Patents by Inventor Steven Bates

Steven Bates 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).

  • Patent number: 12189517
    Abstract: A testing and verification system for an equivalent physical configuration of an in-flight entertainment and communications system with one or more hardware components includes a virtual machine manager. One or more virtual machines each including a hardware abstraction layer is instantiated by the virtual machine manager according to simulated hardware component definitions corresponding to the equivalent physical configuration of the hardware components. The virtual machines are in communication with each other over virtual network connections. A test interface to the one or more virtual machines generate test inputs to target software applications installed on the virtual machines. A display interface is connected to the virtual machines, with results from the execution of the target software applications responsive to the test inputs are output thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2025
    Assignee: Panasonic Avionics Corporation
    Inventors: Philip Watson, Steven Bates, Shankar L Shastry, Samir Lad, Anand Desikan
  • Publication number: 20240259622
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a transportation vehicle. One method includes linking a streaming service application to an application to enable access to passenger related information to the streaming service application provided by the application and enable access to media content related information by the application; presenting, by the streaming service application, media content to a passenger on an electronic device, prior to a first flight; predicting, by the streaming service application, media content that the passenger is likely to watch during the first flight; obtaining, by the application, information regarding the first flight likely to watch media content; pre-loading the first flight likely to watch media content in a storage device accessible by an in-flight entertainment (IFE) system during the first flight; and presenting, by the IFE system, the first flight likely to watch media content on a display device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2023
    Publication date: August 1, 2024
    Inventors: Philip S. Watson, Steven Bates
  • Patent number: 11780604
    Abstract: Devices, systems and methods for electronic systems that manage an order in which an aircraft is boarded or deplaned are described. An exemplary method includes configuring an onboard computer to execute a script, wherein the script controls an order by which passengers on an airplane are prompted for deplaning, updating the script for a travel segment of the airplane using a first input comprising a passenger information for the travel segment or a second input comprising a travel configuration of the airplane during the travel segment or a third input from onboard crew of the airplane; and controlling onboard electronic equipment of the airplane by executing the script at an end of the travel segment by prompting passengers to deplane the airplane in the order.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: PANASONIC AVIONICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Philip Watson, Steven Bates
  • Patent number: 11706826
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a transportation vehicle. One method includes assigning, by a processor, a host name for a portable computing device, configured to operate as an application server on an aircraft; providing a security certificate to the portable computing device; requesting, by the portable computing device, a secured, first network connection from an in-flight entertainment (IFE) system that interfaces with a plurality of devices on the aircraft via a second network connection; validating, by the IFE system the security certificate, and the host name; assigning, by the IFE system, a network access address to the portable computing device; mapping, by the IFE system, the network access address to the host name; and establishing the secured first network connection between the portable computing device and the IFE system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: Panasonic Avionics Corporation
    Inventors: Steven Bates, Sanjiv Pimple, Philip S. Watson
  • Patent number: 11698850
    Abstract: A testing and verification system for an equivalent physical configuration of an in-flight entertainment and communications system with one or more hardware components includes a virtual machine manager. One or more virtual machines each including a hardware abstraction layer is instantiated by the virtual machine manager according to simulated hardware component definitions corresponding to the equivalent physical configuration of the hardware components. The virtual machines are in communication with each other over virtual network connections. A test interface to the one or more virtual machines generate test inputs to target software applications installed on the virtual machines. A display interface is connected to the virtual machines, with results from the execution of the target software applications responsive to the test inputs are output thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: PANASONIC AVIONICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Philip Watson, Steven Bates, Shankar L Shastry, Samir Lad, Anand Desikan
  • Patent number: 11567059
    Abstract: The profiler system and method measure multiphase fluid with or without a container. The profiler includes at least one sensor module. Each sensor module extends a set distance from an upper end to a lower end of the module. This set distance determines proximal and distal measurement zones corresponding to different portions of multiphase fluid. The zones can be aligned within the container to define a sample volume with a relative position from top to bottom within the container. The profiler measures fluid characteristics with location data based on the sample volume or zones so that a profile of the multiphase fluid includes position of the portions of multiphase fluid measured. The safety and accuracy of storage in a container or active flow in a flow connector or open water can be maintained, even as the multiphase fluid dynamically changes while in storage and while in active flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: Agar Corporation, Inc.
