicle from multiple locations, and possibly even outside the vehicle itself.

[0015] As used herein, the term "portable computing device" is defined to include laptop computers, tablet computers, smartphones (e.g., running Apple iOS TM or ANDROID TM smart phones operating the software), smart watches, smart glasses (such as GOOGLE Glasses or an equivalent device capable of displaying augmented reality elements to the user wearing the glasses), and all other portable devices that can connect to the network and receive and / or send information from and / or to the server.

[0016] In some embodiments, each of the plurality of output devices is disposed within the vehicle, and the plurality of output devices includes a first output device and a second output device. Contemplated output devices include, for example, light sources, wireless access points, HVAC subsystems, overhead displays, seat-specific displays, power sources, passenger seats, status indicators, satellite communication systems, computing devices, and other devices of the vehicle.

[0017] The controller is preferably configured to analyze data received from the first input device and the second input device and to send a first command to the first output device based on the data received from the first input device or the second input device.

[0018] The systems and methods discussed herein utilizing a decentralized control panel architecture allow for support of multiple connections to communicate with sensors, actuators, control panel entities, and other devices or components of a vehicle. The use of multiple control panel entities allows multiple users to monitor and control (sub)systems through a wired or wireless distribution system because they are not tied to a fixed location in the vehicle.

[0019] The inventive concepts discussed herein allow the crew to monitor and control one or more (sub)systems throughout the cabin or vehicle interior, for example by using a tablet PC, smartphone or other portable computing device. This thereby increases the crew's flexibility and operational efficiency.

[0020] Furthermore, the concept reduces the overall space required for control panel entities in the vehicle, allows multiple crew members to simultaneously monitor and control vehicle (sub)systems from anywhere in the vehicle, facilitates remote monitoring of (sub)systems outside the vehicle through virtualization, manages all data from various (sub)systems through a single controller instance, etc.

[0021] Various objects, features, aspects and advantages of the present subject matter will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments and the accompanying drawings in which like numerals represent like components. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of one embodiment of a system for monitoring and controlling various (sub)systems of a vehicle is shown.

[0023] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of another embodiment of a system for monitoring and controlling various (sub)systems of a vehicle is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] In the following discussion, reference will be made at various times to servers, controllers, services, interfaces, portals, platforms, or other systems formed by computing devices. It should be understood that the use of these terms is considered to mean one or more computing devices having at least one processor configured to execute software instructions stored on a computer-readable tangible, non-transitory medium. For example, a server may include one or more computers that operate in some manner as a network server, database server, or other type of computer server to perform the roles, responsibilities, or functions described.

[0025] The terms "controller", "component", "module", "system" and similar terms used in this specification refer to computer-related entities, hardware, firmware, software, a combination of software and hardware, or the execution of software. For example, a component can be a process executed in a processor, a processor, an object, an execution thread, a program and / or a computer, but is not limited to this. For example, both an application program executed in a computing device and a computing device can be a component. One or more components can reside in a processor and / or an execution thread. A component can be located in a computer. A component can be distributed between two or more computers. In addition, components can be executed by various computer-readable media in which various data structures are stored. For example, a component can communicate through local and / or remote processing based on a signal with one or more data packets (e.g., data transmitted to another system through a network (e.g., the Internet), data and / or signals from a component interacting with another component in a local system and a distributed system).

[0026] Those skilled in the art will recognize that any exemplary logic block, configuration, module, circuit, device, logic and algorithmic operation related to the embodiments disclosed herein can be implemented by electronic hardware, computer software or a combination of electronic hardware and computer software. In order to clearly illustrate the interchangeability of hardware and software, exemplary components, blocks, configurations, devices, logic, modules, circuits and operations have been summarized above in terms of their functions. Whether the function is implemented as hardware or software depends on a specific application or on the design constraints of a general system. Those skilled in the art can implement the described functions by various methods for each specific application. However, it should not be considered that the determination of the implementation deviates from the scope of the present disclosure.

