Patent Application
20090109036
The present disclosure relates generally to communication systems onboard a mobile platform, and more particularly to a system and method for alternative communication between passengers and systems onboard a mobile platform.
The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art.
Many mobile platforms (such as trains, ships, aircraft and automobiles) employ stowage compartments in a cabin of the mobile platform to enable stowage of passenger items, such as carry-on baggage. With regard to commercial passenger aircraft, increased baggage stowage demands have required the stowage compartments to increase in size and load capacity. In addition, there is a drive to increase passenger's “personal space” (i.e., headroom) in the cabin of the aircraft. The desire for increased “personal space” in the cabin has resulted in higher ceilings and the placement of storage compartments higher in the cabins.
With the placement of stowage compartments higher in the cabin, some aircraft systems that the passenger must interface with, such as the reading light, gasper air fan and attendant or crew call button will also be placed at a higher location above the floor of the passenger cabin to further provide increased “personal space”. Due to the distance between the passenger and these aircraft systems, it may be difficult for the passenger to communicate with or interface with these systems.
A system for alternative communication between at least one passenger onboard a mobile platform and at least one system onboard the mobile platform is provided. The system includes a camera that acquires an image of the at least one passenger, and a camera control module that generates gesture data that includes at least one gesture recognized in the acquired image of the at least one passenger. The system also includes an activation control module that determines a function for the at least one system onboard the mobile platform to perform based on the gesture data. The function is selected from the group comprising: activation of a light, notification of a crew member of the mobile platform, activation of a ventilation fan, activation of a window shade, activation of an entertainment system and combinations thereof.
In one implementation, a method of alternative communication between at least one passenger onboard a mobile platform and at least one system onboard the mobile platform is provided. The method includes acquiring an image of the at least one passenger onboard the mobile platform, and determining from the acquired image if the at least one passenger made a gesture correlated to settings associated with the passenger. The method also includes activating the at least one system onboard the mobile platform based on the gesture with the at least one system selected from a group including a light, a crew call button, a ventilation fan, a window shade, an entertainment system, and combinations thereof. The present teachings also provide an aircraft. The aircraft includes a fuselage. The fuselage includes at least one passenger seating area. The at least one passenger seating area includes an entertainment system and a passenger service unit that includes a means for notifying a crew member onboard the aircraft that the at least one passenger needs assistance. Communication between at least one passenger seated in the at least one passenger seating area, the entertainment system and passenger service unit is controlled by a communication system. The system includes a camera that acquires an image of the at least one passenger, and a communication control module that determines, based on the acquired image, if the at least one passenger has made a gesture to activate a function of the entertainment system or the passenger service unit, or if the at least one passenger has made a gesture that the at least one passenger needs assistance.
A system for alternative communication between at least one passenger onboard an aircraft and at least one system onboard aircraft is also provided. The aircraft includes a fuselage with at least one passenger seating area. The system includes an entertainment system disposed adjacent to the at least one passenger seating area. The entertainment system includes a display and at least one user input device. The system comprises a passenger service unit that includes a means for notifying a crew member onboard the aircraft that the at least one passenger needs assistance. The system also includes a camera that acquires an image of the at least one passenger, and a graphical user interface manager control module. The graphical user interface manager control module receives at least one user input from the user input device, and based on the user input outputs a graphical user interface to enable the at least one passenger to enter a desired gesture for at least one of the entertainment system and the passenger service unit.
Also provided is a method of alternative communication between at least one passenger onboard an aircraft and at least one system onboard the aircraft. The method includes providing at least one user input device. The method also includes receiving a user input from the at least one user input device. The method includes acquiring an image of the at least one passenger onboard the aircraft, and determining from the acquired image if the at least one passenger made a gesture. The method further includes associating the gesture made by the at least one passenger with at least one of a function of a passenger service unit and a function of an entertainment system based on the received user input.
Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the description provided herein. It should be understood that the description and specific examples are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.
The present disclosure will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:
The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the present disclosure, application, or uses. Although the following description is related generally to a system and method for alternative communication onboard a mobile platform (such as an aircraft, ship, spacecraft, train or land-based motor vehicle), it will be understood that the system and method for alternative communication, as described and claimed herein, may be used with any appropriate application where it would be desirable for an individual to interface with a system without requiring direct physical contact with the system, such as a home entertainment system. Therefore, it will be understood that the following discussion is not intended to limit the scope of the appended claims to only mobile platforms and mobile platform based systems.