    Inventors: David Farchy, Steven Bates, Efim Metsner, Hector Alfredo Viale-Rigo Capuzzo, Illenny Guevara
  • Patent number: 11526282
    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: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: PANASONIC AVIONICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Steven Bates, Philip Watson
  • Patent number: 11528511
    Abstract: Methods and systems for a transportation vehicle are provided. One method includes initializing a first browser at an electronic device to communicate with a remote virtual loader having access to data for an in-flight entertainment (IFE) system of an aircraft; authenticating the first browser by the remote virtual loader; providing IFE data for the IFE system to the first browser by the remote virtual loader with an instruction to grant access to the IFE data by a second browser of the electronic device, the second browser authenticated by the IFE system to send information to the IFE system; and transferring the IFE data from the electronic device to the IFE system by the second browser that obtains access to the IFE data from the first browser in response to the instruction from the remote virtual loader.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: Panasonic Avionics Corporation
    Inventors: Philip Watson, Steven Bates, Dan Van Proyen
  • Patent number: 11518517
    Abstract: Devices, systems and methods for providing customized entertainment or productivity options to passengers on commercial passenger vehicles are disclosed. An exemplary method implemented by a computer on a commercial passenger vehicle includes receiving and storing from a server system communication on a memory and a display screen of a portable device of a passenger, prior to a start of a current travel segment of the commercial passenger vehicle, data for predictive preference selection during the current travel segment; determining, during the current travel segment, for the passenger, a personalized display menu of the passenger for one or more items or services from a plurality of items and services; and providing, during the travel segment, an interactive session having the personalized display menu based on the traveler profile and displayed on the display screen for the passenger on the portable device based on the determining.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: PANASONIC AVIONICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Steven Bates, Philip Watson, Samir Lad, Anand Desikan
  • Patent number: 11492119
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a transportation vehicle. One method includes caching, by a ground-based caching device, media content provided by a streaming service; pre-fetching, by a server on an aircraft, a subset of the cached media content that is likely to be viewed by passengers on the aircraft, the pre-fetched content stored in a cache on the aircraft; presenting, by a first device on the aircraft, a first subset of the pre-fetched content to a non-subscriber of the media content on a first flight; presenting, by a second device on the aircraft, a second subset of the pre-fetched content to a subscriber of the media content on the first flight; and storing, by the second device, viewing history of the second subset by the subscriber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: Panasonic Avionics Corporation
    Inventors: Philip S. Watson, Steven Bates, Sanjiv Pimple
  • Patent number: 11482056
    Abstract: Vehicle operations management systems can facilitate maintenance of commercial passenger vehicles. An operations management system includes a server and a maintenance computer. The server is configured to receive a message that indicates a maintenance performed on a device located in a commercial passenger vehicle or that indicates a performance status of the device located in the commercial passenger vehicle, generate, based on the message, a predictive maintenance list that recommends maintenance to be performed on one or more devices that belong to a category of devices that is the same as the category of devices to which the device indicated in the received message belongs, and send the predictive maintenance list to a maintenance computer. The maintenance computer is configured to receive and display the predictive maintenance list on a graphical user interface (GUI).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: PANASONIC AVIONICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Steven Bates, Philip Watson, Samir Lad, Anand Desikan
  • Patent number: 11474929
    Abstract: A testing and verification system for an equivalent physical configuration of an in-flight entertainment and communications system with one or more hardware components includes a virtual machine manager. One or more virtual machines each including a hardware abstraction layer is instantiated by the virtual machine manager according to simulated hardware component definitions corresponding to the equivalent physical configuration of the hardware components. The virtual machines are in communication with each other over virtual network connections. A test interface to the one or more virtual machines generate test inputs to target software applications installed on the virtual machines. A display interface is connected to the virtual machines, with results from the execution of the target software applications responsive to the test inputs are output thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: PANASONIC AVIONICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Philip Watson, Steven Bates, Shankar Shastry, Samir Lad, Anand Desikan
