Patent ID: 7937169

Claim:
A method of managing a plurality of stowage compartments on a mobile platform through an interface supported by a controller, the method comprising: disposing a plurality of stowage compartments within a passenger cabin area of a body of the mobile platform, each said stowage compartment having a fixed housing and an associated door moveable relative to its respective said housing, the door being moveable pivotally, rotationally between opened and closed positions relative to the housing; arranging the stowage compartments adjacent to a plurality of seats on the mobile platform, where the seats are arranged in rows, and each said row of seats is associated with at least one of the plurality of stowage compartments; selecting at least one specific stowage compartment from the interface; selecting a function for the specific stowage compartment from the interface; using an electrical sensor in connection with operation of an electrically powered actuator, the electrically powered actuator being operably associated with the specific stowage bin for raising and lowering stowage bin, the electrical sensor generating information that can be used for sensing a weight of articles being housed within the specific stowage compartment, the sensing of the weight being accomplished by sensing a degree of force that is required from the electrically powered actuator, to lift and rotate the door between opened and closed positions; locating a display of the interface, which is in communication with the controller, remote from the passenger cabin area and from the stowage bins; and using the display of the interface to display an indication of the weight of the articles being supported by the specific stowage compartment.