Combined digital audio/video on demand and broadcast distribution system
First Claim
1. An audio distribution system for distributing audio content to one or more passengers on an aircraft comprising:
- a. one or more media servers for storing predetermined content data;
b. one or more control sets through which a passenger receives content data;
c. a routing device coupled to the one or more media servers and to a first predetermined number of the control sets, thereby forming a first audio path for routing audio content from the media servers to the first predetermined number of control sets; and
d. a system interface unit coupled to the control sets and for interfacing to existing systems on the aircraft including a PA system, thereby forming a second audio path for routing audio content from the system interface unit to the control sets.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An in-flight passenger entertainment system has a first digital network for communication among components of a headend system including a data server, media controller, one or more media servers, system interface unit, system manager unit and attendant control panel. The in-flight entertainment system is coupled to an aircraft'"'"'s existing systems through the system interface unit and the system manager unit. The components of the headend system are all coupled to a network switch for routing data within the first network. The network switch is also coupled to one or more zone bridge units, each of which is coupled to multiple seat electronics units. The zone bridge units and the seat electronics units together form a second digital network. The first digital network is preferably an ATM network with fibre optic cables used to carry the data. The second digital network is preferably an IEEE 1394 serial bus network. The zone bridge units control all communications between the networks, converting all communications into the format required by the respective network. A first audio path for transmitting audio content from the headend system is routed to predetermined seat entertainment units through the network switch and the zone bridge units. A second audio path for transmitting audio from the system interface unit is routed to the seat entertainment units through the zone bridge units.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. An audio distribution system for distributing audio content to one or more passengers on an aircraft comprising:
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a. one or more media servers for storing predetermined content data; b. one or more control sets through which a passenger receives content data; c. a routing device coupled to the one or more media servers and to a first predetermined number of the control sets, thereby forming a first audio path for routing audio content from the media servers to the first predetermined number of control sets; and d. a system interface unit coupled to the control sets and for interfacing to existing systems on the aircraft including a PA system, thereby forming a second audio path for routing audio content from the system interface unit to the control sets. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An in-flight entertainment system for providing content to one or more passengers on an aircraft comprising:
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a. one or more media servers for storing predetermined content data; b. one or more control sets through which a passenger receives content data; c. one or more zone bridge units each coupled to a first predetermined number of control sets thereby forming zones within the aircraft; d. a routing device coupled to the media servers and to a second predetermined number of the control sets through selected zone bridge units, thereby forming a first audio path for routing audio content from the media servers to the second predetermined number of control sets; and e. a system interface unit coupled to all of the control sets through the zone bridge units and configured for interfacing to existing systems on the aircraft including a PA system, thereby forming a second audio path for routing audio content from the system interface unit to the control sets. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A passenger audio distribution system for distributing audio content to one or more passengers on an aircraft, comprising:
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a. a first means for storing audio content; b. a plurality of means for accessing audio content, each for use by passengers for accessing the audio content, the plurality of means for accessing audio content coupled within a first network; c. first means for routing audio content coupled to the first means for storing audio content within a second network, and to a first predetermined number of the plurality of means for accessing audio content for routing audio content between the first means for storing audio content and the first predetermined number of the plurality of means for accessing audio content, over the first and second networks, thereby forming a first audio path for routing audio content from the first means for storing audio content to the first predetermined number of the plurality of means for accessing audio content; and d. second means for routing audio content coupled to the plurality of means for accessing audio content and to a means for addressing passengers, thereby forming a second audio path for routing audio content from the second means for routing audio content to the plurality of means for accessing audio content. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification