Abstract: A vehicle communication system includes a network adaptor that communicates with a communication network, a communication interface that communicates with multiple vehicles via multiple satellites, each vehicle comprising an antenna system for coupling to the satellites. The vehicle communication system is configured receive route data of the vehicles, and, for each vehicle, determine a future position of the vehicle based on the route data; identify a satellite available for communications with the vehicle at the future position; predict whether an antenna blockage event will occur between the identified satellite and the antenna system of the vehicle at the future position; designate the identified satellite as having the antenna blockage event; and transmit instructions to the vehicle to not use the identified satellite.

Abstract: A system for tracking passenger behaviors of passengers on a commercial passenger vehicle is provided. The system comprises: media playback devices located on the commercial passenger vehicle, the media playback devices being associated with passenger seats and configured to operate in an onboard check-in mode, and an onboard server in communication with the media playback devices and configured to receive, from a media playback device associated with a passenger seat of a passenger, passenger identification information of the passenger and update passenger boarding information to indicate a completion of a boarding process of the passenger. The onboard server is further configured to provide, to at least one of a ground terminal or a crew terminal, passenger boarding information that enables determination of a time interval between a start of the boarding process by each passenger and an end of the boarding process as indicated from the media playback devices.

Abstract: A system for data collection in a commercial travel setting is described. The system includes a plurality of sensor circuits that collect a plurality of sensor data values from in-flight entertainment (IFE) network. The system includes a sensor data processor that interprets the plurality of sensor data values. The system includes a passenger profile management controller configured that filters the plurality of sensor data values by processing a plurality of passenger profiles that are related to at least some of the plurality of sensor data values. The system generates a measurement index that is normalized with respect to the plurality of sensor data values or the plurality of passenger profiles.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a transportation vehicle. One method includes detecting, by a first system on chip (“SOC”) of a seat box on a transportation vehicle that a first seat device is operational and usage of a second SOC of the seat box by a second seat device is below a first threshold level, the first SOC operationally coupled to the second SOC by a peripheral link, the seat box providing a network connection to the first seat device and the second device; allocating resources of the first SOC and the second SOC to the first seat device; and modifying usage of the second SOC by the first seat device, in response to a change in resource usage of the second SOC.

Abstract: Methods and systems for a transportation vehicle are provided. One method includes generating a packet by an application executed by a processor of a first seat device of an in-flight entertainment system having a plurality of seat devices on an aircraft; dropping the packet by the seat device when the application is not authorized for Internet communication; dropping the packet by the seat device when the packet is one of a broadcast packet, multicast packet or destined to a second seat device of the in-flight entertainment system; determining that the seat device Internet traffic is below a threshold value; and transmitting the packet to a network device when the application is authorized, and the packet is not a broadcast packet, multicast packet or destined for a second seat device.

Abstract: Innovative peripheral bar assembly for a transportation vehicle is provided. The assembly includes a front bar housing with a front segment and a rear segment; a rear bar housing with a front segment coupled to the rear segment of the front bar housing; and an input/output (I/O) printed circuit board (“PCB”) having an I/O connector. The I/O PCB coupled to the rear segment of the front bar housing. The assembly is coupled to a chassis of a display system having a display module, and the I/O connector is coupled to a connector of the display module for enabling an electrical connection between the peripheral bar assembly and the display module.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for current and/or power balancing. One method includes comparing a first input current of a first regulator in a first path between a power source and a power sink with a second input current of a second regulator in a second path between the power source and the power sink; lowering an output from the first regulator, in response to the first input current being higher than the second input current; and increasing an output from the second regulator, in response to the second input current being higher than the first input current.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a transportation vehicle. One method includes detecting, by a first system on chip (“SOC”) of a seat box on a transportation vehicle that a first seat device is operational and usage of a second SOC of the seat box by a second seat device is below a first threshold level, the first SOC operationally coupled to the second SOC by a peripheral link, the seat box providing a network connection to the first seat device and the second device; allocating resources of the first SOC and the second SOC to the first seat device; and modifying usage of the second SOC by the first seat device, in response to a change in resource usage of the second SOC.

Abstract: Devices, systems and methods for electronic systems that manage an order in which an aircraft is boarded or deplaned are described. An exemplary method includes configuring an onboard computer to execute a script, wherein the script controls an order by which passengers on an airplane are prompted for deplaning, updating the script for a travel segment of the airplane using a first input comprising a passenger information for the travel segment or a second input comprising a travel configuration of the airplane during the travel segment or a third input from onboard crew of the airplane; and controlling onboard electronic equipment of the airplane by executing the script at an end of the travel segment by prompting passengers to deplane the airplane in the order.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a transportation vehicle. One method includes assigning, by a processor, a host name for a portable computing device, configured to operate as an application server on an aircraft; providing a security certificate to the portable computing device; requesting, by the portable computing device, a secured, first network connection from an in-flight entertainment (IFE) system that interfaces with a plurality of devices on the aircraft via a second network connection; validating, by the IFE system the security certificate, and the host name; assigning, by the IFE system, a network access address to the portable computing device; mapping, by the IFE system, the network access address to the host name; and establishing the secured first network connection between the portable computing device and the IFE system.

