System and method for downloading files

• US 20050044564A1
• Filed: 02/04/2004
• Published: 02/24/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Avionics Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Avionics Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Bradford, Belinda, Stopniewicz, Albert J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,135,773 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/37
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2146 located in mass transportation means, e.g. aircraft, train or bus flight-deck installations for entertainment or communications B64D11/0015; arrangements specially adapted for transportation systems in broadcast systems H04H20/62; moving wireless networks H04W84/005
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41265 having a remote control device for bidirectional communication between the remote control device and client device unidirectional remote control device H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41422 located in transportation means, e.g. personal vehicle arrangements specially adapted for transportation systems in broadcast systems H04H20/62
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43637 involving a wireless protocol, e.g. Bluetooth, RF or wireless LAN [IEEE 802.11] arrangements for wireless networking or broadcasting of information in indoor or near-field type systems H04B10/114

Abstract

A passenger entertainment system for use on aircraft and other types of vehicles and methods for manufacturing and using same. The entertainment system comprises a mobile entertainment apparatus that can communicate with a database system having at least one file library. When communicating with the database system, the entertainment apparatus can select and download one or more files from the file libraries. Once the selected files have been downloaded, the entertainment apparatus can present the files regardless of whether communication with the database system is maintained. If the entertainment apparatus is installed in a vehicle, for example, a passenger in the vehicle can download the files during travel to a portable personal entertainment system, which can retain the files even if disconnected from the entertainment apparatus. The passenger thereby can view the files at any time, including after disembarking the vehicle, by removing the personal entertainment system from the vehicle.

Claims

1. An entertainment apparatus, comprising:

an antenna system;

a transceiver system coupled with said antenna system and being configured to communicate with a first database system via said antenna system; and

a user interface for communicating with the first database system via said transceiver system and having a communication port that is configured to communicate with a personal entertainment system,

wherein the personal entertainment system is configured to download and store a first selected file from the first database system via said communication port and to present the first selected file regardless of whether the personal entertainment system is in communication with said communication port.

2. An entertainment apparatus, comprising:

a communication interface being disposed on a vehicle and configured to communicate with a first database system; and

a user interface being disposed on the vehicle, being in communication with said communication interface, and having a communication port that is configured to communicate with a personal entertainment system,

wherein the personal entertainment system is configured to download and store a first selected file from the first database system via said communication port and to present the first selected file regardless of whether the personal entertainment system is in communication with said communication port.

3. An entertainment system, comprising:

a first database system;

a communication interface being disposed on a vehicle and configured to communicate with said first database system; and

a user interface being disposed on the vehicle, being in communication with said communication interface, and having a communication port that is configured to communicate with a personal entertainment system,

wherein the personal entertainment system is configured to download and store a first selected file from the first database system via said communication port and to present the first selected file regardless of whether the personal entertainment system is in communication with said communication port.

4. A method for downloading files while traveling on a vehicle, comprising:

providing a user interface being in communication with a communication interface, said user interface and said communication interface being installed on said vehicle;

coupling a personal entertainment system with said user interface;

establishing communications between said communication interface and a first database system;

selecting a file of the first database system;

downloading said file from said database system to said personal entertainment system via said user interface;

storing said file within said personal entertainment system; and

presenting said file via said personal entertainment system regardless of whether the personal entertainment system is in communication with said user interface.

5. An aircraft, comprising:

a fuselage;

a passenger seat arranged within the fuselage; and

an entertainment apparatus coupled with said fuselage and comprising;

an antenna system coupled with said fuselage;

a transceiver system coupled with said antenna system and being configured to communicate with a first database system via said antenna system; and

a user interface for communicating with the first database system via said transceiver system, said user interface being associated with said passenger seat and having a communication port that is configured to communicate with a personal entertainment system,

wherein the personal entertainment system is configured to download and store a first selected file from the first database system via said communication port and to present the first selected file regardless of whether the personal entertainment system is in communication with said communication port.

6. The aircraft of claim 5, wherein said entertainment apparatus further includes a second database system, said second database system being coupled with said fuselage and configured to communicate with said user interface such that the personal entertainment system is configured to download and store a second selected file from the second database system via said communication port and to present the second selected file regardless of whether the personal entertainment system is in communication with said communication port.

7. The aircraft of claim 5, wherein said transceiver system and said user interface are configured to communicate via a distribution system.

8. The aircraft of claim 7, wherein said distribution system comprises a wireless distribution system.

9. The aircraft of claim 5, wherein said transceiver system is configured to communicate with the first database system via a satellite communication system.

10. The aircraft of claim 5, wherein said transceiver system is configured to communicate with the first database system via a cellular communication system.

11. The aircraft of claim 5, wherein said communication port is configured to communicate with the personal entertainment system via a wireless communication system.