System and Method for Receiving Broadcast Content on a Mobile Platform During Travel

• US 20090081947A1
• Filed: 09/24/2008
• Published: 03/26/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Avionics Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Avionics Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Margis, Paul Anthony
• Granted Patent: US 8,326,282 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/3.20
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/0624 Arrangements of electrical connectors, e.g. for earphone, internet or electric supply
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3822 specially adapted for use in vehicles H04B1/3827 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18508 with satellite system used as relay, i.e. aeronautical mobile satellite service
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/62 for transportation systems, e.g. in vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/00 Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD] real-time bi-directional transmission of motion video data H04N7/14 ; broadcast or conference over packet switching networks H04L12/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4126 The peripheral being portable, e.g. PDAs or mobile phones
• 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 21/4363 Adapting the video stream to a specific local network, e.g. a Bluetooth® network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4367 Establishing a secure communication between the client and a peripheral device or smart card
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4782 Web browsing , e.g. WebTV
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4786 e-mailing message switching systems, e.g. electronic mail systems H04L51/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6143 involving transmission via a satellite
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6175 involving transmission via Internet broadcast-related systems characterised by the transmission system being the Internet H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6193 involving transmission via a satellite arrangements for data linking, networking or transporting, or for controlling an end to end session in a satellite broadcast system H04B7/18526
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/088 using filters or firewalls
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/06 Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services

Abstract

A vehicle information system for passenger vehicles, such as automobiles and aircraft, and methods for manufacturing and using same. The vehicle information system includes a broadband communication system with a broadband antenna system and a broadband control system. Exploiting the advent of high-speed connectivity solutions, the vehicle information system supports a low-cost, high-capacity bidirectional data connection with a terrestrial content system and thereby can be established as another node on the “Worldwide Net.” The vehicle information system likewise provides wireless access points for communicating with passengers'"'"' personal media devices. As desired, the vehicle information system can support mobile telephone connectivity and/or presentation of live integrated digital television (IDTV) programming. The vehicle information system thereby provides enhanced information, entertainment, and communication services during travel.

Claims

1. A vehicle information system suitable for installation aboard a passenger vehicle and for supporting broadband communications with a terrestrial content source via a preselected satellite communication system, comprising:

a broadband antenna system;

an antenna control system that directs said broadband antenna system toward the preselected satellite communication system based upon a comparison of a position of the information system with a position of the preselected satellite communication system;

a broadband modem that establishes a bidirectional broadband data connection with the terrestrial content source via said broadband antenna system; and

a content distribution system that distributes selected viewing content received by said broadband modem from the terrestrial content source throughout the information system and that includes a wireless access point, said wireless access point communicating with a personal media device such that viewing content available from the terrestrial content source is selected and the selected viewing content is presented by the personal media device,

wherein the vehicle information system is established as a node on the Worldwide Net.

2. The vehicle information system of claim 1, wherein said broadband antenna system, said broadband control system, said wireless access point are provided as line replaceable units.

3. The vehicle information system of claim 1, further comprising a headend system that provides overall system control functions for the vehicle information system.

4. The vehicle information system of claim 3, wherein said headend system includes a local content source, and the personal media device can select and present viewing content available from said local content source.

5. The vehicle information system of claim 1, wherein said antenna control system receives the position of the vehicle information system from a vehicle position system selected from a group consisting of a Global Positioning Satellite system and an Inertial Reference System.

6. The vehicle information system of claim 1, wherein said content distribution system comprises a wired distribution system.

7. The vehicle information system of claim 1, wherein said content distribution system includes a switching system that communicates with said broadband modem, and wherein said wireless access point communicates with said switching system via an area distribution box.

8. The vehicle information system of claim 7, wherein said area distribution box provides operating power to said wireless access point.

9. The vehicle information system of claim 7, wherein said content distribution system includes a seat electronics box, said wireless access point communicating with said area distribution box via said seat electronics box.

10. The vehicle information system of claim 9, further comprising a video presentation system that receives a video portion of the selected viewing content via said seat electronics box.

11. The vehicle information system of claim 9, further comprising an audio presentation system that receives an audio portion of the selected viewing content via said seat electronics box.

12. The vehicle information system of claim 7, wherein said switching system includes a private switching system that prevents unauthorized access to the vehicle information system.

13. The vehicle information system of claim 1, wherein the personal media device includes an audio presentation system that presents an audio portion of the selected viewing content.

14. The vehicle information system of claim 1, wherein the personal media device includes a video presentation system that presents a video portion of the selected viewing content.

15. The vehicle information system of claim 1, wherein the personal media device includes an input system that selects the selected viewing content for presentation and that controls presentation of the selected viewing content.

16. The vehicle information system of claim 1, wherein the personal media device is selected from a device group consisting of a laptop computer, a palmtop computer, a personal digital assistant, a cellular telephone, a MPEG Audio Layer 3 (MP3) device, an iPod®

digital electronic media device, and an iphone®

digital electronic media device.

17. The vehicle information system of claim 1, wherein said broadband antenna system is disposed under a radome.

18. The vehicle information system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle information system is suitable for installation aboard an aircraft.

