System and method for managing content on mobile platforms

• US 20050256616A1
• Filed: 05/06/2005
• Published: 11/17/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Avionics Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Avionics Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Rhoads, Cedric
• Granted Patent: US 7,984,190 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18506 Communications with or from aircraft, i.e. aeronautical mobile service
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/06 specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1095 Replication or mirroring of data, e.g. scheduling or transport for data synchronisation between network nodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/63 Routing a service request depending on the request content or context
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/106 for domestic distribution

Abstract

A content management system for providing comprehensive content management for one or more vehicle information systems and methods for manufacturing and using same. The content management system includes a content control system for providing content storage and controlling the overall functionality of the content management system. Being configured to communicate with a selected vehicle information system in a wired and/or wireless manner, the content management system can upload content to update the vehicle information system for access during subsequent travel. The content management system likewise can download content, such as performance data compiled during prior travel, from the vehicle information system. The content management system thereby can provide ensured comprehensive content management under the control of the content control system.

Claims

1. A content control system for provisioning content among a plurality of information systems, comprising:

a content storage system for storing upload content and download content;

a central switching system for routing selected upload content from said content storage system to at least one selected information system and for routing selected download content from the at least one selected information system to said content storage system; and

an application server system for controlling the routing of said selected upload content and the routing of said selected download content,

wherein said content storage system, said application server system, and said central switching system form a communication network for providing comprehensive content management.

2. The content control system of claim 1, wherein said content storage system includes at least one mass storage system.

3. The content control system of claim 2, wherein said at least one mass storage system comprises a storage area network system.

4. The content control system of claim 2, wherein said at least one mass storage system comprises a network-attached storage system.

5. The content control system of claim 1, wherein said content storage system includes a tape drive system for providing high-capacity content loading.

6. The content control system of claim 1, wherein said content storage system and said central switching system communicate via a high-speed communication connection.

7. The content control system of claim 6, wherein said high-speed communication connection comprises a high-speed gigabit fiber communication connection.

8. The content control system of claim 1, wherein said central switching system comprises a high-speed switching system.

9. The content control system of claim 1, wherein said application server system and said central switching system communicate via a high-speed communication connection.

10. The content control system of claim 9, wherein said high-speed communication connection comprises a high-speed gigabit fiber communication connection.

11. The content control system of claim 1, further comprising a second application server system for controlling the routing of said selected upload content and the routing of said selected download content, said second application server system being redundant to said application server system.

12. The content control system of claim 1, wherein said content control system is disposed at an airport terminal.

13. The content control system of claim 12, wherein said central switching system is configured to communicate with an airport terminal network associated with the airport terminal.

14. The content control system of claim 13, wherein said central switching system routes selected terminal content from the airport terminal network to the at least one selected information system.

15. The content control system of claim 13, wherein said central switching system routes said selected download content to the airport terminal network.

16. The content control system of claim 13, wherein said central switching system and the airport terminal network communicate via a high-speed communication connection.

17. The content control system of claim 16, wherein said high-speed communication connection comprises a high-speed gigabit fiber communication connection.

18. The content control system of claim 1, wherein said selected upload content comprises entertainment content.

19. The content control system of claim 1, wherein said selected upload content comprises mapping information.

20. The content control system of claim 1, wherein said selected upload content comprises travel information.

21. The content control system of claim 1, wherein said selected download content comprises system information for the at least one selected information system.

22. The content control system of claim 21, wherein said system information includes performance data.

23. The content control system of claim 21, wherein said system information includes system usage data.

24. The content control system of claim 21, wherein said system information includes passenger transaction data.

25. The content control system of claim 1, further comprising a content distribution system for receiving said selected upload content from said central switching system and providing said selected upload content to the at least one selected information system and for receiving said selected download content from the at least one selected information system and providing said selected download content to said central switching system, said content distribution system being disposed substantially between said central switching system and the at least one selected information system.

26. The content control system of claim 25, wherein said content distribution system includes at least one communication interface for communicating with the at least one selected information system.

27. The content control system of claim 26, wherein said at least one communication interface comprises at least one high-speed communication connection.

28. The content control system of claim 27, wherein at least one of said at least one high-speed communication connection comprises a wired communication connection.

29. The content control system of claim 28, wherein said wired communication connection comprises a high-speed gigabit fiber communication connection.

30. The content control system of claim 28, wherein said wired communication connection comprises a copper communication connection.

31. The content control system of claim 27, wherein at least one of said at least one high-speed communication connection comprises a wireless communication connection.

32. The content control system of claim 31, wherein said wireless communication connection utilizes Ultra-Wideband technology for communicating with the at least one selected information system.

