Abstract: Systems and methods are described herein that utilize a decentralized control panel architecture to monitor or control components or (sub-)systems of an aircraft or other vehicle. A controller can be used to receive information from multiple input sources and send a command to one or more output devices based on the received information. The received information may be of different types or formats that can be read by the controller. The controller may cause a visual or physical change to an actuator based on the command. One or more control panel entities can be communicatively coupled with the controller and used to access information about one or more (sub-)systems of the vehicle and send commands where appropriate.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for registering and monitoring a status of a plurality of units of an in-flight entertainment system disposed within a vehicle. Using a portable computing device, each of the units can be registered with the server by reading a unique machine-readable identifier disposed on or near each unit. The identifier could be a barcode or other indicia or a NFC tag, for example. Location information about each unit can also be obtained via manual input or by reading a second identifier.

Abstract: Systems for determining a flight stage of an aircraft are described in which a vibration sensor and a sensor for determining a pitch of the aircraft are utilized. A server receives signals from the vibration sensor and pitch sensor, and determines the flight stage using a set of algorithms. Depending on the flight stage determined, a command signal can be generated and transmitted to cause one or more components of the aircraft to change in function or power on or off.

Abstract: System and methods are described herein for automatically associating one or more passenger mobile devices with one or more specific wireless access points depending on each passenger location within the aircraft or other vehicle, and the status of each of the wireless access points including its functionality and load. In preferred embodiments, a tag can be captured or read by the passenger's device, which can then cause the passenger's device to connect with a specific wireless access point. In some embodiments, the passenger's device can also be automatically directed to a landing page, such as using a web browser of the passenger's device.

Abstract: Systems for determining a flight stage of an aircraft are described in which a vibration sensor and a sensor for determining a pitch of the aircraft are utilized. A server receives signals from the vibration sensor and pitch sensor, and determines the flight stage using a set of algorithms. Depending on the flight stage determined, a command signal can be generated and transmitted to cause one or more components of the aircraft to change in function or power on or off.

Abstract: Methods of determining locations, types, and quantities of devices within a vehicle, in particular for in flight entertainment systems. Methods of the inventive subject matter include general sequencing, indirect sequencing, and direct sequencing. In indirect sequencing, each device connected to the in flight entertainment system's wireless network is actuated in a predetermined sequence such that the in flight entertainment system can record locations of the different devices connected to it and then correlate the device locations to a set of potential device locations. In direct sequencing, information from each device is manually collected in sequence and then correlated to potential device locations.

Abstract: System and methods are described herein for automatically associating one or more passenger mobile devices with one or more specific wireless access points depending on each passenger location within the aircraft or other vehicle, and the status of each of the wireless access points including its functionality and load. In preferred embodiments, a tag can be captured or read by the passenger's device, which can then cause the passenger's device to connect with a specific wireless access point. In some embodiments, the passenger's device can also be automatically directed to a landing page, such as using a web browser of the passenger's device.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for registering and monitoring a status of a plurality of units of an in-flight entertainment system disposed within a vehicle. Using a portable computing device, each of the units can be registered with the server by reading a unique machine-readable identifier disposed on or near each unit. The identifier could be a barcode or other indicia or a NFC tag, for example. Location information about each unit can also be obtained via manual input or by reading a second identifier.

Abstract: Methods of determining locations, types, and quantities of devices within a vehicle, in particular for in flight entertainment systems. Methods of the inventive subject matter include general sequencing, indirect sequencing, and direct sequencing. In indirect sequencing, each device connected to the in flight entertainment system's wireless network is actuated in a predetermined sequence such that the in flight entertainment system can record locations of the different devices connected to it and then correlate the device locations to a set of potential device locations. In direct sequencing, information from each device is manually collected in sequence and then correlated to potential device locations.