Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B64—AIRCRAFT; AVIATION; COSMONAUTICS
  • B64D—EQUIPMENT FOR FITTING IN OR TO AIRCRAFT; FLIGHT SUITS; PARACHUTES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF POWER PLANTS OR PROPULSION TRANSMISSIONS IN AIRCRAFT
  • B64D11/00—Passenger or crew accommodation; Flight-deck installations not otherwise provided for
  • B64D11/0015—Arrangements for entertainment or communications, e.g. radio, television
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04B—TRANSMISSION
  • H04B7/00—Radio transmission systems, i.e. using radiation field
  • H04B7/14—Relay systems
  • H04B7/15—Active relay systems
  • H04B7/185—Space-based or airborne stations; Stations for satellite systems
  • H04B7/18502—Airborne stations
  • H04B7/18506—Communications with or from aircraft, i.e. aeronautical mobile service
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B64—AIRCRAFT; AVIATION; COSMONAUTICS
  • B64D—EQUIPMENT FOR FITTING IN OR TO AIRCRAFT; FLIGHT SUITS; PARACHUTES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF POWER PLANTS OR PROPULSION TRANSMISSIONS IN AIRCRAFT
  • B64D11/00—Passenger or crew accommodation; Flight-deck installations not otherwise provided for
  • B64D11/06—Arrangements of seats, or adaptations or details specially adapted for aircraft seats
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B64—AIRCRAFT; AVIATION; COSMONAUTICS
  • B64D—EQUIPMENT FOR FITTING IN OR TO AIRCRAFT; FLIGHT SUITS; PARACHUTES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF POWER PLANTS OR PROPULSION TRANSMISSIONS IN AIRCRAFT
  • B64D11/00—Passenger or crew accommodation; Flight-deck installations not otherwise provided for
  • B64D11/06—Arrangements of seats, or adaptations or details specially adapted for aircraft seats
  • B64D11/0624—Arrangements of electrical connectors, e.g. for earphone, internet or electric supply
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B64—AIRCRAFT; AVIATION; COSMONAUTICS
  • B64D—EQUIPMENT FOR FITTING IN OR TO AIRCRAFT; FLIGHT SUITS; PARACHUTES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF POWER PLANTS OR PROPULSION TRANSMISSIONS IN AIRCRAFT
  • B64D11/00—Passenger or crew accommodation; Flight-deck installations not otherwise provided for
  • B64D11/06—Arrangements of seats, or adaptations or details specially adapted for aircraft seats
  • B64D11/0626—Arrangements of seats, or adaptations or details specially adapted for aircraft seats with individual temperature or ventilation control
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B64—AIRCRAFT; AVIATION; COSMONAUTICS
  • B64D—EQUIPMENT FOR FITTING IN OR TO AIRCRAFT; FLIGHT SUITS; PARACHUTES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF POWER PLANTS OR PROPULSION TRANSMISSIONS IN AIRCRAFT
  • B64D11/00—Passenger or crew accommodation; Flight-deck installations not otherwise provided for
  • B64D11/06—Arrangements of seats, or adaptations or details specially adapted for aircraft seats
  • B64D11/0639—Arrangements of seats, or adaptations or details specially adapted for aircraft seats with features for adjustment or converting of seats
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
  • H04W4/00—Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
  • H04W4/80—Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
  • H04W84/00—Network topologies
  • H04W84/02—Hierarchically pre-organised networks, e.g. paging networks, cellular networks, WLAN [Wireless Local Area Network] or WLL [Wireless Local Loop]
  • H04W84/10—Small scale networks; Flat hierarchical networks
  • H04W84/12—WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]

