RUGGED AND MOBILE MEDIA SERVER AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING MEDIA TO PASSENGERS ON A PUBLIC TRANPORT VEHICLE

• US 20140337469A1
• Filed: 03/11/2014
• Published: 11/13/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Trolex Aporta APS
• Original Assignee: Aporta Digital ApS
• Inventors: Bang-Olsen, Jesper, Munch-Andersen, Simon
• Granted Patent: US 9,609,061 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/217
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1628 Carrying enclosures containing additional elements, e.g. case for a laptop and a printer
• 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: 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 21/41422 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/14 using user query or user detection
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices

Abstract

A rugged and mobile media server/portal for use on a public transport vehicle, such as a train to provide media content to passengers on board said vehicle. The rugged and mobile media server/portal includes a mobile and protective case that contains a computer with a media library stored thereon and a local wireless network access point for providing a local wireless network on board the vehicle.

Claims

1. A rugged, portable and self-contained media server for use in a public transportation vehicle, said media server comprising:

a carry-on, portable, rugged, protective and mobile case that forms a housing with an interior space, said interior space containing a computer with a memory having a library of digital media stored thereon, a wireless network access point connected to said computer and a mobile data network modem connected to said computer or to said wireless network access point,

said wireless access point being configured to establish a local wireless network on board said public transportation vehicle, said computer comprising a processor configured to automatically update the content of said library of digital media when the mobile phone- or mobile data network modem has connection to a mobile phone- or mobile data network, and

said processor is further configured for providing a media service for offering passengers on board said public transportation vehicle access to media stored in said library via said wireless network.

2. A rugged and mobile media server according to claim 1, wherein said rugged and mobile media server is a self-contained unit without any physical user interface components.

3. A rugged and mobile media server according to claim 1, wherein said rugged and mobile media server is a self-contained unit with a power cord with a power plug for connection to a wall socket of said public transportation vehicle as the only physical interface with its surroundings.

4. A rugged and mobile media server according to claim 1, wherein said wireless access point is configured for coverage of said public transportation vehicle such as a bus, a train or an airplane, possibly supported by independent range extender wireless network units when said rugged and mobile media server is used in very long vehicles.

5. A rugged and mobile media server according to claim 1, wherein said processor is configured to automatically start-up said media service when said computer is powered up.

6. A rugged and mobile media server according to claim 1, wherein said processor is configured for allowing any terminal device with a suitable wireless network communication functionality that is on board said public transport vehicle to access media stored in said library.

7. A rugged and mobile media server according to claim 1, wherein said computer has a passive cooling system, preferably with a forced cooling being provided by a fan inside the mobile rugged case.

8. A rugged and mobile media server according to claim 1, wherein said protective mobile case further comprises a GPS receiver connected to said computer and a GPS antenna integrated in said protective mobile case and connected to said GPS receiver.

9. A rugged and mobile media server according to claim 1, further comprising one or more independent range extenders, each extender being housed in a separate protective and mobile range extender case.

10. A rugged and mobile media server according to claim 1, further comprising using a fully integrated DRM system.

11. A method for providing media to passengers on a public transport vehicle that carry personal wireless network enabled media playing capable terminal devices, said method comprising:

carrying a carry-on, rugged, portable and self-contained media server on board said public transport vehicle, said carry-on, rugged and portable media server comprising a carry-on, rugged protective and portable mobile case that contains a computer with a memory having a library of digital media stored thereon, a wireless network access point connected to said computer and a mobile data network modem connected to said computer or to said wireless network access point,

said wireless access point being configured to establish a local wireless network on board said public transportation vehicle,

automatically updating the content of said library of digital media when the mobile phone- or mobile data network modem has connection to a mobile phone- or mobile data network, and

setting up a local wireless network that covers said public transport vehicle from said wireless network access point,

allowing said passengers access media in said media library via said wireless network,

allowing said passengers to select media for streaming or downloading to their personal wireless network enabled media playing capable terminal device, and

streaming or downloading media content selected by said passenger to the passenger'"'"'s wireless network enabled media playing capable terminal device via said local wireless network.

12. A method according to claim 11, wherein the user interface for selection of media content is a browser or webportal or a native app running on the passenger'"'"'s wireless network enabled media playing capable terminal device.