System and method for receiving broadcast content on a mobile platform during travel
First Claim
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 for directing said broadband antenna system toward the preselected satellite communication system based upon a comparison of a position of the passenger vehicle with a position of the preselected satellite communication system;
a broadband-control system for establishing a bidirectional broadband data connection with the terrestrial content source via said broadband antenna system;
a content distribution system for distributing selected viewing content received by said broadband-control system from the terrestrial content source throughout the vehicle information system, said content distribution system including a switching system being segmented into a private switching system for communicating with said broadband control system and a public switching system for communicating with a wireless access point; and
an operator device disposed aboard the passenger vehicle for communicating with said broadband control system,wherein a personal media device disposed aboard the passenger vehicle is enabled to securely communicate with the terrestrial content source via said wireless access point, andwherein said switching system prevents unauthorized wireless access to the vehicle information system by unauthorized persons outside of the passenger vehicle.
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Accused Products
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.
283 Citations
34 Claims
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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:
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a broadband antenna system; an antenna control system for directing said broadband antenna system toward the preselected satellite communication system based upon a comparison of a position of the passenger vehicle with a position of the preselected satellite communication system; a broadband-control system for establishing a bidirectional broadband data connection with the terrestrial content source via said broadband antenna system; a content distribution system for distributing selected viewing content received by said broadband-control system from the terrestrial content source throughout the vehicle information system, said content distribution system including a switching system being segmented into a private switching system for communicating with said broadband control system and a public switching system for communicating with a wireless access point; and an operator device disposed aboard the passenger vehicle for communicating with said broadband control system, wherein a personal media device disposed aboard the passenger vehicle is enabled to securely communicate with the terrestrial content source via said wireless access point, and wherein said switching system prevents unauthorized wireless access to the vehicle information system by unauthorized persons outside of the passenger vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. 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:
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a headend system for providing overall system control functions for the vehicle information system; a broadband antenna system; an antenna control system for directing 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 for establishing a bidirectional broadband data connection with the terrestrial content source via said broadband antenna system; and a content distribution system for distributing selected viewing content received by said broadband control system from the terrestrial content source throughout the vehicle information system, said content distribution system including a switching system being segmented into a private switching system for communicating with said broadband control system and a public switching system for communicating with a wireless access point, wherein an operator device is enabled communicate with the broadband control system, wherein a personal media device is enabled to securely present viewing content received from, and to securely transmit payment authorization information to, the terrestrial content source via said wireless access point, the viewing content being streamed to the personal media device, and wherein said switching system prevents unauthorized wireless access to passenger information stored aboard the vehicle information system by unauthorized persons outside of the passenger vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A method for supporting broadband communications between a vehicle information system disposed aboard a passenger vehicle and a terrestrial content source via a preselected satellite communication system, comprising:
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comparing a position of the vehicle information system with a position of the preselected satellite communication system; directing a broadband antenna system toward the preselected satellite communication system based upon said comparison; establishing a bidirectional broadband data connection with the terrestrial content source via the broadband antenna system; distributing selected viewing content received from the terrestrial content source throughout the passenger vehicle information system via a switching system being segmented into a private switching system for communicating with the broadband antenna system and a public switching system for communicating with a wireless access point; enabling an operator device disposed aboard the passenger vehicle to communicate with onboard equipment of the passenger vehicle via the broadband antenna system; enabling a personal media device disposed aboard the passenger vehicle to securely communicate with the terrestrial content source via the wireless access point; and preventing unauthorized wireless access to the vehicle information system by unauthorized persons outside of the passenger vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. A computer program product for supporting broadband communications between a vehicle information system disposed aboard a passenger vehicle and a terrestrial content source via a preselected satellite communication system, the computer program product being encoded on one or more machine-readable storage media and excuted by a processor executed by processor comprising:
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instruction for comparing a position of the vehicle information system with a position of the preselected satellite communication system; instruction for directing a broadband antenna system toward the preselected satellite communication system based upon said comparison; instruction for establishing a bidirectional broadband data connection with the terrestrial content source via the broadband antenna system; instruction for distributing selected viewing content received from the terrestrial content source throughout the passenger vehicle information system via a switching system being segmented into a private switching system for communicating with the broadband antenna system and a public switching system for communicating with a wireless access point; instruction for enabling an operator device disposed aboard the passenger vehicle to communicate with onboard equipment of the passenger vehicle via the broadband antenna system; instruction for enabling a personal media device disposed aboard the passenger vehicle to securely communicate with the terrestrial content source via the wireless access point; and instruction for preventing unauthorized wireless access to the vehicle information system by unauthorized persons outside of the passenger vehicle.
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Specification