Definitions

• the present invention relates to the field of the location of comfort equipment in a cabin, an aircraft cabin and a method for identifying and locating comfort equipment. aircraft.
• the aircraft generally comprise a Cabin Management System (Cabin Management System) adapted to manage comfort equipment.
• the cabin environment management system includes a calculation unit located in a crew work area, called a centralized computing unit, and comfort equipment distributed throughout the cabin of the aircraft.
• An electronic card, hereinafter called calculator, is integrated in each comfort equipment.
• the computer of each comfort equipment is connected to the centralized computing unit.
• the manufacturers wish to increase the level of service offered in the aircraft by proposing new services such as, for example, the lighting of a chosen lamp or a set of lamps from the centralized computing unit, the transmission from the call of the on-board personnel to the centralized calculation unit or the automatic extinction of the on-board crew light on the comfort equipment, upon receipt of this call by the calculation unit centralized.
• the centralized computing unit To perform these new services, the centralized computing unit must be able to identify and locate the physical location of the computer of each comfort equipment in order to locally manage the comfort functions. In addition, this identification makes it possible to locate a failed computer directly from the centralized computing unit.
• the serial number of the computer is programmed in its memory, during its production. These management systems only allow to automatically identify the calculator.
• the creation of the link between the location of the computer and the serial number must be done by searching for the serial number on the label of the computer and by associating this number with the location of the physical location of the computer by manual entry on a computer. control screen of the centralized computing unit. This association requires the presence of two operators. It is long and expensive. This configuration operation must, moreover, be updated each time a faulty computer must be replaced. This solution is costly in terms of labor during the first installation but also in repair to reset the (or) calculator (s) changed (s).
• the future location of the computer is recorded in the memory thereof, during its manufacture. Then the computers are positioned in the aircraft according to the prerecorded position in their memory. However, in case of replacement of a faulty computer, it is necessary to transmit the position of the defective computer to the manufacturing plant.
• the purpose of the present invention is to provide a cabin environment management system that facilitates the replacement of a faulty computer.
• the subject of the invention is a system for managing the comfort equipment of a cabin of an aircraft, said management system comprising a calculation unit, calculators able to communicate with said calculation unit to manage the comfort equipment, characterized in that it comprises near-field communication tags comprising a memory capable of containing an identification of the location of the comfort equipment in the cabin, and in that the computers each comprise an own antenna to read said location identification.
• the management system according to the present invention is inexpensive.
• this invention makes it possible to manufacture and deliver calculators in a standardized manner. These calculators will be auto-configured once they are installed in the aircraft.
• the management system comprises one or more of the following characteristics:
• said memory comprises at least a first space whose access is protected by an encryption key, said location identification being recorded in said first space.
• said memory comprises at least a second zone capable of storing an access code to the Wifi network; said Wifi access code being specific to said comfort equipment; said Wifi access code being able to be programmed using a portable terminal equipped with a near-field interface and a dedicated application.
• the location identification comprises a seat number, a row number and a column number.
• the computer comprises a near-field communication memory comprising at least a first zone whose access is protected by an encryption key, said location identification being recorded in said first zone.
• said near-field communication memory comprises a second zone whose access is free.
• the invention also relates to a cabin of an aircraft comprising comfort equipment and a management system for such comfort equipment, characterized in that said management system is in accordance with the characteristics mentioned above.
• the comfort equipment includes a ceiling lamp, a seat position adjustment control management equipment, a display screen, an electrical outlet, a USB port.
• the near field communication tags are stuck on one side of the luggage compartment.
• the invention relates to a method for identifying and locating comfort equipment arranged in a cabin of an aircraft; said method of identification and localization being implemented by the management system mentioned above, characterized in that it comprises the following steps:
• FIG. 1A is a schematic sectional view from above of an aircraft equipped with the management system according to the invention
• FIG. 1B is an enlargement of part of FIG. 1A;
• FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the upper structure of a cabin in which ceiling lights are installed;
• FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the front face of a ceiling lamp
• FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a portable terminal and an exemplary implementation of a computer and a near-field communication tag of the management system according to the invention
• FIG. 5 is a diagram representing the steps of the identification and localization method according to the invention.
• comfort equipment management system according to the invention is described while it is used in a regional aircraft. This comfort equipment management system can nevertheless be used in any aircraft.
• the present invention is described in connection with a ceiling lamp. But, it also applies to any other comfort equipment such as, for example, the management equipment of actuators for adjusting the position of the seat, the video display screens mounted to the right of the back of each seat, the electrical outlets. or USB ports for the provision of electrical power to passengers.
• the present invention relates to a management system 2 of the comfort equipment 4 of a cabin 6 for locating the comfort equipment 4 by a remote calculation unit 8.
• the cabin 6 of a regional aircraft comprises two columns 10 of approximately thirty-five rows of seats 12, ceiling lamps 14 which overhang each seat 12 and a calculation unit 8 located in a crew work area.
• the ceiling lamps 14 are mounted in recesses 16 formed in the ceiling of the cabin 2 below the luggage compartments 18. They comprise comfort equipment 4 and an electronic card, hereinafter referred to as the computer 22. , able to control the operation of the comfort equipment 4 in conjunction with the calculation unit 8.
