Abstract: An in-flight entertainment system includes a plurality of static transceivers and an ISM band communication interference manager. The static transceivers are configured to transmit and receive radio frequency signals in the ISM band. The static transceivers are further configured to measure signals received within the ISM band from mobile transceivers within the aircraft and to measure signals received from proximately located ones of the static transceivers, and to generate measurement reports containing the measurements and containing identifiers of the proximately located ones of the static transceivers and the mobile transceivers. The ISM band communication interference manager is communicatively connected to the static transceivers, and performs operations that include receiving the measurement reports from the static transceivers, and controlling transmission power levels used by the static transceivers and the mobile transceivers responsive to the content of the measurement reports.

Abstract: An entertainment and connectivity system includes a processor for transferring information between a vehicle based user device and a server to validate a user's government identity before granting the user device access to the internet. The vehicle based server has an internet protocol address and communicates with user devices. The user devices each have an onboard internet protocol address mapped to the internet protocol address of the vehicle based server. A processor associated with the vehicle based server receives requests for internet service originating from the user devices. The requests include travel information or internet subscription plan information for a user of each of the user devices. The vehicle based server, or a ground based server that receives the request, generates an internet connection authorization decision based on validation of the user's government identity or the user's internet subscription plan information.

Abstract: An in-flight entertainment (IFE) system for an aircraft includes a phased array antenna and control circuitry associated therewith to be carried by the aircraft and to generate dual antenna beams for television programming and Internet data from respective spaced apart satellites. A television programming distribution system is to be carried by the aircraft and coupled to the phased array antenna and control circuitry to provide television programming within the aircraft. At least one access point is to be carried by the aircraft and coupled to the phased array antenna and control circuitry to provide a wireless local area network (WLAN) within the aircraft for the Internet data.

Abstract: A ground based content server transfers content to an aircraft based content server via courier devices that are transported by aircraft passengers. Content files to be delivered to a target aircraft are identified. Courier devices associated with persons scheduled to become passengers on the target aircraft are identified. Each of the content files are divided into content fragments, where the content fragments collectively contain all data necessary for reassembling the content files. The content fragments are distributed from the ground based content server across the courier devices, so that each courier device is distributed one of the content fragments containing data that is at least partially redundant with data contained in one of the content fragments that is distributed to at least one other one of the courier devices and that is not redundant to data contained in other content fragments distributed to still other ones of the courier devices.

Abstract: A projection system for use with an aircraft seat includes a cassette frame defining an open ended cavity, a front panel configured to couple to a front of the cassette frame to enclose the cavity, and a projector system held in the cavity. The cassette frame includes a rear panel, an upper panel extending outwardly away from the rear panel, a lower panel extending outwardly away from the rear panel, and first and second side panels extending outwardly from the rear panel. The rear panel, the upper panel, the lower panel and the first and second side panels define an open ended cavity. The projector system and the front panel are configured such that an image and/or video projected by the projector system is projected from the cavity through the front panel. The cassette frame is sized and configured to be received and releasably held in an aircraft seatback.

Abstract: An entertainment system includes video display units that can establish Bluetooth connections with user terminals. A central Bluetooth controller is connected to control establishment of Bluetooth connections between the user terminals and the video display units. The central Bluetooth controller receives connection authorization requests from the video display units, and generates connection authorization decisions based on application of a Bluetooth connection rule to characteristics of the user terminals which are identified from the connection authorization requests. The connection authorization decisions are then used to control whether Bluetooth connections are established between the user terminals and the video display units, and to control what security mode levels are used when establishing and using the Bluetooth connections for signaling therebetween.

Abstract: An inflight entertainment system for use in an aircraft displays commands to a passenger to move a passenger electronic device (PED) between locations defined relative a seatback display device and the passenger's seat. The system measures received signal strength indications (RSSIs) from discoverable PEDs over time while the PED is moved between the locations, and selects one of the PEDs that satisfies a defined rule for an amount of change that is observed over time in the measured RSSIs for that PED. The system then establishes a connection through a Bluetooth transceiver with a Bluetooth transceiver of the selected PED.

Abstract: An entertainment system includes a docking station having a wired interface, a display unit, and a wireless controller. The display unit includes a video display device and a processor that communicates through a Bluetooth transceiver and the wired interface of the docking station. The wireless controller includes a processor that communicates through a wired interface and a Bluetooth transceiver. The wireless controller is releasably docked in the docking station to communicatively connect the wired interfaces of the wireless controller and the docking station. While docked in the docking station the processors of the wireless controller and the display unit communicate through the wired interfaces of the wireless controller and the docking station to establish a Bluetooth connection between the Bluetooth transceivers of the wireless controller and the display unit.

Abstract: An entertainment system includes a video display unit facing a passenger seat and a track pad assembly integrated with an armrest of the passenger seat. The track pad assembly includes a track pad that is operable to control the video display unit.