With reference to
With reference to
The in-flight entertainment (IFE) system 26 may be coupled to the passenger seat 22, and may be responsive to and in communication with the controller 27 through a wired or a wireless connection (not specifically shown). The IFE system 26 enables the passenger to remain entertained throughout the duration of the flight of the aircraft 8, as is generally known. The IFE system 26 may include an input device 29, such as, without limitations, a GUI, a touch screen, a button, a touch pen, a keyboard, a joystick, a mouse or any other suitable user input device to enable the passenger to interface with the IFE system 26. In addition, the alternative communication control module 10 may be used by the passenger to interface with the IFE system 26. For example, the communication control module 10 may be used to turn the IFE system 26 off or on, to control the selection of a menu on the IFE system 26, to control the starting or stopping of a feature displayed on the IFE system 26, such as a movie, or to fast forward or reverse the feature displayed on the IFE system 26, or to control volume, select a song list, etc. The controller 27 may comprise a computer and/or processor, and memory to hold instruction and data related to the alternative communication control module 10.
The window 18 of the aircraft 8 may include a shade 18a or an adjustable tinting system 18b (not shown). The shade 18a may have a motor 31 that is in communication with and responsive to the controller 27 to raise or lower the shade 18a. For example, the window 18 of the aircraft 8 may include a shade 18a similar to the shade detailed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,515,898, however, any suitable device could be employed to raise or lower the window shade 18a. The adjustable tinting system 18b is in communication with and responsive to the controller 27 to adjust the opacity of the window 18 upon receipt of a signal from the controller 27. An exemplary window tinting system 18b is described in commonly assigned U.S. Patent Publication No. 2005/0200934, hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
With reference to
As used herein, the term “module” refers to an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), an electronic circuit, a processor (shared, dedicated, or group) and memory that executes one or more software or firmware programs, to a combinational logic circuit, and/or to other suitable components that provide the described functionality. In
The camera control module 40 receives as input image data 44 and gesture preference data 47. The image data 44 comprises an image of the passenger in the passenger seat 22. The gesture preference data 47 comprises data received from the user input device 29 that identifies a particular image data 44 as a gesture 45. Based on the image data 44 and the gesture preference data 47, the camera control module 40 sets gesture data 46 for the activation control module 42. The gesture data 46 comprises at least one hand signal, hand motion or gesture 45 made by the passenger in the passenger seat 22, as shown in
With reference to
With reference back to
With reference to
In addition, it will be understood that these gestures are merely exemplary, and further, the passenger may interact with the IFE system 26 to program the alternative communication control module 10 to associate particular user defined gestures with functions of the passenger service unit 24 and the IFE system 26 (not specifically shown). For example, the passenger could use the user input device 29 to interface with one or more graphical user interfaces (not shown) define specific hand gestures for desired functions of the passenger service unit 24 and IFE system 26.
With continuing reference to
The light control module 70 receives as input the function data 78. If the function data 78 comprises a signal to turn the reading light 30 on or off, or up or down, then the light control module 70 outputs the corresponding light data 56. The gasper control module 72 receives as input the function data 78. If the function data 78 comprises a signal to turn the vent or gasper 34 on or off, or to increase or decrease the speed of the vent or gasper 34, then the gasper control module 72 outputs the gasper data 58. The shade control module 74 receives as input the function data 78. If the function data 78 comprises a signal to raise or lower the shade 18a, or to increase or decrease the opacity of the window 18, then the shade control module 74 outputs the shade data 60. The entertainment control module 76 receives as input the function data 78. If the function data 78 comprises a signal to activate or deactivate the IFE system 26 or activate any of the many internal controls of the IFE 26, then the entertainment control module 76 outputs the entertainment data 62.
With reference back to
After the passenger has selected a dominant hand from the hand selectors 57d, or if the passenger has a stored dominant hand, then based on the user input data 51, the GUI manager control module 43 outputs a fourth GUI 53d, as illustrated in
With reference to
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With reference to
The ninth GUI 53j enables the passenger to control the generation of the gesture preference data 45 for the desired function. In one example, the ninth GUI 53j enables the passenger to set gesture preference data 45 for activating the attendant call button 32. The ninth GUI 53j may include appropriate controls to enable the passenger to record the gesture preference data 45, such as a “Delete” selector 59a, a “Done” selector 59b. a “Save” selector 59c, a “Record” selector 59d, a “Play/Pause” selector 59e and a “Stop” selector 59f.
