Abstract: A method comprises receiving one or more search requests from one or more users, each search request comprising a request for relationship information that is determined using email data, and each search request including at least one of a first name, a last name, and a company name of a target individual. The method further comprises storing search information associated with the one or more search requests. The search infatuation comprises a plurality of fields including a user identification associated with each of the one or more users, a name of the one or more users, a type of search request received, a name of the target individual, an email address associated with the target individual, and a time at which the search request is received. The method may further comprise generating an audit report based at least in part on the stored search information, wherein the audit report comprises at least one of the plurality of fields. The method further comprises storing the audit report.

Abstract: A system for the measurement of degradation of electrical wire insulation quality is described. The system includes a clamping device for engaging the electrical wire to be tested for insulation degradation, the clamping device comprising a channel formed therein for placement of the electrical wire, a plurality of plates placed proximate the channel, the plates electrically connected to generate a capacitance and placed proximate the channel such that the wire insulation provides a portion of a dielectric for the generated capacitance, and a measurement device operatively attached to the plurality of plates such that the measurement device is configured to indicate an amount of degradation associated with the wire insulation based on at least one of the measured capacitance and dissipation factor.

Abstract: In one aspect, cabin interphone handsets and passenger announcement speakers in the cabin of a vehicle communicate over an internet protocol data network. Each handset of the system has an internet protocol presence and each passenger announcement speaker of the system has an internet protocol presence. Each handset includes announcement and call management functions so that each handset can communicate with one or more handsets over the network as well as make passenger announcements via one or more passenger announcement speakers. The call setup function and PA function may utilize voice over internet protocol. In another aspect, methods are provided for making interphone calls and passenger announcements using the system.

Abstract: A method comprises identifying one or more relationships between a target individual and one or more persons based at least in part on a plurality of emails. The plurality of emails comprise one or more outbound emails, which may comprise emails sent to the target individual from the one or more persons. The plurality of emails further comprise one or more inbound emails, which may comprise emails sent from the target individual to the one or more persons. The method further comprises, for each of the one or more relationships, calculating an amount of outbound emails and an amount of inbound emails. The method further comprises assigning a classification to each of the one or more relationships based at least in part on the amount of outbound emails and the amount of inbound emails. The method further comprises sorting the one or more relationships based at least in part on the classification assigned to each of the one or more relationships.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses and articles of manufacture to provide passenger preference data to in-flight entertainment systems are disclosed. A disclosed example airline passenger seat includes an optical device to optically scan a barcode presented by a passenger associated with the airline passenger seat, the barcode generated by the passenger and including a representation of passenger preference data, a display device to enable the passenger to review the passenger preference data, and a communication module to provide the passenger preference data to an in-flight entertainment system.

Abstract: A system for the measurement of degradation of electrical wire insulation is described. The system includes an infrared (IR) spectrometer, a fiber optic cable having a first end and a second end, where the first end is configured to interface to the IR spectrometer, and a clamping device for engaging the electrical wire to be tested for insulation degradation. The second end of said fiber optic cable is mounted within the clamping device such that the second end is adjacent the wire insulation.

Abstract: A method comprises receiving, by a processor, a query comprising at least one name of a target individual. The method further comprises determining, by the processor, a plurality of email addresses. Each of the determined email addresses has a respective prefix based at least in part upon the at least one name of the target individual, and the determination is based at least in part upon statistical data regarding common syntaxes for email addresses. The method further comprises determining email traffic based at least in part upon the determined email addresses. The method further comprises determining, by the processor, one or more relationships of the target individual based at least in part upon the determined email traffic.

Abstract: A system for the measurement of degradation of electrical wire insulation quality is described. The system includes a clamping device for engaging the electrical wire to be tested for insulation degradation, the clamping device comprising a channel formed therein for placement of the electrical wire, a plurality of plates placed proximate the channel, the plates electrically connected to generate a capacitance and placed proximate the channel such that the wire insulation provides a portion of a dielectric for the generated capacitance, and a measurement device operatively attached to the plurality of plates such that the measurement device is configured to indicate an amount of degradation associated with the wire insulation based on at least one of the measured capacitance and dissipation factor.

Abstract: A system and method for wirelessly transferring content to and from a vehicle, in particular, an aircraft. The content includes, for example, data, voice, video and multimedia, that can be wirelessly exchanged over a wireless communication link between an aircraft and a ground station while the aircraft is at or near a parking gate, or between aircraft. In an example, the system employs long distance metropolitan area technology, such as IEEE Standard 802.16 wireless technology, to increase transfer range. The parameter of the wireless communication link can be adjusted based on, for example, the location of the link. The content can further be provided between the vehicle and ground station based on priorities, such as the available link speed, importance of the information, and/or anticipated connection time between the vehicle and ground station. A media creation center can be networked to a plurality of base stations.

Abstract: An in-flight entertainment system with hand-out terminals is described. An embodiment of the invention comprises a server having digital content, which is communicatively linked to a communications network, a connector located proximate to each passenger seat of an aircraft, each connector being communicatively linked to the network, and hand-out terminals. Each hand-out terminal is configured to be coupled to one of the connectors to permit a passenger at the seat to which the connector is proximate to access the digital content.