  • Patent number: 11451586
    Abstract: A network security attack misdirection line-replaceable unit for installation on an aircraft and connected to an onboard data network include a local network interface to the onboard data network. A local simulation server accepts incoming access requests accompanied by an access credential from an attacker client device, and is responsive thereto with either a simulated access denial response or a simulated access grant response. Delays between receipt of the access request and to the access denial response is progressively increased with each presentation of the access credential.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: PANASONIC AVIONICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Philip Watson, Steven Bates
  • Patent number: 11445231
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a transportation vehicle. One method includes linking, by a processor of an electronic device of a user, a frequent flyer (“FF”) account credential with a streaming service account credential of a streaming service; storing, by an aircraft, an FF token with user data; pre-fetching, by an aircraft, media content from the streaming service based on user viewing history; receiving, by a seat device of the aircraft, the FF token from the electronic device for authentication during a first flight to access the media content, the seat device paired with the electronic device; authenticating, by the seat device, the FF token using the stored user data; presenting, by the seat device, the media content; and updating, by the seat device, the FF token with user viewing history of the media content indicating when presentation of the media content on the seat device was stopped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Panasonic Avionics Corporation
    Inventors: Philip S. Watson, Steven Bates, Sanjiv Pimple
  • Patent number: 11418956
    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: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: PANASONIC AVIONICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Samuel Jester, Philip Watson, Steven Bates
  • Publication number: 20220242588
    Abstract: Devices, systems and methods for electronic systems that manage an order in which an aircraft is boarded or deplaned are described. An exemplary method includes configuring an onboard computer to execute a script, wherein the script controls an order by which passengers on an airplane are prompted for deplaning, updating the script for a travel segment of the airplane using a first input comprising a passenger information for the travel segment or a second input comprising a travel configuration of the airplane during the travel segment or a third input from onboard crew of the airplane; and controlling onboard electronic equipment of the airplane by executing the script at an end of the travel segment by prompting passengers to deplane the airplane in the order.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2021
    Publication date: August 4, 2022
    Inventors: Philip Watson, Steven Bates
  • Patent number: 11297461
    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: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: PANASONIC AVIONICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Philip Watson, Steven Bates
  • Publication number: 20220104289
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a transportation vehicle. One method includes assigning, by a processor, a host name for a portable computing device, configured to operate as an application server on an aircraft; providing a security certificate to the portable computing device; requesting, by the portable computing device, a secured, first network connection from an in-flight entertainment (IFE) system that interfaces with a plurality of devices on the aircraft via a second network connection; validating, by the IFE system the security certificate, and the host name; assigning, by the IFE system, a network access address to the portable computing device; mapping, by the IFE system, the network access address to the host name; and establishing the secured first network connection between the portable computing device and the IFE system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2020
    Publication date: March 31, 2022
    Applicant: Panasonic Avionics Corporation
    Inventors: Steven Bates, Sanjiv Pimple, Philip S. Watson
  • Patent number: 11259193
    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: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: PANASONIC AVIONICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Philip Watson, Steven Bates
  • Patent number: 11228789
    Abstract: This patent document describes techniques are related to providing an entertainment to passengers on a commercial passenger vehicle. In one aspect, a method for providing an entertainment to passengers on a commercial passenger vehicle comprises: receiving a request, from a first passenger on the commercial passenger vehicle, to allow the first passenger to provide a live video, the live video obtained by capturing, in real time, an activity associated with the first passenger on the commercial passenger vehicle; receiving one or more requests, from one or more additional passengers on the commercial passenger vehicle, to view the live video; receiving the live video from the first passenger; and distributing the live video to the additional passengers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: PANASONIC AVIONICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Philip Watson, Steven Bates, Sarvamangala Hendi