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: Disclosed are devices, systems and methods for global plane identification number (GPIN) generation and applications are disclosed. Embodiments of the disclosed technology advantageously enable aircraft to be tracked throughout their service life, and associate parts, software and services that correspond to a particular aircraft. An exemplary method for identifying an aircraft includes generating, based on a manufacturer, a model and a series of the aircraft, an alphanumeric prefix that uniquely identifies the model and the series of the aircraft from the manufacturer; generating, from a manufacturer serial number that is assigned to an airframe of the aircraft, a modified serial number; and generating, based on concatenating the alphanumeric prefix and the modified serial number, an identification number for the aircraft.

Abstract: A system for predicting an outage for a commercial passenger vehicle is described. The system includes a storage configured to store flight information of the commercial passenger vehicle that includes an antenna configured to assist a network connectivity for devices in the commercial passenger vehicle to remote devices, the flight information including travel information of the commercial passenger vehicle and antenna-related information of the antenna; and a server configured to apply a machine learning algorithm that (1) processes the flight information and (2) generate an output indicative of a probability of an antenna-related outage of the network connectivity that is caused due to a failure of the antenna based on processed flight information.

Abstract: A network security attack misdirection line-replaceable unit for installation on an aircraft and connected to an onboard data network include a local network interface to the onboard data network. A local simulation server accepts incoming access requests accompanied by an access credential from an attacker client device, and is responsive thereto with either a simulated access denial response or a simulated access grant response. Delays between receipt of the access request and to the access denial response is progressively increased with each presentation of the access credential.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a transportation vehicle. One method includes linking, by a processor of an electronic device of a user, a frequent flyer (“FF”) account credential with a streaming service account credential of a streaming service; storing, by an aircraft, an FF token with user data; pre-fetching, by an aircraft, media content from the streaming service based on user viewing history; receiving, by a seat device of the aircraft, the FF token from the electronic device for authentication during a first flight to access the media content, the seat device paired with the electronic device; authenticating, by the seat device, the FF token using the stored user data; presenting, by the seat device, the media content; and updating, by the seat device, the FF token with user viewing history of the media content indicating when presentation of the media content on the seat device was stopped.

Abstract: Techniques are described to detect and/or prevent malicious wireless attacks and/or suspicious wireless activity related to a wireless network in a commercial passenger vehicle. For example, an access point located in the commercial passenger vehicle receives a set of wireless beacon frames from a first wireless device, makes a first determination of a first beacon frame rate of the set of wireless beacon frames, receives a second beacon frame after a first beacon frame, makes a second determination of a second beacon frame rate of the second beacon frame relative to the first beacon frame, makes a third determination that a second wireless device is impersonating the first wireless device upon comparing the first beacon frame rate to the second beacon frame rate, and sends, upon making the third determination, a security alert message to an external input/output (I/O) device in the commercial passenger vehicle.

Abstract: A data storage interconnect system has a network controller with a first expansion bus switch connected to a central processor over an expansion bus interface thereof, and a first transceiver connected to the first expansion bus switch. A directly attachable storage host with a second transceiver is communicatively linked to the first transceiver of the network controller. A second expansion bus switch is connected to the second transceiver, and is connectable to a removable storage device over an expansion bus interface. The removable storage device communicates with the second expansion bus switch over an expansion bus protocol. A data transmission link interconnects the first transceiver and the second transceiver, with expansion bus protocol data traffic between the first expansion bus switch and the second expansion bus switch being carried thereon.

Abstract: Vehicle entertainment systems can determine an entertainment preference of a passenger based on the interactions of the passenger with media devices on board the vehicle. The interactions can include how the passenger rates content, whether the passenger views the entirety of the content, or information regarding the passenger such as frequent flier data. The analysis to determine the preferences of the passenger are done without placing cookies on the passenger's devices and by components on board the vehicle. The analysis can include machine learning techniques that build trained models of passenger preferences. Additionally, the trained models can develop profiles for each passenger. At the end of the travel experience, the preferences of a passenger can be deleted such that a new passenger does not see content that was based on the prior passenger's preferences.

Abstract: Disclosed are devices, systems and methods for performing secure transactions in an aircraft are disclosed. Embodiments of the disclosed technology enable low cost carriers to provide payment verification for on-board purchases via the in-flight entertainment system. An exemplary method for performing secure transactions in an aircraft includes transmitting, by a user device in the aircraft using a wireless protocol, a first authentication factor and a request for one or more on-board services; receiving, from an on-board transceiver using the wireless protocol, an authentication token (a) comprising a one-time code and (b) encrypted using an asymmetric cryptographic algorithm; transmitting, using the asymmetric cryptographic algorithm, a second authentication factor comprising (a) the authentication token and (b) a text message transmitted from the user device; and receiving a confirmation of a delivery of the one or more on-board services.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a transportation vehicle. One method includes enabling by a processor, a night mode for a seat device of an in-flight entertainment system (IFE) on an aircraft based on a night mode trigger; displaying by the processor, during the night mode, a wake-up user interface on the seat device for a passenger, when a seat device monitor backlight has turned on after the backlight was turned off, or a seat device backlight timer has triggered, where a brightness of the wake-up user interface is lower than a brightness of a default user interface of the seat device; and enabling by the processor a first set of functions of the seat device accessible from the wake-up user interface, the first set of functions being less than a second set of functions accessible from the default user-interface.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing preview samples of media content, such as early window movies, which is secure against unauthorized copying of the media content. The system includes a media receiving server configured to receive secure media content, such as early window movies, from a movie provider. The media receiving server generates a preview sample including a video sample including a series of still digital images from the video file, each separated by a time interval in the video file from the other still digital images in the series of still digital images; and an audio sample including a series of audio clips from the video file, each separated by a time interval in the video file from the other audio clips in the series of audio clips. A customer of the media content can review the sample preview on a customer portal, but cannot access the original media content.

