Patents by Inventor Philip Watson

Philip Watson has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20210352432
    Abstract: Devices, systems and methods for geofencing in commercial transport vehicles are disclosed. An exemplary method includes establishing, based on a heat map of signal strength at frequencies used by a first wireless protocol in the commercial transport vehicle, a geofence for communication by a user, and controlling, based on the geofence, an availability or a level of one or more services to the user, wherein the geofence comprises one or more boundaries within the commercial transport vehicle, and wherein the one or more services are deactivated if a location of the user is outside the one or more boundaries of the geofence.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2020
    Publication date: November 11, 2021
    Inventors: Philip Watson, Steven Bates
  • Patent number: 11170591
    Abstract: Systems and methods for wireless unlocking of lock systems on enclosures within a vehicle are provided. A lock system may be unlocked via a digital key communicated to the lock system via any suitable communication protocol, for example, a short range communication protocol. The digital key can be embedded or otherwise stored and accessed in an application accessible via a user interface device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: PANASONIC AVIONICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Steven Bates, Philip Watson
  • Patent number: 11167678
    Abstract: Systems and methods for pairing a personal electronic device of a passenger with a passenger seat in a vehicle using a PWM light identification, and for allowing the personal electronic device to control passenger in-seat functions and features. The system comprises an on-board video system having an in-seat display system for installation in a vehicle. The on-board video system is configured to communication a PWM light identification from a monitor of the in-seat display system which is captured by an imaging device of the personal electronic device. The on-board video system receives pairing information from the personal electronic device corresponding to the captured light identification via a wireless communication link. The on-board video system then validates the pairing information and pairs the personal electronic device to the passenger seat and authorizes the personal electronic device to control passenger seat functions associated with the passenger seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: PANASONIC AVIONICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Philip Watson, Steven Bates, Sanjiv Sitaram Pimple
  • Patent number: 11151227
    Abstract: A system for providing entertainment on a vehicle for passengers is described. The system includes (a) a server storing media files and corresponding media keys and (b) monitors storing subsets of the media files and the corresponding media keys. The system includes a server disposed on the vehicle to store the media files and the media keys for the vehicle; monitors disposed on the vehicle to present media selections to passengers corresponding to the media files stored by the server, locally, or on other monitors disposed on the vehicle, and receive an input from a passenger for playing one of the selections. The system also includes selectively revoking the media keys on the server or the monitors. Program logic executed by the server and the monitors implements secure, digital rights management processes as they pertain to the media files presented on the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: PANASONIC AVIONICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Aihua Helen Song, Philip Watson, Kwok Liang Poo
  • Publication number: 20210297420
    Abstract: Methods and systems for a transportation vehicle are provided. One method includes generating a packet by an application executed by a processor of a first seat device of an in-flight entertainment system having a plurality of seat devices on an aircraft; dropping the packet by the seat device when the application is not authorized for Internet communication; dropping the packet by the seat device when the packet is one of a broadcast packet, multicast packet or destined to a second seat device of the in-flight entertainment system; determining that the seat device Internet traffic is below a threshold value; and transmitting the packet to a network device when the application is authorized, and the packet is not a broadcast packet, multicast packet or destined for a second seat device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2021
    Publication date: September 23, 2021
    Applicant: Panasonic Avionics Corporation
    Inventor: Philip Watson
  • Patent number: 11126866
    Abstract: Examples implementations relate to determining path confidence for a vehicle. An example method includes receiving a request for a vehicle to navigate a target location. The method further includes determining a navigation path for the vehicle to traverse a first segment of the target location based on a plurality of prior navigation paths previously determined for traversal of segments similar to the first segment of the target location. The method also includes determining a confidence level associated with the navigation path. Based on the determined confidence level, the method additionally includes selecting a navigation mode for the vehicle from a plurality of navigation modes corresponding to a plurality of levels of remote assistance. The method further includes causing the vehicle to traverse the first segment of the target location using a level of remote assistance corresponding to the selected navigation mode for the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: Wing Aviation LLC
    Inventors: Martin Schubert, Philip Watson, Michael Grundmann, Gabriella Levine
  • Patent number: 11101875
    Abstract: Vehicle entertainment systems in commercial passenger vehicles can provide passengers with entertainment options that are based at least in part on geolocation information selected by the passengers. For example, based on a passenger's selection of a home country to which the passenger belongs, the vehicle entertainment system may route data traffic comprising the passenger's entertainment selections via a point of presence (PoP) device located in the selected home country. The vehicle entertainment system may also group data traffic for passengers that have selected the same home country so that the vehicle entertainment system can more efficiently use network resources as the commercial passenger vehicle travels to its destination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: PANASONIC AVIONICS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Philip Watson
