Aircraft Wireless Speaker Pairing Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
The complexity of managing multiple pairing transmitters and receivers in aircraft in-flight entertainment systems, particularly with unpredictable numbers of personal devices, leads to overwhelming and complicated operations for crew and passengers.
Innovation Solution
A system and graphical user interface that manage multiple pairing receivers, transmitters, and passenger devices, allowing crew or passengers to initiate, report, and troubleshoot connections, handle audio/video signals, and monitor status across the cabin, using a media processor to pair wireless speakers with specific seat locations and handle multiple transmitter connections.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple pairing transmitters and receivers are added to support dynamic connection of personal devices, then adaptability and versatility are improved, but device complexity increases and ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a pairing management system as an intermediary component that centralizes the management of multiple pairing transmitters and receivers. This mediator handles the complex pairing operations, device discovery, and connection management, shielding users from the underlying complexity while enabling versatile dynamic connections between personal devices and the aircraft entertainment system.
Solution Approach 2:
The pairing management system is designed as a universal platform that can handle multiple types of personal devices (smartphones, tablets, laptops) and multiple pairing protocols simultaneously. It provides a unified interface and centralized control mechanism that works across diverse device types, enabling adaptable connections without requiring separate systems for each device category.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple pairing transmitters and receivers are added to support dynamic connection of personal devices, then adaptability and versatility are improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The pairing management system serves as an intermediary that automates complex pairing operations. It provides a user-friendly interface that simplifies the connection process, handling device discovery, pairing authentication, and connection management automatically, thereby maintaining ease of operation despite the underlying complexity of supporting multiple devices and protocols.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements self-service capabilities where the pairing management system automatically performs device discovery, initiates pairing protocols, and manages connections without requiring manual intervention for each step. This automation reduces the operational burden on users while maintaining the ability to handle diverse device connections.
3Ease of operation
If centralized management interface is implemented to manage multiple pairing devices, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the management functions of multiple pairing transmitters and receivers into a single centralized pairing management system. This consolidation combines device discovery, pairing control, connection management, and troubleshooting functions into one unified interface, simplifying operations for users while the underlying architecture handles the complexity of managing multiple devices through integrated software modules and centralized control logic.
Data Source
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AI summary
An aircraft includes a video display, first and second wireless pairing transmitters, and a media distribution processor. The video display is associated with an audio content stream and a seating location in the aircraft. The first wireless pairing transmitter is associated with the video display and has a first wireless coverage volume. The second wireless pairing transmitter has a second wireless coverage volume that overlaps the first wireless coverage volume. The media distribution processor is programmed and configured to: associate a wireless speaker device with the seating location; pair the first wireless pairing transmitter with the wireless speaker device in response to associating the wireless speaker device with the seating location; and direct the audio content stream through the first wireless pairing transmitter to the wireless speaker device in response to connecting the first wireless pairing transmitter with the wireless speaker device.