Wireless cabin seatback screen location determination
A passenger unit for use on-board a passenger vehicle (e.g., an in-flight entertainment device) includes a display, a memory storing a passenger unit identifier, a network interface, and a connector configured to physically couple to a connector on a mounting unit, where the mounting unit is installed on, or proximate to, a particular seat of a plurality of seats on-board the passenger vehicle. The passenger unit also includes a controller configured to obtain a seat location code of the particular seat from the mounting unit, and to cause the seat location code and the passenger unit identifier to be transmitted, via the network interface, to a server on-board the passenger vehicle. The server is configured to map the passenger unit to the particular seat using the seat location code and the passenger unit identifier.
1. A passenger unit for use on-board a passenger vehicle, the passenger unit comprising:
a first connector configured to physically couple to a second connector on a mounting unit, the mounting unit being installed on, or proximate to, a particular seat of a plurality of seats on-board the passenger vehicle;
a display;
a memory storing a passenger unit identifier;
a network interface; and
a controller configured to
obtain a seat location code of the particular seat from the mounting unit, and
cause the seat location code and the passenger unit identifier to be transmitted, via the network interface, to a server on-board the passenger vehicle, the server being configured to map the passenger unit to the particular seat using the seat location code and the passenger unit identifier,
wherein the controller is configured to obtain the seat location code from the mounting unit at least by detecting a hardwired configuration of the mounting unit.
2. The passenger unit of claim 1 , wherein the passenger unit identifier is a medium access control (MAC) address of the passenger unit.
3. A system for identifying seat associations on-board a passenger vehicle having a plurality of seats, the system comprising:
a server associated with a first memory;
a mounting unit installed on, or proximate to, a particular seat of the plurality of seats; and
a passenger unit including
a first connector configured to physically couple to a second connector on the mounting unit,
a display,
a second memory storing a passenger unit identifier,
a network interface, and
a controller configured to
obtain a seat location code from the mounting unit, and
cause the seat location code and the passenger unit identifier to be transmitted to the server via the network interface,
wherein the server is configured to
receive the transmitted seat location code and passenger unit identifier,
generate, using the received seat location code and passenger unit identifier, assignment data linking the passenger unit to the particular seat, and
store the assignment data in the first memory, and
wherein the controller is configured to obtain the seat location code from the mounting unit at least by detecting a hardwired configuration of the mounting unit.
4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the mounting unit is installed on a back of a seat immediately in front of the particular seat.
5. The system of claim 3 , wherein the server is on-board the passenger vehicle.
6. The system of claim 3 , wherein the passenger vehicle is an aircraft.
7. The passenger unit of claim 3 , wherein the passenger unit identifier is a medium access control (MAC) address of the passenger unit.
8. A method, implemented on-board a passenger vehicle having a plurality of seats, for identifying seat associations, the method comprising:
obtaining, by a passenger unit, a seat location code from a mounting unit installed on, or proximate to, a particular seat of the plurality of seats, wherein the passenger unit is configured to physically couple to the mounting unit, and wherein obtaining the seat location code from the mounting unit includes detecting a hardwired configuration of the mounting unit;
retrieving, from a memory of the passenger unit, a passenger unit identifier;
transmitting, from the passenger unit to an on-board server via a local area network, the seat location code and the passenger unit identifier;
receiving, at the on-board server via the local area network, the seat location code and the passenger unit identifier;
generating, at the on-board server and using the seat location code and the passenger unit identifier, assignment data linking the passenger unit to the particular seat; and
storing the assignment data in a memory associated with the on-board server.
9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the mounting unit is installed on a back of a seat immediately in front of the particular seat.
10. The passenger unit of claim 8 , wherein the passenger unit identifier is a medium access control (MAC) address of the passenger unit.