[0027] Embodiments of the invention described herein may include or utilize a dedicated or general-purpose computer including one or more servers and / or other computer hardware. One or more servers may each include, for example, one or more processors and system memory. The computer may also include physical and other computer-readable media for carrying or storing computer-executable instructions and / or data structures. Such instructions may facilitate the described systems and methods, and may be stored in a non-transitory computer-readable medium and may be executed by one or more servers or other computing devices. As an example, a processor may receive instructions from a non-transitory computer-readable medium and execute these instructions to perform one or more processes.

[0028] Computer readable media can be any available media that can be accessed by a general or special purpose computer system. Examples of computer readable media include RAM, ROM, EEPROM, solid state drives, flash memory and other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other media that can be used to store the desired application code in the form of computer executable instructions or data structures and can be accessed by a general or special purpose computer.

[0029] Computer executable instructions include, for example, instructions and data, which, when executed on a processor, cause a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, or a special-purpose processing device to perform a specific function or group of functions. In some embodiments, computer executable instructions are executed on a general-purpose computer to turn a general-purpose computer into a special-purpose computer that implements an element of the present disclosure. Computer executable instructions can be, for example, binary files, intermediate format instructions (e.g., assembly language), or even source code.

[0030] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the present disclosure can be implemented in a network computing environment with various types of computer system configurations, including personal computers, desktop computers, notebook computers, message processors, handheld devices, multiprocessor systems, microprocessor-based or programmable consumer electronics, network PCs, minicomputers, mainframe computers, mobile phones, PDAs, tablet computers, pagers, routers, switches, etc. The present disclosure can also be implemented in a distributed system environment, where local and remote computer systems connected by a network (by a hardwired data link, a wireless data link, or by a combination of a hardwired and wireless data link) all perform tasks. In a distributed system environment, program modules can be located in local and remote memory storage devices.

[0031] Embodiments of the present disclosure including the controller described herein may also be implemented in a cloud computing environment. In this specification, "cloud computing" is defined as a model for implementing on-demand network access to a shared pool of configurable computing resources. For example, cloud computing can be used in a marketplace to provide pervasive and convenient on-demand access to a shared pool of configurable computing resources. The shared pool of configurable computing resources can be quickly configured through virtualization and published with low management effort or service provider interaction, and then scaled accordingly.

[0032] The cloud computing model may also expose various service models, such as software as a service ("SaaS"), platform as a service ("PaaS"), and infrastructure as a service ("IaaS"). The cloud computing model may also be deployed using different deployment models, such as private cloud, community cloud, public cloud, hybrid cloud, etc. In this specification and claims, a "cloud computing environment" is an environment that employs cloud computing.

[0033] The systems and methods described herein may utilize various communication protocols, including, for example, data transmission media, communication devices, Transmission Control Protocol (“TCP”), Internet Protocol (“IP”), File Transfer Protocol (“FTP”), Telnet, Hypertext Transfer Protocol (“HTTP”), Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure (“HTTPS”), Session Initiation Protocol (“SIP”), Simple Object Access Protocol (“SOAP”), Extensible Markup Language (“XML”) and its variations, Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (“SMTP”), Message Queuing Telemetry Transport (“MQTT”), Real-time Transport Protocol (“RTP”), User Datagram Protocol (“UDP”), Global System for Mobile Communications (“GSM”) technology, Code Division Multiple Access (“CDMA”) technology, Time Division Multiple Access (“TDMA”) technology, Short Message Service (“SMS”), Multimedia Messaging Service (“MMS”), Radio Frequency (“RF”) signaling technology, Long Term Evolution (“LTE”) technology, wireless communication technology, in-band and out-of-band signaling technology, and other suitable communication networks and technologies.

[0034] The following discussion provides many exemplary embodiments of the subject matter of the present invention. Although each embodiment represents a single combination of elements of the present invention, the subject matter of the present invention is considered to include all possible combinations of disclosed elements. Therefore, if one embodiment includes elements A, B, and C, and a second embodiment includes elements B and D, the subject matter of the present invention is also considered to include other remaining combinations of A, B, C, or D, even if not clearly disclosed.

[0035] Figure 1One embodiment of a system 100 including a control panel architecture for monitoring or controlling a component or subsystem of a vehicle is shown, which may include a controller 110 having a memory 104 and a processor 106. The preferred system eliminates the need for a centralized physical control panel by utilizing a decentralized control panel architecture. The memory 104 preferably includes a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium for monitoring or controlling a component or subsystem of a vehicle including the controller 110. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium preferably includes a computer program including instructions to facilitate monitoring or controlling a component or subsystem of a vehicle.