Abstract: Devices, systems and methods for geofencing in commercial transport vehicles are disclosed. An exemplary method includes establishing, based on a heat map of signal strength at frequencies used by a first wireless protocol in the commercial transport vehicle, a geofence for communication by a user, and controlling, based on the geofence, an availability or a level of one or more services to the user, wherein the geofence comprises one or more boundaries within the commercial transport vehicle, and wherein the one or more services are deactivated if a location of the user is outside the one or more boundaries of the geofence.

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 hybrid encryption method for securely transferring an electronic data package from a sender to a plurality of clients. The method comprises storing a shared symmetric key on each of the clients. The sender encrypts a private key of an asymmetric key pair using the shared symmetric key. The sender encrypts the data package with a temporary symmetric key to generate an encrypted data package. The sender encrypts the temporary symmetric key with the public key of the asymmetric key pair to generate an encrypted temporary symmetric key. The sender transmits the encrypted data package, the encrypted temporary symmetric key, and the encrypted private key to the clients. Each client decrypts the encrypted data package by: using the shared symmetric key to decrypt the encrypted private key; using the decrypted private key to decrypt the encrypted temporary symmetric key, and using the decrypted temporary symmetric key to decrypt the encrypted data package.

Abstract: Systems and methods for obtaining data for Dynamic Frequency Selection (DFS) events caused by interfering signals, such as radar signals, in mobile WiFi wireless communication networks on airplanes. The systems and methods utilize wireless access points (WAPs) on in-flight entertainment systems on airplanes to detect DFS events, and obtain DFS event data. The DFS event data is transmitted to a ground system which is configured to utilize the DFS event data to generate DFS messages which allow a WAP on another airplane to avoid the interfering signals that caused the DFS event. The ground system transmits the DFS messages to other airplanes which use the information in the DFS message to configure a WAP to avoid DFS events. The ground system may also be configured to analyze and generate a 3D DFS map which can be used to generate radio channel plans to avoid DFS events.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to antenna assemblies and systems and methods for steering an antenna to one or more satellites. An embodiment herein provides for an assembly comprising a rotatable plate rotatable about a first axis to steer the antenna in azimuth; a first panel affixed to the rotatable plate and comprising a first plurality of phased array antenna elements to steer a first beam of radio waves in elevation; and a second panel comprising a second plurality of phased array antenna elements configured to steer a second beam of radio waves in azimuth, wherein rotation of the distal end about the second axis steers the second beam of radio waves in elevation.

Abstract: This patent document describes techniques are related to providing an entertainment to passengers on a commercial passenger vehicle. In one aspect, a method for providing an entertainment to passengers on a commercial passenger vehicle comprises: receiving a request, from a first passenger on the commercial passenger vehicle, to allow the first passenger to provide a live video, the live video obtained by capturing, in real time, an activity associated with the first passenger on the commercial passenger vehicle; receiving one or more requests, from one or more additional passengers on the commercial passenger vehicle, to view the live video; receiving the live video from the first passenger; and distributing the live video to the additional passengers.

Abstract: A system for offline transaction processing has a payment terminal capturing payment credentials and a payment amount as a transaction data set. A first blockchain server has a first copy of a transaction ledger to which the transaction data set is committed as a ledger entry in response to a validation against one or more rules stored in an offline database. A second blockchain server has a second copy of the transaction ledger, and is in sporadic communication with the first blockchain server over a temporary data transfer link. The transaction data set previously committed to the first copy of the transaction ledger is propagated to the second copy of the transaction ledger over the temporary data transfer link. A payment gateway retrieves the transaction data set in the second copy of the transaction ledger and translates the same to a settlement request transmitted to the remote payment processor.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to strain relief devices for communication connectors. The strain relief devices are configured to couple to the communication connectors via existing fastener components (e.g., screw receivers), and support optic fiber and/or other cables that extend from the communication connectors at a desired position. The strain relief devices prevent the cables from being damaged by a lack of sufficient support during installation, removal, use, repair, and/or transport.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for an electronic device. One method includes storing a data structure at a memory device by a processor, where the data structure is configured to store a plurality of parameters used for determining a discharge ratio of a first battery pack and a second battery pack of a charging system of a device, the discharge ratio indicating a relative rate of discharge of the first battery pack and the second battery pack; detecting by the processor, a discharge condition associated with at least one of the first battery pack and the second battery pack; utilizing by the processor, the data structure for determining the discharge ratio; and controlling by the processor, based on the determined discharge ratio, a discharge rate of the first battery pack using a first voltage controller and a discharge rate of the second battery pack using a second voltage controller.