Abstract: An antenna assembly is for a fuselage of an aircraft and includes a first satellite antenna operable in a first frequency range, a second satellite antenna operable in a second frequency range, and a radome covering the first and second satellite antennas. The radome includes, in stacked relation, an inner skin having a quartz fabric and epoxy resin, an inner core having epoxy syntactic foam, a center laminate having quartz fabric and epoxy resin, an outer core having epoxy syntactic foam, and an outer skin having quartz fabric and epoxy resin. A fairing mounts the radome to the fuselage of the aircraft.

Abstract: A communications system is for an aircraft carrying at least some personnel having PEDs, and the communications system may include a ground-based communications network, and a satellite-based communications network. The system may include at least one access point in the aircraft for providing a wireless local area network (WLAN) within the aircraft to receive a web content request from a given PED and transmit corresponding web content to the given PED. An air-to-ground communications device in the aircraft may cooperate with the at least one access point for sending the web content request to the ground-based communications network defining a return link. Further, a satellite communications device in the aircraft may cooperate with the at least one access point for receiving the corresponding web content from the satellite-based communications network defining a forward link.

Abstract: A communications system for an aircraft includes an aircraft in-flight entertainment (IFE) system and at least one personal electronic device (PED) carried by an aircraft passenger. The aircraft IFE system includes an IFE advertisement source, IFE passenger seat displays, an IFE wireless transceiver, an IFE controller, and a purchase acceptance controller. The PED includes a PED optical sensor, a PED wireless transceiver, and a PED controller for communicating with the IFE wireless transceiver via the PED wireless transceiver based upon the PED optical sensor sensing a selected advertisement token image. The purchase acceptance controller cooperates with the IFE controller to accept purchase of the selected advertisement token image.

Abstract: A communications system for an aircraft includes at least one personal electronic device (PED) carried by an aircraft passenger, and an aircraft IFE system. The PED includes a PED display, a PED memory for storing an in-flight coupon to be redeemed by the passenger while in-flight, and a PED controller for displaying the stored in-flight coupon on the PED display. The in-flight coupon has an in-flight coupon token image associated therewith. The aircraft IFE system includes an IFE video entertainment source, IFE passenger seat displays, a respective IFE optical sensor associated with each IFE passenger seat display, and an IFE controller. The IFE controller selectively displays video from the IFE entertainment source on the IFE passenger seat displays, and receives the stored coupon for redemption based upon a respective IFE optical sensor sensing the displayed in-flight coupon token image associated therewith on the PED display.

Abstract: An aircraft communications system includes at least one personal electronic device (PED) carried by an aircraft passenger, and an aircraft in-flight entertainment (IFE) system. The PED includes a PED display, a PED wireless transceiver, and a PED controller for generating a respective registration token image on the PED display. The aircraft IFE system includes an IFE video entertainment source, IFE passenger seat displays, a respective IFE optical sensor associated with each of the IFE passenger seat displays, an IFE wireless transceiver, and an IFE controller. The IFE controller is for selectively displaying video from the IFE entertainment source on the IFE passenger seat displays, and for communicating with the PED wireless transceiver via the IFE wireless transceiver based upon a respective IFE optical sensor sensing the registration token image on the PED display.

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 communications system for an aircraft includes an aircraft IFE system, and at least one personal electronic device (PED) carried by an aircraft passenger. The IFE system includes an IFE video entertainment source, IFE passenger seat displays, a respective IFE NFC device associated with each of the IFE passenger seat displays, an IFE wireless transceiver, and an IFE controller. The IFE controller is for selectively displaying video from the IFE entertainment source on the IFE passenger seat displays, selectively transmitting a respective registration ID from each IFE NFC device, and communicating via the IFE wireless transceiver. The PED includes a PED NFC device, a PED wireless transceiver, and a PED controller. The PED controller is for communicating with the IFE wireless transceiver via the PED wireless transceiver based upon the PED NFC device receiving the registration ID associated with one of the respective IFE NFC devices when in proximity thereto.

