System and method for routing communication signals via a data distribution network

• US 7,675,849 B2
• Filed: 03/29/2006
• Issued: 03/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Avionics Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Avionics Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Bui, Long, Watson, Philip, Margis, Paul Anthony
• Primary Examiner(s): Sheikh; Ayaz R
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hampton; Tarell
• Application Number:
  US11/277,896
• Publication Number:
  US 20060293190A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,441 Days
• Field of Search: 370/217, 370/220, 725/76, 725/75
• US Class Current: 370/217
• CPC Class Codes: E04G 21/10 Devices for levelling, e.g. templates or boards smoothing tools E04F21/16, E04F21/24
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/40169 Flexible bus arrangements arrangements for maintenance or administration involving management of faults; events, alarms H04L41/06; automatic restoration of network faults H04L41/0654
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/407 with decentralised control
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/437 Ring fault isolation or reconfiguration for SDH/SONET ring networks H04J3/085
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/40273 the transportation system being a vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/4028 the transportation system being an aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/22 Alternate routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/28 using route fault recovery
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/586 of virtual routers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/552 by ensuring the integrity of packets received through redundant connections

Abstract

A distribution system for vehicle information systems and methods for manufacturing and using same. The distribution system supports high-bandwidth communications among system resources via one or more active routing systems. Comprising a plurality of communication ports coupled via a high-speed switching system, each routing system transparently splits incoming communication signals received via an input communication port. The routing system thereby can provide the incoming communication to a plurality of output communication ports without effecting signal bandwidth. By providing each routing system with a bypass system, the distribution system likewise can bypass one or more of the high-speed switching system in the event of a distribution system failure such that communications among the system resources can be maintained. As a result, passengers traveling aboard the vehicle can enjoy high-speed access to viewing content during travel with limited interruption in service and without unwanted travel delays.

Claims

1. A vehicle information system, comprising:

a headend system for providing viewing content; and

a distribution system, including;

a plurality of communication connections including a first communication connection, a second communication connection, and a third communication connection each having a predetermined data width;

a first area distribution box for receiving said viewing content from said headend system; and

a first floor disconnect box, comprising;

a plurality of communication ports, including a first communication port for receiving said viewing content from said first area distribution box via said first communication connection, a second communication port for communicating with a first daisy-chain configuration of seat electronics boxes via said second communication connection, and a third communication port for communicating with a second daisy-chain configuration of said seat electronics boxes via said third communication connections last seat electronics box of the first daisy-chain configuration and a last seat electronics box of the second daisy-chain configuration being coupled via a loopback connection;

an active switching system for exchanging high-speed communication signals among said first, second, and third communication ports;

a bypass system for bypassing said active switching system if said active switching system enters a failure mode by directly coupling at least two of said communication ports; and

a power system for providing power to at least one floor disconnect box component, including said active switching system and said bypass system, said power system having a power conversion system for receiving power from at least one of said first area distribution box and said seat electronics boxes and for providing power to at least one of said first area distribution box and said seat electronics boxes,

wherein the communication signals are exchanged among said headend system and said seat electronics boxes without a reduction in signal bandwidth when said active switching system is in a normal operation mode and with a reduced signal bandwidth if said active switching system enters said failure mode.

2. The vehicle information system of claim 1, wherein said headend system includes at least one content source selected from the group of content sources consisting of a server system, a media server system, an antenna system, and a transceiver system.

3. The vehicle information system of claim 1, wherein each of said seat electronics boxes is coupled with a passenger interface system.

4. The vehicle information system of claim 1, wherein said distribution system further includes an interface switching system for interfacing said headend system with said first area distribution box.

5. The vehicle information system of claim 4, wherein said interface switching system comprises an Ethernet switching system.

6. The vehicle information system of claim 4, wherein said interface switching system is provided as a plurality of interconnected switching sub-systems.

7. The vehicle information system of claim 1, wherein each of said seat electronics boxes is coupled with a passenger interface system.

8. The vehicle information system of claim 1, wherein said bypass system directly couples said first and second communication ports.

9. The vehicle information system of claim 1, wherein said bypass system directly couples said second and third communication ports.

10. The vehicle information system of claim 1, further comprising a second floor disconnect box for receiving said viewing content from said first area distribution box via a fourth communication connection having said predetermined data width.

11. The vehicle information system of claim 10, wherein said first and second floor disconnect boxes are connected to said first area distribution box in a star configuration.

12. The vehicle information system of claim 1, further comprising a second area distribution box for receiving said viewing content from said headend system and a second floor disconnect box for receiving said viewing content from said second area distribution box via a fourth communication connection having said predetermined data width.

13. The vehicle information system of claim 12, further comprising a third floor disconnect box for receiving said viewing content from said second area distribution box via a fifth communication connection having said predetermined data width.

14. The vehicle information system of claim 13, wherein said second and third floor disconnect boxes are connected to said second area distribution box in a star configuration.