Abstract: An antenna assembly for installation in a vehicle, such as an aircraft, and a method for using the same. The antenna assembly includes at least one window mounted antenna for an aircraft for enabling the aircraft to communicate wirelessly with a network, such as a Metropolitan Area Network (MAN). The window mounted antenna includes a panel that is transparent to visible light and has at least one antenna element, which can be etched onto the panel. The panel can attach to the interior window of the aircraft, or to an inner surface of the inner pressure window of the aircraft, or can replace the interior window, so as to position the antenna element in a side-looking direction with respect to the aircraft.

Abstract: A system and method for providing a digital In-Flight Entertainment (IFE) system in a vehicle, such as an aircraft, that is capable of presenting a video program and associated audio in a synchronized manner to a large number of individual video monitors and speakers. The system and method employ processing operations in at least one decoder of the IFE system, to perform operations such as adjusting a local clock based on a master clock, setting a delay time in relation to a master clock, and adjusting video and audio playback based on the delay, to substantially synchronize playback of the audio and video data by the audio and video players, to thus eliminate or at least minimize the negative effects of source and load based jitter, network delays, clock drifts, network errors and decoder buffering differences, on synchronizing video and audio playback.

Abstract: A break-away electrical connection for a passenger audio, audio/video, or data interface in an in-flight entertainment system comprises a magnetic retainer in either or both of a plug and receptacle and an asymmetric mechanical guide for proper alignment of signal polarity.

Abstract: A method comprises identifying one or more relationships between a target individual and one or more persons based at least in part on a plurality of emails. The plurality of emails comprise one or more outbound emails, which may comprise emails sent to the target individual from the one or more persons. The plurality of emails further comprise one or more inbound emails, which may comprise emails sent from the target individual to the one or more persons. The method further comprises, for each of the one or more relationships, calculating an amount of outbound emails and an amount of inbound emails. The method further comprises assigning a classification to each of the one or more relationships based at least in part on the amount of outbound emails and the amount of inbound emails. The method further comprises sorting the one or more relationships based at least in part on the classification assigned to each of the one or more relationships.

Abstract: A method comprises receiving, by a processor, a query comprising at least one name of a target individual. The method further comprises determining, by the processor, a plurality of email addresses. Each of the determined email addresses has a respective prefix based at least in part upon the at least one name of the target individual, and the determination is based at least in part upon statistical data regarding common syntaxes for email addresses. The method further comprises determining email traffic based at least in part upon the determined email addresses. The method further comprises determining, by the processor, one or more relationships of the target individual based at least in part upon the determined email traffic.

Abstract: A method comprises receiving one or more search requests from one or more users, each search request comprising a request for relationship information that is determined using email data, and each search request including at least one of a first name, a last name, and a company name of a target individual. The method further comprises storing search information associated with the one or more search requests. The search infatuation comprises a plurality of fields including a user identification associated with each of the one or more users, a name of the one or more users, a type of search request received, a name of the target individual, an email address associated with the target individual, and a time at which the search request is received. The method may further comprise generating an audit report based at least in part on the stored search information, wherein the audit report comprises at least one of the plurality of fields. The method further comprises storing the audit report.

Abstract: A method comprises receiving a plurality of emails. Each of the plurality of emails comprises message information and header information. The header information comprises subject information and one or more email addresses. The method further comprises generating filtered email data comprising email addresses by at least filtering message information and subject information from each of the plurality of emails. The method further comprises correlating sender information and recipient information in the filtered email data, the correlation based at least in part on the one or more email addresses. The method further comprises storing in memory one or more email addresses from the filtered email data.

Abstract: A system and method for wirelessly transferring content to and from a vehicle, in particular, an aircraft. The content includes, for example, data, voice, video and multimedia, that can be wirelessly exchanged over a wireless communication link between an aircraft and a ground station while the aircraft is at or near a parking gate, or between aircraft. In an example, the system employs long distance metropolitan area technology, such as IEEE Standard 802.16 wireless technology, to increase transfer range. The parameter of the wireless communication link can be adjusted based on, for example, the location of the link. The content can further be provided between the vehicle and ground station based on priorities, such as the available link speed, importance of the information, and/or anticipated connection time between the vehicle and ground station. A media creation center can be networked to a plurality of base stations.

Abstract: An in-flight entertainment system is shown wherein digital content servers are interconnected with network servers such that the content servers can communicate with one another and with a portable data loader. The loader stores digital content files that are to be downloaded to the content servers. A script downloaded to each content server is executed by the server to download some of the files from the portable data loader and cross-load other files from other content servers. Alternatively, a content inventory list is downloaded to each content server that indicates which content server is to download each content file and which content servers are to receive the content file. Each content server parses the list to identify files for which it is the download server, request download of those files, identify other files that it should have and request cross-load of those files from other content servers.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for updating software configurations of line-replaceable unit (LRU) computers in a restricted architecture network such as an in-flight entertainment system (IFES). Operating in an efficient and parallel manner, each of the LRUs independently creates an individual configuration file that identifies current software components. Each of the LRUs transmits its respective configuration file to a configuration server either automatically upon startup or manually upon request. The configuration server updates a system configuration data file with the current configuration files received from the individual LRUs. In a downloading method, a download server sends a list of desired software components to the LRUs. Each of the LRUs independently and simultaneously transfer (download) the needed software from the download server. The LRU independently requests the download server to download the needed software components. The file transfers utilize standard protocols, such as FTP.