Abstract: A system for managing advertisements in an in-flight entertainment (“IFE”) system operating on an airplane can include an inventory processing device and a non-transitory computer readable medium. The non-transitory computer readable medium can be communicatively coupled to the inventory processing device to cause the inventory processing device to perform operations. The operations can include determining an inventory of targeted advertisements for future flights. The operations can further include receiving a request to use a portion of the inventory for advertisements associated with an advertiser. The operations can further include transmitting instructions to an IFE controller on-board the airplane to cause the IFE controller to provide the advertisements during targeted advertisement opportunities during a flight.

Abstract: A display apparatus receptacle configured to be mounted to a passenger seat. The display apparatus receptacle includes a pair of main latch assemblies releasably connectable to a striker of a display apparatus. The pair of main latch assemblies include an activation rod having an end with sloped teeth. The pair of main latch assemblies also include a lock rod with an end having sloped teeth and attached to a pair of latch plates. The pair of main latch assemblies also include a pair of lock pawls rotatable by movement of the latch plates. The pair of main latch assemblies also include a lock rod spring having a spiral shape about a rod extending axially through the lock rod to connect to the activation rod, the lock rod spring resiliently urging the sloped teeth of the lock rod to engage the sloped teeth of the activation rod.

Abstract: An object recognition computer for a vehicle includes at least one processor and at least one memory storing program code executable by the at least one processor to perform operations. The operations are configured to receive video streams from a plurality of cameras spaced apart within the vehicle and each having a field-of-view capturing at least one passenger seat. For each of the video streams, the operations retrieve from a data structure information that defines a region within video frames of the video stream where object recognition is to be performed to attempt to identify a defined object associated with the at least one passenger seat. The operations then perform object recognition limited to within the defined region to identify the defined object. Notifications can be selectively generated to passengers and/or crew based on the object recognition.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to an antenna system for an airplane. The antenna system including an antenna system enclosure and a desiccant enclosure within the antenna system enclosure and having desiccant material positioned between an outside air pipe and an inside air pipe, the inside air pipe extending from the desiccant enclosure to open to an interior air volume of at least one component of the antenna system within the antenna system enclosure, the outside air pipe extending from the desiccant enclosure to ambient air outside the antenna system enclosure, and the desiccant material is configured to absorb moisture in the ambient air flowing from the outside air pipe to the inside air pipe through the desiccant enclosure while air pressure is being equalized from outside to inside the antenna system enclosure.

Abstract: An aircraft based satellite communication (SATCOM) terminal includes a broadband aperture configured to communicate through non-geostationary orbit (NGSO) satellites for broadband communications, a management aperture configured to receive NGSO satellite management information from a geostationary orbit (GSO) satellite, and at least one processor that performs operations. The operations receive the NGSO satellite management information from the GSO satellite, where the NGSO satellite management information indicates positions and associated time of a set of the NGSO satellites. The operations acquire a second communication link with a second NGSO satellite among the set using the NGSO satellite management information during handoff switching from using a first communication link that was previously acquired with a first NGSO satellite to using the second communication link being acquired with the second NGSO satellite.

Abstract: A radio resource management system in communication with multiple airport communication systems located at different airports is described. The radio resource management system receives a request to transfer data from an aircraft communication system within an aircraft to an airport communication system of the multiple ground communication systems. The radio resource management system determines an availability of radio resources at each airport communication system of the multiple airport communication systems based on the request. The radio resource management system selects an airport communication system from the multiple airport communication systems to transfer the data based on the determined availability of radio resources at the airport communication system. The radio resource management system reserves an amount of radio resources of the selected airport communication system of the multiple airport communication systems for the aircraft communication system to transfer the data.

Abstract: A broadband communication system provides broadband communication services onboard an aircraft. The broadband communication system includes a satellite communication transceiver, a direct air-to-ground communication (DA2GC) transceiver, and a controller. The satellite communication transceiver is configured to communicate directly with a target satellite providing a satellite communication data pathway with a satellite ground station connected to ground networks. The DA2GC transceiver is configured to communicate directly with a DA2GC ground station providing an DA2GC data pathway with the ground networks. The controller is configured to control handoff between the satellite communication transceiver and the DA2GC transceiver for data communications between the broadband communications system and the ground networks, based on performance of at least one of the satellite communication data pathway and the DA2GC data pathway.

