System and method for virtual information

A method of providing virtual information to at least one passenger onboard an aircraft comprising:

• receiving at least one user input requesting information regarding the aircraft, the request for information including at least a request for flight deck data;
• determining weather conditions currently experienced by the aircraft;
• using real time inventory information pertaining to food service items available for distribution to passengers, and using a galley control module to provide such information upon request to the at least one passenger via the display device;
• providing a source of user identification data that includes a name of the at least one passenger that requests the information;
• generating flight deck data based on user identification data and weather data, the flight deck data including a personalized message from a flight crew member of the aircraft to the at least one passenger, by name of the at least one passenger, that describes current weather conditions experienced by the aircraft;
• and
• wherein a display device having a graphical user interface module, and being associated with a seat of the at least one passenger, displays:
• the personalized message from the flight crew member on the display device of the at least one passenger;
• a graphical representation of a flight deck of the aircraft with a pilot avatar;
• and
• a graphical representation of a status of an operational aspect of the mobile platform relative to a seat location where the passenger is located.

An aircraft comprising:

• a fuselage that includes a cockpit and a passenger cabin, the passenger cabin including at least one passenger seat, the at least one passenger seat including an in-flight entertainment system for use by at least one passenger onboard the aircraft;
• a source of user identification data that includes a name of the at least one passenger that requests the information;
• the in-flight entertainment system including a display that is operable to provide the at least one passenger with information regarding an operation of the aircraft, with display of the information controlled by a virtual information control system including:
• a virtual information control module that outputs a flight graphical user interface, a galley graphical user interface or a flight deck graphical user interface to the display based on at least one user input;
• and
• a galley control module that generates galley data that includes real time information of an inventory of available food service items available onboard the aircraft,
• a flight deck control module that generates flight deck data based on user identification data and weather data, the flight deck data including a personalized message from a flight crew member of the aircraft to the at least one passenger, by name of the at least one passenger, that describes a current status of the operation of the aircraft based on the weather conditions experienced by the aircraft;
• and
• wherein the graphical user interface module displays;
• the personalized message from the flight crew member on the display of the at least one passenger;
• a graphical representation of a flight deck of the aircraft;
• a graphical representation of a status of an operational aspect of the aircraft relative to a seat location where the passenger is located;
• and
• a detail button by which the passenger is able to request additional information on a status and workings of the aircraft relative to the passenger's seat location.

A system for providing information to at least one passenger onboard an aircraft via at least one avatar comprising:

• a display device that displays the information and the avatar;
• a source of user input coupled to the display device that enables the at least one passenger to request the information, the information including galley data, flight deck data or flight data;
• a source of user identification data that includes an assigned seat of the at least one passenger that requests the information, a layout of the aircraft, a status of operation of the aircraft based on a planned route of travel for the aircraft, a name of the at least one passenger that requests the information, and weather data that includes weather conditions experienced by the aircraft;
• a galley control module that receives real time food service item inventory information to generate the galley data, the galley data including a graphical representation of at least one food service item available onboard the aircraft;
• a flight control module that generates the flight data based on the user identification data and the flight plan data, the flight data including the status of the operation of the aircraft relative to the assigned seat of the at least one passenger illustrated by an avatar of the passenger requesting the information;
• a flight deck control module that generates the flight deck data based on the user identification data and the weather data, the flight deck data including a message from a pilot avatar, directed to the at least one passenger by name, that describes a current status of the operation of the aircraft based on the weather conditions experienced by the aircraft;
• a graphical user interface module that displays to the at least one user on the display device:
• the galley data, the flight deck data, the flight data, and the message;
• a graphical representation of a flight deck of the aircraft with a pilot avatar;
• a graphical representation of a status of an operational aspect of the aircraft relative to a seat location where the passenger is located;
• and
• a detail button by which the passenger is able to request additional information on a status and workings of the aircraft relative to the passenger's seat location.

A method of providing virtual information to at least one passenger onboard an aircraft via at least one avatar comprising:

• providing a display device adjacent to the at least on passenger;
• providing at least one avatar for each of the at least one passengers;
• providing a source of user identification data that includes a name of the at least one passenger that requests the information;
• receiving at least one user input requesting information regarding the aircraft, the request for information including at least a request for flight deck data, galley data or flight data;
• determining a location of the at least one passenger requesting the information;
• using a flight deck control module that generates flight deck data based on user identification data and weather data, the flight deck data including a personalized message from a flight crew member of the aircraft directed to the at least one passenger, by name of the at least one passenger, that describes a current status of the operation of the aircraft based on the weather conditions experienced by the aircraft;
• using a galley control module to receive a real time inventory of food service items available on the aircraft;
• using the galley control module to update the real time inventory of food service items to indicate if a food service item is no longer available;
• and
• displaying:
• the inventory of food service items on the display device as a graphical representation to enable the at least one passenger to browse the inventory of food service items using the at least one avatar;
• generating the personalized message using a pilot avatar on the display device of the at least one passenger;
• a graphical representation of a flight deck of the aircraft with a pilot avatar;
• and
• a graphical representation of a status of an operational aspect of the aircraft relative to a seat location where the passenger is located.