Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for registering personal electronic devices (PEDs) with an aircraft in-flight entertainment (IFE) system. Some methods include generating a different token image for each IFE passenger seat display, each generated token image comprising unique information for registering the PEDs with the IFE system. Different ones of the generated token images are communicated to different ones of the IFE passenger seat displays for display to passengers. A request comprising a captured image of the generated token image that is displayed on one of the IFE passenger seat displays is received. The at least one PED is registered with the IFE system by associating the unique identification information of the generated token image received in the request from the at least one PED. A communication link is established with the PED using the unique 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 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: An aircraft communications system includes a satellite video receiver, a ground video receiver, wireless local area network (WLAN) circuitry to provide a WLAN within the aircraft, a processor and memory coupled to the processor. The processor is configured to supply video content from the satellite video receiver to the PEDs via the WLAN circuitry, store video content from the ground video receiver in the memory based upon a popularity rating of the video content, and supply stored video content to personal electronic devices (PEDs) within the aircraft via the WLAN.

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: Systems and methods are disclosed for registering personal electronic devices (PEDs) with an aircraft in-flight entertainment (IFE) system. Some methods include generating a different token image for each IFE passenger seat display, each generated token image comprising unique information for registering the PEDs with the IFE system. Different ones of the generated token images are communicated to different ones of the IFE passenger seat displays for display to passengers. A request comprising a captured image of the generated token image that is displayed on one of the IFE passenger seat displays is received. The at least one PED is registered with the IFE system by associating the unique identification information of the generated token image received in the request from the at least one PED. A communication link is established with the PED using the unique 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 communications system for an aircraft carrying personal electronic devices (PEDs) for wireless data communications includes a satellite video receiver, wireless local area network (WLAN) circuitry configured to provide a WLAN within the aircraft, and a processor and memory coupled thereto. The processor is configured to store video content from the satellite video receiver in the memory based upon a popularity rating of the video content, and supply stored video content to the PEDs via the WLAN.

Abstract: An aircraft communications system includes a satellite video receiver, a video signal transcoder coupled to the satellite video receiver to convert live video signals therefrom from one video format to another, and an adaptive streaming video processor coupled to the video signal transcoder. The adaptive streaming video processor creates video data files at different data rates, and divides the video data files into shorter chunks of video data along with associated index files. An access point is coupled to the adaptive streaming video processor for providing a wireless local area network (WLAN) within the aircraft to distribute the shorter chunks of video data and associated index files to personal electronic devices (PEDs) within the aircraft as requested by the PEDs based on communication conditions within the aircraft.

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: An antenna assembly is for a fuselage of an aircraft and includes a satellite antenna, a radome covering the satellite antenna, and attachment fittings for coupling to the fuselage of the aircraft. The attachment fittings include fore, aft and side attachment fittings. The fore attachment fittings react to vertical, lateral and longitudinal loads. The aft attachment fittings react to vertical and lateral loads and permit longitudinal displacement. Left side and right side attachment fittings react to vertical loads and permit lateral and longitudinal displacement. A fairing mounts the radome to the attachment fittings.

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: An aircraft communications system includes a satellite video receiver, a video signal transcoder coupled to the satellite video receiver to convert live video signals therefrom from one video format to another, and an adaptive streaming video processor coupled to the video signal transcoder. The adaptive streaming video processor creates video data files at different data rates, and divides the video data files into shorter chunks of video data along with associated index files. An access point is coupled to the adaptive streaming video processor for providing a wireless local area network (WLAN) within the aircraft to distribute the shorter chunks of video data and associated index files to personal electronic devices (PEDs) within the aircraft as requested by the PEDs based on communication conditions within the aircraft.

Abstract: A communications system for an aircraft carrying personal electronic devices (PEDs) for wireless data communications includes a satellite video receiver, wireless local area network (WLAN) circuitry configured to provide a WLAN within the aircraft, and a processor and memory coupled thereto. The processor is configured to store video content from the satellite video receiver in the memory based upon a popularity rating of the video content, and supply stored video content to the PEDs via the WLAN.

Abstract: An aircraft communications system includes a satellite video receiver, a ground video receiver, wireless local area network (WLAN) circuitry to provide a WLAN within the aircraft, a processor and memory coupled to the processor. The processor is configured to supply video content from the satellite video receiver to the PEDs via the WLAN circuitry, store video content from the ground video receiver in the memory based upon a popularity rating of the video content, and supply stored video content to personal electronic devices (PEDs) within the aircraft via the WLAN.

Abstract: An antenna assembly is for a fuselage of an aircraft and includes a satellite antenna, a radome covering the satellite antenna, and attachment fittings for coupling to the fuselage of the aircraft. The attachment fittings include fore, aft and side attachment fittings. The fore attachment fittings react to vertical, lateral and longitudinal loads. The aft attachment fittings react to vertical and lateral loads and permit longitudinal displacement. Left side and right side attachment fittings react to vertical loads and permit lateral and longitudinal displacement. A fairing mounts the radome to the attachment fittings.

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: 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: 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.