• the ceiling lamps 14 comprise an illuminating button 23 for turning on / off the reading lamp, a reading lamp 24, an air vent 26 and a lighting button. 28 call of the train crew.
• the ceiling lights also include a loudspeaker and warning signals such as "Fasten your belt”, “do not smoke” and "no electronic device”.
• the computing unit 8 comprises a man / machine interface. In the illustrated example, it is connected in series to the computers 22, by a communication line 29. It is able to communicate with the computers 22. It may include a computer configuration application.
• each computer 22 is provided with an antenna 30 adapted to receive and transmit short-range waves for communicating with a near-field communication label 32 arranged on the structure of the cabin 6 at the right and A few centimeters of the computer 22.
• the near-field communication tags 32 are glued to an external face of the luggage compartment 18.
• FIG. 4 shows an example of implementation of a near-field communication tag 32 and of a computer 22 able to communicate with a portable terminal 52 equipped with a near-field communication interface and a dedicated application. not shown.
• the computer 22 comprises an EEPROM-type erasable and programmable read-only memory 34, a random access memory RAM 36, a near-field memory 40 and a CPU 38 connected to the EEPROM memory, to the memory RA and to the near field memory 40.
• the processor 38 comprises an encryption module 39.
• the near-field memory 40 has a first zone 48 connected to the encryption module 39 and a second zone 50 connected to the antenna 30.
• the antenna 30 is integrated in the computer 22, that is to say that the antenna is integrated in the electronic card.
• the communication distance is equal to the diagonal of the rectangle or square.
• the communication distance is equal to the diameter of the antenna.
• the first zone 48 contains, for example, an encryption key CP, a counter CT and an identification ID of the location of the near-field communication label 32 inside the cabin.
• This location identification I D includes, for example, the column number, the row number and the seat number above which the near-field communication label 32 is pasted.
• the second zone 50 is directly writable and readable using the portable terminal 52.
• the portable terminal is, for example, constituted by a tablet, a mobile phone or a smartphone.
• the second zone 50 is able to store codes specific to each seat and allowing the consumption of a paid service.
• a Wifi network access code a code required to be able to display a video or a video game or a code making it possible to buy electric power can be stored in the second zone 50.
• the second zone 50 can also store general information such as:
• Ceiling 14 configuration constants such as the duration during which the intensity of the lamps is increased or decreased, the duration of lighting of the lamp to switch from black to full light, the duration of extinction of the lamp. lamp to pass the full light to black, the filtering of unwanted presses on the buttons (minimum time necessary for the action to be taken into account), the lighting color of the cabin atmosphere etc.
• the information stored in the second zone 50 can be easily updated using the portable terminal 52.
• the communication tag 32 includes a read-only memory 42 programmable once in the factory ROM, an encryption module 44, and an antenna 46.
• the read-only memory 42 includes a first space 54 connected to the encryption module 44 and a second space 56 directly writable and readable by means of the portable terminal 52.
• the first space 54 has the same information as the first area 48 of the memory. near field 40 of the calculator.
• the first space 54 contains an encryption key CP, a CT counter and an identification ID of the location of the near-field communication label 32 inside the cabin. This ID location identification includes, for example, the column number, the row number, and the seat number above which the near-field communication label 32 is pasted.
• the information contained in the first space 54 is recorded at the factory during the manufacture of the near field communication label.
• the memories 34 of the computers do not contain ID location identification. They are all identical. On the contrary, identification of the location ID is recorded in the memory 42 of the near field communication label 32 during its manufacture in the factory. Then, the communication labels 32 are stuck on the structure of the cabin 6 at a location close to the comfort equipment management computer 22 and in a location not accessible by the passengers.
• the computers 22 When the computers 22 are first put into operation or when the configuration application is launched via the human / machine interface of the computing unit 8, the computers 22 read, during a step 54, identifying the location ID recorded in the near-field communication label 32 located near them. Then, the computers 22 record this identification ID in their memories 34, 36 and 40, during a step 56. During a step 57, the computers put a work an application allowing them to test their operating status (out of order or operational). Finally, in a step 58, the computers 22 transmit the ID location identification and their operating status to the central unit 8 in a predetermined order.
• This configuration of the computers 22 simplifies the software functions implemented in the computers 22 as well as in the computing unit 8.
• This configuration of the ceiling lights 14 makes it possible to simply implement new services.
• the call of the train crew is retransmitted to the man / machine interface of the computing unit 8 located in the work area of the train crew.
• the illuminating call button 28 can be switched off directly by the on-board personnel from the calculation unit 8, the reading lamps 23 can be switched on individually or collectively by the calculation unit 8.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Aviation & Aerospace Engineering (AREA)
• Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
• Signal Processing (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Astronomy & Astrophysics (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Selective Calling Equipment (AREA)
• Radar Systems Or Details Thereof (AREA)
• Mobile Radio Communication Systems (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

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ID=51868254

Family Applications (1)

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Citations (2)

Family Cites Families (4)

• 2014
  • 2014-09-29 US US15/025,963 patent/US20160236782A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2014-09-29 EP EP14795655.1A patent/EP3053282A2/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2014-09-29 WO PCT/FR2014/052453 patent/WO2015044617A2/fr not_active Ceased

Patent Citations (2)

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