Camera Capture Posting

Abstract

An aircraft computing device providing image information from an aircraft to a party of a terrestrial communication network. The aircraft computing device comprises a processor unit and a storage unit storing program code which, when executed by the processor unit, configures the computing device to receive a sequence of pictures acquired by a camera of the aircraft, output the received pictures towards a user of the aircraft, receive user input, the user input indicating a selection by the user of at least one picture from the sequence of pictures and a party of a terrestrial communication network, and output the at least one picture selected by the user for transmission towards the party of the terrestrial communication network. Further described are a system, an aircraft, a method, a computer program product, and a storage medium.

Claims

1. An aircraft computing device for providing image information from an aircraft to a party of a terrestrial communication network, the aircraft computing device comprising a processor unit and a storage unit storing program code which, when executed by the processor unit, configures the computing device to: receive a sequence of pictures acquired by a camera of the aircraft; output the received pictures towards a user of the aircraft; receive user input, the user input indicating a selection by the user of at least one picture from the sequence of pictures and a party of a terrestrial communication network; and output the at least one picture selected by the user for transmission towards the party of the terrestrial communication network.

2. A system for providing image information from an aircraft to a party of a terrestrial communication network, the system comprising: an aircraft computing device according to claim 1, and an aircraft camera which is mounted to the aircraft and which is configured to acquire a sequence of pictures and to output the sequence of pictures for reception by the aircraft computing device.

3. The system according to claim 2, further comprising: an aircraft transmission unit configured to connect with a terrestrial communication network and to transmit image information from the aircraft towards the terrestrial communication network, wherein the aircraft computing device is configured to output the at least one picture for transmission via the aircraft transmission unit.

4. The system of claim 2, further comprising: a user interface device configured to provide graphical output to the user and receive input from the user, wherein the aircraft computing device is configured to output the received pictures towards the user, and to receive the user input, via the user interface device.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the user interface device comprises a touch-sensitive screen.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the user interface device is mounted to the aircraft near a seat of the user.

7. The system of claim 3, further comprising a communication interface for communication with a mobile user equipment.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the aircraft computing device is configured to output the received pictures towards the mobile user equipment via the communication interface.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the aircraft computing device is configured to receive the user input from the mobile user equipment via the communication interface.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the communication interface is configured for wireless communication with the mobile user equipment.

11. The system of claim 7, wherein the mobile user equipment is a smartphone or a tablet PC.

12. The system of claim 7, wherein the aircraft computing device is configured to read out contact information which is stored in a memory of the mobile user equipment and which corresponds to one or more parties of the terrestrial communication network.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the user input indicates the party based on a selection by the user from among stored contacts and wherein the aircraft computing device outputs the at least one picture for transmission towards the party based at least partly on read-out contact information corresponding to the selected party.

14. The system of claim 2, wherein the user input includes contact information of the party of the terrestrial communication network and wherein the aircraft computing device outputs the at least one picture for transmission towards the party based at least partly on the input contact information.

15. An aircraft comprising a system according to claim 2.

16. A method for providing image information from an aircraft to a party of a terrestrial communication network, the method comprising: receiving, by a computing device of the aircraft, a sequence of pictures acquired by a camera of the aircraft; outputting, by the computing device, the received pictures towards a user of the aircraft; receiving, by the computing device, user input, the user input indicating a selection by the user of at least one picture from the sequence of pictures and a party of a terrestrial communication network; and outputting, by the computing device, the at least one picture selected by the user for transmission towards the party of the terrestrial communication network.

17. A computer program product stored on a non-transitory medium comprising executable instructions which, when executed by a processor unit of an aircraft computing device, configure the aircraft computing device to perform the method of claim 16.

18. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing the computer program product of claim 17.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] Embodiments of the technique presented herein are described herein below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0026] FIG. 1 schematically illustrates an aircraft computing device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0027] FIG. 2 schematically illustrates an example of a system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0028] FIG. 3 is a flow diagram of a method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0029] FIG. 4 schematically illustrates an example of a user interface device according to the present disclosure;

[0030] FIG. 5 schematically illustrates another example of a system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0031] In the following description, for purposes of explanation and not limitation, specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present disclosure. It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the present disclosure may be practiced in other embodiments that depart from these specific details. For example, those skilled in the art will appreciate that several of the steps, services and functions explained herein below may be implemented using individual hardware circuitry, using software functioning in conjunction with a programmed micro-processor or general purpose computer, using one or more Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs) and/or using one or more Digital Signal Processors (DSPs). It will also be appreciated that when the present disclosure is described in terms of a method, it may also be embodied in one or more processors and one or more memories coupled to the one or more processors, wherein the one or more memories are encoded with one or more programs that perform the steps, services and functions disclosed herein when executed by the one or more processors.