Abstract: An aircraft cabin communication system includes a wireless access point (WAP) and a connectivity server. The WAP transmits a beacon indicating Hotspot capability and identifying an open SSID, establishes a connection with a first passenger electronic device (PED) carried onboard an aircraft responsive to communications received from the first PED using the open SSID, and provides a list of mobile network operators (MNOs) to the first PED. The connectivity server receive a request to setup a PDU session through the Internet for the first PED. The request identifies a mobile network operator (MNO) associated with the first PED. The connectivity server initiates authentication using extensible authentication protocol (EAP) communications with the first PED and an authorization, authentication, and accounting (AAA) server associated with a partner MNO connected with the MNO identified by the first PED.

Abstract: A broadband communication system aboard an aircraft includes a steerable antenna, a modem, and processing circuitry. The processing circuitry determines a region on the ground where sidelobes of the radiated signal power pattern are incident. A regulatory power flux density (PFD) envelope is determined. PFD generated by the sidelobes in the region on the ground is estimated based on the ESD pattern of the steerable antenna and the aircraft altitude, attitude, and location. The processing circuitry determines, based on the estimate of the PFD generated by the sidelobes in the region on the ground and based on the regulatory PFD envelope, a target ESD pattern for the steerable antenna. The processing circuitry further controls at least one of: 1) output power of the modem based on the target ESD pattern; and 2) bandwidth of the data traffic output by the modem based on the target ESD pattern.

Abstract: A network analysis terminal is described that operates within a vehicle cabin to generate passenger connectivity experience metrics. The terminal monitors packets communicated through at least one cabin network between a content server and passenger terminals. The terminal receives packets monitored by the network interface and identifies passenger terminal identifiers that are addressed by content of the packets. Names of vehicle passengers associated with the packets are identified using the passenger terminal identifiers as indexes to retrieve the names of vehicle passengers from an information repository that maps names of vehicle passengers to passenger terminal identifiers. Passenger connectivity experience metrics are generated based on measurements performed on the packets over time.

Abstract: Courier electronic devices are used to transport seat video display unit (SVDU) operating system (OS) code updates from a content operation center to onboard a vehicle. The OS code used by the SVDUs is updated based on the OS code update to generate an updated OS code, which is used to curate entertainment content files from a mass storage device for selection among by passengers for their consumption through the SVDUs. Entertainment content files may also be selected by the content operation center based on passenger characteristic information and loaded onto the courier electronic devices for transport onboard the vehicle for transfer to the S VDUs to update the entertainment content that is made available for selection by the passengers. The courier electronic devices may be used to facilitate transportation of other information between the SVDUs in the content operation center.

Abstract: An entertainment system to perform operations to securely pair and communicate with a user device based on multiple security controls. The operations include: Responsive to a request to pair the user device to a network interface, generating an encrypted code that includes network credentials for connecting to the network interface and a time-limited authentication credential that is unique to the user device. Responsive to a request to connect to a server of the entertainment system, generating a connection authorization decision for the user device based on two factor authentication validating (i) a second certificate of the user device, and (ii) the time-limited authentication credential that is unique to the user device. The entertainment system connects the user device to the server for secure communications when the connection authorization decision authorizes the connection based on successful two-factor authentication.

Abstract: A communications system supports transactions through seat video display units (SVDUs) and/or passenger electronic devices (PEDs) onboard aircraft. A ground-based server uploads to an aircraft server a set of promotions and associated criteria, where each criteria defines a condition that must be satisfied before transactions can be completed to obtain an associated one of the promotions. The ground-based server receives reports containing promotion usage metrics from the aircraft server, determines whether any of the criteria conditions are satisfied based on the promotion usage metrics, and when one of the criteria conditions associated with a satisfied one of the promotions is determined to be satisfied, sends a notification to the aircraft server that authorizes completion of the transactions for the satisfied one of the promotion. The vehicle server promotes the set of promotions and sends reports containing promotion usage metrics to the ground-based server.

