Automatic Wireless Device Pairing in Vehicle Seat Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
The manual pairing of multiple wireless devices in vehicles, such as aircraft, is time-consuming and inefficient, especially as the number of devices increases, requiring significant manual effort from maintenance crew members during installation and reconfiguration of in-flight entertainment systems.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for automatic pairing of wireless devices using a server with a processor to manage a seat map of the vehicle, where signals are sent to power on and off each device sequentially to facilitate pairing, eliminating the need for manual intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual pairing of wireless devices is performed one at a time, then each device can be paired individually, but the installation and reconfiguration process becomes time-consuming and inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the pairing process by creating a seat map that divides the vehicle into discrete seating positions, each with associated display units and peripherals. This segmentation allows the system to systematically manage multiple devices without manual intervention, automatically pairing each peripheral with its corresponding display unit based on seat location information.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service pairing by automatically matching peripherals with display units based on the seat map data. The server coordinates the pairing process without requiring manual intervention, allowing the system to configure itself autonomously when devices are added or repositioned within the vehicle.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the number of wireless devices is increased to enhance in-flight entertainment capabilities, then system functionality is improved, but the complexity of device pairing and configuration increases
Solution Approach 1:
The seat map serves as a universal data structure that can accommodate multiple types of devices (display units, peripherals, seat positions) within a single framework. This universal approach allows the system to manage diverse wireless devices through a common pairing mechanism, reducing the complexity that would otherwise arise from handling different device types separately.
Solution Approach 2:
The server acts as an intermediary between peripherals and display units, coordinating the pairing process through the seat map. This intermediary role simplifies the overall system complexity by centralizing the pairing logic, allowing multiple devices to be managed through a single coordination point rather than requiring direct peer-to-peer configuration between each device pair.
3Ease of manufacture
If wired connections are replaced with wireless connections, then installation flexibility and weight are improved, but the need for systematic device pairing increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by pre-establishing the seat map with expected peripheral and display unit locations before actual device pairing occurs. This preliminary configuration allows the system to automatically pair devices as they are added to the network, eliminating the need for manual pairing and enabling seamless installation flexibility that wireless connections provide.
Data Source
Figure 1A~1C
Figure 2
AI summary
System and methods are described for automatic pairing a plurality of devices within a vehicle. Based on a seat mapping stored within a server, a seat display unit and its allocated peripherals can be paired in sequence, one-by-one. Thus, a first seat display unit and its allocated peripherals can be powered on. Then, the peripherals can be paired with the first seat display unit, and the first seat display unit and the allocated peripherals can be powered down. Once this is complete, the next seat display unit and its allocated peripherals can be powered on, paired, and then powered down before continuing in sequence until all peripherals are paired with their allocated seat display units.