Patent Publication Number: US-2005122236-A1

Title: Moving map information index

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION  
      The invention relates generally to on board information systems for mobile platforms, such as aircraft, buses and trains. More specifically, the invention relates to a system and method for providing occupants of a mobile platform with useful, informative and entertaining information regarding points of interest along the travel path of the mobile platform.  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      Airline passengers have become isolated form the flying experience. At the same time the overall passenger experience has tended to become somewhat routine. Often passengers have little sense that they are making progress toward their destination, which makes their flight seem longer. Therefore, it would be desirable to provide passengers a form of information that either indicates their progress toward a destination or presents the passengers with information or stories relating to their destination or points of interest along their travel path, or both.  
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      In one preferred embodiment, the present invention is a method for providing information to occupants, e.g. passengers, of a mobile platform. The method includes presenting a moving map to each occupant, wherein the moving map includes a plurality of information icons. The moving map is displayed via at least one passenger display. Each information icon is associated with at least one of a plurality of information modules that include various forms of data in which the occupant may be interested. For example, the information modules may include data about historical or archeological sites, and/or local culture, flora and fauna. Other examples of information that may be included in the information modules is data about the terrain along the travel path of the mobile platform, data about the destination of the mobile platform, or data about restaurants and other attractions located around the destination of the mobile platform. In one preferred implementation, the method additionally includes presenting to the occupant the information module associated with an information icon selected by the occupant. Thus, the occupant can select an information icon based on the type of desired information and then access the associated information module to view the desired information.  
      The features, functions, and advantages can be achieved independently in various embodiments of the present inventions or may be combined in yet other embodiments. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and accompanying drawings, wherein;  
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a system for providing information and entertainment to occupants of a mobile platform, in accordance with one preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
       FIG. 2  is a schematic of a section of a mobile platform passenger cabin area wherein the system shown in  FIG. 1  is implemented; and  
       FIG. 3  is an illustration of a graphical panel displaying the moving map in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
      Corresponding reference numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of drawings.  
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
      The following description of various preferred embodiments is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application or uses. As described below, the present invention is directed to a system and method for providing occupants, e.g. passengers, of a mobile platform with travel information and entertainment. Although the preferred embodiments are described in reference to aircraft, the invention should not be so limited in application. It is envisioned that the invention is applicable to aircraft, trains, buses, ships, and/or other forms of mobile platforms.  
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a system  10  for providing passenger of a mobile platform, such as an aircraft, with information and entertainment, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. As used herein the term passenger is intended to mean any occupant of the mobile platform, including crew members and traveling customers of the mobile platform. The system  10  provides data and information regarding geographical regions along the travel path of the mobile platform and/or other information such as ground speed, outside air temperature, altitude and time/distance to a point of interest. The system  10  is an onboard local area network (LAN). System  10  includes a server  14  that includes a processor  18  suitable to execute all functions of server  14 , and at least one electronic storage device  22 . The electronic storage device  22  preferably comprises a computer readable medium, such as a hard drive or any other electronic data storage device for storing such things as software packages or programs, algorithms, information and data. In an alternate embodiment, the electronic storage device  22  is independent of and electrically connected to the server  14 . Additionally, system  10  includes a plurality of zone distribution units (ZDUs)  26  connected for communication with each other, e.g. hard wired or wirelessly connected, to server  14 . The ZDUs  26  are preferably located in an overhead compartment above a plurality of seats in a passenger compartment of the mobile platform, as shown in  FIG. 2 .  
      Additionally, system  10  includes a plurality of passenger interfaces  30  communicatively connected, e.g. hard wired or wirelessly connected, to the ZDUs  26 . Each passenger interface  30  includes a display  34  for viewing such things as a moving map, information, data and other graphical representations. Each passenger interface  30  additionally includes an audio listening device  36 , such as a headset and jack or a speaker, for audibly presenting information to passengers. Each passenger interface  30  preferably also includes a data input device  38  that allows a passenger to input information, data and/or queries to server  14 . For example, the data input device  38  can be a keyboard, a mouse or a touch screen included in the display  34 .  
      The electronic storage device  22  includes at least one database  42  for storing groups of information and data. In a preferred embodiment, the database  42  electronically stores information modules pertaining to information and data regarding geographical regions along the travel path of the mobile platform. For example, database  42  can store information modules regarding various locations, structures, cities, land masses, water masses, historical facts, etc. that relate to geographical regions along the travel path of the mobile platform. The database  42  is included in the storage device  22 , however, the database  42  can instead be included in an independent electronic storage device (not shown) separate from and connected to the server  14 .  
      Additionally, server  14  includes a wireless modem (not shown) such that system  10  can access the Internet, such as a wide area network, using a broadband signal. Therefore, the system  10  can access a remote site  46 , such as a remote terrestrial server system, using the broadband signal.  