15. The vehicle information system of claim 12,

wherein said plurality of communication connections further includes fifth and sixth communication connections, each having said predetermined data width;

and

wherein said second floor disconnect box comprises;

a second plurality of communication ports, including a fourth communication port for receiving said viewing content from said second area distribution box via said fourth communication connection, a fifth communication port for communicating with a third plurality of said seat electronics boxes via said fifth communication connection, and a sixth communication port for communicating with a fourth plurality of said seat electronics boxes via said sixth communication connection;

an second active switching system for exchanging the high-speed communication signals among said fourth, fifth, and sixth communication ports; and

a second bypass system for bypassing said second active switching system if said second active switching system enters a second failure mode by directly coupling at least two of said communication ports in said second plurality.

16. The vehicle information system of claim 15, wherein said third plurality of said seat electronics boxes are connected with said fifth communication port in a third daisy-chain configuration and wherein said fourth plurality of said seat electronics boxes are connected with said sixth communication port in a fourth daisy-chain configuration.

17. The vehicle information system of claim 16, wherein a last seat electronics box of said third daisy-chain configuration and a last seat electronics box of said fourth daisy-chain configuration are coupled via a second loopback connection.

18. The vehicle information system of claim 15, wherein said plurality of said communication ports of said first floor disconnect box further includes a seventh communication port, and wherein said second plurality of said communication ports of said second floor disconnect box further includes an eighth communication port coupled with said seventh communication port via a port bypass connection.

19. The vehicle information system of claim 1, further comprising a passenger interface system being coupled with a selected seat electronics box.

20. The vehicle information system of claim 1, wherein each of said seat electronics boxes is coupled with a passenger interface system.

21. The vehicle information system of claim 1, wherein said vehicle information system comprises a passenger entertainment system.

22. The vehicle information system of claim 21, wherein said vehicle information system is disposed onboard an aircraft.

24. An aircraft including a vehicle information system characterized by claim 1.

23. An aircraft, comprising:

a fuselage and a plurality of passengers seat arranged within the fuselage; and

a vehicle information system disposed within the fuselage and having a headend system for providing viewing content and a distribution system, said distribution system including;

a plurality of communication connections including a first communication connection, a second communication connection, and a third communication connection each having a predetermined data width;

a first area distribution box for receiving the viewing content from said the headend system; and

a first floor disconnect box, comprising;

a plurality of communication ports, including a first communication port for receiving the viewing content from said first area distribution box via said first communication connection, a second communication port for communicating with a first daisy-chain configuration of seat electronics boxes via said second communication connection, and a third communication port for communicating with a second daisy-chain configuration of said seat electronics boxes via said third communication connections last seat electronics box of the first daisy-chain configuration and a last seat electronics box of the second daisy-chain configuration being coupled via a loopback connection;

an active switching system for exchanging high-speed communication signals among said first, second, and third communication ports;

a bypass system for bypassing said active switching system if said active switching system enters a failure mode by directly coupling at least two of said communication ports; and

a power system for providing power to at least one floor disconnect box component, including said active switching system and said bypass system, said power system having a power conversion system for receiving power from at least one of said first area distribution box and said seat electronics boxes and for providing power to at least one of said first area distribution box and said seat electronics boxes,

wherein the communication signals are exchanged among the headend system and the seat electronics boxes without a reduction in signal bandwidth when said active switching system is in a normal operation mode and with a reduced signal bandwidth if said active switching system enters said failure mode.

25. A distribution system for a vehicle information system, comprising:

a plurality of communication connections including a first communication connection, a second communication connection, and a third communication connection each having a predetermined data width;

a first area distribution box for receiving viewing content from a headend system; and

a first floor disconnect box, comprising;

a plurality of communication ports, including a first communication port for receiving the viewing content from said first area distribution box via said first communication connection, a second communication port for communicating with a first daisy-chain configuration of seat electronics boxes via said second communication connection, and a third communication port for communicating with a second daisy-chain configuration of the seat electronics boxes via said third communication connection, a last seat electronics box of the first daisy-chain configuration and a last seat electronics box of the second daisy-chain configuration being coupled via a loopback connection;

an active switching system for exchanging high-speed communication signals among said first, second, and third communication ports;

a bypass system for bypassing said active switching system if said active switching system enters a failure mode by directly coupling at least two of said communication ports; and

a power system for providing power to at least one floor disconnect box component, including said active switching system and said bypass system, said power system having a power conversion system for receiving power from at least one of said first area distribution box and the seat electronics boxes and for providing power to at least one of said first area distribution box and the seat electronics boxes,

wherein the communication signals are exchanged among the headend system and the seat electronics boxes without a reduction in signal bandwidth when said active switching system is in a normal operation mode and with a reduced signal bandwidth if said active switching system enters the failure mode.

26. The distribution system of claim 25, wherein said distribution system comprises a wired distribution system.

27. The distribution system of claim 26, wherein said wired distribution system includes at least one fiber optic communication connection.

28. The distribution system of claim 26, wherein said wired distribution system includes at least one copper communication connection.

29. The distribution system of claim 25, wherein said active switching system comprises a high-speed Ethernet switching system.