[0036] It is contemplated that the processor 106 and / or memory 104 may be provided in a single physical unit, such as a server acting as the controller 110, or may be arranged in separate locations and collectively constitute the controller 110. Furthermore, the processor 106 and / or memory 104 may be physically deployed or virtualized (e.g., on other hardware inside or outside the vehicle). Virtualization allows the controller 110 to be hosted "in the cloud," as described above, making it accessible from virtually anywhere. The decentralized configuration of the controller 110 described herein allows the controller 110 to be virtualized and deployed anywhere, which opens up use cases for monitoring and controlling vehicle (sub) systems from inside or outside an aircraft or other vehicle.

[0037] Contemplated subsystems for the vehicle include, for example, in-flight or in-car entertainment, connectivity, cabin controls, and more.

[0038] The controller 110 is configured to collect data from sensors and (sub) systems via a wired or wireless connection. After collecting the data, the controller 110 can interpret and process the data using the processor 106 and, if necessary, store the data in the memory 104 or a separate server. The stored data can then be used for performance evaluation or predictive maintenance purposes, which can be performed by the controller 110. The controller 110 can also be configured to control actuators and (sub) systems via a wired or wireless connection.

[0039] The controller 110 is coupled to multiple devices in communication, and these devices may include multiple input devices 120 and multiple output devices 130. Preferably, each of the multiple input devices 120 is arranged in the vehicle. In some embodiments, the multiple input devices 120 include a first input device 120A and a second input device 120B. Since the input device 120 may be associated with different (sub) systems of the vehicle, the first input device 120A can be configured to send data in a first format, and the second input device 120B can be configured to send data in a second format different from the first format. In such an embodiment, it is conceivable that the first input device 120A is a component of a first subsystem of the vehicle, and the second input device 120B is a component of a second different subsystem of the vehicle. Traditionally, this would require a separate controller to monitor and control each (sub) system. Advantageously, by using the inventive concepts described herein, the controller 110 is able to receive and analyze information in various different formats and send commands to multiple different output devices 130.

[0040] It is contemplated that some devices may include both input devices and output devices. For example, a portable computing device may be used to interact with the controller 110 by sending commands (input) to the controller and receiving information (output) from the controller 110 regarding one or more (sub) systems of the vehicle.

[0041] The plurality of output devices 130 preferably include a first output device 130A and a second output device 130B. Preferably, each of the plurality of output devices 130 is disposed within the vehicle, although it is contemplated that one or more of the plurality of output devices 130 may be remotely connected to the controller 110 and disposed outside the vehicle.

[0042] It is contemplated that the controller 110 may be coupled to the plurality of input devices 120 and the plurality of output devices 130 via wired or wireless connections, which may collectively constitute the network 140. The connections may include any transmission medium or protocol known in the art or derived therefrom. Examples include near field communication, Bluetooth, TM (Bluetooth TM ) and other short-range wireless communication standards (e.g., “Wi-Fi”) or protocols, infrared, optical radio, mobile telecommunication standards (e.g., mobile telecommunication standards developed by the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP)), MQ Telemetry Transport (MQTT), Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP), RestAPI, serial interfaces, HTML, digital I / O, and proprietary protocols. Therefore, it is contemplated that some input devices and / or output devices may be wirelessly connected to the controller 110, while other input devices and / or output devices may be connected via a wired connection or a hybrid (wired / wireless) connection.

[0043] It is contemplated that at least one input device may include a sensor that monitors the environment or (sub)system of the vehicle and sends a signal or other information to the controller 110. The input device may include sensors and other devices in various (sub)systems of the vehicle. For example, aircraft and other vehicle (sub)systems may generate multiple data sets from multiple devices and other components, which are transmitted to the controller 110 for analysis and / or storage. Such data may include, for example, operating status (e.g., faults, errors, etc.); configuration status (e.g., Wi-Fi channel); device status (e.g., seat position, seat belt position, TTL readiness, etc.); BIT / BITE status of one or more components of the vehicle; wear data (e.g., counters, predictive maintenance data); passenger requests and interactions (e.g., catering services); and the like.

