Abstract: A vehicle entertainment system includes a content server and a peripheral manager. The content server establishes communication connections through at least one communication network with mobile peripherals providing vehicle entertainment services to passengers, and routes entertainment content to the mobile peripherals. The peripheral manager responds to an indication of a loss of an established communication connection with one of mobile peripherals for at least a threshold time and during a vehicle arrival state, which are defined by a loss reporting rule and indicate the one of mobile peripherals is being transported offboard the vehicle, by sending information identifying the one of the mobile peripherals and/or a passenger associated with the one of the mobile peripherals to a crew terminal to notify a crew member and/or adding the information to a report that is communicated to an offboard peripheral manager located remote from the vehicle.

Abstract: A communication connectivity QoE testing device within a vehicle includes a network interface to communicate through a cabin network, a display device to display video to a passenger of the vehicle, a processor, and a memory storing code executed by the processor to perform operations. The operations include to send content requests to and receive content from a content server that is offboard the vehicle using the network interface, the cabin network, and a wireless communication modem communicatively connected to the content server through a ground-based network. The operations generate a QoE metric based on measurements of end-to-end communications of the content requests sent and the content received between the QoE testing device and the content server. The operations send a report based on the QoE metric through the network interface, the cabin network, and the wireless communication modem to a network node of an operations center for analysis.

Abstract: An in-flight entertainment system includes a centralized Bluetooth radio manager that is communicatively connected to Bluetooth radios located with seat video display units (SVDU) at passenger seats within an aircraft cabin. The centralized Bluetooth radio manager includes a network interface that communicates with the Bluetooth radios through an aircraft cabin network, a processor coupled to the network interface, and a memory coupled to the processor and storing instructions that when executed by the processor causes the processor to perform operations. The operations include to determine a level of radiated power by the Bluetooth radios having active Bluetooth connections with passenger devices.

Abstract: A ground-based content curation platform identifies geographically-relevant content having metadata indicating a geographic relevance area which satisfies a relevance rule relative to the present location of the aircraft. The platform distributes the geographically-relevant content to an IFE system of the aircraft for local storage and access by passengers, wherein the geographically-relevant content is distributed through the at least one network interface and routed through a satellite radio communication system or a terrestrial radio communications system. The platform repeats the identification of geographically-relevant content and the distribution of the geographically-relevant content to initiate replacement of the geographically-relevant content at the IFE system, based on a threshold change in location of the aircraft.

Abstract: A first connector, for coupling to a second connector, including a support structure, a set of spring-biased pogo pins arranged in a linear configuration and configured to carry at least one of electrical signals and power, a resilient structure extending across a face of the support structure, and a first pair of magnetic couplers attached to the resilient structure on opposite sides of the set of spring-biased pogo pins is disclosed. The spring- biased pogo pins are each located in a corresponding passage in the support structure. The first pair of magnetic couplers are configured to mate with a corresponding second pair of magnetic couplers of the second connector and compress the resilient structure to bias the set of spring-biased pogo pins against a corresponding set of target contact pads of the second connector.

Abstract: A seat entertainment system includes a display unit, a handheld controller, and an entertainment system controller. The handheld controller includes an input interface with a grid of touch sensitive elements spaced apart on the input interface, and an interchangeable user input pad which overlays and covers the grid of touch sensitive elements and has indicia indicating locations of user selectable functions. The entertainment system controller includes a set of operational functions and a mapping of the operations functions to corresponding different user touch locations in the grid of touch sensitive elements. The entertainment system controller is operative to: receive signaling from the handheld controller indicating where a user has touch selected the interchangeable user input pad; identify one of the operational functions corresponding to the user touch location based on the mapping; and perform the operational function to control an operation of the seat entertainment system.

