Ped Application Integration Into Flight Deck Displays
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Solution Overview
Problem
Aircraft flight decks often lack sufficient space or suitable locations to securely mount and easily view portable electronic devices (PEDs) for electronic flight bag (EFB) systems, leading to reduced usability due to difficulties in positioning and shared viewing.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that integrate applications from PEDs into the flight deck by receiving application identification, transmitting pixel data, and using an onscreen application capture utility to read and transmit display data, allowing the application to be presented on the flight deck display, with input handling and transformation for seamless interaction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a PED is mounted in the flight deck for EFB use, then the electronic flight bag system can be used during all phases of flight, but there is not sufficient space or suitable location to mount the PED for easy viewing and interaction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a visual copy of the PED application interface on the flight deck display by capturing pixel data from the PED screen and rendering it on the larger flight deck display. This allows the application functionality to be accessed via the PED while the visual interface is projected onto the flight deck display, effectively copying the display function to resolve the space constraint.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces an intermediary process that captures pixel data from the PED display and transmits it to the flight deck display system. This intermediary mechanism enables the PED to function as a computing device while its visual output is mediated through the flight deck's existing display infrastructure, eliminating the need for dedicated PED mounting space.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a PED is positioned for shared viewing by flight crews, then the EFB information can be viewed by multiple crew members, but it is difficult to position the tablet computer resulting in more difficult crew coordination
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions the display from a two-dimensional portable tablet screen to a larger two-dimensional flight deck display, effectively changing the spatial dimension of the display area. This dimensional expansion allows multiple crew members to simultaneously view the EFB information comfortably without the positioning difficulties associated with small tablet screens.
3Adaptability or versatility
If pixel data is transmitted from PED to flight deck for application display, then the application can be integrated into the flight deck display, but data transmission and integration complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical or hardware integration solutions with a software-based pixel data capture and transmission system. Instead of physically integrating the PED into the flight deck hardware, the system uses software utilities to capture screen pixels and transmit them through existing data communication channels, substituting a simpler software mechanism for what would otherwise require complex hardware integration.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for integrating an application into a flight deck includes receiving, by the flight deck, an identification of the application for integrating into the flight deck, wherein the application is running on a portable electronic device (PED) separate from the flight deck. The method also includes transmitting, by the flight deck, the identification of the application to the PED. The method additionally includes locating an application window corresponding to the application on a display of the PED and reading pixel data corresponding to the application window on the display of the PED. The method further includes transmitting the pixel data from the PED to the flight deck and integrating the application into the flight deck using the pixel data.