In-Flight Virtual Avatars for Anonymous Passenger Interaction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing in-flight entertainment systems lack secure and interactive platforms for passengers to communicate and interact with each other anonymously, limiting social engagement and entertainment options.
Innovation Solution
An in-flight shared virtual environment system that allows passengers to interact via personalized avatars with adjustable anonymity levels, enabling secure interactions and post-journey communication channels, with data logs purged after the journey.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If passengers are allowed to interact in a shared virtual environment, then social engagement and entertainment are improved, but security risks and privacy concerns increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces virtual avatars as intermediaries between passengers. Instead of direct personal interaction, passengers communicate through anonymized avatar representations, which mediates the interaction to reduce security risks while maintaining social engagement. The avatar acts as a buffer that enables connection without exposing personal identities.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates virtual copies (avatars) of passengers that represent them in the shared environment. These copies allow interaction and entertainment activities without requiring the actual passengers to be directly exposed to each other, thereby maintaining security while enabling social engagement. The avatar is a simplified representation that carries interaction capabilities without the full complexity of personal identity.
2Ease of operation
If personal attributes are conveyed through avatars to enable identification, then interaction quality is improved, but privacy and anonymity are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic anonymity levels where the degree of personal attribute disclosure can change during interaction. Passengers can adjust their avatar's level of anonymity based on the interaction context - more attributes may be displayed when trust is established, fewer attributes when meeting strangers. This dynamic adjustment allows interaction quality to vary with privacy protection as needed.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of requiring full personal disclosure, the system uses partial attribute revelation. Avatars display only the necessary personal attributes for the current interaction level, not complete personal information. This partial action approach enables sufficient interaction quality while maintaining privacy by withholding excessive personal details.
3Reliability
If data logs are retained for security monitoring and analysis, then security is improved, but data privacy and passenger comfort are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements periodic data retention policies where data logs are automatically deleted after a specified period or after the flight concludes. Rather than continuous retention, security monitoring operates periodically - data is collected during the flight, analyzed for security purposes, and then securely deleted. This periodic action maintains security monitoring capability while ensuring data privacy by not permanently retaining passenger interaction data.
Data Source
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AI summary
Technical solutions are described that enable passengers on a commercial passenger vehicle interact with each other during a trip using their electronic devices by communicating using an on-board communication platform. The platform can provide an in-flight shared virtual environment or world that is accessible and traversable by passengers and that includes real-world and/or virtual for passengers to consume. Passengers can create or use virtual avatars to preserve anonymity and privacy while interacting and communicating with others within the in-flight shared virtual environment or world. Data records/logs capturing cross-passenger interactions or communications within the in-flight shared virtual environment can be purged after the vehicle's flight.