Management method of in-flight entertainment device rentals having self-contained audio-visual presentations
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method comprising:
- accepting a reservation for rental of a self-contained in-flight entertainment device for use on a commercial airline flight of an aircraft;
adding the reservation to a manifest containing at least a count of self-contained in-flight entertainment devices reserved for the commercial airline flight;
comparing the count of self-contained in-flight entertainment devices reserved for the commercial airline flight with a default number indicating how many in-flight entertainment devices are stored on board the aircraft; and
if the count of self-contained in-flight entertainment devices reserved for the commercial airline flight is larger than the default number by a difference, then bringing on board the aircraft before the commercial airline flight commences an additional number of self-contained in-flight entertainment devices at least as large as the difference.
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Abstract
A management method of in-flight entertainment device (IFED) rentals having self-contained audiovisual presentations is disclosed. A self-contained IFED has internal storage configured to contain current releases of movies and other audiovisual presentations. The method addresses aspects related to servicing distribution, and collection of the self-contained IFEDs.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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accepting a reservation for rental of a self-contained in-flight entertainment device for use on a commercial airline flight of an aircraft;
adding the reservation to a manifest containing at least a count of self-contained in-flight entertainment devices reserved for the commercial airline flight;
comparing the count of self-contained in-flight entertainment devices reserved for the commercial airline flight with a default number indicating how many in-flight entertainment devices are stored on board the aircraft; and
if the count of self-contained in-flight entertainment devices reserved for the commercial airline flight is larger than the default number by a difference, then bringing on board the aircraft before the commercial airline flight commences an additional number of self-contained in-flight entertainment devices at least as large as the difference. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method comprising:
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reserving for rental of one of a plurality of self-contained in-flight entertainment devices for use on a commercial airline flight of an aircraft;
receiving a voucher associated with the reserving;
exchanging the voucher for one of the plurality of self-contained in-flight entertainment devices;
using the self-contained in-flight entertainment device while flying on the commercial airline flight; and
exchanging the self-contained in-flight entertainment devices for a return acknowledgement. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7)
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8. A method comprising:
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accepting a reservation for rental of a self-contained in-flight entertainment devices for use by a person on a commercial airline flight of an aircraft; and
determining if any number of a plurality of self-contained in-flight entertainment devices stored on board the aircraft require deletion of stored audiovisual presentations and addition of other audiovisual presentations and if so, delivering a quantity of the other self-contained in-flight entertainment devices having the other audiovisual presentations stored to the aircraft for exchange with the any number of self-contained in-flight entertainment devices requiring deletion of store audiovisual presentations. - View Dependent Claims (9)
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10. A method comprising:
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accepting a reservation for rental of a self-contained in-flight entertainment device for use on a commercial airline flight of an aircraft;
adding the reservation to a manifest containing at least a count of self-contained in-flight entertainment devices reserved for the commercial airline flight;
comparing the count of self-contained in-flight entertainment devices reserved for the commercial airline flight with a default number indicating how many in-flight entertainment devices are kept at a pickup location near origination of the commercial airline flight; and
if the count of self-contained in-flight entertainment devices reserved for the commercial airline flight is larger than the default number by a difference, then bringing to the pickup location before the commercial airline flight commences an additional number of self-contained in-flight entertainment devices at least as large as the difference.
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11. A method comprising:
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accepting a reservation for rental of a self-contained in-flight entertainment device for use on a commercial airline flight of an aircraft;
adding the reservation to a manifest containing at least a count of self-contained in-flight entertainment devices reserved for the commercial airline flight;
comparing the count of self-contained in-flight entertainment devices reserved for the commercial airline flight with a default number indicating how many in-flight entertainment devices are stored on board the aircraft; and
if the count of self-contained in-flight entertainment devices reserved for the commercial airline flight is larger than the default number by a difference, then bringing on board the aircraft before the commercial airline flight commences an additional number of self-contained in-flight entertainment devices at least as large as the difference. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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15. A method comprising:
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determining if any number of a plurality of self-contained in-flight entertainment devices stored at a pickup location require deletion of stored audiovisual presentations and addition of other audiovisual presentations and if so, delivering a quantity of the other self-contained in-flight entertainment devices having the other audiovisual presentations stored to the pickup location for exchange with the any number of self-contained in-flight entertainment devices requiring deletion of store audiovisual presentations;
accepting payment and credential information at the pickup location in exchange for rental of a self-contained in-flight entertainment device for use on a commercial airline flight of an aircraft;
receiving the self-contained in-flight entertainment device at a drop-off location after the commercial airline flight in exchange for a return acknowledgement. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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Specification