Abstract: An entertainment and connectivity system includes a processor for transferring information between a vehicle based user device and a server to validate a user's government identity before granting the user device access to the internet. The vehicle based server has an internet protocol address and communicates with user devices. The user devices each have an onboard internet protocol address mapped to the internet protocol address of the vehicle based server. A processor associated with the vehicle based server receives requests for internet service originating from the user devices. The requests include travel information or internet subscription plan information for a user of each of the user devices. The vehicle based server, or a ground based server that receives the request, generates an internet connection authorization decision based on validation of the user's government identity or the user's internet subscription plan information.

Abstract: An application power controller controls power supplied from rechargeable battery packs to a set of aircraft in-flight processing systems that are executing applications. Operations access a repository of application information to obtain a list of applications to be executed by the aircraft in-flight processing systems and power consumption information for the applications. Further operations obtain information from the battery monitor indicating health and capacity of the battery packs. The operations initiate an application deactivation action based on determining that the indicated health and/or capacity of the battery packs does not satisfy a battery protection rule defining constraints on battery usage. The operations then select one of the applications from among the list that is to be deactivated responsive to the application deactivation action, and communicate a command to at least one of the in-flight application processing systems to trigger the selected application to cease being executed.

Abstract: A ground based content server transfers content to an aircraft based content server via courier devices that are transported by aircraft passengers. Content files to be delivered to a target aircraft are identified. Courier devices associated with persons scheduled to become passengers on the target aircraft are identified. Each of the content files are divided into content fragments, where the content fragments collectively contain all data necessary for reassembling the content files. The content fragments are distributed from the ground based content server across the courier devices, so that each courier device is distributed one of the content fragments containing data that is at least partially redundant with data contained in one of the content fragments that is distributed to at least one other one of the courier devices and that is not redundant to data contained in other content fragments distributed to still other ones of the courier devices.

Abstract: Courier electronic devices are used to transport seat video display unit (SVDU) operating system (OS) code updates from a content operation center to onboard a vehicle. The OS code used by the SVDUs is updated based on the OS code update to generate an updated OS code, which is used to curate entertainment content files from a mass storage device for selection among by passengers for their consumption through the SVDUs. Entertainment content files may also be selected by the content operation center based on passenger characteristic information and loaded onto the courier electronic devices for transport onboard the vehicle for transfer to the SVDUs to update the entertainment content that is made available for selection by the passengers. The courier electronic devices may be used to facilitate transportation of other information between the SVDUs in the content operation center.

Abstract: A vehicle chatroom server includes at least one network interface configured to communicate with passenger terminals, at least one processor connected to communicate through the at least one network interface, and at least one memory storing code that is executed by the at least one processor to perform operations. The operations include obtaining passenger information and characterizing potential passenger discussion interests based on the passenger information. The operations identify a grouping of passengers who satisfy a common interest rule based on the potential passenger discussion interests. The operations then communicate with passengers in the grouping through a computerized chatbot module providing natural-language text and/or computer synthesized speech that is provided to the passengers in the grouping to invite to a discussion-focused chatroom hosted by the chatroom server. Related methods and computer program products are disclosed.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for registering personal electronic devices (PEDs) with an aircraft in-flight entertainment (IFE) system. Some methods include generating a different token image for each IFE passenger seat display, each generated token image comprising unique information for registering the PEDs with the IFE system. Different ones of the generated token images are communicated to different ones of the IFE passenger seat displays for display to passengers. A request comprising a captured image of the generated token image that is displayed on one of the IFE passenger seat displays is received. The at least one PED is registered with the IFE system by associating the unique identification information of the generated token image received in the request from the at least one PED. A communication link is established with the PED using the unique information.

Abstract: A controller device in communication with service delivery devices of an aircraft in-flight entertainment (IFE) system receives objective information associated with an aircraft comprising the aircraft IFE system. The controller device also receives subjective passenger information associated with a passenger of the aircraft. A service is determined to deliver to the passenger during a flight on the aircraft based on the received objective and subjective passenger information. A service delivery device is identified among the service delivery devices of the aircraft that is associated with a seat assigned to the passenger or determined to be operated by the passenger. The controller controls delivery of the determined service to the identified service delivery device.