JP2002034059A - Entertainment equipment failure information transmission system for passenger transport vehicles - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Problem] To provide a desired and comfortable entertainment service to passengers without trouble for attendants and airline personnel when a failure occurs in entertainment equipment. To be able to recover. SOLUTION: Central controller (PESC) 18
Is a distributor (ADB) 15, each seat electronic device (SEB)
12 and each passenger control unit (PCU) 11
Is performed, and the fault diagnosis result information is transmitted from the machine-side central controller 300 to the mobile transmitting station 400.
The failure diagnosis result information is transmitted from the mobile transmitting station 400 to the service department 3000 via the communication relay station 2000. The service department 3000 analyzes the failure diagnosis result information and exchanges the faulty device for the faulty device in the shortest time as to which of the next arrival destination airport 4000 should be transported. Of the optimal solution or the next best solution is executed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a technology for diagnosing a malfunction of an entertainment device such as audio / video for a passenger service mounted on a passenger carrying vehicle such as an aircraft, a passenger ship or a train. And technology for transmitting failure diagnosis result information to necessary departments.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art When a passenger wants to enjoy contents such as music and video while sitting in a seat on an aircraft,
Passenger service system devices (PSS: Passenger Service System) that can remotely respond to such demands have been developed and provided.

[0003] An aircraft passenger service system apparatus according to the prior art will be described. Audio-visual equipment that passengers can watch on aircraft is In-Flight Entertainment (IFE: In-Fligh).
t Entertainment) equipment.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an aircraft passenger service system device according to the prior art. This aircraft passenger service system device includes a seat device 1
00, an audio / visual transmission device 200, and a machine-side central controller 300.

In FIG. 4, reference numeral 10 denotes an individual seat device, 11 denotes a passenger control unit (PCU), 12
Is a seat electronic device (SEB), 13 is an LCD (liquid crystal) display device, 14 is headphones, 15 is a distributor (ADB),
17 is a distributor / combiner, 18 is a central controller (PE
SC), 19 is a CD playback device (CDR), and 20 is a programmable video service control unit (PVS).
CU), 21 is a video modulation device (VMU), 22 is a video cassette player (VCP), 23 is a remote control device (RCT), 24 is a central display device attached to the remote control device (RCT) 23, 25 is a sheet device This is a transmission cable that connects the 100 distributors (ADB) 15 and the distributor / combiner 22 of the audio / visual transmission device 200.

[0006] The distributor (ADB) 15 is a seat electronics (SEB) of a plurality of individual seat devices 10 in the direction of the aircraft's axis.
12 are connected in a shared state. FIG. 2 shows a common seat wiring pattern with the embodiment of the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 1, the seat electronic device (SEB) 12 is connected to the passenger control units (PCU) 11 of the plurality of individual seat devices 10 in the horizontal direction in a shared state.
Each passenger control unit (PCU) 11 for each seat includes an audio / video selection switch, a channel selection switch, a volume control, a headphone jack, and the like. It also has an attendant call switch and a reading light switch.

[0007] The seat electronic device (SEB) 12 detects operation signals from various push buttons and the like of the passenger control unit (PCU) 11 and recognizes the operation signals to identify the seat of the passenger control unit (PCU) 11. The signal is sent to the distributor (ADB) 15 together with the signal. The distributor (ADB) 15 includes a plurality of seat electronics (SEB) 12.
Are transmitted to the audio / visual transmission device 200 via the transmission cable 25.

As shown in FIG. 3 showing a schematic view of a seat wiring common to the embodiment of the present invention, a seat electronic device (SEB)
Numeral 12 is arranged below the seat, and a passenger control unit (PCU) 11 is mounted on an armrest of the seat. The headphones 14 are connected to a headphone jack 11a (see FIG. 2) of the passenger control unit (PCU) 11. In addition, the LCD display device 13 is provided on the rear portion 10A of the front seat portion. A seat electronic device (SEB) 12 disposed below a certain seat is connected via a power / signal cable 16 to an LCD display device 13 on a front seat back portion 10A in front of the seat electronic device (SEB) 12.

