Fiber-to-the-seat in-flight entertainment system

Abstract

A modular, scalable, extensible, In-Flight Entertainment (IFE) data communication system is described. In one embodiment, a server / switch line replaceable unit including at least one server, at least one switching element and a plurality of fiber optic transceivers communicates with a plurality of passenger seat video display units over fiber optic cables. A server, such as, for example, an audio server, a video server, an audio / video server, a game server, an application server, a file server, etc, provides data (e.g., entertainment programming, internet file data, etc.) to the video display unit. In one embodiment, a hybrid switch unit provides flexible communication between one or more servers and the passenger seats.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] The present application claims priority benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60 / 718,563, filed Sep. 19, 2005, titled “Fiber-to-the-Seat Inflight Entertainment System”, the entire contents of which is hereby incorporated by reference.BACKGROUND [0002] 1. Field of the Invention [0003] The invention relates to systems for data servers and data communication networks related to aircraft in-flight entertainment and networking. [0004] 2. Description of the Related Art [0005] Inflight entertainment (IFE) systems have evolved significantly over the last 25 years. Prior to 1978, IFE systems were typically audio systems. In 1978, Bell and Howell (Avicom Division) introduced a group viewing video system based on VHS tapes. Ten years later, in 1988, Airvision introduced the first inseat video system allowing passengers to choose between several channels of broadcast video. In 1997, Swissair installed the first interactive Video on Demand (VO...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0013] These and other problems are solved by a modular, scalable, extensible, IFE system that leverages terrestrial VOD hardware and software advances, is implemented on avionics hardware, and is packaged to reduce the number of distinct IFE LRUs not only in a single aircraft but across an airline's entire fleet of aircraft (regional jets to jumbo jets).

[0022] In one embodiment, the chassis of the server / switch unit and / or hybrid-switch unit are configured to mount in an aircraft equipment rack. The optical ports of the transceivers in the switch units are provided to an optical connector on chassis such that when the chassis is mounted in the equipment rack, the optical connector (or connectors) on the chassis blind-mate with a corresponding optical connector (or connectors) on the rack. The optical connectors on the rack are provided to the fiber-optic cables in the aircraft (e.g., the fiber-optic cables that run to the passenger seat units, the fiber-optic cables that run to other switch units, other servers, etc. This modularity allows the switch units to be replaced relatively quickly and easily to allow for reconfiguration of the aircraft, repairs, upgrades, etc.

Problems solved by technology

Until about 2000, the pace at which capabilities were added to IFE systems outpaced the technological advances found in IFE systems, leading to heavier more costly systems.

However, significant drops in legacy IFE system costs are not easily realized, as these systems are implemented with proprietary hardware and software architectures created at significant development cost that must be amortized over a small group of buyers (namely, the airlines).

This open architecture, standards-based environment has enabled many suppliers to enter the terrestrial VOD market and compete for each VOD hardware / software component, leading to significant price drops for terrestrial VOD systems.

In the IFE environment, on the other hand, operational costs are highly dependent on the weight and power of the IFE system.

Some systems on the market have completely eliminated the SEB, typically at the expense of VDU size, weight, and power.

However, this architecture has no parallel in the terrestrial world and cannot easily leverage advancements and technology developments from the terrestrial world.

However, this system is also proprietary and cannot leverage advancements in the terrestrial world easily.

However, these attempts have had only limited success.

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