[0044] The controller 110 receives data from each of the plurality of input devices 120, including the first input device 120A and the second input device 120B, and is configured to analyze the received data and send a first command to at least the first output device 130A of the plurality of output devices 130 based on the data received from the first input device 120A or the second input device 120B. It is further contemplated that the first command, a different command, or information may be transmitted to the second output device 130B or other output devices of the plurality of output devices 130. In other words, the controller 110 may collect information from one or more of the plurality of input devices 120, which may include status information, setup information, test information, etc. The controller 110 may then use the information to directly or indirectly control actuators and other devices in the plurality of output devices 130, which may include lighting systems, in-flight entertainment systems, HVAC systems, seats, indicator lights or signs, etc. For example, the system 100 may combine one or more HVAC systems into a single control panel architecture using the controller 110. This would advantageously eliminate the need to use multiple control panels for multiple systems.

[0045] In addition, the controller 110 is configured to process and prepare data (receive or generate) in a manner such that multiple control panel entities 150A-150N can access the data via the network 160. As used herein, the term "control panel entity" refers to a portable computing device or dedicated hardware installed in the vehicle, which may have dedicated indicators or controls (e.g., switches, LEDs, etc.), which can be used to access data related to one or more of the vehicle (sub)systems. The network 160 can collectively include one or more wired or wireless connections that exist between the controller 110 and the control panel entities 150A-150N. Although the network 160 shown in the figure is different from the network 140, it is contemplated that a single network can be used to communicate with all referenced components rather than using separate networks.

[0046] The use or ability to use multiple control panel entities 150A-150N allows multiple instances of the control panel to exist simultaneously, and also allows the functionality of each control panel to be customized according to the user and / or their purpose. Thus, if desired, multiple users can monitor or control the (sub)systems of the vehicle individually and independently of each other at the same time, resulting in additional flexibility and higher operating efficiency than exists in the prior art known to the applicant.

[0047] It is further contemplated that the controller 110 may receive commands or queries from one or more of the control panel entities 150A-150N, which may be encoded as control commands for one or more of the plurality of output devices 130 or other components of the vehicle. In such an embodiment, the controller 110 may also be configured to perform arbitration when conflicting control commands are received from the plurality of control panel entities 150A-150N.

[0048] In some embodiments, the controller 110 can be configured to present a user interface on one or more of the control panel entities 150A-150N, such as via a network server. This can advantageously reduce the computing power and functionality required by the control panel entity. In this way, the controller 110 can dynamically generate different interfaces that can be customized for specific purposes, which may depend on the specific control panel entity and the user accessing the control panel entity. Thus, a control panel entity can display a subset of functions for one purpose (e.g., HVAC controls), which may be different from a different subset of functions for a different purpose (e.g., in-flight entertainment controls). Rendering status / control information from a common source also promotes a common control paradigm and philosophy, thereby eliminating inefficiencies caused by different implementations of control functions that occur between multiple systems and their associated learning curves.

[0049] In some embodiments, the controller 110 may also be configured to associate data with access permissions and perform access permissions management to limit which status / control elements each user, each output device, and / or each control panel entity 150A-150N may access.

[0050] Figure 2One embodiment of a system 200 is shown, the system 200 including a control panel architecture for monitoring or controlling a component or (sub)system of a vehicle. The system 200 includes a decentralized controller 210, which includes a memory 204 and a processor 206. Preferably, the system 200 utilizes a decentralized control panel architecture, thereby eliminating the need for a centralized physical control panel. The memory 204 preferably includes a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium for monitoring or controlling a component or subsystem of a vehicle including the controller 210. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium preferably includes a computer program including instructions to facilitate monitoring or controlling a component or subsystem of a vehicle.

[0051] It is contemplated that the processor 206 and / or memory 204 may be arranged in a single physical unit, such as a server acting as the controller 210, or may be arranged in separate locations and collectively constitute the controller 210. Furthermore, the processor 206 and / or memory 204 may be physically deployed or virtualized (e.g., on other hardware inside or outside the cabin). As discussed above with respect to the system 100, virtualization allows the controller 210 to be hosted "in the cloud," as described above, making it accessible from virtually anywhere. The decentralized configuration of the controller 210 described herein allows the controller 210 to be virtualized and deployed anywhere, which opens up use cases for monitoring and controlling vehicle (sub)systems from inside or outside an aircraft or other vehicle.