[0032] FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a computing device 100 for installation in an aircraft. The computing device 100 comprises a central processing unit (CPU) 110 and a non-transitory memory (MEM) 120 for storing data, such as program code and graphical content. The processor unit 110 is connected to the memory 120 to access the data stored therein. In particular, the processor unit 110 is adapted to execute program code stored in the memory 120, to read out stored data from the memory 120, and/or to determine processed data for storage in the memory 120.

[0033] The computing device 100 facilitates the provision of image information from an aircraft, in which the computing device 100 is installed, to a party of a terrestrial communication network. For that purpose, as indicated by the dashed line in FIG. 1, the memory 120 contains software code for execution by the processor unit 110 to thereby provide different functionalities, M1 to M4. In particular, the computing device 100 is configured to receive, by means of a picture sequence receiving module, M1, a sequence of pictures which has been acquired by a camera of the aircraft. For example, the computing device 100 receives live video information from a tail camera of the aircraft which is connected to the computing device 100 at an input interface (not shown) of the computing device 100.

[0034] By means of a picture sequence outputting module, M2, the computing device 100 outputs the received pictures towards one or more users of the aircraft. For example, the computing device 100 outputs the video information that has been received from the tail camera to a display device which is connected to the computing device 100 at an output interface (not shown) of the computing device 100. By means of the display device, the received video information is then displayed to one or more passengers in the aircraft.

[0035] While viewing the output picture sequence, a user may select a particular portion, for example, a single picture from the live video, by providing corresponding user input. For example, the video information is output to a passenger at a touch sensitive display, whereas the passenger selects a picture from the displayed video by touching a part of the display at a moment when the picture is being displayed. In addition, the passenger provides information on a member of a terrestrial communication network, for example, by inputting a telephone number, an e-mail address or a URL, to thereby determine a party of the communication network to whom the selected picture is to be sent. The computing device 100 receives the user input concerning the selection of the picture and the party information by means of a user input receiving module, M3. Based on the received sequence of pictures and the received user input, the computing device 100 determines, by means of a selected picture outputting module M4, the selected picture for output towards the party. For example, the computing device 100 outputs the selected picture, in a message directed to the indicated party, to a base station of the aircraft which is communicatively connected to the terrestrial communication network.

[0036] In FIG. 1, the computing device 100 is shown as an integral device with a single processing unit 110 and a single memory 120. However, in alternative examples, the computing device 100 is implemented as a distributed computing environment, comprising a plurality of processing units and/or memory units in communication with one another. In further examples, the computing device 100 at least temporarily stores the received and/or output pictures, whereas the user input indicating the selected picture provides an identifier, such as a time stamp, of the selected picture. Based on that identifier, the computing device 100 may then determine, from among the stored pictures, the particular picture which is intended for transmission to the network. In an alternative example, upon selection by the user, the display device sends back to the computing device 100 the graphical data of the selected picture. In that case, temporary storage of the initially received sequence of pictures by the computing device 100 can be dispensed with. Further in that case, if the computing device 100 is implemented as a distributed computing system, a communication between the picture sequence receiving module, M1, and the selected picture outputting module, M4, as indicated in FIG. 1 by the line between the corresponding boxes, is not required. Accordingly, the functionality shown in the left part of FIG. 1 can be implemented totally separate from the functionality shown in the right part of FIG. 1.

[0037] By means of the described functionality, the computing device 100 permits passengers in an aircraft to conveniently select and share with one or more other members of a communication network attractive graphical contents from an aircraft camera. A user can also transmit the graphical contents to an account that is personal to him or her, such as the user's own email or social media account, and thereby get direct access to the graphical content. At the same time, the computing device 100 permits an operator of the aircraft full control over the passengers' access to the graphical content and to which extent, or under which conditions, a passenger is allowed to utilize such contents. For example, conditions may be defined for the computing device 100 concerning a type of graphical content or a moment when such content is meant to be made accessible to a passenger for transmission to a network party. In an exemplary implementation, outputting the selected graphical content for transmission is delayed, for example, in accordance with predefined transmission intervals. In another example, all selected and transmitted contents from one or more flights are transmitted to a central server, from which a user can later download the desired images, for example, based on an identifier code which has been provided to the user by the operator. Implementations which include a delayed transmission or accessing of the selected graphical contents also allow the operator to analyze certain parts of the contents and/or prevent certain images from getting public. Moreover, the operator of the aircraft, e.g., an airline, can effectively reduce the amount of data that becomes accessible to each passenger, for example, by limiting a passenger's selection to a single picture out of a video stream.