33. The content control system of claim 26, wherein said content control system is disposed at an airport terminal, and at least one of said at least one communication interface is disposed at a gate of the airport terminal.

34. The content control system of claim 1, further comprising a gateway for providing Internet content to said central switching system, said central switching system providing selected Internet content to the at least one selected information system.

35. The content control system of claim 34, wherein said gateway provides said Internet content to said central switching system via a firewall.

36. The content control system of claim 1, further comprising a satellite sub-system for providing satellite content to said central switching system, said central switching system providing selected satellite content to the at least one selected information system.

37. The content control system of claim 36, wherein said satellite sub-system automatically provides said selected satellite content to said central switching system.

38. The content control system of claim 36, wherein said selected satellite content comprises television programming content.

39. The content control system of claim 36, wherein said selected satellite content radio programming content.

40. The content control system of claim 36, wherein said content storage system records said selected satellite content radio programming content.

41. The content control system of claim 1, further comprising an auxiliary computer system for enabling user-specific content to be selectably provided to the at least one selected information system via said central switching system.

42. The content control system of claim 1, wherein said application server system provides dynamic management of the content stored within said content storage system.

43. The content control system of claim 1, wherein said application server system provides rights management for the content stored within said content storage system.

44. A content management system for providing ensured comprehensive content management for vehicle information systems, comprising:

a content control system for provisioning content and including;

a content storage system for storing upload content and download content;

a central switching system for routing selected upload content and selected download content; and

an application server system for controlling the routing of said selected upload content and the routing of said selected download content; and

a content distribution system for receiving said selected upload content from said content storage system via said central switching system and providing said selected upload content to at least one selected vehicle information system and for receiving said selected download content from the at least one selected vehicle information system and providing said selected download content to said content storage system via said central switching system.

45. The content management system of claim 44, wherein said content distribution system includes at least one communication interface for communicating with the at least one selected vehicle information system.

46. The content management system of claim 45, wherein said at least one communication interface comprises at least one high-speed communication connection.

47. The content management system of claim 46, wherein at least one of said at least one high-speed communication connection comprises a wired communication connection.

48. The content management system of claim 46, wherein at least one of said at least one high-speed communication connection comprises a wireless communication connection.

49. The content management system of claim 48, wherein said wireless communication connection utilizes Ultra-Wideband technology for communicating with the at least one selected vehicle information system.

50. The content management system of claim 45, wherein said content distribution system is disposed at an airport terminal, and at least one of said at least one communication interface is disposed at a gate of the airport terminal.

51. The content management system of claim 44, wherein said central switching system is configured to communicate with an airport terminal network associated with an airport terminal.

52. The content management system of claim 51, wherein said central switching system routes selected terminal content from the airport terminal network to the at least one selected vehicle information system.

53. The content management system of claim 51, wherein said central switching system routes said selected download content to the airport terminal network.

54. A content management system for providing ensured comprehensive content management, comprising:

a plurality of information systems;

a content control system for provisioning content and including;

a content storage system for storing upload content and download content;

a central switching system for routing selected upload content and selected download content; and

an application server system for controlling the routing of said selected upload content and the routing of said selected download content; and

a content distribution system for receiving said selected upload content from said content storage system via said central switching system and providing said selected upload content to at least one selected information system and for receiving said selected download content from said at least one selected information system and providing said selected download content to said content storage system via said central switching system.

55. The content management system of claim 54, wherein at least one of said plurality of information systems comprises a vehicle information system.

56. The content management system of claim 54, wherein at least one of said plurality of information systems is installed aboard a vehicle.

57. The content management system of claim 56, wherein said vehicle comprises an aircraft.

58. The content management system of claim 57, wherein said content control system and said content distribution system are disposed at an airport terminal.

59. The content management system of claim 56, wherein said at least one of said information systems comprises a passenger entertainment system.

60. A method for provisioning content among a plurality of vehicle information systems, comprising:

providing a content storage system;

selecting upload content from said content storage system;

distributing said selected upload content among at least one selected vehicle information system, said distributing being controlled via a content control system;

receiving download content from the at least one selected vehicle information system;

routing said download content to said content storage system, said routing being controlled via said content control system; and

storing said download content via said content storage system,

wherein said content storage system and said content control system are geographically remote from the at least one selected vehicle information system.

61. The method of claim 60, wherein said distributing comprises high-speed distribution of said selected upload content.

62. The method of claim 60, wherein said distributing includes wireless distribution of said selected upload content.

63. The method of claim 60, wherein said receiving includes storing said selected upload content by the at least one selected vehicle information system.

64. The method of claim 60, wherein said receiving comprises high-speed reception of said download content.

65. The method of claim 60, wherein said receiving comprises wireless reception of said download content.