[0052] Contemplated vehicle subsystems include, for example, in-flight or in-car entertainment, connectivity, cabin controls, and more.

[0053] The controller 210 is configured to collect data from at least a first subsystem 220 and a second subsystem 230 of the vehicle.

[0054] The first subsystem 220 preferably includes a first input device 222A that is communicatively coupled to the controller 210 via a network 240, wherein the network 240 may include one or more wired or wireless connections or a combination thereof. Exemplary connections include the connections discussed above. Preferably, the first input device 222A includes a sensor that is configured to (i) monitor the state of the first subsystem 220 of the vehicle and (ii) generate data to be transmitted to the controller 210. It is contemplated that the first input device 222A may be configured to monitor at least one of an operating state of a vehicle component, a configuration state of a vehicle component, a device state of a vehicle component, a passenger request, and a passenger interaction.

[0055] The second subsystem 230 preferably includes a second input device 222B that is communicatively coupled to the controller 210 via a network 240, wherein the network 240 may include one or more wired or wireless connections or a combination thereof. Exemplary connections include the connections described above. It is contemplated that the first input device 222B may be configured to monitor at least one of an operational state of a vehicle component, a configuration state of a vehicle component, a device state of a vehicle component, a passenger request, and a passenger interaction.

[0056] Since the input devices are associated with different subsystems of the vehicle, the first input device 222A may be configured to send data in a first format, while the second input device 222B may be configured to send data in a second format that is different from the first format. Advantageously, by using the inventive concepts described herein, the controller 210 is able to receive and analyze information in a variety of different formats from the first input device 222A and the second input device 222B, and send commands to the first output device 224A and the second output device 224B.

[0057] In some embodiments, it is contemplated that one of the first input device 222A and the second input device 222B includes a control panel entity configured to receive input from a user and send data based on the input to the controller 210. In such embodiments, it is contemplated that the control panel entity may also include a first output device 224A or a second output device 224B, wherein the first output device 224A or the second output device 224B is configured to display information based on the first command received from the controller 210.

[0058] The controller 210 is configured to collect data from the first input device 222A and the second input device 222B. The controller can interpret, encode, analyze and / or process the data using the processor 206 and store the data in the memory 204 or a separate memory if necessary. As described above, the stored data can then be used for performance evaluation or predictive maintenance purposes, which can be performed by the controller 210.

[0059] Based on at least some of the received data, the controller 210 is preferably configured to send a control command to at least one of the first output device 224A and the second output device 224B via the network 240. In some embodiments, the first output device 224A includes an actuator and can be controlled by the controller 210 via a wired or wireless connection. In such embodiments, it is contemplated that the first output device 224A or the actuator causes a visual or physical change to the first output device 224A or the subsystem 220 based on a command received from the controller 210. Such a change can include turning a light source on or off, changing a status indicator, turning an HVAC unit on or off, turning a wireless network or a wireless access point of a network on or off, and the like.

[0060] As a simple example, the first input device 222A may include a thermometer that reads the temperature within the vehicle, and the controller 210 may send a command to the first output device 224A, which may include a thermostat or other actuator of an HVAC subsystem. Other contemplated output devices may include, for example, light sources, wireless access points, HVAC subsystems, overhead displays, seat-specific displays, power supplies, passenger seats, status indicators, or other components of an aircraft or other vehicle.

[0061] The controller 210 may also be communicatively coupled to one or more control panel entities 250A, 250B via a wired or wireless connection of the network 240. For example, the first control panel entity 250A may include a portable computing device that may be used to interact with the controller 210 by sending commands (inputs) to the controller and receiving information (outputs) from the controller 210 regarding one or more (sub)systems of the vehicle.

[0062] The use or ability to use multiple control panel entities 250A, 250B allows multiple instances of the control panel to exist simultaneously, and also allows the functionality of each control panel to be customized according to the user and / or their purpose. Thus, if desired, multiple users can monitor or control the (sub)systems of the vehicle individually and independently of each other at the same time, resulting in additional flexibility and higher operating efficiency than exists in the prior art known to the applicant.