[0038] The computing device 100 further provides the opportunity for the operator to modify the selected graphical content prior to transmission to the network. For example, the operator can include advertisements or other commercially relevant information into the picture. For example, the information can include advertisements which have been provided by advertising partners of the aircraft's operator, such as hotels, travel agencies, etc. Also, the information can be chosen based on one or more criteria, such as a flight destination, an age or a nationality of the passenger and/or a price range of the passenger's ticket. The aircraft camera can also be positioned such that an outer portion of the aircraft which bears the operator's name, such as the name or the symbol of an airline, is visible on every picture. In that manner, the described technique provides commercial benefits to the operator of the aircraft and makes the provision of a corresponding service to the passengers lucrative.

[0039] FIG. 2 schematically illustrates a cross-sectional view on a part of a fuselage of an aircraft 200. The aircraft 200 comprises a system 210 for providing image information from the aircraft 200 to a party of a terrestrial communication network. The system 210 comprises a computing device 220 corresponding to the computing device 100 of FIG. 1. The system 210 further comprises an aircraft camera 230 which in the shown example is fixedly installed near the tail of the aircraft 200. The system 210 also comprises a transmission unit 240, for example, as part of a base station of the aircraft 200, and a user interface device 250, and various seats 260 for users of the aircraft 200.

[0040] Corresponding to the example of FIG. 1, the computing device 220 receives image information that has been captured by the camera 230, such as live video information which is permanently acquired by the camera 230 to show an external view on the aircraft and/or its surroundings. Different from the shown example, the camera 230 can be installed in the aircraft 200 at any other position. Also, existing aircraft cameras which are provided mainly for other purposes, such as a landing gear camera, can be used as the camera 230. The computing device 220 outputs at least parts of the received image information towards the user interface device 250. In the example of FIG. 2, the user interface device 250 is arranged in the aircraft 200 near a seat 260 of a passenger, in order to provide the output image information to the passenger on or near that seat. For example, the user interface device 250 comprises a touch-sensitive screen to present to the passenger the output image information.

[0041] When the passenger wishes to select particular parts of the output image pictures, he provides corresponding user input to the user interface device 250, for example, by touching a particular part of the touch-sensitive screen. In addition, the user provides input corresponding to a party of a terrestrial communication network, to whom he or she wishes to send the selected picture. For example, the passenger can input, by means of a virtual keyboard which is displayed at the user interface device 250, an e-mail address, a telephone number or a URL of the receiving party. The computing device 220 receives that input from the user interface device 250 and, based thereon, determines for output a message which includes the selected picture and which is directed to the specified party and outputs that message to the transmission unit 240.

[0042] In some examples, the message further includes an identity of the passenger. For example, the passenger is prompted to input a personal identifier, such as a telephone number or an email address, to identify himself or herself as the sender of the message. In that manner, the situation can be avoided where the transmitted message is filtered out as anonymous by a spam filter of the receiving party. In other examples, the described technique further enables a user to enrich the selected picture with additional information, such as a written note or other graphical or non-graphical elements which the passenger may create by means of the user interface device 250.

[0043] FIG. 3 is a flow diagram of a method 300. The method 300 can be performed, for example, by the computing devices 100 of FIGS. 1 and 220 of FIG. 2. The method 300 comprises receiving, by a computing device of an aircraft, a sequence of pictures acquired by a camera of the aircraft, step 310. The method 300 further comprises outputting, by the computing device, the received pictures towards the user of the aircraft, step 320, and receiving, by the computing device, user input, the user input indicating a selection by the user of at least one picture from the sequence of pictures and a party of a terrestrial communication network, step 330. The method 300 further comprises outputting, by the computing device, the at least one picture selected by the user for transmission towards the party of the terrestrial communication network, step 340.

[0044] The method 300 corresponds to the technique described in FIGS. 1 and 2. Conversely, the optional and/or exemplary implementations as described in connection with FIGS. 1 and 2 apply correspondingly also to the method 300 of FIG. 3.

[0045] FIG. 4 schematically illustrates an example of a user interface device 400 for use in connection with the technique as described herein. For example, the user interface device 400 can be used as the user interface device 250 of FIG. 2. The user interface device 400 comprises a user interface 410, for example, a touch-sensitive screen. In its upper part, the user interface 410 includes a display portion 420, whereas in the lower part of the user interface 410 an input portion 430 is provided. The input portion 430 further comprises different input fields 440, 450. In the shown example, the output and input portions 420, 430 are shown as different parts of the same user interface 410. In alternative examples, separate interfaces for input or output can be provided. Moreover, whereas in the shown example, the user interface 410 is a touch-sensitive screen, other examples comprise other types of display devices and/or inputting means, such as a conventional LCD display and/or mechanical input buttons.

