Aircraft Cabin Service Control via Wireless Seat-Based Interface

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Solution Overview

Problem

Passengers on aircraft have difficulty accessing and controlling cabin services, such as overhead lights, due to their distance from the controls, and existing solutions require complex and costly wiring and infrastructure, which is inflexible and adds weight to the plane.

Innovation Solution

A system that allows passengers to remotely control cabin services using a personal electronic device (PED), such as a smartphone, through a wireless interface, eliminating the need for physical controls and wiring at each seat, and utilizing a unique seat location identifier to connect to the Cabin Service System (CSS) for controlling features like lights and air vents.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If physical controls are installed at each seat, then passengers can control cabin services from their seats, but the wiring complexity and weight increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepassenger access to controlsVSAvoidwiring and equipment weight

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSWeight of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical wiring system with a wireless communication system. Passengers use mobile devices to communicate control commands to the cabin service system via wireless signals, eliminating the need for physical wiring between seats and control systems while maintaining full control functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces mobile devices as intermediary components between passengers and the cabin service system. Instead of direct wiring from each seat to controls, the mobile device acts as a mediator that receives control inputs and transmits them wirelessly to the appropriate cabin services, simplifying the overall system architecture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If extensive wiring is installed to enable seat-based control, then control functionality is achieved, but the system becomes inflexible and costly to reconfigure

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveseat-based control capabilityVSAvoidseating layout flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The wireless communication system replaces the rigid mechanical wiring infrastructure, allowing the cabin service system to adapt to different seating configurations without physical reconfiguration. Control commands are transmitted wirelessly based on seat identifiers, enabling flexible seating arrangements while maintaining control functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically assigns control functions to seats based on real-time seat occupancy and configuration data. Instead of hardwired static connections, the wireless system can dynamically route control commands to the correct cabin services based on current seating arrangements, providing adaptability to layout changes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Device complexity

If physical controls are placed overhead, then the system is simple to implement, but passengers cannot access controls while seated

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrol system simplicityVSAvoidcontrol accessibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces overhead physical controls with a mobile device-based control interface. Passengers interact with control functions through their mobile devices, which are within easy reach while seated, eliminating the need to stretch or stand to access overhead controls while maintaining system simplicity through centralized control logic.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Reliability

If wired control systems are installed at each seat, then control functionality is reliable, but the installation cost and weight increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrol signal transmissionVSAvoidwiring infrastructure weight

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSWeight of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent substitutes the wired control signal transmission system with wireless communication. Control commands from mobile devices are transmitted wirelessly to the cabin service system, maintaining reliable signal transmission through established wireless protocols while eliminating the weight of extensive wiring infrastructure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentEP3296205B1Systems and methods for interfacing with an aircraft cabin control system

Publication Date: 2022.03.02 THE BOEING CO

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AI summary

Systems 100 and methods 500 for interfacing with an aircraft cabin control system are provided. One system includes a controller 102 configured to control cabin services 104 associated with one or more passengers 106, a portable electronic device 108 configured to wirelessly connect to the controller 102 and a seat location identifier 112 associated with a seat 114 of one passenger of the passengers 106. The system further includes an application 116 on the portable electronic device 108 that interfaces with the controller 102 when the portable electronic device 108 is wirelessly connected to the controller 102, wherein the application 116 controls the cabin services 104 associated with the seat 114 of the one passenger.