Abstract: A communications system for an aircraft includes an aircraft in-flight entertainment (IFE) system, and at least one personal electronic device (PED) carried by an aircraft passenger. The aircraft IFE system includes an IFE video entertainment source, IFE passenger seat displays, an IFE wireless transceiver, and an IFE controller. The IFE controller is for selectively displaying video from the IFE entertainment source on the IFE passenger seat displays, and for generating a respective registration token image on each IFE passenger seat display. The PED includes a PED optical sensor, a PED wireless transceiver, and a PED controller. The PED controller is for communicating with the IFE wireless transceiver via the PED wireless transceiver based upon the PED optical sensor sensing the registration token image.

Abstract: A communications system for an aircraft includes an aircraft IFE system, and at least one personal electronic device (PED) carried by an aircraft passenger. The IFE system includes an IFE video entertainment source, IFE passenger seat displays, a respective IFE NFC device associated with each of the IFE passenger seat displays, an IFE wireless transceiver, and an IFE controller. The IFE controller is for selectively displaying video from the IFE entertainment source on the IFE passenger seat displays, selectively transmitting a respective registration ID from each IFE NFC device, and communicating via the IFE wireless transceiver. The PED includes a PED NFC device, a PED wireless transceiver, and a PED controller. The PED controller is for communicating with the IFE wireless transceiver via the PED wireless transceiver based upon the PED NFC device receiving the registration ID associated with one of the respective IFE NFC devices when in proximity thereto.

Abstract: An aircraft communications system includes at least one personal electronic device (PED) carried by an aircraft passenger, and an aircraft in-flight entertainment (IFE) system. The PED includes a PED near-field communications (NFC) device, a PED wireless transceiver, and a PED controller for transmitting a registration identifier (ID), and communicating via the PED wireless transceiver. The aircraft IFE system includes an IFE video entertainment source, IFE passenger seat displays, a respective IFE NFC device associated with each of the IFE passenger seat displays, an IFE wireless transceiver, and an IFE controller. The IFE controller is for selectively displaying video from the IFE entertainment source on the IFE passenger seat displays, and communicating with the PED wireless transceiver via the IFE wireless transceiver based upon one of the respective IFE NFC devices receiving the registration ID from the PED NFC device when in proximity thereto.

Abstract: A communications system for an aircraft includes an aircraft in-flight entertainment (IFE) system and at least one personal electronic device (PED) carried by an aircraft passenger. The aircraft IFE system includes an IFE video entertainment source, IFE passenger seat displays, an IFE wireless transceiver, and an IFE controller. The TEE controller selectively displays video from the IFE entertainment source on the IFE passenger seat displays, and generates a respective registration token image on each IFE passenger seat display. The PED includes a PED optical sensor, a PED memory for storing an in-flight coupon to be redeemed by the passenger while in-flight, a PED wireless transceiver, and a PED controller. The PED controller communicates with the IFE wireless transceiver via the PED wireless transceiver based upon the PED optical sensor sensing the registration token image so that the PED controller is registered with the IFE controller.

Abstract: A communications system for an aircraft includes an aircraft in-flight entertainment (IFE) system, and at least one personal electronic device (PED) carried by an aircraft passenger. The aircraft IFE system includes an IFE video entertainment source, IFE passenger seat displays, an IFE wireless transceiver, and an IFE controller. The IFE controller is for selectively displaying video from the IFE entertainment source on the IFE passenger seat displays, and for generating a respective registration token image on each IFE passenger seat display. The PED includes a PED optical sensor, a PED wireless transceiver, and a PED controller. The PED controller is for communicating with the IFE wireless transceiver via the PED wireless transceiver based upon the PED optical sensor sensing the registration token image.

Abstract: A communications system for an aircraft includes an aircraft in-flight entertainment (IFE) system and at least one personal electronic device (PED) carried by an aircraft passenger. The aircraft IFE system includes an IFE video entertainment source, IFE passenger seat displays, an IFE wireless transceiver, and an IFE controller. The TEE controller selectively displays video from the IFE entertainment source on the IFE passenger seat displays, and generates a respective registration token image on each IFE passenger seat display. The PED includes a PED optical sensor, a PED memory for storing an in-flight coupon to be redeemed by the passenger while in-flight, a PED wireless transceiver, and a PED controller. The PED controller communicates with the IFE wireless transceiver via the PED wireless transceiver based upon the PED optical sensor sensing the registration token image so that the PED controller is registered with the IFE controller.