[0046] In the example of FIG. 4, the output portion 420 of the user interface 410 shows a picture of an external view on parts of the aircraft, as it is seen from a tail camera of the aircraft. At the same time, additional information relating to the flight is shown. In the input portion 430 of the user interface 410, a button 440, such as a soft button, is arranged. By pushing the button 440 a user of the user interface device 400 selects the picture that is currently shown in the output portion 420 for transmission to a certain party. Meanwhile, the input field 450, such as a virtual keyboard, permits the user to specify the party to whom the picture is to be sent. For example, the user can input a telephone number, an e-mail address or a URL associated with the receiving party via the input field 450. The input field 450 can further be used to create additional content, such as a text message, for transmission with the selected picture.

[0047] In some examples the user interface device 400 is configured to become fixedly installed in the aircraft. Other examples of the user interface device 400 include mobile devices which can be carried around, or be removable attached to, the aircraft by the passenger.

[0048] FIG. 5 schematically illustrates a cross-sectional view on a part of a fuselage of another aircraft 500 comprising a system 510 for providing image information from the aircraft 500 to a party of a terrestrial communication network Similar to the system 210 of FIG. 2, the system 510 of FIG. 5 comprises a computing device 520, an aircraft camera 530, a transmission unit 540 and a user interface device 550 arranged near a seat 560 of a passenger of the aircraft 500. However, different from the system 210 of FIG. 2, the system 510 of FIG. 5 further includes a plurality of user interface devices 550, 552 connected to the computing device 520 as well as a communication interface 570 connected to the computing device 520 and configured to communicate with a mobile user equipment 580. In the shown example, the communication interface 570 is a wireless communication interface. In other examples, however, the communication interface 570 includes electric contacts for physically connecting with electric contacts of the mobile user equipment 580. For example, the communication interface 570 can be part of a socket which is arranged near the seat 560 of a passenger and which is adapted to accommodate the mobile user equipment 580 while electrically contacting the mobile user equipment 580. The mobile user equipment 580 can be a smartphone or a tablet PC or any other mobile device, which may be personal to the passenger.

[0049] In the system 510, one or more functions of the user interface device 550, as described above in connection with the user interface device 250 of FIG. 2, are implemented also, or as an alternative, by the mobile user equipment 580. In some examples, all functions of the user interface device 550 as described above in connection with FIG. 2 are implemented by the mobile user equipment 580. For that purpose, use is made of a communication between the communication interface 570 of the system 510 and the mobile user equipment 580 as well as outputting and inputting means of the mobile user equipment 580. In certain examples, the computing device 520 outputs the received pictures to the mobile user equipment 580 by means of wireless communication between the communication interface 570 and the mobile user device 580, where the pictures are output to a user by means of a display of the mobile user equipment 580. Conversely, user input is provided through inputting means, such as a touch-sensitive screen or a keyboard of the mobile user equipment 580, and transmitted to the computing device 520 via the same wireless connection. For the wireless connection, a WLAN infrastructure as already existing on many passenger aircraft can be used.

[0050] In the example of FIG. 5, each of the user interface devices and mobile user equipment 550, 552, 580 is adapted to output image information acquired by the camera 530. Moreover, each of the devices 550, 552, 580 is suited to receive user input independently from the others and, based on that input, initiate transmission of image information via the transmission unit 540 to individually specified parties of one or more terrestrial communication networks.

[0051] In some examples of the system 510, the system 510 is configured to read out stored contact information from the mobile user equipment 580, corresponding to one or more parties of a communication network, while the user may not be actively using the mobile user equipment 580. The system 510 may then present the read-out contacts to the user via the user interface device 550. The user thus merely needs to select the intended party, for example, from among a list of read-out contacts which are displayed to him or her on the user interface device 550. In other examples, when the user is actively using the mobile user equipment 580 for the technique presented herein, he or she may simply select a party from among contact information stored on the mobile user equipment 580. The mobile user equipment 580 then automatically transmits the complete contact information, such as a phone number, an e-mail address or a URL, to the computing device 520 via the communication interface 570. For the described wireless communication between a mobile user equipment 580 and the system 510, short range communication techniques, such as WLAN and Bluetooth, are particularly suited. Moreover, near field communication (NFC) can be used, for example, in order to associate a passenger's mobile user equipment 580 with the on-board user interface device 550 which corresponds to the seat of the passenger.

[0052] While at least one exemplary embodiment of the present invention(s) is disclosed herein, it should be understood that modifications, substitutions and alternatives may be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art and can be made without departing from the scope of this disclosure. This disclosure is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the exemplary embodiment(s). In addition, in this disclosure, the terms comprise or comprising do not exclude other elements or steps, the terms a or one do not exclude a plural number, and the term or means either or both. Furthermore, characteristics or steps which have been described may also be used in combination with other characteristics or steps and in any order unless the disclosure or context suggests otherwise. This disclosure hereby incorporates by reference the complete disclosure of any patent or application from which it claims benefit or priority.