Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for displaying celestial bodies in an aircraft are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, an IFEC system includes a database, a display device, and a processor operably coupled to the database and the display device. The processor can be configured to receive a first set of flight data from the aircraft, load a first GUI including one or more of the images and/or videos of celestial bodies arranged and/or modified based on the received first set of flight data, transmit the first GUI to the display device, receive a second set of flight data from the aircraft, load a second GUI based on the received second set of flight data, wherein the second GUI includes one or more of the images and/or videos of celestial bodies arranged and/or modified in a different manner than the first GUI, and transmit the second GUI to the display device.

Abstract: A photonic grating coupler includes at least one waveguide port and a multi-layer material stack. The multi-layer material stack includes a first mixed material layer forming an upper inverse design region in which an upper grating pattern is disposed and a second mixed material layer disposed below the first mixed material layer. The second mixed material layer forms a lower inverse design region in which a lower grating pattern is disposed. The first and second waveguide ports physically abut to and extend from the second mix material layer and the upper and lower grating patterns are structured to collectively couple an optical signal incident on the photonic grating coupler from above the first mixed material layer into the at least one waveguide port.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a computer-implemented method for creating a design for an optoelectronic modulator device is provided. A computing system determines an initial design that includes optical structural parameters and electrical structural parameters for a design region. The computing system simulates electrical performance based on the electrical structural parameters to adjust optical characteristics of the optical structural parameters. The computing system simulates optical performance of the optical structural parameters having the adjusted optical characteristics to generate a performance loss value. The computing system determines a loss metric based on the performance loss value. The computing system backpropagates the loss metric to determine a structural gradient. The computing system revises at least one of the optical structural parameters and the electrical structural parameters based at least in part on the structural gradient to create an updated initial design.

Abstract: A method is described for the prophylaxis of hypertension in a cat in need thereof. The method includes administration of an effective amount of angiotensin II receptor 1 (AT-1) antagonist (sartan) to the cat, wherein the prophylaxis of hypertension is a delay of onset of hypertension.

Abstract: A method of pairing a passenger electronic device (PED) and an inflight entertainment and communication (IFEC) network includes detecting a placement of the PED in a wireless charging platform onboard a commercial passenger vehicle; communicating, upon the detecting the placement, a first pairing information between the PED and the IFEC network via a first communication link; and using the first pairing information to facilitate communication between the PED and the IFEC network via a second communication link.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a computer-implemented method of creating a design for an optoelectronic device is provided. A computing system determines an initial heater design that includes one or more heater parameters. The computing system determines a temperature gradation by simulating performance of the initial heater design in adjusting an environmental temperature to a nominal temperature. The computing system simulates performance of a nominal optimized design of a dispersive region of the optoelectronic device, given the temperature gradation, to determine a temperature-influenced performance loss value. The computing system determines a heater parameter gradient based on the temperature-influenced performance loss value, and revises the heater parameters based at least in part on the heater parameter gradient to create a revised heater design.

Abstract: A testing and verification system for an equivalent physical configuration of an in-flight entertainment and communications system with one or more hardware components includes a virtual machine manager. One or more virtual machines each including a hardware abstraction layer is instantiated by the virtual machine manager according to simulated hardware component definitions corresponding to the equivalent physical configuration of the hardware components. The virtual machines are in communication with each other over virtual network connections. A test interface to the one or more virtual machines generate test inputs to target software applications installed on the virtual machines. A display interface is connected to the virtual machines, with results from the execution of the target software applications responsive to the test inputs are output thereto.

Abstract: Methods and systems for a transportation vehicle are provided. One method includes generating a packet by an application executed by a processor of a first seat device of an in-flight entertainment system having a plurality of seat devices on an aircraft; dropping the packet by the seat device when the application is not authorized for Internet communication; dropping the packet by the seat device when the packet is one of a broadcast packet, multicast packet or destined to a second seat device of the in-flight entertainment system; determining that the seat device Internet traffic is below a threshold value; and transmitting the packet to a network device when the application is authorized, and the packet is not a broadcast packet, multicast packet or destined for a second seat device.

Abstract: A testing and verification system for an equivalent physical configuration of an in-flight entertainment and communications system with one or more hardware components includes a virtual machine manager. One or more virtual machines each including a hardware abstraction layer is instantiated by the virtual machine manager according to simulated hardware component definitions corresponding to the equivalent physical configuration of the hardware components. The virtual machines are in communication with each other over virtual network connections. A test interface to the one or more virtual machines generate test inputs to target software applications installed on the virtual machines. A display interface is connected to the virtual machines, with results from the execution of the target software applications responsive to the test inputs are output thereto.

Abstract: Devices, systems and methods for electronic systems that manage an order in which an aircraft is boarded or deplaned are described. An exemplary method includes configuring an onboard computer to execute a script, wherein the script controls an order by which passengers on an airplane are prompted for deplaning, updating the script for a travel segment of the airplane using a first input comprising a passenger information for the travel segment or a second input comprising a travel configuration of the airplane during the travel segment or a third input from onboard crew of the airplane; and controlling onboard electronic equipment of the airplane by executing the script at an end of the travel segment by prompting passengers to deplane the airplane in the order.