Audio / visual transmission device 200
Is a distribution / combiner 17 and a central controller (PES).
C) 18, a CD player (CDR) 19, and a programmable video service control unit (PVSC).
U) 20, a video modulation device (VMU) 21, and a video cassette player (VCP) 22. Further, a remote control device (RCT) 23 and a central display device 24 are provided. The central controller (PES) in the audio / visual transmission device 200
C) 18 is connected to the aircraft-side central controller 300 via the transmission cable 26.

When a passenger sitting in a seat wants to listen to music, the passenger control unit (PCU) 11 of the individual seat device 10 corresponding to the seat performs a music request operation, and performs a music selection operation. Do. At the same time, it also performs volume adjustment operations and stereo / monaural selection operations.
Such a request signal is transmitted to the passenger control unit (P
CU) 11 and the corresponding individual seat device 10
Is transmitted to the seat electronic device (SEB) 12 along with the identification signal of the distributor (AD).
B) 15, transmitted to the distributor / combiner 17 of the audio / visual transmission device 200 via the transmission cable 25,
Further, it is provided to a central controller (PESC) 18, and drives and controls a CD reproducing device (CDR) 19 from the central controller (PESC) 18. The central controller (PESC) 18 obtains seat information indicating which individual seat device 10 is the request by performing data processing with the aircraft-side central controller 300. The seat information is transmitted from the requested seat electronic device (SEB) 12.
3 shows the positional relationship between the LCD and the corresponding LCD display device 13. Then, a CD reproducing device (CDR) 19
Electronic device (SEB) corresponding to the seat information by passing the audio signal reproduced by the driving control of the vehicle through the reverse path
12 and the passenger control unit (PC
U) 11 to output from the headphones 14.

When a passenger sitting on a seat wants to watch a video program, the passenger control unit (PCU) 11 of the individual seat device 10 corresponding to the seat performs a video request operation and selects a channel ( Program selection)
Perform the above operations. At the same time, the user performs volume adjustment operation, stereo monaural selection operation, and multinational language selection operation. Such a request signal is transmitted to the passenger control unit (PC
U) 11 and is sent to the seat electronic device (SEB) 12 together with the identification signal of the individual seat device 10 concerned, from the seat electronic device (SEB) 12 to the distributor (AD).
B) 15, transmitted to the distributor / combiner 17 of the audio / visual transmission device 200 via the transmission cable 25,
Furthermore, a programmable video service control unit (P) is connected via a central controller (PESC) 18.
VSCU) 20 and drives and controls a video modulator (VMU) 21 and a video cassette player (VCP) 22 from the programmable video service control unit (PVSCU) 20. The central controller (PESC) 18 is a central controller 3 on the fuselage side.
By performing data processing between the request and 00, seat information indicating which request is issued from which individual seat device 10 is obtained. Then, the video signal and the audio signal reproduced by the drive control of the video cassette player (VCP) 22 are transmitted via the reverse path to the seat electronic device (S) corresponding to the seat information.
EB) 12 to be displayed on the LCD display device 13 and output sound from the attached earphone. This enables a video-on-demand passenger service.

Next, a description will be given of a prior art of failure diagnosis in an in-flight entertainment device in the aircraft passenger service system device configured as described above.

A failure diagnosis function is activated at a timing when a power switch is turned on in a passenger control unit (PCU) 11 for a passenger to view audio and video. It is BITE (Built In Tes
t Equipment). This BIT
The E failure diagnosis function is based on the BITE signal sent from the central controller (PESC) 18 when the power is turned on, and the distributor (ADB) 15 and the seat electronics (SEB)
12. Operate the check sequence in each of the passenger control units (PCU) 11.

[0014] Passenger control unit (PCU) 11
Performs its own failure diagnosis, and sends a failure diagnosis result signal to the seat electronic device (SEB) 12. The seat electronic device (SEB) 12 performs its own failure diagnosis, and outputs a failure diagnosis result signal to the passenger control unit (PCU) 1.
The signal is sent to the distributor (ADB) 15 together with the failure diagnosis result signal of No. 1. The distributor (ADB) 15 performs its own failure diagnosis, and outputs the failure diagnosis result signal to the passenger control unit (PCU) 11 and the seat electronic device (SEB) 12.
The central controller (PES) via the transmission cable 25 and the distributor / combiner 17 together with the failure diagnosis result signal of
C) Send to 18.

