Transportation crew and staff typically use communications tools to perform operations. For example, airlines personnel typically use various methods of communication during flight turn operations. Such communications may include the use of hardwired phones in the passenger boarding bridge that are connected to the gate, traditional phone lines from the gate to the operations office, very high frequency (VHF) radios from the flight deck to the operations office, handheld radios used from the below wing personnel to the operations office, hardwired channels from the below wing mechanic to the flight deck, and airline personnel’s personal mobile phones. Other transportation operations, such as passenger train and cruise ship operations, also use a number of methods of communications.
The patented invention provides a smartphone app configured to allow communication in a collaboration and communication space.
Patent Information
Patent Number: 9,124,659
Patent Title: Shared space for crew communication
Inventors: Yoshimura; Scott T. (Renton, WA), Mehlhaff; Mark G. (Seattle, WA), Burgess; Michael Joseph (Seattle, WA), Rankin; Richard Leroy (Lake Stevens, WA)
Assignee: The Boeing Company (Chicago, IL)
Family ID: 1000001313653
Appl. No.: 13/948,473
Filed: July 23, 2013
Abstract: A predetermined group of users using one or more computing devices are allowed to join a shared collaboration and communication space associated with the predetermined group of users. The shared collaboration and communication space is associated with the predetermined group of users for a specified time period and for a predetermined operation that the predetermined group of users are authorized to work on. The predetermined group of users are authenticated based on user identities and information identifying the predetermined operation. The shared collaboration and communication space allows for interactive communication among the predetermined group of users.
Claim 1: A method for communication by a predetermined group of users using one or more computing devices, the method comprising: receiving, from one of the predetermined group of users, a request to log into a shared collaboration and communication space associated with the predetermined group of users, the shared collaboration and communication space being associated with the predetermined group of users for an airline flight and for a time period beginning at a predetermined time prior to departure and ending at a predetermined time after arrival of the airline flight; authenticating the request based at least in part on a user identity for the one user and a determination as to whether the one user is associated with the airline flight during the time period; and in response to the authenticating, providing a user interface indicative of the shared collaboration and communication space and allowing access to the shared collaboration and communication space for the airline flight and for the time period associated with the airline flight.