  • Patent number: 11102302
    Abstract: An in-flight entertainment and communications (IFEC) system is configured to interconnect an avionics data bus to a local area network. An avionics interface is connectable to the avionics data bus, and receptive to avionics data transmitted on the avionics data bus by one or more avionics nodes over a predetermined protocol. A local network interface establishes the local area network, and portable electronic devices may be connectable to the local network interface over the local area network to establish a data communications link thereon. A data processor is connected to the avionics interface and the local network interface, and relays the avionics data from the avionics interface to the local network interface for transmission to the one or more portable electronics devices. This transmission is according to the predetermined protocol over the data communications link established on the local area network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: PANASONIC AVIONICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Philip Watson, Steven Bates
  • Publication number: 20210250784
    Abstract: Systems and methods for obtaining data for Dynamic Frequency Selection (DFS) events caused by interfering signals, such as radar signals, in mobile WiFi wireless communication networks on airplanes. The systems and methods utilize wireless access points (WAPs) on in-flight entertainment systems on airplanes to detect DFS events, and obtain DFS event data. The DFS event data is transmitted to a ground system which is configured to utilize the DFS event data to generate DFS messages which allow a WAP on another airplane to avoid the interfering signals that caused the DFS event. The ground system transmits the DFS messages to other airplanes which use the information in the DFS message to configure a WAP to avoid DFS events. The ground system may also be configured to analyze and generate a 3D DFS map which can be used to generate radio channel plans to avoid DFS events.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2020
    Publication date: August 12, 2021
    Applicant: Panasonic Avionics Corporation
    Inventors: Philip Watson, Steven Bates
  • Publication number: 20210240365
    Abstract: Devices, systems and methods for enhancing aircraft maintenance are disclosed. An exemplary method for improving dataloading in an airplane includes retrieving, from an in-flight entertainment connectivity (IFEC) system, at least one avionics software, the IFEC system comprising a mass storage device comprising a first storage segment and a second storage segment, the first storage segment being a secure storage segment configured to store the at least one avionics software, and the second storage segment being configured to store media content, and loading, using a wireless network converter coupled to a wired legacy port, the at least one avionics software onto a target avionics system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2020
    Publication date: August 5, 2021
    Inventors: Steven Bates, Philip Watson
  • Patent number: 11064568
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media for automated detection of relative position among a plurality of wireless access points (WAPs) deployed in service area. An exemplary service area is the passenger cabin of a commercial airplane. The method can include transmitting a signal on a wireless channel at a fixed power level across the service area. Each WAP can measure a signal strength of the signal received from all other WAPs of the plurality of WAPs. The plurality of WAPs can share reports including signal strengths of the signal transmitted from all of the other WAPs. Each WAP can then form a matrix of measured signal strengths and measuring WAPs including the signal strength of signals transmitted by each WAP as received by all other WAPs as the measuring WAPs. The matrix can be used to determine a relative position of the plurality of WAPs based on the first matrix.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: PANASONIC AVIONICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Samuel Jester, Philip Watson, Steven Bates
  • Patent number: 11063954
    Abstract: Methods and systems for a transportation vehicle are provided. One method includes generating a packet by an application executed by a processor of a first seat device of an in-flight entertainment system having a plurality of seat devices on an aircraft; dropping the packet by the seat device when the application is not authorized for Internet communication; dropping the packet by the seat device when the packet is one of a broadcast packet, multicast packet or destined to a second seat device of the in-flight entertainment system; determining that the seat device Internet traffic is below a threshold value; and transmitting the packet to a network device when the application is authorized, and the packet is not a broadcast packet, multicast packet or destined for a second seat device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: Panasonic Avionics Corporation
    Inventor: Philip Watson
  • Patent number: 11044177
    Abstract: An in-flight entertainment and communications (IFEC) system configured to stream vehicle operational parameters from avionics systems connected thereto. An avionics interface defines a node of an avionics bus, and the avionics systems are connectible to the avionics interface over the avionics bus to transmit aircraft operational parameters thereto as a raw stream of chronologically sequenced data elements. A data processor is connected to the avionics interface and a network interface, and is receptive to the aircraft operational parameters from the avionics interface. The data processor applies a variable filter that selectively passes a filtered data stream of aircraft operational parameters derived from the raw stream to a data storage device. The variable filter is defined by one or more filter parameters dynamically adjustable in response to changing conditions derived from the aircraft operational parameters. The filtered data stream is transmitted to the remote monitoring station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: PANASONIC AVIONICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Philip Watson, Steven Bates, Samuel Jester, Grant Edward Burrows