19. A method for providing broadband communications between a vehicle information system and a terrestrial content source via a preselected satellite communication system, comprising:

providing the vehicle information system having;

a broadband antenna system;

an antenna control system that directs said broadband antenna system toward the preselected satellite communication system based upon a comparison of a position of the vehicle information system with a position of the preselected satellite communication system;

a broadband modem in communication with said broadband antenna system; and

a content distribution system that communicates with said broadband modem and that includes a wireless access point, said wireless access point communicating with a personal media device; and

when said broadband modem that establishes a bidirectional broadband data connection with the terrestrial content source via said broadband antenna system,

establishing the vehicle information system as a node on the Worldwide Net;

distributing selected viewing content received by said broadband modem from the terrestrial content source throughout the vehicle information system; and

permitting viewing content available from the terrestrial content source to be selected and presented by the personal media device.

20. A vehicle information system suitable for installation aboard a passenger vehicle and for supporting broadband communications with a terrestrial content source via a preselected satellite communication system, comprising:

a headend system that provides overall system control functions for the vehicle information system;

a broadband antenna system;

an antenna control system that directs said broadband antenna system toward the preselected satellite communication system based upon a comparison of a position of the vehicle information system with a position of the preselected satellite communication system;

a broadband control system that establishes a bidirectional broadband data connection with the terrestrial content source via said broadband antenna system; and

a content distribution system that distributes selected viewing content received by said broadband control system from the terrestrial content source throughout the vehicle information system and that includes a wireless access point, said wireless access point communicating with a personal media device such that viewing content available from the terrestrial content source is selected and the selected viewing content is presented by the personal media device,

wherein the vehicle information system is established as a node on the Worldwide Net.

21. The vehicle information system of claim 20, wherein said broadband antenna system, said broadband control system, said wireless access point are provided as line replaceable units.

22. The vehicle information system of claim 20, wherein said headend system includes a local content source, and the personal media device can select and present viewing content available from said local content source.

23. The vehicle information system of claim 22, wherein said local content source includes a file server system.

24. The vehicle information system of claim 20, wherein said headend system includes a system controller that is in communication with said content distribution system and that provides an interface for providing selected vehicle information.

25. The vehicle information system of claim 20, wherein the viewing content available from the terrestrial content source is selected from a viewing content group consisting of content associated with in-transit shopping, the Internet, electronic mail, corporate virtual private networks, customer virtual private networks, and an Intranet system.

26. The vehicle information system of claim 20, further comprising a telephone system that communicates with said broadband control system and that supports mobile telephone connectivity within the passenger vehicle via the vehicle information system.

27. The vehicle information system of claim 26, wherein said telephone system comprises a PicoCell telephone system that supports cellular telephone connectivity.

28. The vehicle information system of claim 20, further comprising an integrated digital television (IDTV) system that communicates with said broadband control system and that includes:

a digital television antenna system;

an digital television antenna control system that directs said digital television antenna system toward a preselected television satellite communication system based upon a comparison of a position of the vehicle information system with a position of the preselected television satellite communication system; and

a multi-regional digital receiver system that establishes a television data connection with the preselected television satellite communication system via said digital television antenna system and provides a selected channel of IPTV programming,

wherein said content distribution system distributes the selected channel of the IPTV programming throughout the vehicle information system such that said wireless access point provides the selected channel of the IPTV programming to the personal media device for presentation.

29. The vehicle information system of claim 28, wherein said digital television antenna system is disposed under a radome.

30. The vehicle information system of claim 28, further comprising a plurality of multi-regional digital receiver systems that provide a plurality of channels of the IPTV programming, said content distribution system distributing the plurality of channels of the IPTV programming throughout the vehicle information system.

31. The vehicle information system of claim 20, wherein the vehicle information system is suitable for installation aboard an aircraft.

32. The vehicle information system of claim 20, wherein the personal media device is selected from a device group consisting of a laptop computer, a palmtop computer, a personal digital assistant, a cellular telephone, a MPEG Audio Layer 3 (MP3) device, an iPod®

digital electronic media device, and an iPhone®

digital electronic media device.

33. An aircraft, comprising:

a fuselage and a plurality of passenger seats arranged within the fuselage; and

a vehicle information system, said vehicle information system coupled with said fuselage and comprising;

a headend system that provides overall system control functions for the vehicle information system;

a broadband antenna system;

an antenna control system that directs said broadband antenna system toward the preselected satellite communication system based upon a comparison of a position of the vehicle information system with a position of the preselected satellite communication system;

a broadband control system that establishes a bidirectional broadband data connection with the terrestrial content source via said broadband antenna system; and

a content distribution system that distributes selected viewing content received by said broadband control system from the terrestrial content source throughout the vehicle information system and that includes a wireless access point, said wireless access point communicating with a personal media device such that viewing content available from the terrestrial content source is selected and the selected viewing content is presented by the personal media device,

wherein the vehicle information system is established as a node on the Worldwide Net.

34. The aircraft of claim 33, further comprising a storage compartment that stores the personal media device, said storage compartment being disposed at one of said passenger seats.

35. The aircraft of claim 34, wherein said storage compartment is disposed adjacent to an armrest of said selected passenger seat.

36. The aircraft of claim 34, wherein said storage compartment is disposed on one of a seatback and a headrest of an adjacent passenger seat.