[0063] The controller 210 receives data from the first input device 222A and the second input device 222B, analyzes the received data, and transmits a first command to the first output device 224A based on the data received from the first input device 222A or the second input device 222B. It is further contemplated that the first command, a different command, or information may be transmitted to the second output device 224B. The information may include status information, setup information, test information, or other relevant information. Using this information, the controller 210 may then directly or indirectly control actuators and other output devices, which may include lighting systems, in-flight entertainment systems, HVAC systems, seats, indicator lights or signs, etc.

[0064] It is further contemplated that the controller 210 may receive commands or queries from at least one of the control panel entities 250A, 250B. In some embodiments, the controller 210 may be configured to render a user interface on one or both of the control panel entities 250A, 250B, such as via a network server. This may advantageously reduce the computing power and functionality required of the control panel entity. In this manner, the controller 210 may dynamically generate different interfaces that may be customized for specific uses depending on the particular control panel entity and the user accessing the control panel entity.

[0065] As described above, the controller 210 may also be configured to associate data with access permissions and perform access permissions management to limit which status / control elements each user, each output device, and / or each control panel entity 250A, 250B may access.

[0066] As used herein, unless the context dictates otherwise, the term "coupled to" is intended to include direct coupling (where two mutually coupled elements are in contact with each other) and indirect coupling (where at least one additional element is located between the two elements). Therefore, the terms "coupled to" and "coupled with..." are synonymous.

[0067] In some embodiments, the numbers representing the quantity of ingredients, properties such as concentration, reaction conditions, etc., used to describe and claim certain embodiments of the present invention should be understood to be modified by the term "about" in some cases. Therefore, in some embodiments, the numerical parameters listed in the written description and the attached claims are approximate values ​​and can vary according to the desired characteristics to be obtained by the specific embodiment. In some embodiments, the numerical parameters should be interpreted according to the number of reported significant figures and applying ordinary rounding techniques. Although the numerical ranges and parameters of the wide range of some embodiments of the present invention are approximate values, the numerical values ​​listed in the specific examples are reported as accurately as possible. The numerical values ​​presented in some embodiments of the present invention may contain certain errors, which are inevitably caused by the standard deviations found in their respective test measurements.

[0068] Unless the context dictates otherwise, all ranges described herein should be interpreted as including their endpoints, and open ranges should be interpreted as including only commercially practical values. Similarly, unless the context dictates otherwise, all lists of values ​​should be interpreted as including intermediate values.

[0069] As used in this specification and the claims that follow, the meanings of "a", "an", and "the" include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. In addition, as used in this specification, the meaning of "in" includes "in" and "on", unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

[0070] The description of the value range herein is only intended to be used as a shorthand method for each individual value in the individual reference range. Unless otherwise specified herein, each individual value with a range is incorporated into the specification, just as described separately herein. All methods described herein can be carried out in any suitable order, unless otherwise specified herein or the context has other clear contradictions. The use of any and all examples or exemplary language (e.g., "such as") provided herein for certain embodiments is only intended to better illustrate the present invention, and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention claimed. Any language in the specification should not be interpreted as representing any unclaimed element essential to the practice of the present invention.

[0071] The grouping of alternative elements or embodiments of the present invention disclosed herein should not be construed as limiting. Each group member can be cited and claimed individually or in any combination with other members or other elements in the group found herein. For reasons of convenience and / or patentability, one or more members of the group can be included in the group or deleted therefrom. When any such inclusion or deletion occurs, the specification is deemed to include the modified group here, so as to meet the written description of all Markush groups used in the appended claims.