The central controller (PESC) 18
Holds the transmitted failure diagnosis result information,
The failure diagnosis result information is displayed on a central display unit 24 attached to a remote control unit (RCT) 23 via a programmable video service control unit (PVSCU) 20. Further, if necessary, the data may be transferred to a removable recording medium such as an IC card.

The failure diagnosis result information held by the central controller (PESC) 18 includes information on which seat matrix of the seat electronic device (SEB) 12 has a failure, and which passenger control unit of the seat electronic device (SEB) 12. (PCU) 11 is a fault, or if necessary, which distributor (ADB) 15 is a fault. The fault diagnostic result information (BITE fault diagnosis) Information) is displayed on the central display device 24 of the remote control device (RCT) 23.

As described above, in the BITE failure diagnosis function of the aircraft passenger service system according to the prior art, the passenger control unit (PCU) 11, the seat electronic device (SEB) 12, and the distributor (ADB) 15
The failure diagnosis itself is performed by the central controller (P
Automatically, based on the BITE signal from the ESC 18, the failure diagnosis result information can be automatically displayed on the central display device 24.

[0018]

However, it is the attendant who checks the failure diagnosis result information displayed on the central display device 24. Then, the attendant sees the displayed failure diagnosis result information, determines whether there is a failed device, and reports a failure to an airline person. Here, both the process of making a report and the process of receiving a report are artificial operations.

Then, the airline staff receiving the report of the failure must take necessary corrective measures against the failure. That is, various communications are made to an in-flight entertainment (IFE) device manufacturer.
Of these, the most important are the arrangement of replacement products and the schedule for replacement of replacement products. Here too, artificial work is involved.

The attendant who obtains the replacement provided by the IFE equipment manufacturer strives to replace the failed equipment with the replacement in time for the next flight. However, in the transmission of failure diagnosis result information, confirmation, judgment, and countermeasures, there is a situation in which it takes too long time to replace a replacement due to an intermediate operation. As a result, it is often not possible to catch up with the next flight. In such a case, the aircraft with the malfunctioning device installed will have the desired comfortable in-flight entertainment in all seats.
The service cannot be provided.

The failure diagnosis is performed only when the passenger on the aircraft turns on the power of the passenger control unit (PCU) 11. Not all passengers operate immediately after boarding. Some seats are vacant, and no fault diagnosis is performed in those vacant seats. All of this is a major factor in delays in response.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned problem, and when an entertainment device is out of order, an attendant or an airline person is not troubled and passengers are not troubled. The aim is to be able to quickly restore all expected and comfortable entertainment services.

[0023]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a technology relating to an entertainment equipment failure information transmission system in a passenger carrying vehicle, which solves the above-mentioned problems by taking the following means. .

That is, it is configured as an organic connection between a passenger carrying vehicle such as an aircraft, a passenger ship, and a train, a communication relay station, and a service department. A passenger carrying vehicle equipped with an entertainment device such as an audio / video device further includes a failure diagnosis unit for performing a failure diagnosis of the entertainment device, and a failure diagnosis based on a result of the failure diagnosis performed on the entertainment device by the failure diagnosis unit. And transmitting means for transmitting the result information to the outside. The failure diagnosis means executes a failure diagnosis process periodically or as needed. This point is different from the prior art in which the failure diagnosis is performed as a response when the passenger turns on the power, and the failure diagnosis of the entertainment device is performed early, and the failure diagnosis is performed under a relatively high detection rate. be able to. The failure diagnosis result information obtained by performing the failure diagnosis is transmitted to the transmitting unit, and transmitted from the transmitting unit to a communication relay station outside the passenger carrying vehicle. This transmission is usually performed wirelessly, but may be via a satellite line.

The communication relay station is provided on the ground in the case of an aircraft, and is provided on the land in the case of a passenger ship. After receiving the failure diagnosis result information transmitted from the transmission means of the passenger carrying vehicle, the communication relay station is provided. Then, the failure diagnosis result information is transferred and transmitted to the service department.

The service department that receives the failure diagnosis result information prepares a failure diagnosis expert. The expert here refers to a function capable of handling advanced / intensive processing such as determination / analysis of failure diagnosis result information and management / arrangement / transportation of substitutes. Preferably, this expert is constructed on a computer, but may also be an expert. Professionals should also get computer assistance.

Based on the received failure diagnosis result information, the service department determines whether the entertainment equipment in the target passenger transport vehicle has a failure, needs to be replaced with a substitute,
Judgment of the stock status of alternative products, determination of the nearest warehouse for the destination (airport or port) where the target passenger transport vehicle will arrive next, Determining whether transportation is in time, determining which is the shortest route for transporting substitutes,
If it is not in time, processing for finding the optimal solution or the next best solution for replacing the faulty device with a substitute in the shortest time, such as determining the next destination, is performed. It should be noted that, in such processing for obtaining the optimal solution or the next best solution, it is also possible to add an operation or judgment of an expert. However, all the processing may be performed by a computer by preparing advanced software.

As described above, by performing the processing for finding the optimal solution or the next best solution for responding in a shortest time when replacing the faulty equipment with the substitute, the target passenger transporting mobile body is expected to arrive. It will be possible to send a replacement product to any destination very quickly. The substitute product may be a device of the same type as the entertainment device that has failed, or may be a failed component in the entertainment device. In this way, the worker, such as an attendant of a passenger carrying vehicle, who has obtained a substitute in a timely manner can immediately replace the faulty equipment with the substitute, thereby creating a comfortable environment for entertainment service for passengers. It can be restored quickly.
That is, the time required for restoring the failed device can be significantly reduced as compared with the related art.

The technique of the present invention is particularly effective in airlines using in-flight entertainment (IFE) equipment. Since the IFE failure information is transmitted directly from the aircraft to the ground service department, the IFE provider does not need to check the IFE failure information with the airline staff, as in the past, and the IFE equipment service system To simplify
In the airline using FE, it is possible to exhibit a high level of service effect that can not be compared with the conventional one.

[0030]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be generally described.

An entertainment equipment failure information transmission system in a passenger carrying vehicle according to the first invention of the present application is an entertainment equipment such as audio / video, a failure diagnosis means for performing failure diagnosis of the entertainment equipment, and the failure diagnosis means comprising: Transmitting means for transmitting failure diagnosis result information as a result of the failure diagnosis performed on the entertainment equipment to the outside, and a failure diagnosis result information transmitted from the transmitting means in the passenger transportation moving body. The communication relay station that receives and further transfers and transmits to the outside, and receives the failure diagnosis result information transferred and transmitted from the communication relay station and determines the failure diagnosis result information, and An alternative to the entertainment equipment relating to the failure at the destination arriving Others are constructed by linking the service department to provide the service to transport the parts.

The configuration of the first invention is equivalent to the configuration of the above-mentioned [Means for Solving the Problems] section described in another form of expression. Means for Solving the Problems] is substantially the same as that described in the section. In other words, the failure diagnosis result information is transmitted directly from the passenger transport vehicle to the service department via the communication relay station, and the service department is optimal to exchange the faulty equipment for a substitute in the shortest time. Expert processing for the solution or the next best solution is performed, so the time required to recover the faulty equipment can be significantly reduced compared to the conventional technology, and a comfortable environment for entertainment service for passengers can be quickly restored. it can.

[0033] In the second aspect of the present invention, the entertainment equipment failure information transmission system in the passenger carrying mobile object is the above-mentioned first invention, wherein the entertainment equipment performs a request for providing contents such as audio / video. Passenger operating means, seat electronic means for detecting and transmitting operation signals in the passenger operating means, and distribution means for relaying signals between the plurality of seat electronic means and the central control means. The failure diagnosis means is configured to perform a failure diagnosis in the passenger operation means, the seat electronic means, and the distribution means in accordance with a command from the central control means, and the central control means Receiving the failure diagnosis result information by the diagnosis means and transferring the information to the transmission means; There. This corresponds to a description of the first invention at a more specific level.

The operation of the second invention is as follows. The failure diagnosis means sequentially performs a failure diagnosis of the distribution means, further performs a failure diagnosis of the seat electronic means by transmitting a failure diagnosis command signal based on a command of the central control means, and further performs a passenger operation means. Diagnosis of failure. Then, the obtained failure diagnosis result information is sent to the central control means. The central control means transfers the failure diagnosis result information to the transmission means. The transmitting means transmits the failure diagnosis result information to the communication relay station. Through the above processing, as in the first invention, the time required for replacing the faulty device with a substitute is significantly reduced as compared with the conventional technology, and an environment that is comfortable for entertainment service for passengers is provided. Can be quickly restored.

In the third aspect of the present invention, the entertainment equipment failure information transmission system in the passenger carrying vehicle according to the second aspect of the present invention does not include the distribution means, and directly outputs the failure diagnosis result from the seat electronic means. The information is sent to the central control means. This states that distributing means is not necessarily required. In this case, no failure diagnosis is performed on the distribution means.

The fourth invention of the present application as a preferred embodiment is as follows:
The passenger carrying vehicle is an aircraft, a passenger ship, or a train.

The fifth invention of the present application as a preferred embodiment is as follows:
The entertainment device is a video-on-demand device or an Internet device.

(Specific Embodiment) Hereinafter, specific technical contents of an aircraft passenger service system device (PSS) and an entertainment equipment failure information transmission system thereof according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Will be described.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an aircraft passenger service system apparatus and an entertainment equipment failure information transmission system according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a seat wiring pattern diagram, and FIG. FIG.

The aircraft 100 as the passenger carrying vehicle
The passenger service system device at 0 includes a seat device 100, an audio / visual transmission device (cabin rack) 200, an aircraft central controller 300, and a mobile transmission station 400 as major components.
Seat device 100 and audio / visual transmission device 2
00 is connected via a transmission cable 25, the audio / visual transmission device 200 and the aircraft-side central controller 300 are connected via a transmission cable 26, and the aircraft-side central controller 300 and the mobile transmitting station 400 are connected via a transmission cable. 27.

In addition, on the ground, the aircraft 1000
As a part of the in-flight entertainment service, a fixed communication relay station 2000 is used on the ground corresponding to the mobile transmitting station 400 mounted on a mobile station 400, and a service section 3000 is provided. The mobile transmitting station 400 of the aircraft 1000 and the communication relay station 2000 are connected via a wireless communication line 500, and the communication relay station 2000 and the service department 3000 are connected via a wireless or wired communication line 600. It is connected. Note that reference numeral 700 indicates a transportation route of a replacement product for a failed device, and reference numeral 4000 indicates an airport as a scheduled arrival destination.

In the aircraft 1000, the seat device 10
Numeral 0 denotes a plurality of distributors (ADB: Area Distribution Box) 15 connected in series to the transmission cable 25 and the individual seat device 1 connected to each distributor (ADB) 15.
0.

Passenger control unit (PCU) 11
Has a headphone jack 11a (see FIG. 2) to which headphones 14 are connected. Passenger control unit (PCU) 11 is equipped with seat electronics (SE)
B) 12. The display device 13 is connected to the seat electronics (SEB) 12 of the seat immediately behind.
The operation status by the operation in the passenger control unit (PCU) 11 and the result of the processing are displayed on the LCD display device 1.
3 is displayed.

One distributor (ADB) 15 is arranged as a group of several individual seat devices 10 arranged in the direction of the aircraft axis, and such a distributor (AD) is arranged.
B) Audio / visual transmission device 200 via transmission cable 25 with 15 connected to a plurality of series
Connected to. As shown in FIG. 2, a common seat electronic device (SEB) 12 is arranged for several individual seat devices 10 arranged in a lateral direction with respect to the machine axis direction, and the seat electronic device (SEB) 12 is Distributor (AD
B) 15.

Each passenger control unit (PCU) 11 for each seat includes an audio / video selection switch, a channel selection switch, a volume control, a headphone jack, and the like. It also has an attendant call switch and a reading light switch.

Audio / visual transmission device 200
Is a distribution / combiner 17 and a central controller (PES).
C: Passenger Entertainment System Controller) 1
8 and a CD playback device (CDR: CD Reproducer) 19
And Programmable Video Service Control Unit (PVSCU)
Unit 20) and a video modulation device (VMU: Video Modula)
tor Unit) 21 and a video cassette player (VCP:
Video Cassette Player) 22. Also,
Remote control device (RCT: Remote Control T)
erminal) 23 and a central display 24 attached thereto. Audio / visual transmission equipment 200
The central controller (PESC) 18 at the
Connected through.

The passenger control unit (PCU) 11
Detects various operation signals caused by the operation of the passenger and converts the operation signals to the corresponding passenger control unit (PCU).
The seat electronic device (SE
B) Tell 12 The seat electronic device (SEB) 12 is configured to transmit the operation signal / identification signal to the distributor (ADB) 15. The distributor (ADB) 15 collects signals from the plurality of seat electronic devices (SEB) 12 and transmits the signals to the audio / visual transmission device 200 via the transmission cable 25.

In addition, the operation of the in-flight entertainment (IFE) device when the passenger enjoys the contents such as music and video at the seat is the same as in the case of the conventional technology, so that the detailed description is omitted.

The central controller (PESC) 18
It is configured to execute a periodic failure diagnosis mode in the in-flight entertainment service.
This operation in the periodic failure diagnosis mode is referred to as BITE
This is called an ON FLIGHT operation. That is, the central controller (PESC) 18
BITE ON in FLIGHT failure diagnosis mode
A failure diagnosis command signal called a FLIGHT signal is sent to each seat electronic device (SEB) 1 via each distributor (ADB) 15.
2 and each passenger control unit (PCU) 11, a distributor (ADB) 15, seat electronics (SE)
B) Operate the check sequence in each of the passenger control unit (PCU) 12 and 12. Note that B
ITE stands for Built In Test Equipment.

Passenger control unit (PCU) 11
Performs its own failure diagnosis, and sends a failure diagnosis result signal to the seat electronic device (SEB) 12. The seat electronic device (SEB) 12 performs its own failure diagnosis, and outputs a failure diagnosis result signal to the passenger control unit (PCU) 1.
The signal is sent to the distributor (ADB) 15 together with the failure diagnosis result signal of No. 1. The distributor (ADB) 15 performs its own failure diagnosis, and outputs the failure diagnosis result signal to the passenger control unit (PCU) 11 and the seat electronic device (SEB) 12.
The central controller (PES) via the transmission cable 25 and the distributor / combiner 17 together with the failure diagnosis result signal of
C) Send to 18.

The central controller (PESC) 18
Holds the transmitted failure diagnosis result information,
The failure diagnosis result information is displayed on a central display unit 24 attached to a remote control unit (RCT) 23 via a programmable video service control unit (PVSCU) 20. Further, if necessary, the data may be transferred to a removable recording medium such as an IC card.

The failure diagnosis result information held by the central controller (PESC) 18 includes information about which seat matrix of the seat electronic device (SEB) 12 is in failure and information about which passenger control unit of the seat electronic device (SEB) 12. (PCU) 11 is a fault, or if necessary, which distributor (ADB) 15 is a fault. The fault diagnostic result information (BITE fault diagnosis) Information) is displayed on the central display device 24 of the remote control device (RCT) 23.

Here, in contrast to the description in the claims, the passenger control unit (PCU) 1
1 corresponds to a passenger operation means, and a seat electronic device (SEB) 1
2 corresponds to the seat electronic means, the distributor (ADB) 15 corresponds to the distribution means, and the central controller (PESC) 18
Corresponds to the central control means. Further, the central controller (PESC) 23 also functions as a failure diagnosis unit. In addition, the entire interactive transmission / reception means such as the passenger control unit (PCU) 11, the seat electronic device (SEB) 12, and the distributor (ADB) 15, including the headphones 14 and the LCD display device 13, corresponds to an entertainment device.

The above is the same as the prior art, but in the present embodiment, it is further configured as follows.

That is, the central controller (PESC) 18 in the audio / visual transmission device 200
Is transmitted to the aircraft-side central controller 300 via the transmission cable 26. The airframe-side central controller 300 is configured to transmit the failure diagnosis result information to the mobile transmitting station 400 as a new component, and the mobile transmitting station 4
00 is configured to transmit the failure diagnosis result information to the communication relay station 2000 on the ground via the wireless communication line 500. The communication relay station 2000 is configured to transmit the received failure diagnosis result information to the service department 3000 via the communication line 600.

In the above description, the central controller (PESC) 18 to the fuselage-side central controller 300
Fault diagnosis result information from the airplane-side central controller 300 to the mobile transmitting station 400, from the mobile transmitting station 400 to the communication relay station 2000, and from the communication relay station 2000 to the service department 3000. Is transmitted, a control signal required for transmission / reception, a message, and accompanying information are also transmitted. As accompanying information, aircraft 1
The location of the 000 on which the 000 is currently flying, the time of day, the identification numbers of the plurality of destination airports arriving, and the like. here,
In contrast to what is described in the claims, the mobile transmitting station 400 corresponds to the transmitting means.

Although there are a plurality of communication relay stations 2000, only the nearest one is shown here as a representative example. It is also assumed that there are a plurality of service departments 3000, and only the nearest one is shown here as a representative example. Although the transportation route 700 is drawn from the service department 3000, the transportation route 700 is not necessarily limited to this, and it goes without saying that the transportation route 700 may be transported from a warehouse or the like closest to the airport 4000 of the destination.

The mobile transmitting station 400 and the communication relay station 2
000 may be a general wireless line or a satellite line. The communication line 600 connecting the communication relay station 2000 and the service department 3000 is preferably a dedicated telephone line, but may be a public telephone network or the Internet.

The service section 3000 may be provided by an in-flight entertainment (IFE) equipment maker, or may be a specialized consignment company outsourced or contracted by the maker.

In the service section 3000, it is desirable that a failure diagnosis expert is in charge. The expert here is a computer installed in the service department 3000. However, a failure diagnosis may be performed by an expert with computer assistance. When the expert performs the operation, the received failure diagnosis result information is displayed on the display device together with the attached information, and the expert performs the necessary work while viewing the displayed failure diagnosis result information.

The computer installed in the service department 3000 can be used, if necessary, under the direction of a specialist to check the failure status of the faulty equipment, the necessity of replacement with a replacement, the stock status of the replacement, and the like. Judgment, Judgment of the nearest warehouse to the airport 4000 where the target aircraft 1000 is to arrive next, Judgment of whether it is in time to ship a substitute to the arrival airport, Transportation of the substitute Judgment as to which route is the shortest as route 700, and if it is too late, find out which airport is going to arrive next, etc. Alternatively, a process for finding the next best solution is executed. It should be noted that an operation of a specialist can be added in the processing for obtaining such an optimal solution or a sub-optimal solution. Needless to say, all processing may be performed by a computer by using an advanced program.

As described above, by performing the processing for finding the optimum solution or the next best solution for responding in a shortest time in replacing the faulty device with the substitute, any one of the objects that the target aircraft 1000 is to arrive at Arrival airport of 4000
By sending a substitute as soon as possible and replacing the delivered substitute with a malfunctioning device, it is possible to provide comfortable and timely in-flight entertainment service to passengers.

In the above description, the part for transmitting the failure diagnosis result information to the mobile transmitting station 400 via the aircraft-side central controller 300 is referred to as a central controller (PESC).
However, instead of this, the mobile transmitting station 4 is transmitted from the programmable video service control unit (PVSCU) 20 via the airplane-side central controller 300.
00 may be configured to transmit the failure diagnosis result information.

The passenger control unit (PC
U) 11 and the seat electronic device (SEB) 12 are connected to the audio / visual transmitting device 200 via the distributor (ADB) 15, but the distributor (ADB) 15 is omitted and the seat electronic device (SEB) is omitted. 12 may be directly connected to the audio-visual transmission device 200.

As another service, the information of the questionnaire survey is transmitted to the central controller (P) through a specific operation in the passenger control unit (PCU) 11.
It can also be transmitted to the ESC 18 to further improve the total passenger service.

[0066]

According to the present invention regarding the entertainment equipment failure information transmission system in the passenger carrying vehicle, the failure diagnosis result information is transmitted directly from the passenger carrying vehicle to the service department via the communication relay station. And, in the service department, when replacing a faulty device with a substitute, it can perform expert processing for the best solution or the next best solution to respond in the shortest time, and can replace the faulty device in a timely manner. The time required for restoring the vehicle can be greatly reduced as compared with the prior art, and a comfortable environment for entertainment services for passengers can be quickly restored.

The technique of the present invention is particularly effective in airlines using in-flight entertainment (IFE) equipment. Since the IFE failure information is transmitted directly from the aircraft to the ground service department, the IFE provider does not need to check the IFE failure information with the airline staff, as in the past, and the IFE equipment service system To simplify
In the airline using FE, it is possible to exhibit a high level of service effect that can not be compared with the conventional one.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an aircraft passenger service system device and an entertainment device failure information transmission system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a seat wiring pattern diagram of an aircraft passenger service system device according to an embodiment of the present invention and a conventional technique.

FIG. 3 is a schematic side view of seat wiring of an aircraft passenger service system according to an embodiment of the present invention and a conventional technique.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an aircraft passenger service system device according to a conventional technique.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Individual seat apparatus 10A ... Front seat back part 11 ... Passenger control unit (PCU) (passenger operation means) 12 ... Seat electronic equipment (SEB) (seat electronic means) 13 ... LCD display device 14 ... Headphones 15 ... Distribution Device (ADB) (distribution means) 16 ... power supply / signal cable 17 ... distribution / combiner 18 ... central controller (PESC) (central control means) 19 ... CD playback device (CDR) 20 ... programmable video service control unit (PVSCU) DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 21 ... Video modulation device (VMU) 22 ... Video cassette player (VCP) 23 ... Remote control device (RCT) 24 ... Central display device 25 ... Transmission cable 26 ... Transmission cable 27 ... Transmission cable 100 ... Seat equipment 200 ... Audio visual Sending device 300 Aircraft-side central controller 400 Mobile transmission station 500 Wireless communication line (for transmission of failure diagnosis result information) 600 Communication line (for transmission of failure diagnosis result information) 700 Transportation route of alternative product 1000 Aircraft (passenger transportation 2000) Communication relay station 3000 ... Service department 4000 ... Airport at destination of arrival PCU: Passenger Control Unit SEB: Seat Electronics Box ADB: Area Distribution Box PESC: Passenger Entertainment System Controlle
r PVSCU: Programmable Video Service Control Unit CDR: CD Reproducer VMU: Video Modulator Unit VCP: Video Cassette Player RCT: Remote Control Terminal

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An entertainment device such as an audio / video device, failure diagnosis means for diagnosing a failure of the entertainment device, and failure diagnosis result information of a failure diagnosis performed by the failure diagnosis device on the entertainment device. A passenger transport vehicle having transmission means for transmitting, a communication relay station for receiving the failure diagnosis result information transmitted from the transmission means in the passenger transport vehicle, and further transmitting the information to the outside; and the communication relay station Along with receiving the failure diagnosis result information transmitted and transmitted from and determining the failure diagnosis result information, a substitute for the entertainment device or a substitute for the entertainment device related to the failure at the destination where the passenger transport moving body is scheduled to arrive It is characterized by being linked to a service department that provides services for transporting parts Entertainment equipment failure information transmission system in passenger conveyors mobile that. 2. The entertainment device according to claim 1, wherein the entertainment device includes a passenger operation unit for requesting provision of contents such as audio / video, a seat electronic unit for detecting and transmitting an operation signal from the passenger operation unit, and a plurality of seat electronic units. Distributing means for relaying a signal between the seat electronic means and the central control means, wherein the failure diagnosis means receives the passenger operation means, the seat electronic means, and the distribution means in accordance with a command from the central control means. 2. The entertainment equipment failure in the passenger carrying vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the central control means receives the failure diagnosis result information by the failure diagnosis means and transfers the information to the transmission means. Information transmission system. 3. The system according to claim 2, wherein the distribution means is not provided, and the fault diagnosis result information is sent directly from the seat electronic means to the central control means. Information transmission system for entertainment equipment in passenger transportation vehicles. 4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the passenger transport vehicle is an aircraft, a passenger ship, or a train. 5. The entertainment device is a video-on-demand device or an Internet device.
An entertainment equipment failure information transmission system in a passenger carrying vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 4.