With reference to
At operation 104, the method acquires image data 44 of the passenger from the camera 36. At operation 109, the method determines if the passenger has a user profile stored in the gesture data store 52. The user profile may be generated from the passenger's prior use of the alternative communication control module 10, or the passenger may generate a user profile prior to traveling on the aircraft 8, which may then be input to the alternative communication control module 10 from a portable storage device, if desired. If the passenger has a stored profile in the gesture data store 52, then the method goes to operation 113.
If the passenger 52 does not have a stored user profile, then the method determines at operation 111 if the passenger has input a desired dominant hand to which the camera control module 40 may observe for image data 44. Then, the method goes to operation 113, in which the method correlates the image data 44 to the selected dominant hand, with the dominant hand selected based on either data retrieved from the user profile, or from the user input data 47.
At operation 106, the method determines if the image in the image data 44 comprises a gesture. The method may determine if the image in the image data 44 comprises a gesture 45 by comparing the image data 44 to the recognized gestures 45 queried from the gesture data store 52. If the method determines that the image data 44 does not include a gesture 45, then the method goes to operation 108. At operation 108, the method determines if a power down shut down or gesture recognition capability deactivation request has been received. If a shut down or gesture recognition capability deactivation request has been received, then the method ends. Otherwise, the method loops to operation 104.
If the method determines that the image data 44 comprises a gesture 45, then the method goes to operation 110. At operation 110, the method determines the function data 78 based on the gesture data 46. The method determines the function data 78 by querying the function data store 66 for the function that corresponds with the given gesture data 46. Then, at operation 112, the method determines if the function data 78 is for activating the reading light 30. If the function data 78 is for activating the reading light 30, then the light control module 70, at operation 114, outputs the light data 56 that either turns the reading light 30 on or off. If the function data 78 does not comprise a signal to activate the reading light 30, then the method goes to operation 116. At operation 116, the method determines if the function data 78 is for activating the attendant call button 32. If the function data 78 is for activating the attendant call button 32, then the call control module 68, at operation 118, outputs the call data 54 to activate the attendant call button 32. If the function data 78 does not comprise a signal to activate the attendant call button 32, then the method goes to operation 117.
At operation 117, the method determines if the function data 78 is for deactivating the attendant call button 32. If the function data 78 is for deactivating the attendant call button 32, then the call control module 68, at operation 119, outputs the call data 54 to deactivate the attendant call button 32. If the function data 78 does not comprise a signal to deactivate the attendant call button 32, then the method goes to operation 120.
At operation 120, the method determines if the function data 78 is for activating the vent or gasper 34. If the function data 78 is for activating the vent or gasper 34, then the gasper control module 72, at operation 122, outputs the gasper data 58 to activate the vent or gasper 34. If the function data 78 does not comprise a signal to activate the vent or gasper 34, then the method goes to operation 124. At operation 124, the method determines if the function data 78 is for increasing or decreasing the speed of the vent or gasper 34. If the function data 78 is for increasing or decreasing the speed of the vent or gasper 34, then the gasper control module 72, at operation 126, outputs the gasper data 58 to increase or decrease the speed of the vent or gasper 34. If the function data 78 does not comprise a signal to increase or decrease the speed of the vent or gasper 34, then the method goes to operation 128.
At operation 128, the method determines if the function data 78 is for adjusting the window 18. If the function data 78 is for adjusting the window 18, then the shade control module 74, at operation 130, outputs the shade data 60 to lower or raise the shade 18a or change the opacity of the window 18 with the tinting system 18b. If the function data 78 does not comprise a signal to adjust the window 18, then the method goes to operation 132. At operation 132, the method activates the appropriate IFE system 26 control for the given function data 78, such as to turn the IFE 26 on or off, activate a menu, start, stop, reverse or fast forward through a feature (such as a movie) displayed on the IFE 26. Then, the method loops to operation 108.
While specific examples have been described in the specification and illustrated in the drawings, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the present disclosure as defined in the claims. Furthermore, the mixing and matching of features, elements and/or functions between various examples is expressly contemplated herein so that one of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate from this disclosure that features, elements and/or functions of one example may be incorporated into another example as appropriate, unless described otherwise, above. Moreover, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the present disclosure without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the present disclosure not be limited to the particular examples illustrated by the drawings and described in the specification as the best mode presently contemplated for carrying out this disclosure, but that the scope of the present disclosure will include any embodiments falling within the foregoing description and the appended claims.