  • Patent number: 11030940
    Abstract: A wallpaper-like audio/visual system includes a display array of display pixels to emit an image, an array of speakers to emit audio, and driver circuitry coupled to the display array and the array of speakers to drive the display pixels and the speakers with the first and second signals, respectively, in response to receiving audio and visual input signals. The speakers are interspersed amongst the display pixels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: X Development LLC
    Inventors: Philip Watson, Raj B. Apte
  • Publication number: 20210150834
    Abstract: Systems and methods for wireless unlocking of lock systems on enclosures within a vehicle are provided. A lock system may be unlocked via a digital key communicated to the lock system via any suitable communication protocol, for example, a short range communication protocol. The digital key can be embedded or otherwise stored and accessed in an application accessible via a user interface device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2019
    Publication date: May 20, 2021
    Inventors: Steven BATES, Philip WATSON
  • Publication number: 20210152580
    Abstract: Techniques are described to detect and/or prevent malicious wireless attacks and/or suspicious wireless activity related to a wireless network in a commercial passenger vehicle. For example, an access point located in the commercial passenger vehicle receives a set of wireless beacon frames from a first wireless device, makes a first determination of a first beacon frame rate of the set of wireless beacon frames, receives a second beacon frame after a first beacon frame, makes a second determination of a second beacon frame rate of the second beacon frame relative to the first beacon frame, makes a third determination that a second wireless device is impersonating the first wireless device upon comparing the first beacon frame rate to the second beacon frame rate, and sends, upon making the third determination, a security alert message to an external input/output (I/O) device in the commercial passenger vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2019
    Publication date: May 20, 2021
    Inventors: Samuel Jester, Philip Watson, Steven Bates
  • Publication number: 20210135746
    Abstract: Vehicle entertainment systems in commercial passenger vehicles can provide passengers with entertainment options that are based at least in part on geolocation information selected by the passengers. For example, based on a passenger's selection of a home country to which the passenger belongs, the vehicle entertainment system may route data traffic comprising the passenger's entertainment selections via a point of presence (PoP) device located in the selected home country. The vehicle entertainment system may also group data traffic for passengers that have selected the same home country so that the vehicle entertainment system can more efficiently use network resources as the commercial passenger vehicle travels to its destination.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2019
    Publication date: May 6, 2021
    Inventor: Philip Watson
  • Publication number: 20210133678
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for redirecting luggage while in the midst of travel on a vehicle. An example system, carried by the vehicle, includes a distribution system for providing a vehicle communication network and a processor coupled to the vehicle communication network. The processor executes instructions to receive luggage identifying information and delivery parameters representative of passenger preferences from a user interface system carried by the vehicle and coupled to the vehicle communication network and generate one or more luggage redirection offers based on the received delivery parameters, receive a selection of a luggage redirection offer from the user interface system, and send messages representative of the selected redirection offer to a delivery service provider system, either automatically or queued for later delivery once communications with external systems are available.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2019
    Publication date: May 6, 2021
    Inventors: Steven BATES, Philip WATSON
  • Publication number: 20210112625
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media for automated detection of relative position among a plurality of wireless access points (WAPs) deployed in service area. An exemplary service area is the passenger cabin of a commercial airplane. The method can include transmitting a signal on a wireless channel at a fixed power level across the service area. Each WAP can measure a signal strength of the signal received from all other WAPs of the plurality of WAPs. The plurality of WAPs can share reports including signal strengths of the signal transmitted from all of the other WAPs. Each WAP can then form a matrix of measured signal strengths and measuring WAPs including the signal strength of signals transmitted by each WAP as received by all other WAPs as the measuring WAPs. The matrix can be used to determine a relative position of the plurality of WAPs based on the first matrix.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2019
    Publication date: April 15, 2021
    Inventors: Samuel JESTER, Philip WATSON, Steven BATES
  • Patent number: 10951922
    Abstract: Vehicle entertainment systems can obtain and use a list of predicted entertainment preferences for passengers located in or expected to be in commercial passenger vehicles. A first server can obtain the predicted entertainment preferences and can identify a multimedia content for at least one passenger based on a predicted entertainment preference. A second server located in the commercial passenger vehicle can receive and send the multimedia content to a media playback device associated with the at least one passenger. The second server can receive, from the media playback device, an indication of a preference of the at least one passenger for watching or listening to the multimedia content; update, based on the received indication of the preference, the entertainment preference for the at least one passenger to obtain an updated entertainment preference; and transmit the updated entertainment preference for the at least one passenger to the first server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: PANASONIC AVIONICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Steven Bates, Philip Watson, Samir Lad, Anand Desikan