Abstract:
The present invention is directed to a system and method in which advantage is taken of the fact that a great percentage of the general public have on their person some form of communication device. When such communication devices are within certain pre-defined physical locations their relative position can serve to allow communications to be directed to the device simply by using the location of that device as a network address. In one embodiment, the defined space is a public conveyance, such as an airplane, train or bus, having defined seating. In such a situation, the network address for a device is the seat location of the device.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This disclosure relates to the assignment of network address to random users based upon their relative special relationship one to another. More particularly, there is disclosed systems and methods for use within a defined space for allowing communication among otherwise random users by using network addresses temporarily assigned to the users based upon the physical location of each user with the space. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     It has now become common for a large segment of the general public to carry within some form of personal communication device. These devices can be elaborate, such as personal computers (PCs), personal digital assistants (PDAs) and cell phones, each having two-way wireless capability, and less elaborate, such as personal memories (PMs) that essentially only store and playback data. These later devices, such as MP3 players and the like, typically communicate with a known host for having data (such as music or videos) downloaded thereto and with a user for playing the music or video. For purposes of discussion herein, the term user&#39;s communication device shall mean all such devices whether or not they have built-in third party networking capability. 
     Since these devices have become prevalent, user&#39;s enjoy the convenience of a wide array of communication, entertainment, news updates, etc. Manners aside, people are seen (and heard) talking on their cell phones, or communicating using other communication devices while eating in restaurants, while riding in public conveyances and certainly while driving. As more and more people become electronic savvy the amount of information being conveyed from one to another is exponential. Thus the public in general is receiving a great deal of its information from person electronics carried with them and thus a need exists for an even greater weaving of such personal communication devices into the fabric of everyday living. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to a system and method in which advantage is taken of the fact that a great percentage of the general public have on their person some form of communication device. When such communication devices are within certain pre-defined physical locations their relative position can serve to allow communications to be directed to the device simply by using the location of that device as a network address. 
     In one embodiment, the defined space is a public conveyance, such as an airplane, train or bus, having defined seating. In such a situation, the network address for a device is the seat location of the device. For PMs, (devices that have little or no networking capability) the system allows data from a control device to bi-directionally communicate therewith by using the seat association or other physical location as a network address. In situations where a communication device has networking capability that device can selectively communicate with other devices within the defined space by using the seat assignment of the other devices. 
     The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and technical advantages of the present invention in order that the detailed description of the invention that follows may be better understood. Additional features and advantages of the invention will be described hereinafter which form the subject of the claims of the invention. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conception and specific embodiment disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention. It should also be realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the invention, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages will be better understood from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying figures. It is to be expressly understood, however, that each of the figures is provided for the purpose of illustration and description only and is not intended as a definition of the limits of the present invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For a more complete understanding of the present invention, reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which: 
         FIG. 1  shows one embodiment of a defined space having various communications devices temporarily associated with some of the physical locations within the space; 
         FIG. 2  shows one embodiment of a system for controlling the network for a defined-space address allocation system; 
         FIGS. 3A and 3B  show embodiments of memory associations for address assignments in the system shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  shows embodiments of displays at various locations within a confined space; 
         FIGS. 5 and 6  show embodiments of methods for controlling a defined space network address allocation system; and 
         FIG. 7  shows one embodiment in which devices external to the confined space can communicate with devices within the confined space. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIG. 1  shows one embodiment of a defined space, such as space  10 , having various communications devices temporarily associated with some of the physical locations, such as locations  1 A,  1 B,  2 A,  2 B,  3 A,  3 B, XA, and XB, within the space. In the embodiment shown, the physical locations are seats (for example, seats on a common carrier airplane). Positioned in association with each seat is a docking station. In this embodiment, the docking station associated with each seat is positioned in front of the seat. Thus, the docking station associated with seat  1 A is positioned on bulkhead  11  in front of seat  1 A. Similarly, docking station  2 B is shown positioned on the back of seat  1 B facing seat  2 B. In  FIG. 1  docking stations shown in broken lines (such as station  3 A) do not have communication devices associated therewith. 
