Abstract: Methods and systems for a vehicle entertainment system are provided. One method includes receiving an input for a media file at a smart monitor on an aircraft, the aircraft having a plurality of smart monitors and a plurality of seat boxes communicating via a network that includes a first sub-network to connect a first group of the seat boxes, and a computing device that stores a plurality of media files, and a second sub-network to connect a second group of seat boxes and the computing device.

Abstract: Methods and systems for a transportation vehicle are provided. One method includes receiving a network packet at a network interface device of an information system of a transportation vehicle; identifying public announcement audio in a payload of the network packet by the network interface device; extracting the public announcement audio from the payload of the network packet by the network interface device; transferring the public announcement audio to an audio system by the network interface device; and playing the public announcement audio by the audio system.

Abstract: A vehicle entertainment system including a server storing media files, and smart monitors. The system includes a server disposed in the vehicle to store media files; smart monitors disposed in the vehicle to present media selections to passengers corresponding to the media files stored by the server and receive an input from a passenger for playing one of the selections; seat boxes disposed in the vehicle, each seat box including network-attached storage and storing a subset of the media files stored by the server in said network-attached storage. Program logic executed by each smart monitor in which after a smart monitor receives an input from a passenger for one of the selections, performs tasks including: determining if a media file corresponding to the passenger's input is available from a first source, and if available, requesting streaming of the media file from the first source that may be networked attached storage.

Abstract: Methods and systems for a vehicle entertainment system are provided. One method includes receiving an input for a media file at a smart monitor on an aircraft, the aircraft having a plurality of smart monitors and a plurality of seat boxes communicating via a network that includes a first sub-network to connect a first group of the seat boxes, and a computing device that stores a plurality of media files, and a second sub-network to connect a second group of seat boxes and the computing device.

Abstract: Methods and systems for a transportation vehicle are provided. For example, one method includes initializing a transaction mode for using a transaction card having a front portion and a rear portion from a seat device of a transportation vehicle; adjusting lighting from the seat device to capture an image of the transaction card; capturing the image of the transaction card using a camera of the seat device; and processing the image of the transaction card and extracting information from the image of the transaction card.

Abstract: Methods and systems for a transportation vehicle are provided. One method includes receiving a network packet at a network interface device of an information system of a transportation vehicle; identifying public announcement audio in a payload of the network packet by the network interface device; extracting the public announcement audio from the payload of the network packet by the network interface device; transferring the public announcement audio to an audio system by the network interface device; and playing the public announcement audio by the audio system.

Abstract: Methods and systems for a transportation vehicle are provided. One method includes receiving a network packet at a network interface device of an information system of a transportation vehicle; identifying public announcement audio in a payload of the network packet by the network interface device; extracting the public announcement audio from the payload of the network packet by the network interface device; transferring the public announcement audio to an audio system by the network interface device; and playing the public announcement audio by the audio system.

Abstract: A vehicle entertainment system including a server storing media files, and smart monitors. The system includes a server disposed in the vehicle to store media files; smart monitors disposed in the vehicle to present media selections to passengers corresponding to the media files stored by the server and receive an input from a passenger for playing one of the selections; seat boxes disposed in the vehicle, each seat box including network-attached storage and storing a subset of the media files stored by the server in said network-attached storage. Program logic executed by each smart monitor in which after a smart monitor receives an input from a passenger for one of the selections, performs tasks including: determining if a media file corresponding to the passenger's input is available from a first source, and if available, requesting streaming of the media file from the first source that may be networked attached storage.

Abstract: A vehicle entertainment system including a server storing media files, and smart monitors. Each smart monitor presents media selections corresponding to the media files and receives an input from passengers for playing a selection. Each smart monitor includes local content storage storing a subset of the media files. A network connects the smart monitors and server. Program logic executed by each smart monitor performs tasks including determining if a media file corresponding to an input is available from a first source, and if available, playing the media file from the first source; if the media file is not available there, determining if the media file required is available from a second source and if available, playing the media file from the second source; and if the media file is not available from the second source, determining if the media file is available from a third source.

Abstract: A vehicle entertainment system including a server storing media files, and smart monitors. The system includes a server disposed in the vehicle to store media files; smart monitors disposed in the vehicle to present media selections to passengers corresponding to the media files stored by the server and receive an input from a passenger for playing one of the selections; seat boxes disposed in the vehicle, each seat box including network-attached storage and storing a subset of the media files stored by the server in said network-attached storage. Program logic executed by each smart monitor in which after a smart monitor receives an input from a passenger for one of the selections, performs tasks including: determining if a media file corresponding to the passenger's input is available from a first source, and if available, requesting streaming of the media file from the first source that may be networked attached storage.

Abstract: A vehicle entertainment system including a server storing media files, and smart monitors. Each smart monitor presents media selections corresponding to the media files and receives an input from passengers for playing a selection. Each smart monitor includes local content storage storing a subset of the media files. A network connects the smart monitors and server. Program logic executed by each smart monitor performs tasks including determining if a media file corresponding to an input is available from a first source, and if available, playing the media file from the first source; if the media file is not available there, determining if the media file required is available from a second source and if available, playing the media file from the second source; and if the media file is not available from the second source, determining if the media file is available from a third source.

Abstract: A vehicle entertainment system including a server storing media files, and smart monitors. Each smart monitor presents media selections corresponding to the media files and receives an input from passengers for playing a selection. Each smart monitor includes local content storage storing a subset of the media files. A network connects the smart monitors and server. Program logic executed by each smart monitor performs tasks including determining if a media file corresponding to an input is available from a first source, and if available, playing the media file from the first source; if the media file is not available there, determining if the media file required is available from a second source and if available, playing the media file from the second source; and if the media file is not available from the second source, determining if the media file is available from a third source.

Abstract: Methods and systems for a transportation vehicle are provided. For example, one method includes initializing a transaction mode for using a transaction card having a front portion and a rear portion from a seat device of a transportation vehicle; adjusting lighting from the seat device to capture an image of the transaction card; capturing the image of the transaction card using a camera of the seat device; and processing the image of the transaction card and extracting information from the image of the transaction card.

Abstract: A vehicle entertainment system including a server storing media files, and smart monitors. The system includes a server disposed in the vehicle to store media files; smart monitors disposed in the vehicle to present media selections to passengers corresponding to the media files stored by the server and receive an input from a passenger for playing one of the selections; seat boxes disposed in the vehicle, each seat box including network-attached storage and storing a subset of the media files stored by the server in said network-attached storage. Program logic executed by each smart monitor in which after a smart monitor receives an input from a passenger for one of the selections, performs tasks including: determining if a media file corresponding to the passenger's input is available from a first source, and if available, requesting streaming of the media file from the first source that may be networked attached storage.

Abstract: A vehicle entertainment system including a server storing media files, and smart monitors. Each smart monitor presents media selections corresponding to the media files and receives an input from passengers for playing a selection. Each smart monitor includes local content storage storing a subset of the media files. A network connects the smart monitors and server. Program logic executed by each smart monitor performs tasks including determining if a media file corresponding to an input is available from a first source, and if available, playing the media file from the first source; if the media file is not available there, determining if the media file required is available from a second source and if available, playing the media file from the second source; and if the media file is not available from the second source, determining if the media file is available from a third source.

Abstract: An actuator system (10, 100, 200) for use in an aircraft control or operating system, comprising a controller (12) operable in response to an input for generating a control signal, and an electrical actuator (20) responsive to the control signal for operating an aircraft flight control surface or other aircraft apparatus. A tab (24; 124) for aerodynamically assisting the electrical actuator is also provided in order to reduce the load on the electrical actuator in use.