Abstract: A communications system for an aircraft includes an aircraft in-flight entertainment (IFE) system and at least one personal electronic device (PED) carried by an aircraft passenger. The aircraft IFE system includes an IFE advertisement source, IFE passenger seat displays, and an IFE controller. The IFE controller selectively displays advertisements from the IFE advertisement source on the IFE passenger seat displays. Each advertisement being displayed has a respective advertisement token image associated therewith. The PED includes a PED optical sensor for sensing a selected advertisement token image, a PED wireless transceiver, and a PED controller. The PED controller communicates via the PED wireless transceiver to initiate and complete purchase of the advertisement associated with the selected advertisement token image.

Abstract: A communications system for an aircraft includes an aircraft in-flight entertainment (IFE) system and at least one personal electronic device (PED) carried by an aircraft passenger. The aircraft IFE system includes an IFE advertisement source, IFE passenger seat displays, an IFE wireless transceiver, an IFE controller, and a purchase acceptance controller. The PED includes a PED optical sensor, a PED wireless transceiver, and a PED controller for communicating with the IFE wireless transceiver via the PED wireless transceiver based upon the PED optical sensor sensing a selected advertisement token image. The purchase acceptance controller cooperates with the IFE controller to accept purchase of the selected advertisement token image.

Abstract: A communications system for an aircraft includes at least one personal electronic device (PED) carried by an aircraft passenger, and an aircraft IFE system. The PED includes a PED display, a PED memory for storing an in-flight coupon to be redeemed by the passenger while in-flight, and a PED controller for displaying the stored in-flight coupon on the PED display. The in-flight coupon has an in-flight coupon token image associated therewith. The aircraft IFE system includes an IFE video entertainment source, IFE passenger seat displays, a respective IFE optical sensor associated with each IFE passenger seat display, and an IFE controller. The IFE controller selectively displays video from the IFE entertainment source on the IFE passenger seat displays, and receives the stored coupon for redemption based upon a respective IFE optical sensor sensing the displayed in-flight coupon token image associated therewith on the PED display.

Abstract: An aircraft communications system includes at least one personal electronic device (PED) carried by an aircraft passenger, and an aircraft in-flight entertainment (IFE) system. The PED includes a PED display, a PED wireless transceiver, and a PED controller for generating a respective registration token image on the PED display. The aircraft IFE system includes an IFE video entertainment source, IFE passenger seat displays, a respective IFE optical sensor associated with each of the IFE passenger seat displays, an IFE wireless transceiver, and an IFE controller. The IFE controller is for selectively displaying video from the IFE entertainment source on the IFE passenger seat displays, and for communicating with the PED wireless transceiver via the IFE wireless transceiver based upon a respective IFE optical sensor sensing the registration token image on the PED display.

Abstract: An aircraft in-flight entertainment system preferably includes, in one embodiment, a satellite TV receiver, at least one passenger video display connected to the receiver, and a processor connected to the receiver for determining an undesired condition and for generating a substitute image on the passenger video display rather than permit display of an undesired image which would otherwise be produced. The undesired condition may relate to a weak signal or component malfunction. Accordingly, the undesired image may be an undesired default text message or a degraded picture image. Other embodiments of the in-flight entertainment system are directed to providing a moving map image flight information channel integrated with the programming channels of the system.

Abstract: An aircraft in-flight entertainment system includes a satellite TV receiver, at least one video display connected to the receiver, and a multi-beam antenna on the aircraft for receiving signals from a plurality of satellite TV transponders. The multi-beam antenna may have right-hand circularly polarized (RHCP) and left-hand circularly polarized (LHCP) beams offset from one another by a beam offset angle. The beam offset angle may be less than an angle defined by the spacing of the DBS transponders. The system may also include an antenna steering positioner connected to the multi-beam antenna, and an antenna steering controller for steering the multi-beam antenna based upon received signals from at least one of the RHCP and LHCP beams. The antenna steering controller may comprise a processor for steering the multi-beam antenna based on a selected master one of the RHCP and LHCP beams and slaving the other beam therefrom.