Seat power outlets integrated into floor

A method for providing access to at least one of electrical power and data communications on board a mobile platform, said method comprising:

• attaching a plurality of lower connectors to a plurality of mobile platform floor panels such that a bottom side of each floor panel has at least one lower connector attached thereto, each lower connector includes at least one lower connector coupling contact, wherein
• each lower connector has a lower connector signal conduit extending from a lower connector back side and connected to the lower connector coupling contact, the lower connector signal conduits are linked together such that the lower connectors are linked together, the lower connector signal conduits convey at least one of electrical signals and data signals between each lower connector coupling contact and at least one of a signal source and a signal receiver;
• and
• removably mating a plurality of upper connectors with the lower connectors, each upper connector includes at least one upper connector coupling contact that removably couples with the lower connector coupling contact when the lower and upper connectors are mated, wherein
• each upper connector has an upper connector signal conduit extending from an upper connector back side and connected to the upper connector coupling contact, each upper connector signal conduit is connectable to at least one of a user connection port and a seat electrical unit (SEU) associated with one of a plurality of passenger seat groups located adjacent a top side of the floor panels to thereby provide a transmission path for the signals between the lower connectors and the at least one of the user connection port and the SEU of each passenger seat group when the upper connectors are mated with the lower connectors.

A signal distribution system for a mobile platform, said system comprising:

• a plurality of lower connectors attached to a plurality of mobile platform floor panels such that a bottom side of each floor panel has at least one lower connector attached thereto, each lower connector comprises at least one lower connector coupling contact;
• a plurality of lower connector signal conduits connected to the lower connector coupling contacts and linked together such that the lower connectors are linked together, the lower connector signal conduits are adapted to convey at least one of electrical signals and data signals between each lower connector coupling contact and at least one of a signal source and a signal receiver;
• a plurality of upper connectors adapted to removably mate with the lower connectors, each upper connector comprises at least one upper connector coupling contact adapted to removably couple with the lower connector coupling contact of the mated lower connector;
• and
• a plurality of upper connector signal conduits, each upper connector signal conduit connected to the upper connector coupling contact of one upper connector and connectable to at least one of:
• at least one user connection port, and
• at least one seat electronics unit (SEU),
• wherein, the connection port and the SEU are associated with one of a plurality of passenger seat groups located adjacent a top side of the floor panels to thereby provide a transmission path for the signals between the lower connectors and at least one of the user connection port and the SEU of each passenger seat group when the upper connectors are mated with the lower connectors.