     Note that while the docking stations can be designed to accommodate PCs, they can also be designed to accommodate a plurality of other communicating devices, including devices that can be connected by wires or even wirelessly, using, for example, the Blue Tooth protocol. Thus, PDAs can become temporarily associated with a docking station as could various PMs, such as, by way of example only, iPODs (™ of Apple Corporation). 
     One or more central control units, such as control unit  12 , is connected into the system, either by hardwire or wirelessly, which control units serve to control communications between and among all docked passenger communication devices. One aspect of such control is the assignment of temporary network address locations to each docked communication device. Thus, a user sitting in row  2 , seat A would dock (or otherwise connect) his/her PC (or other communicating device) into docking terminal  2 A (on the back of seat  1 A). The docked device would then be assigned, for example, the temporary network address of  2 A. The network address assignment would advantageously be assigned automatically by, for example, control  12 , but the address can be assigned manually by the user, if desired. This would then allow control  12  operating under directions of an attendant, or from an internal memory and processor, to send messages selectively to one or more docked communication devices without having any previous knowledge of the network address (such as an e-mail address or an IP address) of the target device. 
     Also, if desired, the system can allow any passenger, using his/her own communication device, to communicate with any selected other passenger using the physical location of the target user (such as the seat assignment) as the temporary network address. If desired, the system can be set up, as will be discussed with respect to  FIG. 6 , so that target users, in order to avoid being disturbed by others, can designate his/her address as open to all other users or open only to select other users or closed to all. Control  12  can be exempt from such restriction so that the system itself can deliver messages to users. 
       FIG. 2  shows one embodiment of a system, such as system  20 , for controlling the network for the defined-space address allocation system shown in  FIG. 1 . In this embodiment, control  12  contains memory  12 - 1 , processor  12 - 2 , and backbone communication path  21  interconnecting the permanently installed docking stations, such as docking stations  1 A,  1 B,  2 A,  2 B,  3 A, and  3 B. As shown, user communicating device  220  is shown docked in terminal  1 A, device  221  in terminal  1 B, device  222  in terminal  2 A, and device  223  in terminal  3 A. Each of these devices have their own screen and are positioned in front of the user so that the user may view the screen while the device is docked. One or more of these devices can be PCs which plug into connectors in the docking station in the well-known manner such that the normally available ports of the PC (or PDA or other device) become attached to the backbone network bus for communication purposes. 
     User device  230 , which is a PM, either has no screen or has a relatively small screen so the user has opted to use a mounted screen, such as screen  22 , associated with seat  2 B for viewing video and graphics either from memory internal to device  230  or from control  12 , or even possibly from a location remote from the confined space. This screen can be part of the docking station, or can be a screen rented (or provided without cost) on a temporary basis for the duration of the trip. In such an event, user&#39;s communication device  230  is connected either by wireline (jack connection not shown) or wirelessly, to the docking station via connection  230 - 1 . When so connected, the network address of device  230  becomes  2 B so that, if desired, control  12  can communicate selectively with the user at seat  213  via device  230 . This communication can be by video (screen  22  or if available, the screen of device  230 ) or by audio into memory of device  230  and then from that device to the ear of the user via a communication path to the user&#39;s ear, perhaps via a headphone (not shown). For user&#39;s with such communication paths directly to their ears, audible announcements can be selectively (or communally) directed by an attendant. 
       FIGS. 3A and 3B  show embodiments of memory associations for address assignments in the system shown in  FIG. 1 . Some of the information available to the attendant and/or to the user&#39;s screen, can be contained in memory  12 - 1  and some of the information can come from external sources via link  23 . These external sources can be remote databases, such as, for example, frequent flier databases, home office reservation systems and the like. 
     Chart  30  shows one example of a data display for an attendant where the device name, which could be the user&#39;s name as obtained from home office records, or from an electronic version of the flight manifest, is displayed in conjunction with the seat assignment. This would then show an attendant which users have devices docked in their respective seat locations. 