Abstract: A docking station for storing a handset. A storage tray has a first recessed area for storing the handset and a second recessed area for a passenger to grip a top surface of the stored handset. The docking station includes a second latch extended into the second recessed area to engage an indent in the bottom surface of the handset. The docking station includes a first latch extended into the second recessed area to engage an indent located in the front surface of the handset. Depression of a release actuator retracts the first latch to release the top surface of the handset. The release actuator extends through an opening in the first recessed area, which has a length sufficient to allow a finger to actuate the release actuator and grip the top surface of the remote control handset while the remote control handset is stored in the storage tray.

Abstract: An augmented reality (AR) system for an aircraft obtains an aircraft pose, determines a passenger pose relative to a window, and computes a field-of-view of the passenger. Operations select a set of passenger-relevant points of information (POIs) from a database that satisfy a relevance rule to the real-world objects viewable by the passenger through the window. For each of the passenger-relevant POIs in the set, operations determine an AR indicia to be displayed, and an AR indicia pose where the AR indicia is to be rendered on a display device. Operations generate a display command based on the AR indicia and the AR indicia pose for the passenger-relevant POIs in the set. Operations provide the display command to the display device to display renderings of the AR indicias with the AR indicia poses to augment the real-world objects viewed by the passenger through the window.

Abstract: A circuit can be configured to operate as a dual-trip point data slicer for serial demodulation. The circuit can include an input port configured to receive an input signal. The circuit can further include a first output port electrically coupled to the input port by a first circuit path. The circuit can further include the first circuit path, which can be configured to provide the input signal from the input port to the first output port. The circuit can further include a second output port electrically coupled to the input port by a second circuit path that is parallel to the first circuit path. The circuit can further include the second circuit path, which can be configured to provide a reference signal to the second output port. The reference signal can be based on a delayed version of the input signal.

Abstract: A handset device controls a vehicle entertainment system. The handset device includes an interface configured to communicate control signaling to the entertainment system, user selectable interface elements, light devices arranged to form light zones providing backlighting to corresponding groups of one or more of the user selectable interface elements, and controller circuitry. The controller circuitry is configured to respond to user selections among the user selectable interface elements by triggering corresponding control signaling to be communicated through the interface. The controller circuitry determines a lighting setting to select one of the light zones to activate to backlight the corresponding group of the one or more of the user selectable interface elements, and controls power flow to at least one light device in the selected light zone based on the light setting to backlight the corresponding group of the one or more of the user selectable interface elements.

Abstract: A ground-based content controller for managing content provided by an in-flight entertainment (“IFE”) system operating on an airplane can include a ground-based content processor and a non-transitory computer readable medium. The non-transitory computer readable medium can be communicatively coupled to the ground-based content controller and store program code executable by the ground-based content processor to perform operations. The operations can include retrieving information associated with a passenger of the airplane. The operations can further include determining content targeting rules based on the information. The content targeting rules can be used to select content to be made available to the passenger on the airplane. The operations can further include transmitting, prior to takeoff, the content targeting rules via a radio access network to an on-board content controller on the airplane.

Abstract: An aircraft based satellite communication (SATCOM) terminal includes a broadband aperture configured to communicate through non-geostationary orbit (NGSO) satellites for broadband communications, a management aperture configured to receive NGSO satellite management information from a geostationary orbit (GSO) satellite, and at least one processor that performs operations. The operations receive the NGSO satellite management information from the GSO satellite, where the NGSO satellite management information indicates positions and associated time of a set of the NGSO satellites. The operations acquire a second communication link with a second NGSO satellite among the set using the NGSO satellite management information during handoff switching from using a first communication link that was previously acquired with a first NGSO satellite to using the second communication link being acquired with the second NGSO satellite.

Abstract: An aircraft-based inflight entertainment (IFE) security processing system is configured to receive log event streams from components of an IFE system and/or connected to the IFE system. The IFE security processing system aggregates content of the log event streams based on a level of aggregation set by aggregation commands received from a ground-based cybersecurity operations center to generate an aggregated log file, and communicates the aggregated log file through a satellite communication pathway to the ground-based cybersecurity operations center. Related ground-based cybersecurity operations centers are disclosed. Corresponding operations by cybersecurity operations centers are disclosed.

Abstract: A system for managing advertisements in an in-flight entertainment (“IFE”) system operating on an airplane can include an inventory processing device and a non-transitory computer readable medium. The non-transitory computer readable medium can be communicatively coupled to the inventory processing device to cause the inventory processing device to perform operations. The operations can include determining an inventory of targeted advertisements for future flights. The operations can further include receiving a request to use a portion of the inventory for advertisements associated with an advertiser. The operations can further include transmitting instructions to an IFE controller on-board the airplane to cause the IFE controller to provide the advertisements during targeted advertisement opportunities during a flight.

Abstract: A display apparatus receptacle configured to be mounted to a passenger seat. The display apparatus receptacle includes a pair of main latch assemblies releasably connectable to a striker of a display apparatus. The pair of main latch assemblies include an activation rod having an end with sloped teeth. The pair of main latch assemblies also include a lock rod with an end having sloped teeth and attached to a pair of latch plates. The pair of main latch assemblies also include a pair of lock pawls rotatable by movement of the latch plates. The pair of main latch assemblies also include a lock rod spring having a spiral shape about a rod extending axially through the lock rod to connect to the activation rod, the lock rod spring resiliently urging the sloped teeth of the lock rod to engage the sloped teeth of the activation rod.

Abstract: An object recognition computer for a vehicle includes at least one processor and at least one memory storing program code executable by the at least one processor to perform operations. The operations are configured to receive video streams from a plurality of cameras spaced apart within the vehicle and each having a field-of-view capturing at least one passenger seat. For each of the video streams, the operations retrieve from a data structure information that defines a region within video frames of the video stream where object recognition is to be performed to attempt to identify a defined object associated with the at least one passenger seat. The operations then perform object recognition limited to within the defined region to identify the defined object. Notifications can be selectively generated to passengers and/or crew based on the object recognition.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to an antenna system for an airplane. The antenna system including an antenna system enclosure and a desiccant enclosure within the antenna system enclosure and having desiccant material positioned between an outside air pipe and an inside air pipe, the inside air pipe extending from the desiccant enclosure to open to an interior air volume of at least one component of the antenna system within the antenna system enclosure, the outside air pipe extending from the desiccant enclosure to ambient air outside the antenna system enclosure, and the desiccant material is configured to absorb moisture in the ambient air flowing from the outside air pipe to the inside air pipe through the desiccant enclosure while air pressure is being equalized from outside to inside the antenna system enclosure.

Abstract: An aircraft based satellite communication (SATCOM) terminal includes a broadband aperture configured to communicate through non-geostationary orbit (NGSO) satellites for broadband communications, a management aperture configured to receive NGSO satellite management information from a geostationary orbit (GSO) satellite, and at least one processor that performs operations. The operations receive the NGSO satellite management information from the GSO satellite, where the NGSO satellite management information indicates positions and associated time of a set of the NGSO satellites. The operations acquire a second communication link with a second NGSO satellite among the set using the NGSO satellite management information during handoff switching from using a first communication link that was previously acquired with a first NGSO satellite to using the second communication link being acquired with the second NGSO satellite.

Abstract: A radio resource management system in communication with multiple airport communication systems located at different airports is described. The radio resource management system receives a request to transfer data from an aircraft communication system within an aircraft to an airport communication system of the multiple ground communication systems. The radio resource management system determines an availability of radio resources at each airport communication system of the multiple airport communication systems based on the request. The radio resource management system selects an airport communication system from the multiple airport communication systems to transfer the data based on the determined availability of radio resources at the airport communication system. The radio resource management system reserves an amount of radio resources of the selected airport communication system of the multiple airport communication systems for the aircraft communication system to transfer the data.