       FIG. 2  illustrates a section of a mobile platform passenger cabin area  50  wherein system  10  is utilized in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The passenger cabin area  50  includes a plurality of passenger seats  54 . The passenger interfaces  30  are located within the passenger cabin area  50  at any location conveniently accessible by a passenger. For example, the passenger interfaces  30  can be integrated with a head rest portion  58  of some or all of the passenger seats  54 , or integrated with an armrest  62  of some or all of the passenger seats  54 .  
      The system  10  includes a plurality of dedicated seat electronics boxes (SEBS)  66  that communicatively connect the passenger interfaces  30  with the ZDUs  26 . The SEBs  66  receive audio/video information and other data from the server  14 , via the ZDUs  26 , and transmit the information and data to the passenger interfaces  30 . Similarly, the SEBs  66  receive data and queries from the passenger interfaces  30  and transmit the data and queries to the sever  14 , via the ZDUs  26 .  
      In an alternate preferred embodiment, system  10  includes a plurality wireless network interface circuits (NICs)  70  at each passenger seat  54 . The NICs  70  wirelessly link the passenger interfaces  30  with the ZDUs  26 . In one preferred embodiment, the NICs  70  are integrated into the passenger interfaces  30 . The NICs  70  wirelessly receive audio/video entertainment information and other data from the server  14 , via the ZDUs  26 , and transmit the information and data to the passenger interfaces  30 . Similarly, the NICs  70  receive data and queries from the passenger interfaces  30  and wirelessly transmit the data and queries to the server  14 , via the ZDUs  26 .  
       FIG. 3  is an illustration of a graphical panel illustrating a moving map  100  in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The moving map  100  is displayed on displays  34  so that passengers can view the moving map  100  as the mobile platform moves along its travel path. The moving map  100  is a graphical real time representation of the geographical region the mobile platform is currently traversing. More specifically, as the mobile platform advances along its travel path, the moving map  100  displayed on the displays  34  is continuously updated by the server  14  to illustrate the geographical region presently being traversed. In addition to the geographic region, the moving map includes information icons  104  that indicate various points of interest along the travel path, such as tourist attractions, architectural structures, cities, land masses, water masses and locations of historical events. Each information icon  104  is associated with at least one information module containing information and/or stories about the point of interest indicated by the associated information icon  104 . Additionally, each information icon  104  can include other information such as information pertaining to hotels and restaurants in or around a specific location, and/or a distance to or from a specific destination.  
      In a preferred embodiment, each information module is stored in database  42 . In this embodiment, each icon  104  is electronically linked to at least one associated information module. Therefore, to retrieve an information module, the passenger utilizes the input device  38  to select an icon of interest. The passenger interface  30  then transmits the query to the server  14 , via the ZDU  26 . Thereafter, the server  14  returns the associated information module to the passenger interface  30 . The information contained in the information module can be visually presented to the passenger via the display  34  and/or audibly presented via the speaker  36 . The information contained in the information module can be visually displayed in text form, e.g. a pop-up dialog box, and/or graphical form, e.g. pictorial form.  
      In an alternate preferred embodiment, each information module is incorporated into at least one information manual stored at a location in the passenger cabin area  50  easily accessible by the passenger. For example, the information manual can be a magazine or booklet stored in seat back pockets (not shown) included in each passenger seat  54 . The information manuals may comprise the information included in each information module and would be appropriately marked with a plurality of identifiers that link each information module with the associated information icon  104 . Furthermore, each information icon  104  could be distinguishable from all other information icons  104 , and the identifiers could be images of the distinguishable information icons  104 . In another alternate preferred embodiment, each information icon  104  could have a number displayed next to it on the moving map  100 . The number displayed correlates to a page in the information manual on which the desired information module is located. Therefore, to retrieve an information module, the passenger views the moving map  100  and selects an information icon  104  of interest. In addition to the information icons  104 , the moving map  100  displays a specific identifier associated with each information icon  104  and associated information module in the information manual. Thus, the passenger views the identifier illustrated in the moving map  100 , retrieves the information manual and locates the desired information module within the information manual identified with the corresponding identifier.  
      In an alternate preferred embodiment, the plurality of passenger displays  34  included in passenger interfaces  30  is replaced with at least one multiple passenger display viewable by a plurality of passengers. For example, the passenger display  34  can be one main screen that is viewed by a plurality of passengers. The passengers can then access desired information modules utilizing the information manuals, as described above.  
      Referring to  FIG. 1 , in another alternate preferred, the passenger interfaces  30  include a connection port  108  adapted to allow a passenger to connect a personal computing device, such as a laptop computer, to system  10 . Therefore, the passenger can access the moving map and information modules, as described above, by electronically connecting the personal computing device to server  14 , via the port  108 .  
      Therefore, the invention thus provides a means for passengers to retrieve interesting and entertaining information regarding points of interest along their travel path and/or their destination utilizing the moving map  100  presented on the display  34  to access the information modules, as described above.  
      While the invention has been described in terms of various specific embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the claims.