Aircraft in-flight entertainment system including a distributed digital radio service and associated methods

• US 20060143661A1
• Filed: 12/28/2004
• Published: 06/29/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LiveTV LLC (Thales SA)
• Original Assignee: LiveTV LLC (Thales SA)
• Inventors: Easterling, Scott D., Keen, Robert M., Funderburk, Jason
• Granted Patent: US 8,776,146 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/76
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/0015 Arrangements for entertainment or communications, e.g. radio, television
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/00155 Individual entertainment or communication system remote controls therefor, located in or connected to seat components, e.g. to seat back or arm rest
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/0624 Arrangements of electrical connectors, e.g. for earphone, internet or electric supply
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/62 for transportation systems, e.g. in vehicles
• 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 21/43615 Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6143 involving transmission via a satellite
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 50/40 Weight reduction

Abstract

An aircraft in-flight entertainment (IFE) system includes an antenna for receiving digital satellite radio signals, and an intermediate frequency (IF) down converter is connected to the antenna for down converting the digital satellite radio signals. A plurality of seat electronic boxes (SEBs) are spaced throughout the aircraft. Each SEB includes at least one IF tuner in communications with the IF down converter.

Claims

1. An aircraft in-flight entertainment (IFE) system comprising:

an antenna for receiving digital satellite radio signals;

an intermediate frequency (IF) down converter connected to said antenna for down converting the digital satellite radio signals; and

a plurality of seat electronic boxes (SEBs) spaced throughout the aircraft, each SEB comprising at least one IF tuner in communications with said IF down converter.

2. An aircraft IFE system according to claim 1 further comprising cabling connecting said IF down converter to said plurality of SEBs.

3. An aircraft IFE system according to claim 2 wherein said cabling comprises at least one of a twisted pair wire, a coaxial cable and a fiber optic cable.

4. An aircraft IFE system according to claim 1 further comprising a respective passenger control unit (PCU) associated with each IF tuner for permitting passenger control thereof.

5. An aircraft IFE system according to claim 1 further comprising a video entertainment source for providing video channels to said plurality of SEBs;

and wherein each SEB comprises at least one video tuner.

6. An aircraft IFE system according to claim 5 further comprising a combiner receiving as input the digital satellite radio signals and the video channels for outputting the same to said cabling.

7. An aircraft IFE system according to claim 5 wherein each SEB further comprises at least one auxiliary output for providing the video channels to at least one external display.

8. An aircraft IFE system according to claim 5 wherein said video entertainment source comprises at least one of a video server and a satellite television (TV) receiver.

9. An aircraft IFE system according to claim 5 further comprising a respective video display unit (VDU) connected to each video tuner.

10. An aircraft IFE system according to claim 9 wherein each SEB further comprises a respective on-screen display unit connected to each video tuner, said on-screen display unit for generating graphics to be displayed on a corresponding VDU.

11. An aircraft IFE system according to claim 10 further comprising a respective passenger control unit (PCU) associated with each IF tuner and with each corresponding video tuner;

each SEB further comprising a processor for controlling said video tuners, said IF tuners and said on-screen display units therein, said processor also being connected to said respective PCUs and VDUs associated therewith.

12. An aircraft in-flight entertainment (IFE) system comprising:

an antenna for receiving digital satellite radio signals;

an intermediate frequency (IF) down converter connected to said antenna for down converting the digital satellite radio signals;

a plurality of seat electronic boxes (SEBs) spaced throughout the aircraft, each SEB comprising at least one IF tuner; and

a wireless connection between said IF down converter and said plurality of SEBs for providing the digital satellite radio signals to each IF tuner.

13. An aircraft IFE system according to claim 12 wherein said wireless connection comprises a leaky coaxial cable extending throughout the aircraft for providing

14. An aircraft IFE system according to claim 12 further comprising a respective passenger control unit (PCU) associated with each IF tuner for permitting passenger control thereof.

15. An aircraft IFE system according to claim 12 further comprising a video entertainment source for providing video channels to said plurality of SEBs;

and wherein each SEB comprises at least one video tuner.

16. An aircraft IFE system according to claim 15 further comprising a combiner receiving as input the digital satellite radio signals and the video channels for outputting the same to said wireless connection.

17. An aircraft IFE system according to claim 15 wherein each SEB further comprises at least one auxiliary output for providing the video channels to at least one external display.

18. An aircraft IFE system according to claim 15 wherein said video entertainment source comprises at least one of a video server and a satellite television (TV) receiver.

19. An aircraft IFE system according to claim 15 further comprising a respective video display unit (VDU) connected to each video tuner.

20. An aircraft IFE system according to claim 19 wherein each SEB further comprises a respective on-screen display unit connected to each video tuner, said on-screen display unit for generating graphics to be displayed on a corresponding VDU.

21. An aircraft IFE system according to claim 20 further comprising a respective passenger control unit (PCU) associated with each IF tuner and with each corresponding video tuner;

each SEB further comprising a processor for controlling said video tuners, said IF tuners and said on-screen display units therein, said processor also being connected to said respective PCUs and VDUs associated therewith.

22. A method for operating an aircraft in-flight entertainment (IFE) system comprising an antenna for receiving digital satellite radio signals, and a plurality of seat electronic boxes (SEBs) spaced throughout the aircraft;

the method comprising;

down converting the digital satellite radio signals to an intermediate frequency (IF) using an IF down converter; and

distributing the digital satellite radio signals to the plurality of SEBs, each SEB comprising at least one IF tuner.

23. A method according to claim 22 wherein the digital satellite radio signals are distributed to the plurality of SEBs via a wired connection.

24. A method according to claim 22 wherein the digital satellite radio signals are distributed to the plurality of SEBs via a wireless connection.

25. A method according to claim 22 wherein the IFE system further comprises a respective passenger control unit (PCU) associated with each IF tuner for permitting passenger control thereof.

26. A method according to claim 22 wherein the IFE system further comprises a video entertainment source for providing video channels to the plurality of SEBs;

and wherein each SEB comprises at least one video tuner.

27. A method according to claim 26 wherein the IFE system further comprises a combiner receiving as input the digital satellite radio signals and the video channels for outputting the same to said cabling.

28. A method according to claim 26 wherein each SEB further comprises at least one auxiliary output for providing the video channels to at least one external display.

29. A method according to claim 26 wherein the video entertainment source comprises at least one of a video server and a satellite television (TV) receiver.

30. A method according to claim 26 further comprising a respective video display unit (VDU) connected to each video tuner.

31. A method according to claim 30 wherein each SEB further comprises a respective on-screen display unit connected to each video tuner, the on-screen display unit for generating graphics to be displayed on a corresponding VDU.

32. A method according to claim 31 wherein the IFE system further comprises a respective passenger control unit (PCU) associated with each IF tuner and with each corresponding video tuner;

each SEB further comprising a processor for controlling the video tuners, the IF tuners and the on-screen display units therein, the processor also being connected to the respective PCUs and VDUs associated therewith.