# US 2019/0356741 A1 · Passenger seat pairing systems and methods > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0356741 A1 - Document ID: US20190356741A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/530,620 - Filed: 2019-08-02 - Published: 2019-11-21 - Earliest claimed: 2015-04-22 - Assignees: Panasonic Avionics Corporation - Applicants: Panasonic Avionics Corporation - Inventors: Philip Watson; Steven Bates; Sanjiv Sitaram Pimple - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190356741A1 ## CPC - B60N 2/90: Details or parts not otherwise provided for - B64D 11/00155: {Individual entertainment or communication system remote controls therefor, located in or connected to seat components, e.g. to seat back or arm rest} - B60N 2/0237: {using portable terminals, e.g. smartphones} - B60N 2/56: Heating or ventilating devices - G08C 17/02: using a radio link - H04L 67/125: involving control of end-device applications over a network - H04W 4/48: for in-vehicle communication - B60N 2230/20: Wireless data transmission - B60R 2011/0012: {Seats or parts thereof} - G08C 2201/20: Binding and programming of remote control devices - B60N: SEATS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES; VEHICLE PASSENGER ACCOMMODATION NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - B64D: EQUIPMENT FOR FITTING IN OR TO AIRCRAFT; FLIGHT SUITS; PARACHUTES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF POWER PLANTS OR PROPULSION TRANSMISSIONS IN AIRCRAFT - G08C: TRANSMISSION SYSTEMS FOR MEASURED VALUES, CONTROL OR SIMILAR SIGNALS (fluid pressure transmitting systems F15B; mechanical means for transferring the output of a sensing member into a different variable G01D5/00; mechanical control systems G05G) - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) - B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## 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. ## Claims ### Claim at position 1 1-20. (canceled) ### Claim 21 A system for pairing a personal electronic device (PED) of a passenger with a seat in a vehicle and controlling a seat function for the seat, the system comprising: an on-board video system configured to be installed in a vehicle, the on-board video system comprising an on-board management system and an in-seat display system in network communication with the on-board management system; the on-board management system having a server and a vehicle wireless communication module configured to establish a wireless communication link with the PED; the in-seat display system having a video monitor installed at the seat in the vehicle; wherein the on-board video system is configured to (a) communicate a light identification associated with the seat via a pulse width modulation communication produced by modulating a backlight of the monitor, (b) receive, via the wireless communication link, pairing information from the PED including (1) a light identification code generated by the PED based on the light identification as received by an imaging device of the PED, the light identification code corresponding to the light identification, and (2) a PED identifier identifying the PED, (c) determine whether the light identification code received from the PED is valid, and (d) pair the PED to the seat and authorize the PED to control at least one passenger seat function associated with the seat when the light identification code received from the PED is determined to be valid. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The system of claim 21, wherein the light identification corresponds to a seat code associated with the seat and the light identification code received from the PED is a conversion of the light identification received by the PED to the seat code, and the on-board video system determines whether the light identification code is valid by determining whether the light identification code matches the seat code. ### Claim 23 (depends on 21) The system of claim 21, wherein the on-board video system is configured to block any other PED from using the light identification to pair to the seat after receiving from a first PED a light identification code corresponding to the light identification. ### Claim 24 (depends on 21) The system of claim 21, wherein the on-board video system is configured to assign a seat code to the seat, and generate the light identification based on the seat code. ### Claim 25 (depends on 21) The system of claim 21, further comprising: a device pairing software application stored on a non-transitory computer program carrier and configured to program the PED to receive the light identification using the imaging device on the PED, convert the light identification into a light identification code, transmit the pairing information including the light identification code and the PED identifier to the on-board management system via the wireless communication link, and transmit a control instruction to control the at least one passenger seat function. ### Claim 26 (depends on 21) The system of claim 21, wherein the on-board video system is further configured to: receive passenger identification data from the PED via the wireless communication link; store passenger manifest data including each passenger identity associated with a respective assigned passenger seat; determine, using the passenger manifest, whether the passenger identification data and the seat associated with the light identification correspond to a passenger identity and associated assigned passenger; and only pair the PED to the seat and authorize the PED to control at least one passenger seat function associated with the seat when the passenger identification data and the seat associated with the light identification correspond to a passenger identity and associated assigned passenger. ### Claim 27 (depends on 21) The system of claim 21, further comprising a seat function controller installed in the vehicle and configured to control the at least one passenger seat function based upon a control instruction transmitted from the PED. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) The system of claim 27, wherein the seat function controller comprises a passenger services system in communication with the on-board management system, the passenger services system configured to control the at least one passenger seat function based upon a management system instruction received from the on-board management system which is based upon the control instruction received from the personal electronic device. ### Claim 29 (depends on 21) The system of claim 21, wherein the monitor is a smart monitor configured to execute at least one passenger seat function based upon a control instruction transmitted from the personal electronic device. ### Claim 30 (depends on 21) The system of claim 21, further comprising the PED of the passenger, the PED having a processor, memory, a storage device, an imaging device, a wireless communication module configured to establish a wireless communication link with the on-board management system, and a device pairing software application installed on the PED and configured to program the PED to receive the light identification using the imaging device, convert the light identification into the light identification code, transmit the pairing information including the light identification code and the PED identifier to the on-board management system via the wireless communication link, and transmit a control instruction to control the at least one passenger seat function. ### Claim 31 (depends on 21) The system of claim 21, wherein the on-board video system is further configured to control a seat function based upon a control instruction received from the PED via the wireless communication link. ### Claim 32 (depends on 21) The system of claim 21, wherein the at least one seat function comprises at least two or more of the following: an on-board entertainment system, an air conditioning system, a lighting system, a telephony communication system, an on-board drink or meal service request system, an attendant call system, a passenger status system, and a seat adjustment system. ### Claim 33 A method for pairing a personal electronic device (PED) of a passenger with a seat in a vehicle and controlling a seat function for the seat, the system comprising: communicating from a monitor installed at the seat of the passenger a light identification associated with the seat via a pulse width modulation communication produced by modulating a backlight of the monitor; receiving, via a wireless communication link, pairing information from the PED including a light identification code corresponding to the light identification received by the PED and a PED identifier identifying the PED; determining whether the light identification code received from the PED is valid; and pairing the PED to the seat and authorizing the PED to control at least one passenger seat function associated with the seat when the light identification code received from the PED is determined to be valid. ### Claim 34 (depends on 33) The method of claim 33, wherein the light identification corresponds to a seat code associated with the seat and the light identification code received from the PED is a conversion of the light identification received by the personal electronic to the seat code, and determining whether the light identification code is valid comprises determining whether the light identification code matches the seat code. ### Claim 35 (depends on 33) The method of claim 33, further comprising: after pairing the PED to the seat, blocking any other PED from using the light identification to pair to the seat. ### Claim 36 (depends on 33) The method of claim 33, further comprising: after receiving from a first PED a light identification code corresponding to the light identification, blocking any other PED from using the light identification to pair to the seat. ### Claim 37 (depends on 33) The method of claim 33, further comprising assigning a seat code to the seat, and generating the light identification based on the seat code. ### Claim 38 (depends on 33) The method of claim 33, further comprising: receiving passenger identification data from the PED via the wireless communication link; storing passenger manifest data including each passenger identity associated with a respective assigned passenger seat; determining, using the passenger manifest, whether the passenger identification data and the seat associated with the light identification correspond to a passenger identity and associated assigned passenger; and only pairing the PED to the seat and authorizing the PED to control at least one passenger seat function associated with the seat when the passenger identification data and the seat associated with the light identification correspond to a passenger identity and associated assigned passenger. ### Claim 39 (depends on 33) The method of claim 33, further comprising: receiving control instructions from the PED via the wireless communication link; and controlling the at least one passenger seat function based upon the control instructions received from the PED. ### Claim 40 (depends on 39) The method of claim 39, wherein the at least one seat function comprises at least two or more of the following: an on-board entertainment system, an air conditioning system, a lighting system, a telephony communication system, an on-board drink or meal service request system, an attendant call system, a passenger status system, and a seat adjustment system.