Abstract: An IEEE 1394 serial bus network data capture and analyzer device is coupled within an IEEE 1394 serial bus network for monitoring, capturing and analyzing data communications transmitted over the IEEE 1394 serial bus network. The data capture and analyzer device is preferably implemented within a computer system and includes an IEEE 1394 serial bus network interface card for communicating over the IEEE 1394 serial bus. The data capture and analyzer device also includes a user interface which is displayed on a display device coupled to the computer system. Through the user interface and input devices coupled to the computer system, a user selects a function to be performed by the data capture and analyzer device. Preferably, the functions allow a user, through the data capture and analyzer device, to at least trigger on a specific packet header, field or data pattern, trigger on an error and capture a specific time or cycle event. Captured data is stored within an internal memory of the computer system.

Abstract: A power supply inrush current control circuit includes a current-limiting resistor connected in series with a first relay, a second relay connected in parallel with the current-limiting resistor and first relay, a power factor correction stage connected in series with the parallel combination of first relay and current-limiting resistor, and second relay, a holdup capacitor connected to an output of the power factor correction stage and a DC/DC converter connected to the output of the power factor correction stage. A first timer is connected to the second relay, a second timer is serially connected to the first timer and to the power factor correction stage, and a third timer is serially connected to the second timer and to the DC/DC converter.

Abstract: A signal transferring circuit for transferring data from a central system to electronic units coupled in series is disclosed. The signal transferring circuit comprises a first terminal for receiving a data signal and a second terminal for transmitting the data signal. It further comprises a first buffer having an input terminal and an output terminal. The input terminal is coupled to the first terminal, and the first buffer is enabled to transfer the data signal from the first terminal to a predetermined destination under a first condition. The signal transferring circuit also comprises a second buffer having an input terminal that is coupled to the predetermined destination and an output terminal that is coupled to the second terminal. The second buffer is enabled for transferring the data signal from the predetermined destination to the second terminal under the first condition.

Abstract: In an In-Flight Entertainment System (IFES), an audio distribution system transmits and synchronizes an audio data stream from multiple audio channels using the Adaptive Differential Pulse Code Modulation (ADPCM) technique for efficient transmission and preventing loss of synchronization. An encoder digitizes the analog audio signals, compresses the digital data, generates the synchronization parameters, including synchronization data for a selected channel, and creates a data frame to be transmitted to a number of decoders. Each decoder detects the synchronization header, extracts the compressed data patterns from the passenger selections, updates the ADPCM synchronization parameters, decompresses the compressed data patterns, and converts the digital audio data to analog audio signals to be delivered to the passenger seats.

Abstract: Audio menuing for the visually impaired, closed captioning for the hearing impaired and graphical tab control user interface for an interactive flight entertainment system (IFES). With the preferred embodiment, passenger control handset (PCH) in Braille is utilized. Given inputs from the passenger through use of the PCH, the keystrokes are transmitted to a seat electronics unit (SEU) as keystroke signals and processed by a device driver. The device driver transmits the keystroke signals to the pre-existing user interface and to the present invention's audio menu module. For the audio menu module, the menu resource database makes available a file of various audio information corresponding to various passenger keystroke inputs. Once the appropriate passenger output information is retrieved from the menu resource database, the information is output to the passenger via a display device and a headset coupled to the SEU.

Abstract: The present invention is a method and apparatus for providing a power supply system having a redundant power supply switchover circuit, which maintains a remotely regulated output voltage when the power supply system switches over from the primary power supply to the secondary power supply. The power supply system comprises a secondary power supply that is connected in parallel to a primary power supply. The two power supplies are OR-connected to a load through two diodes, with the primary power supply connected to the diode via a monitor. During normal operating conditions, the primary power supply delivers most of the current because it operates in a "remote sense" configuration which provides a voltage output that is higher, by a diode voltage drop, than that of the secondary power supply, which operates in a "local sense" configuration.

Abstract: The present invention is a method and apparatus for controlling power supply to aircraft electronic systems based on ambient environmental conditions. The apparatus comprises a monitor for detecting an environmental condition, a power supply for providing power, a circuit which receives power from the power supply, and a switch coupled to the monitor. Upon detection of the environmental condition, the switch connects the power supply to the circuit, otherwise the switch disconnects the circuit from the power supply.

Abstract: A communication subsystem used in an aircraft entertainment system employs a microcontroller and a dual-ported RAM to relieve burden from the host processor in handling low-level operations in communicating with external devices. The host processor and the microcontroller accesses the dual-ported RAM by testing the semaphore to determine if the DPRAM is available. If available, the processor and/or the microcontroller will read/write the messages from/to the DPRAM as appropriate. The microcontroller controls the communication interface controllers directly and will send messages read from the DPRAM to the CICs or write to the DPRAM messages received from the CICs without host processor's intervention. The microcontroller also performs other low-level operations such as header/trailer processing and error checking/correcting free from the host processor.

Abstract: Implemented on a vehicle, a digital in-transit entertainment system that assists in providing passenger services to a plurality of end nodes of a vehicle. The system includes a multi-drop digital communication bus, preferably configured to support RS-485 standards. A plurality of zone bridge units ("ZBUs") and a system manager unit ("SMU") are coupled to the digital communication bus. At least one ZBU is responsible for signaling headend equipment to perform a requested passenger service. The SMU is also designed to signal another type of equipment if implemented in lieu of the first type. Both the ZBUs as well as the SMU are designed to contain PSS status information for every end node of the vehicle to maintain coherency.

