Method for line-replaceable unit identification, localization and status retrieval
Systems and methods are described for registering and monitoring a status of a plurality of units of an in-flight entertainment system disposed within a vehicle. Using a portable computing device, each of the units can be registered with the server by reading a unique machine-readable identifier disposed on or near each unit. The identifier could be a barcode or other indicia or a NFC tag, for example. Location information about each unit can also be obtained via manual input or by reading a second identifier.
1. A method for registering a plurality of line-replaceable units (LRUs) within a vehicle, wherein each LRU is associated with a unique machine-readable identifier disposed on or near the LRU, the method comprising:
reading a first machine-readable identifier from a first LRU of the plurality of LRUs using a portable computing device, wherein the first machine-readable identifier is displayed on or near the first LRU, and wherein the first machine-readable identifier comprises identification information that includes a built-in test equipment (BITE) status of the first LRU, and wherein the first machine-readable identifier is generated based on the BITE status and other identification information;
presenting the BITE status of the first LRU on a display screen of the portable computing device;
receiving a location identifier into the portable computing device comprising location information;
registering the first LRU with its location at a server by transmitting the identification information and the location information to the server from the portable computing device, wherein the server is communicatively coupled with the first LRU, and
configuring the first LRU based on configuration information received at the first LRU from the server, wherein the configuration information is based on both the identification information and the location information received at the server from the portable computing device.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of receiving the location identifier further comprises a user manually inputting a location of the first LRU into the portable computing device.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of receiving the location identifier further comprises capturing a second machine-readable identifier that comprises location information using the portable computing device, wherein the second machine-readable identifier is disposed near the first LRU.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the second machine-readable identifier is one of a set of machine-readable identifiers, each disposed at a different seat row of the vehicle.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first machine-readable identifier is presented on a display screen of the first LRU.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first machine-readable identifier is disposed on the casing of the first LRU.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first machine-readable identifier is disposed adjacent to the first LRU.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first machine-readable identifier comprises a barcode.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the portable computing device comprises a camera configured to capture an image of the first machine-readable identifier.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first machine-readable identifier comprises a NFC tag.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first machine-readable identifier comprises an iBeacon.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the portable computing device comprises a wireless receiver configured to receive a signal from the first LRU.
13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the portable computing device comprises a smart phone, a smart watch, or a tablet PC.
14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first LRU comprises a processor, a wireless communication interface, and a display.
15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of reading the first machine-readable identifier and receiving the location identifier utilizes a software application installed on the portable computing device.
16. The method of claim 1 , wherein the identification information comprises at least one of a serial number, an IP address, a MAC address, and a part number of the LRU.
17. A method for monitoring a status of a plurality of line-replaceable units (LRUs) within a vehicle, wherein each LRU is associated with a unique machine-readable identifier disposed on or near the LRU, the method comprising:
providing a server communicatively coupled with a plurality of LRUs disposed within the vehicle, wherein each of the LRUs comprises a processor, a wireless communication interface, and a display screen;
generating a first machine-readable identifier based on BITE status and other information;
presenting the first machine-readable identifier on the display screen of a first LRU of the plurality of LRUs;
wherein the first machine-readable identifier comprises identification information specific to the first LRU that comprises at least one of a serial number, an IP address, a MAC address, and a part number of the LRU, and wherein the identification information further comprises a built-in test equipment (BITE) status of the first LRU; and
reading the first machine-readable identifier from the first LRU using a portable computing device and presenting the BITE status of the first LRU on a display screen of the portable computing device.