     Chart  31  shows a more elaborate display organized by seat assignment. This chart serves to display names and other pertinent information pertaining to each passenger who has a device docked in the system. The other information can be, for example, movie preferences, meal preferences, music preferences, flight connection information, etc. The system then can send individual messages to selected passengers pertaining to their personal information. Thus, connecting flight information and the like can be provided on an individual basis. Also, as will be more fully discussed, the screens of each user&#39;s device can be tailored for that user. Hearing or visually impaired users can have their respective messages tailored to their specific needs. Also, as can be seen in chart  31  for seat  3 B, Mrs. Smith has sent a message that she is sleeping and thus messages to her of a non-critical nature should be withheld until she is ready to receive such messages. 
       FIG. 4  shows embodiments of displays at various locations within a confined space. Thus, display  220  (at seat  1 A) and display  221  (at seat  1 B) each shows a split screen with the controls for lights, calling the attendant, entertainment selection on the right side of the screen and the left side of the screen devoted to personal activities, such as game playing, word processing, etc. Note that the displays at the right might be interactive such that the user by touching a button can control a desired function of the aircraft. 
     Screen  222  (seat  2 A) is displaying a full game screen while screen  22  (seat  2 B) is displaying a movie that had been stored on PM  230 . Note that Mr. Smith, in seat  2 A is a Platinum customer (see chart  31   FIG. 3B ) and thus is entitled to a few extra perks. Thus, the attendant has asked him privately, via his screen (using the temporarily assigned network address associated with seat  2 A) what his preference is for dinner and what time he wishes to be served. 
       FIGS. 5 and 6  show embodiments of a method, such as methods  50  and  60 , for controlling a defined space network address allocation system. With respect to  FIG. 5 , upon detection of a request for service, process  500  determines if this request occurred because of a docking operation or because of an actual request initiated by the user. If this is an initial request, then process  501  determines if a user&#39;s device is attached at a specific location. If it is, process  502  registers the device as being present. Process  502  also extracts from the device any specific information that is available about the device or about the user. In some embodiments it may be helpful to have loaded on the device specific software and/or hardware to facilitate the connection of the device to the docking station and to help identify the user and the user and the user&#39;s preferences. The software aspect of this can be pre-loaded or can be downloaded from control  12 . 
     Process  503 , if desired, can determine if the system, either in memory  12 - 1 , or in a remote database, has information pertaining to this user. If so, that data is obtained via process  504  for use, as appropriate, while the user is attached to the network. 
     Process  505  then assigns a network identity to the connected device. For ease of discussion, this identity can be thought of as being the same as the physical location of the device. Thus the device connected to docking station  1 A would have network location  1 A. This convention is good so that other user&#39;s can easily send messages to a selected device without knowing any network information about the target device other than its physical location. Note that while the network address has the same name as the physical address for ease of user&#39;s, behind the scenes any address convention can be used and thus the physical address can be thought of as a virtual address. Accordingly, in some embodiments when the user&#39;s device is docked, its “normal” network address can be detected by control  12  and then used internally by correlating it to the physical location of the device. In this way, any other user would not need to know, and would have no access to, the real network address of the target device. 
     Process  506  checks to determine if the device has personal configuration information or other special needs set up. These needs can range from screen parameters to attendant preferences. Such preferences can be, for example, “I desire water,” or “I like my coffee with sugar and cream”. The requests could be for specific movies, music or other entertainment or could be instructions such as, “I am hearing impaired”. Process  507  configures the device and the system to respect the requests of each user. 
     Process  508  processes requests for service which requests include requests to deliver a message (or a game) to another user. Process  508  also coordinates interactive games that are being played between or among various other users. Note that if a particular target user has indicated that it will not accept messages from selected other locations (or alternatively, has selected which user&#39;s messages will be allowed) and this particular sending user is not on the accepted list process  509  will return a not deliverable message, for example in the form, “sorry the target user is not accepting messages,” notice. 
     Process  510  operates under direction of control  12  to deliver messages to the selectively named location(s) from a user and also to accept and process service requests. 