Abstract: A testing and verification system for an equivalent physical configuration of an in-flight entertainment and communications system with one or more hardware components includes a virtual machine manager. One or more virtual machines each including a hardware abstraction layer is instantiated by the virtual machine manager according to simulated hardware component definitions corresponding to the equivalent physical configuration of the hardware components. The virtual machines are in communication with each other over virtual network connections. A test interface to the one or more virtual machines generate test inputs to target software applications installed on the virtual machines. A display interface is connected to the virtual machines, with results from the execution of the target software applications responsive to the test inputs are output thereto.

Abstract: A testing and verification system for an equivalent physical configuration of an in-flight entertainment and communications system with one or more hardware components includes a virtual machine manager. One or more virtual machines each including a hardware abstraction layer is instantiated by the virtual machine manager according to simulated hardware component definitions corresponding to the equivalent physical configuration of the hardware components. The virtual machines are in communication with each other over virtual network connections. A test interface to the one or more virtual machines generate test inputs to target software applications installed on the virtual machines. A display interface is connected to the virtual machines, with results from the execution of the target software applications responsive to the test inputs are output thereto.

Abstract: Devices, systems and methods for enhancing aircraft maintenance are disclosed. An exemplary method for improving dataloading in an airplane includes retrieving, from an in-flight entertainment connectivity (IFEC) system, at least one avionics software, the IFEC system comprising a mass storage device comprising a first storage segment and a second storage segment, the first storage segment being a secure storage segment configured to store the at least one avionics software, and the second storage segment being configured to store media content, and loading, using a wireless network converter coupled to a wired legacy port, the at least one avionics software onto a target avionics system.

Abstract: Methods and systems for a transportation vehicle are provided. One method includes initializing a first browser at an electronic device to communicate with a remote virtual loader having access to data for an in-flight entertainment (IFE) system of an aircraft; authenticating the first browser by the remote virtual loader; providing IFE data for the IFE system to the first browser by the remote virtual loader with an instruction to grant access to the IFE data by a second browser of the electronic device, the second browser authenticated by the IFE system to send information to the IFE system; and transferring the IFE data from the electronic device to the IFE system by the second browser that obtains access to the IFE data from the first browser in response to the instruction from the remote virtual loader.

Abstract: Devices, systems and methods for providing customized entertainment or productivity options to passengers on commercial passenger vehicles are disclosed. An exemplary method implemented by a computer on a commercial passenger vehicle includes receiving and storing from a server system communication on a memory and a display screen of a portable device of a passenger, prior to a start of a current travel segment of the commercial passenger vehicle, data for predictive preference selection during the current travel segment; determining, during the current travel segment, for the passenger, a personalized display menu of the passenger for one or more items or services from a plurality of items and services; and providing, during the travel segment, an interactive session having the personalized display menu based on the traveler profile and displayed on the display screen for the passenger on the portable device based on the determining.

Abstract: Vehicle operations management systems can facilitate maintenance of commercial passenger vehicles. An operations management system includes a server and a maintenance computer. The server is configured to receive a message that indicates a maintenance performed on a device located in a commercial passenger vehicle or that indicates a performance status of the device located in the commercial passenger vehicle, generate, based on the message, a predictive maintenance list that recommends maintenance to be performed on one or more devices that belong to a category of devices that is the same as the category of devices to which the device indicated in the received message belongs, and send the predictive maintenance list to a maintenance computer. The maintenance computer is configured to receive and display the predictive maintenance list on a graphical user interface (GUI).

Abstract: A testing and verification system for an equivalent physical configuration of an in-flight entertainment and communications system with one or more hardware components includes a virtual machine manager. One or more virtual machines each including a hardware abstraction layer is instantiated by the virtual machine manager according to simulated hardware component definitions corresponding to the equivalent physical configuration of the hardware components. The virtual machines are in communication with each other over virtual network connections. A test interface to the one or more virtual machines generate test inputs to target software applications installed on the virtual machines. A display interface is connected to the virtual machines, with results from the execution of the target software applications responsive to the test inputs are output thereto.

Abstract: A network security attack misdirection line-replaceable unit for installation on an aircraft and connected to an onboard data network include a local network interface to the onboard data network. A local simulation server accepts incoming access requests accompanied by an access credential from an attacker client device, and is responsive thereto with either a simulated access denial response or a simulated access grant response. Delays between receipt of the access request and to the access denial response is progressively increased with each presentation of the access credential.

Abstract: Techniques are described to detect and/or prevent malicious wireless attacks and/or suspicious wireless activity related to a wireless network in a commercial passenger vehicle. For example, an access point located in the commercial passenger vehicle receives a set of wireless beacon frames from a first wireless device, makes a first determination of a first beacon frame rate of the set of wireless beacon frames, receives a second beacon frame after a first beacon frame, makes a second determination of a second beacon frame rate of the second beacon frame relative to the first beacon frame, makes a third determination that a second wireless device is impersonating the first wireless device upon comparing the first beacon frame rate to the second beacon frame rate, and sends, upon making the third determination, a security alert message to an external input/output (I/O) device in the commercial passenger vehicle.

Abstract: Devices, systems and methods for electronic systems that manage an order in which an aircraft is boarded or deplaned are described. An exemplary method includes configuring an onboard computer to execute a script, wherein the script controls an order by which passengers on an airplane are prompted for deplaning, updating the script for a travel segment of the airplane using a first input comprising a passenger information for the travel segment or a second input comprising a travel configuration of the airplane during the travel segment or a third input from onboard crew of the airplane; and controlling onboard electronic equipment of the airplane by executing the script at an end of the travel segment by prompting passengers to deplane the airplane in the order.