Abstract: A system and method for multiple processors operating independently from one another to share memory as a boot device. The system includes a plurality of computing systems each including a processor and a local memory element. In response to a boot condition for a selected computing system, its processor begins a boot sequence in which it uses operational code contained within a non-volatile memory element that is shared by each of the computing systems. Arbitration for ownership of a memory bus interconnecting the non-volatile memory element to the processors and organization of a direct memory access transfer between the non-volatile memory element and local memory associated with the processor of the selected computing system is controlled by a memory access coordination circuit coupled between the computing systems and the memory bus.

Abstract: A boundary scan analog signal test circuit for boundary scan testing of analog signals. The boundary scan analog signal test circuit provides for known upper and lower bound values at specified times for testing whether sample analog signals are within the specified lower and upper bound values. If the sample analog signals are not between the known upper and lower bound values, the boundary scan analog signal test circuit produces a result flag indicating a "not pass" for the device being tested. If the sample analog signal being tested is found to be within the known upper and lower bound values, then the circuit generates a result flag indicating that the device being tested has passed the test.

Abstract: An integrated electronic system that provides telephone, interactive entertainment and other amenities on a vehicle of transportation. The integrated electronic system includes a passenger control unit coupled through a multiple seat electronic unit via a universal interface. The integrated electronic system further includes a passenger control handset directly coupled to the passenger control unit to provide telephony and display control information to the passenger control unit. The passenger control unit appropriately routes the information to the multiple seat electronics unit through the universal interface.

Abstract: The interrupt regenerator circuit converts the transition signal caused by a passenger's data entry in an aircraft entertainment system into a triggering signal. The triggering signal triggers a delay element consisting of cascadable one-shot devices. The timing intervals for the outputs of these one-shot devices are programmable through the selection of proper values for the resistors and capacitors. The interrupt signal is de-asserted by the host processor when the host processor responds to the interrupt. The delayed interrupt signal is then gated by the interrupt signal itself to regenerate the interrupt signal to the host processor.

Abstract: The present invention is a method and apparatus for providing a vehicle entertainment control system that controls a plurality of display units. The vehicle entertainment control system includes a remote override control circuit capable of activating a remote signal for moving at least one of the plurality of display units between a first position and a second position. In addition, the vehicle entertainment control system includes a local display unit movement control circuit coupled to one of the plurality of display units.

Abstract: A system on an aircraft that eliminates hot-swapping of circuit boards to prevent damage to the circuit board connector interfaces. The system supplies power to a circuit card only when there is an effective coupling between a circuit card connector and an opposite mating connector. A power control circuit responds to a card present signal which indicates when the circuit card connector is coupled to the opposite mating connector. A logic circuit converts the card present signal to a power supply enable signal. A main power supply receives the power supply enable signal and provides power to the circuit card only when the circuit card connector and the opposite mating connector are appropriately coupled.

Abstract: An entertainment and/or information network including a CD-ROM player at each of a number of user stations. The network can be installed in a multi-passengervehicle (such as an aircraft), an auditorium, a stadium, or the like. Audio and video and application software (such as interactive multimedia software) stored on CD-ROM disks can be accessed by playing the disks in a CD-ROM player at each user station. Each user station includes a display device, headphones (or another audio output device), and preferably circuitry for interfacing the CD-ROM player with the network. Typically, large volumes of data are transferred within each user station (e.g., from CD-ROM disk to display device) during execution of interactive applications software, but little or no data is transferred over the network to or from each user station to support such software execution. Thus, the network can have a simple, inexpensive, low bandwidth implementation.

Abstract: An interactive applications generator is utilized to generate an interactive application environment for use on a single server multi-client network computer system. The interactive applications generator permits a user to define a graphical user interface (GUI), that contains one or more display screens, for a customized interactive application environment. The interactive applications generator contains a screen template editor, a media frame editor, a screen editor, and an interactive presentation editor. The screen template editor is utilized to create generic screen templates, that contain generic screen template elements. The media frame editor is utilized to generate media frames by combining multimedia component elements in a time synchronized manner. The screen editor is utilized to generate the display screens including assigning functionality.

Abstract: An entertainment and/or information network including a CD-ROM player at each of a number of user stations. The network can be installed in a multi-passenger vehicle (such as an aircraft), an auditorium, a stadium, or the like. Audio and video and application software (such as interactive multimedia software) stored on CD-ROM disks can be accessed by playing the disks in a CD-ROM player at each user station. Each user station includes a display device, headphones (or another audio output device), and preferably circuitry for interfacing the CD-ROM player with the network. Typically, large volumes of data are transferred within each user station (e.g., from CD-ROM disk to display device) during execution of interactive applications software, but little or no data is transferred over the network to or from each user station to support such software execution. Thus, the network can have a simple, inexpensive, low bandwidth implementation.

Abstract: A method and system for controlling the flow of vehicle traffic. The system of the invention includes a grid of one-way streets, and a one-way ramp near each street intersection. Each ramp allows only a right-turn at an intersection. Preferably, each intersection is an overpass intersection, so that each street directs vehicles not making a right-turn at an intersection over or under the intersecting street. Preferably, the system also includes a traffic monitoring subsystem, including one or more velocity sensor stations positioned along the streets, and a processor for processing the output of each velocity sensor station to determine the average speed of vehicles translating past the velocity sensor station. Preferably, each velocity sensor station includes at least two magnetic sensors embedded in the street surface. Each magnetic sensor outputs a signal in response to proximity of a passing vehicle.