     With respect to  FIG. 6 , process  601  determines if a user wishes to configure his/her network profile. If so, process  602 , for example, provides a menu of choices for user selection. This menu can be as extensive as desired. One of the menu choices can be, for example, as shown in process  603  where the user desires to control which other location(s) can communicate with this location. Once the user makes the proper selection process  604  working in conjunction with process  605 , operates to configure the system to selectively allow communications from other locations, including, as discussed above, external locations. In some embodiments, this configuration can be part of the profile stored in the user&#39;s device. Also, the configuration can be, if desired, partially automatic since presumably the system knows which parties are traveling together (same locator number, contained in a system maintained profile, etc) and using this information the system can allow intercommunication among such affiliated parties. 
       FIG. 7  shows one embodiment  70  in which a user, such as any user  74 - 1  to  74 -N, external to the confined space can communicate with users within the confined space. This can occur, for example, by a user on the ground, such as user  74 - 1 , sending a message to a passenger, say on Central Airlines flight  123 , by addressing the message to “CA flight  123 , seat  2 B”. That message would be delivered, in the embodiment shown, via Internet  73  to server  72  of Central Airlines. Server  72 , in turn, forwards the message to the proper flight either by direct wireless communication  75  over a private network or via a public network. When the message arrives at control  12  ( FIG. 2 ), the message would be delivered to the intended user at the proper seat location. Note that either server  72  or control  12 , or a combination thereof, could make the transition from the address specified by user  74 - 1  and the actual confined space network address. 
     In one embodiment, user  74 - 1  would log-on to server  72  via a public network, such as Internet  73 , and access a menu of options, one of which option would give the user the ability to send messages from his/her communication device (not shown) to a particular passenger. Assuming user  74 - 1  knew the flight and seat location then that information could be provided. If the user only knew the name or any other descriptive information (such as an email address) then server  72  could look up the flight and/or the seat and using that information (assuming the traveler had registered his/her descriptive information with the server or with the airline company) so as to allow user  74 - 1  to send a message to the desired recipient. In some situations, the message would be inputted directly into server  72  by the logged-on user (in our example, user  74 - 1 ). For privacy reasons, server  72  might not be able to let user  74 - 1  know that the desired user is on a particular flight or on any flight, but if the user is, in fact on a flight then the message would be delivered. Note also that server  72  might not be limited to a particular airline but, in fact, might be available for all or many airlines and/or other defined space situations. Also, in some situations, the target recipient might, when making a reservation, indicate the identity of certain others who would be allowed to send messages during the flight time. These designations could, for example, be by name, email address, work identity or other affiliation, or this list could be users identified in a profile on file with a common carrier, or users on a more general list of acceptable users, such as law enforcement, banks, government employees, etc., or the list could include anyone who had access to a specific passcode. Any such list would be stored, for example, within storage in conjunction with the server. In this manner, travelers could give broad access to users to send the traveler messages without compromising his/her security and without anyone actually knowing his/her flight plans. 
     While in the foregoing discussion the examples that were used were physically confined spaces, such as within an aircraft or classroom, the same principals can be applied to any situation where the address of the message is delivered to an occupant of a defined space based on the occupant&#39;s physical location on a temporary basis within that space. Thus, aircraft, or fast-moving objects such as rockets that move across wide physical spaces can be thought of as being temporarily assigned to specific locations within that space for certain periods of time. Thus, messages can be directed to such a vehicle based upon the space sector assigned to that vehicle at the time the message is to be delivered or at the time the message is sent. The server of  FIG. 7  can be used to direct such messages based, at least in part, on the anticipated physical location of a desired message recipient within a certain space at a particular time. The message thus can be delivered based on the address of the expected location (or the current physical location) as apposed to (or in addition to) an address permanently associated with the target recipient. In this manner, user&#39;s can be known to the outside world by their temporarily assigned physical location-based address name. 
     Although the present invention and its advantages have been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. Moreover, the scope of the present application is not intended to be limited to the particular embodiments of the process, machine, manufacture, composition of matter, means, methods and steps described in the specification. As one of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate from the disclosure of the present invention, processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps, presently existing or later to be developed that perform substantially the same function or achieve substantially the same result as the corresponding embodiments described herein may be utilized according to the present invention. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to include within their scope such processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps.