Crane Company
SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AIRCRAFT SEAT AND SUITE CONTROL VIA A PERSONAL ELECTRONIC DEVICE

Abstract:

A system and method for controlling a seat device. A control unit broadcasts an identifier associated with a seat assigned to a passenger, and establishes a personal wireless area network connection with a personal electronic device (PED) associated with the passenger. The control unit monitors strength of a signal received from the PED over the wireless personal area network, and sets a flag based on the strength of the signal. The control unit receives, over the wireless personal area network, a command from the PED to control the seat device, and determines state of the flag in response to the command. The control unit transmits a signal to take an action invoked by the command in response to the flag being in a first state, and refrains from transmitting the signal to take the action invoked by the command in response to the flag being in a second state.