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: 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: Courier electronic devices are used to transport seat video display unit (SVDU) operating system (OS) code updates from a content operation center to onboard a vehicle. The OS code used by the SVDUs is updated based on the OS code update to generate an updated OS code, which is used to curate entertainment content files from a mass storage device for selection among by passengers for their consumption through the SVDUs. Entertainment content files may also be selected by the content operation center based on passenger characteristic information and loaded onto the courier electronic devices for transport onboard the vehicle for transfer to the S VDUs to update the entertainment content that is made available for selection by the passengers. The courier electronic devices may be used to facilitate transportation of other information between the SVDUs in the content operation center.

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: Courier electronic devices are used to transport seat video display unit (SVDU) operating system (OS) code updates from a content operation center to onboard a vehicle. The OS code used by the SVDUs is updated based on the OS code update to generate an updated OS code, which is used to curate entertainment content files from a mass storage device for selection among by passengers for their consumption through the SVDUs. Entertainment content files may also be selected by the content operation center based on passenger characteristic information and loaded onto the courier electronic devices for transport onboard the vehicle for transfer to the SVDUs to update the entertainment content that is made available for selection by the passengers. The courier electronic devices may be used to facilitate transportation of other information between the SVDUs in the content operation center.

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: A vehicle chatroom server includes at least one network interface configured to communicate with passenger terminals, at least one processor connected to communicate through the at least one network interface, and at least one memory storing code that is executed by the at least one processor to perform operations. The operations include obtaining passenger information and characterizing potential passenger discussion interests based on the passenger information. The operations identify a grouping of passengers who satisfy a common interest rule based on the potential passenger discussion interests. The operations then communicate with passengers in the grouping through a computerized chatbot module providing natural-language text and/or computer synthesized speech that is provided to the passengers in the grouping to invite to a discussion-focused chatroom hosted by the chatroom server. Related methods and computer program products are disclosed.

Abstract: Courier electronic devices are used to transport seat video display unit (SVDU) operating system (OS) code updates from a content operation center to onboard a vehicle. The OS code used by the SVDUs is updated based on the OS code update to generate an updated OS code, which is used to curate entertainment content files from a mass storage device for selection among by passengers for their consumption through the SVDUs. Entertainment content files may also be selected by the content operation center based on passenger characteristic information and loaded onto the courier electronic devices for transport onboard the vehicle for transfer to the S VDUs to update the entertainment content that is made available for selection by the passengers. The courier electronic devices may be used to facilitate transportation of other information between the SVDUs in the content operation center.

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: 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 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: 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: A vehicle chatroom server includes at least one network interface configured to communicate with passenger terminals, at least one processor connected to communicate through the at least one network interface, and at least one memory storing code that is executed by the at least one processor to perform operations. The operations include obtaining passenger information and characterizing potential passenger discussion interests based on the passenger information. The operations identify a grouping of passengers who satisfy a common interest rule based on the potential passenger discussion interests. The operations then communicate with passengers in the grouping through a computerized chatbot module providing natural-language text and/or computer synthesized speech that is provided to the passengers in the grouping to invite to a discussion-focused chatroom hosted by the chatroom server. Related methods and computer program products are disclosed.

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 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 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: 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.