[0072] It should be understood by those skilled in the art that, in addition to the modifications already described, more modifications may be made without departing from the inventive concepts herein. Therefore, the subject matter of the present invention should not be limited except in the spirit of the appended claims. In addition, when interpreting the specification and claims, all terms should be interpreted in the broadest possible manner consistent with the context. In particular, the terms "include" and "comprise" should be interpreted as referring to elements, components or steps in a non-exclusive manner, indicating that the referenced elements, components or steps may exist, be utilized or be combined with other elements, components or steps that are not explicitly referenced. When the specification claims refer to at least one selected from the group consisting of A, B, C... and N, the text should be interpreted as requiring only one element in the group, rather than A plus N, or B plus N, and so on.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring or controlling a component of a vehicle, comprising: a controller having a processor and a memory, wherein the controller is communicatively coupled to a plurality of input devices and a plurality of output devices; wherein each of the plurality of input devices is disposed within the vehicle, and the plurality of input devices includes a first input device and a second input device, wherein the first input device is configured to transmit data in a first format and the second input device is configured to transmit data in a second format different from the first format; wherein the first input device is a component of a first subsystem of the vehicle and the second input device is a component of a second, different subsystem of the vehicle; wherein each of the plurality of output devices is disposed within the vehicle, and the plurality of output devices includes a first output device and a second output device; The controller is configured to analyze data received from the first input device and the second input device, and send a first command to the first output device based on the data received from the first input device or the second input device. 2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first input device comprises a sensor configured to (i) monitor a state of a subsystem of the vehicle and (ii) generate the data.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the first input device is configured to monitor at least one of an operating state of a component of the vehicle, a configuration state of a component of the vehicle, a device state of a component of the vehicle, a passenger request, and a passenger interaction. 4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to send a second command to the first input device based on data received from the first input device or the second input device. 5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first input device comprises a portable computing device or a control panel of the vehicle configured to receive input from a user and send the data to the controller based on the input. 6 . The system of claim 5 , wherein the first output device comprises a portable computing device or the control panel of the vehicle, and wherein the first output device is configured to display information based on the first command received from the controller.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the first output device comprises an actuator, and wherein the actuator causes a visual or physical change to the first output device based on the first command received from the controller.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the first output device comprises at least one of a light source, a wireless access point, an HVAC subsystem, an overhead display, a seat-specific display, a power source, a passenger seat, and a status indicator.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of input devices is communicatively coupled to the controller via a wired or wireless connection.

10. A control panel architecture for controlling two or more systems within a vehicle, comprising: a processor communicatively coupled to the memory, wherein the processor is configured to receive input from at least a first input device and a second input device, wherein the first input device is configured to send data in a first format and the second input device is configured to send data in a second format different from the first format; wherein the first input device is a component of a first subsystem of the vehicle and the second input device is a component of a second, different subsystem of the vehicle; wherein the processor is configured to analyze input or data in the first format received from the first input device and input or data in the second format received from the second input device, and to send a first command to the first output device based on the data received from the first input device or the second input device; and The first output device includes an actuator configured to cause a visual or physical change to occur on the first output device based on a received first command.

11. The control panel architecture of claim 10, wherein the first input device comprises a sensor configured to (i) monitor a state of the first subsystem of the vehicle and (ii) generate the data.

12. The control panel architecture of claim 10, wherein the first input device is configured to monitor at least one of an operating state of a component of the vehicle, a configuration state of a component of the vehicle, a device state of a component of the vehicle, a passenger request, and a passenger interaction.

13. The control panel architecture of claim 10, wherein the processor is further configured to send a second command to the first input device based on data received from the first input device or the second input device.

14. The control panel architecture of claim 10, wherein the first input device comprises a portable computing device or a control panel fixed at a suitable location in the vehicle, which is configured to receive input from a user and send the data to the controller based on the received input. 15 . The control panel architecture of claim 14 , wherein the first output device comprises a portable computing device or the control panel of the vehicle, and wherein the first output device is configured to display information based on the received first command.

16. The control panel architecture of claim 10, wherein the first output device comprises at least one of a light source, a wireless access point, an HVAC subsystem, an overhead display, a seat-specific display, a power source, a passenger seat, and a status indicator.

17. The control panel architecture of claim 10, wherein each of the plurality of input devices is communicatively coupled to the controller via a wired or wireless connection.

18. The control panel architecture of claim 10, wherein the processor is further configured to cause a display of a portable computing device or a control panel fixed at a suitable location within the vehicle to display information regarding a status of the first subsystem of the vehicle.

19. The control panel architecture of claim 18, wherein the state of the first subsystem comprises at least one of an operation state, a configuration state, and a device state.

20. The control panel architecture of claim 10, wherein the processor is wirelessly connected to the first input device and the second input device.

Images