Abstract: A slave Bluetooth device establishes first and second connections with first and second master Bluetooth devices, respectively, that each operate in a master mode. The slave Bluetooth device operates in a slave mode when communicating through any of the first and second connections. The slave Bluetooth device communicates connection parameter update request packets containing timeout values to the first and second master Bluetooth devices. The slave Bluetooth device alternates during non-overlapping time slots between at least: 1) monitoring the first connection for traffic transmitted by the first master Bluetooth device while not monitoring the second connection; and 2) monitoring the second connection for traffic transmitted by the second master Bluetooth device while not monitoring the first connection; and controls a rate at which the alternating is performed based on the first timeout value and the second timeout value.

Abstract: An inflight entertainment system includes video display units that communicate with user terminals through Bluetooth signaling and include a network interface communicating with a content server and a satellite network interface and/or a ground network interface. A time reference message is received which contains a master time reference from the satellite network interface and/or the ground network interface. A local time generator is updated based on the master time reference. Rate request messages are received from the user terminals containing indications of time broadcast rates requested by the user terminals. A scheduled time broadcast rate is determined based on the indications of the time broadcast rates requested by the user terminals. The video display unit transmits, through a Bluetooth transceiver at time instances which are determined based on the scheduled time broadcast rate, broadcast time messages that each contain an indication of a present local time of the video display unit.

Abstract: An in-flight entertainment system includes a plurality of static transceivers and an ISM band communication interference manager. The static transceivers are configured to transmit and receive radio frequency signals in the ISM band. The static transceivers are further configured to measure signals received within the ISM band from mobile transceivers within the aircraft and to measure signals received from proximately located ones of the static transceivers, and to generate measurement reports containing the measurements and containing identifiers of the proximately located ones of the static transceivers and the mobile transceivers. The ISM band communication interference manager is communicatively connected to the static transceivers, and performs operations that include receiving the measurement reports from the static transceivers, and controlling transmission power levels used by the static transceivers and the mobile transceivers responsive to the content of the measurement reports.

Abstract: A vehicle entertainment system includes a video display unit and a user interface (UI) control processor. The UI control processor is configured to receive passenger attributes sensed from the passenger operating the video display unit, generate a passenger metric that characterizes the passenger based on the attribute, and control a UI of the video display unit based on the passenger metric. The passenger metric may be a passenger demographic metric determined based on facial features of the passenger. The passenger demographic metric may be a passenger emotion metric, a passenger attentiveness metric, a passenger UI operational effectiveness metric, a passenger biometric feature metric, etc.

Abstract: A network analysis terminal is described that operates within a vehicle cabin to generate passenger connectivity experience metrics. The terminal monitors packets communicated through at least one cabin network between a content server and passenger terminals. The terminal receives packets monitored by the network interface and identifies passenger terminal identifiers that are addressed by content of the packets. Names of vehicle passengers associated with the packets are identified using the passenger terminal identifiers as indexes to retrieve the names of vehicle passengers from an information repository that maps names of vehicle passengers to passenger terminal identifiers. Passenger connectivity experience metrics are generated based on measurements performed on the packets over time.

Abstract: A network analysis terminal is described that operates within a vehicle cabin to generate connectivity metrics. The terminal monitors packets communicated through at least one cabin network between a content server and passenger terminals. The terminal identifies passenger terminal identifiers that are addressed by content of the packets, and identifies names of vehicle passengers associated with the packets using the passenger terminal identifiers as indexes to retrieve the names of vehicle passengers from an information repository that maps names of vehicle passengers to passenger terminal identifiers. The terminal then generates connectivity metrics based on measurements performed on the packets over time and the identified names of the passengers, and controls communications through the at least one cabin network based on the connectivity metrics.

Abstract: An in-flight entertainment system including wireless access points (WAPs) spaced apart within an aircraft and connected to antennas, proximity sensors adjacent to the antennas, and a controller. The controller controls transmissions from WAPs of traffic in communication sessions. The controller performs operations that include receiving a proximity alert signal from a first proximity sensor indicating that a passenger is proximately located to a first antenna used by a first WAP for transmission of a communication session, and identifying a remedial action responsive to evaluating a rule based on the proximity alert signal and characteristics of the communication session. The operations include performing the remedial action as one of: 1) initiating handover of the communication session from the first WAP to a second WAP; and 2) initiating a change in transmission mode that will be used by the first WAP for continued transmission of the communication session.

Abstract: A slave Bluetooth device establishes first and second connections with first and second master Bluetooth devices, respectively, that each operate in a master mode. The slave Bluetooth device operates in a slave mode when communicating through any of the first and second connections. The slave Bluetooth device communicates connection parameter update request packets containing timeout values to the first and second master Bluetooth devices. The slave Bluetooth device alternates during non-overlapping time slots between at least: 1) monitoring the first connection for traffic transmitted by the first master Bluetooth device while not monitoring the second connection; and 2) monitoring the second connection for traffic transmitted by the second master Bluetooth device while not monitoring the first connection; and controls a rate at which the alternating is performed based on the first timeout value and the second timeout value.