30. The distribution system of claim 29, wherein said wired distribution system supports wired communications having a protocol type selected from a group of protocol standards consisting of Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, and Gigabit Ethernet.

31. The distribution system of claim 25, wherein said bypass system directly couples at least two of said second communication ports.

32. The distribution system of claim 25, wherein said bypass system directly couples said first communication port with at least one of said second communication ports.

33. The distribution system of claim 25, wherein the failure mode is selected from a group of failure modes consisting of a loss of power to the routing system, a loss of power to a selected system resource, a broken communication connection, and a switching system failure.

34. The distribution system of claim 25, wherein said distribution system is disposed within a vehicle information system.

35. The distribution system of claim 34, wherein said distribution system is disposed onboard an aircraft.

36. A routing system, comprising:

a plurality of communication ports, including a first communication port for receiving viewing content from a selected system resource via a first communication connection, a second communication port for communicating with a first daisy-chain configuration of system resources via a second communication connection, and a third communication port for communicating with a second daisy-chain configuration of the system resources via a third communication connection, a last system resource of the first daisy-chain configuration and a last system resource of the second daisy-chain configuration being coupled via a loopback connection, each of the communication connections having a predetermined data width;

an active switching system for exchanging high-speed communication signals among said first, second, and third communication ports;

a bypass system for bypassing said active switching system if said active switching system enters a failure mode by directly coupling at least two of said communication ports; and

a power system for providing power to at least one routing system component, including said active switching system and said bypass system, said power system having a power conversion system for receiving power from at least one of the system resources and for providing power to at least one of the system resources,

wherein the communication signals are exchanged among the system resources without a reduction in signal bandwidth when said active switching system is in a normal operation mode and with a reduced signal bandwidth if said active switching system enters the failure mode.

37. The routing system of claim 36, wherein said active switching system exchanges the high-speed communication signals with said first communication port via a transceiver system.

38. The routing system of claim 36, wherein said active switching system exchanges the high-speed communication signals with at least one of second communication ports via a transceiver system.

39. The routing system of claim 36, wherein said active switching system comprises a high-speed Ethernet switching system.

40. The routing system of claim 39, wherein said active switching system supports a communication protocol type selected from a group of protocol standards consisting of Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, and Gigabit Ethernet.

41. The routing system of claim 39, wherein said active switching system is controlled via a control system.

42. The routing system of claim 36, wherein said bypass system directly couples at least two of said second communication ports.

43. The routing system of claim 36, wherein said bypass system directly couples said first communication port with at least one of said second communication ports.

44. The routing system of claim 36, wherein said bypass system comprises an electronic relay system.

45. The routing system of claim 36, wherein said power conversion system includes a plurality of redundant power conversion sub-systems.

46. The routing system of claim 36, wherein said power conversion system includes at least one DC-to-DC conversion system.

47. The routing system of claim 36, wherein said routing system is disposed within a distribution system.

48. The routing system of claim 47, wherein said routing system is disposed within a floor disconnect box of the distribution system.

49. The routing system of claim 36, wherein the failure mode is selected from a group of failure modes consisting of a loss of power to the routing system, a loss of power to a selected system resource, a broken communication connection, and a switching system failure.

50. A vehicle information system including a routing system characterized by claim 36.

51. An aircraft including a vehicle information system having a routing system characterized by claim 36.

52. A method for routing high-speed communication signals, comprising:

providing a plurality of communication ports, including a first communication port for receiving viewing content from a selected system resource via a first communication connection, a second communication port for communicating with a first daisy-chain configuration of system resources via a second communication connection, and a third communication port for communicating with a second daisy-chain configuration of the system resources via a third communication connection, a last system resource of the first daisy-chain configuration and a last system resource of the second daisy-chain configuration being coupled via a loopback connection, each of the communication connections having a predetermined data width;

exchanging high-speed communication signals among said first, second, and third communication ports via an active switching system;

bypassing the active switching system if the active switching system enters a failure mode by directly coupling at least two of said communication ports via a bypass system; and

providing power to at least one routing system component, including the active switching system and the bypass system, via a power conversion system that receives power from at least one of the system resources and that provides power to at least one of the system resources,

wherein the communication signals are exchanged among the system resources without a reduction in signal bandwidth when said active switching system is in a normal operation mode and with a reduced signal bandwidth if said active switching system enters the failure mode.

53. The method of claim 52, further comprising providing the system resources.

54. The method of claim 52, wherein said exchanging the high-speed communication signals comprises exchanging the high-speed communication signals in accordance with a communication protocol type selected from the group of protocol standards consisting of Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, and Gigabit Ethernet.

55. The method of claim 52, wherein said coupling said at least two of said communication ports includes directly coupling at least two of said second communication ports.

56. The method of claim 52, wherein said coupling said at least two of said communication ports includes directly coupling said first communication port with at least one of said second communication ports.

57. The method of claim 52, further comprising detecting the failure mode.

58. The method of claim 52, further comprising controlling said active switching system via a control system.