Abstract: A testing and verification system for an equivalent physical configuration of an in-flight entertainment and communications system with one or more hardware components includes a virtual machine manager. One or more virtual machines each including a hardware abstraction layer is instantiated by the virtual machine manager according to simulated hardware component definitions corresponding to the equivalent physical configuration of the hardware components. The virtual machines are in communication with each other over virtual network connections. A test interface to the one or more virtual machines generate test inputs to target software applications installed on the virtual machines. A display interface is connected to the virtual machines, with results from the execution of the target software applications responsive to the test inputs are output thereto.

Abstract: A system for assisting a payment to a passenger on a commercial passenger vehicle is disclosed. The system is located in the commercial passenger vehicle and comprises: an onboard server configured to (1) receive, from a personal electronic device associated with a passenger, a request to process a payment along with payment credential information and (2) operate to authorize the payment; a light sourcing device in communication with the onboard server and configured to receive, from the onboard server, a verification request for the payment credential information, and display a light identification (ID); and the personal electronic device in communication with the onboard server and the light sourcing device and configured to capture an image of the light ID and obtain the verification request corresponding to the payment credential information from the captured image.

Abstract: A system for managing media content data sets loaded onto a content server has a media content repository storing media content data items. A usage data aggregator retrieves usage log data from each passenger terminal device of the vehicle entertainment system. A load set generator builds a ranked media content data set based upon prioritization scores assigned to each of the media content data items with adaptive inferences from the usage log data. The prioritization scores are correlated with trip factors established for a subsequent vehicle trip for which the ranked media content data set is being built. A content retriever transfers the one or more media content data items specified in the ranked media content data from the media content repository.

Abstract: Disclosed embodiments are directed at devices, methods, and systems for fixing distortions of content displayed on in-flight entertainment (IFE) monitors in a commercial passenger vehicle. An IFE monitor can receive angular measurement data from one or more gyroscope sensors to determine a differential angle of tilt of the IFE monitor. In response to determining that the differential angle of tilt is non-zero, the IFE monitor can detect that content displayed on the IFE monitor is subject to distortion. The IFE monitor can automatically apply a perspective correction to the content displayed on the IFE monitor for fixing the perceived distortion.

Abstract: Innovative peripheral bar assembly for a transportation vehicle is provided. The assembly includes a front bar housing with a front segment and a rear segment, and a through slot aligned with a diffuser operationally coupled to a first surface of an I/O PCB having a plurality of light sources emitting light that is transmitted through the diffuser and the slot. The assembly further includes a rear bar housing having a front segment and a rear segment, the front segment of the rear bar housing coupled to the rear segment of the front bar housing. A top surface of the peripheral bar assembly is coupled to a bottom of a chassis of a display system having a display module. The assembly configured to provide accent lighting through the slot of the front bar housing.

Abstract: A data storage system for providing entertainment content to terminal devices in a passenger vehicle is provided to comprise: a first group of terminal devices configured to operate as storage nodes of a storage cluster configured to provide the entertainment content to media playback devices disposed in the passenger vehicle, the entertainment content including one or more entertainment programs and the storage nodes configured to store blocks of the one or more entertainment programs; a second group of terminal devices configured to operate as monitor nodes in the storage cluster, the monitor nodes configured to monitor status of the storage nodes; and a host in communication with the first group and the second group of the terminal devices via an in-vehicle network and configured to store metadata for the storage cluster and facilitate delivery of the entertainment content from the first group of terminal devices to the media playback devices.

Abstract: Introduced here are technologies for examining an image of an airline passenger, while the passenger is onboard. The image may be examined for abnormalities, the passenger's mood, and/or the passenger's expression. The image analysis may be supplemented by data from a suite of sensors such as heart rate monitors, accelerometers, gyroscopes, and the like. The image and the sensor data are then analyzed to detect abnormalities, identify related recommendations, and suggest products and services offered onboard or at the destination that are related to the abnormalities and recommendations. The general purpose is to improve an airline passenger's travel experience while on board the flight.

Abstract: Systems and methods for modifying control over a device in a vehicle are provided. The modification may comprise disabling an ability of a passenger to control the device via one or more passenger interface systems, limiting controls available to the passenger via the one or more passenger interface systems, transferring the ability to control the device to another user using a different user interface system, and/or transferring the ability to control certain functionalities of the device to another user using the different user interface system.

Abstract: An auxiliary wireless personal area network system installable in a vehicle includes a plurality of line replaceable units each associated with an avionics subsystem and installable in prescribed locations in the aircraft. At least a subset of the line replaceable units are interconnectable over a dedicated subsystem network. A plurality of network node devices are each associated with a respective one of the plurality of line replaceable units. Each of the network node devices has a microcontroller, an onboard power source independent of any aircraft power source, a local interface connectible the corresponding one of the plurality of line replaceable units, and a wireless network interface connectible to a personal area network independent of the dedicated subsystem network for relaying operational data from the line replaceable unit to the network node device.

Abstract: A system for predicting an outage for a commercial passenger vehicle is described. The system includes a storage configured to store travel information of an upcoming travel by the commercial passenger vehicle that is configured to provide a network connectivity for devices in the commercial passenger vehicle to remote devices; and a server configured to process the travel information and generate an output indicative of a probability of an outage of the network connectivity based on the travel information of the upcoming travel, and wherein the server is further configured to apply a machine learning algorithm that (1) processes the travel information based on history information related to a planned route to be taken during the upcoming travel and regulation information related to the upcoming travel and (2) determines the probability of the outage along the planned route.