Low cost hybrid video distribution system for aircraft in-flight entertainment systems

Abstract

An aircraft entertainment system employing a hybrid video distribution system that permits distribution of direct broadcast satellite television programming to passengers of the aircraft. The aircraft entertainment system has a video control center 11, a plurality of groups of set display units 40, and a plurality of audio and video processors 20 that control routing of programming to each seat display unit. A plurality of seat junction boxes 30 may be interposed between the audio and video processors 20 and the groups of seat display units 40. An antenna 12 is receives programming from a satellite, and a splitter 13 generates a plurality of channels of programming received by the antenna 12. A decoder 14 decodes the channels to provide video and audio signals, and an RF modulator 16 modulates the decoded audio and video signals for distribution. Each seat display unit 40 has a keypad 44 for selecting channels and controlling audio volume, a logic circuit 45 for outputting channel addresses of the selected channels, an address decoder 47 for decoding the channel addresses, and a channel display 46 for displaying the number of the selected channel. A video display 53 displays the television programming, and an audio output device reproduces the audio signals. The audio and video processors 20 convert the modulated RF video signals to baseband video for distribution to the seat display units 40. Each processor comprises a plurality of tuners 25, and non-blocking audio crosspoint switches 26, 27 having a predetermined number of audio and video outputs that are a selected multiple of the number of inputs. A processor 28 is coupled to the audio and video crosspoint switches and to the address decoder of each seat display unit for processing the decoded channel addresses and selecting which channels are output to each seat display unit.

Description

BACKGROUNDThe present invention relates generally to in-flight aircraft entertainment systems, and more particularly, to a low cost, hybrid video distribution system for use with in-flight aircraft entertainment systems.The assignee of the present invention designs and manufactures in-flight entertainment systems for aircraft, and the like. Heretofore, full cable television (CATV) type radio frequency (RF) distribution systems have been used in most aircraft in-flight aircraft entertainment systems. These cable television type RAF distribution systems require a tuner at every seat. The cost of tuners is relatively high, and because of the large number of seats and associated tuners, the overall cost of prior distribution systems has been high.It would therefore be desirable to have an alternative in-flight entertainment system that does not replace the full RF system, but provides a low cost system for use in commercial aircraft, and particularly in narrow body commercial aircraft. ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

To meet the above and other objectives, the present invention provides for an architecture for a low cost in-flight aircraft entertainment (video and audio) distribution system that supports reception of satellite broadcasts from a direct broadcast satellite source, such as from DIRECTTV satellites, for example, along with other video programming, such as video tapes, and laser disks, and the like. The present video distribution system thus distributes video derived from a wide variety of video sources to passengers of an aircraft.

In the case of an eight video program (eight tuners) system, for example, the quantity of tuners required for the system is reduced from 48 to 8. At approximately $150 per tuner, $6600 per group of 48 seats is saved using the present invention. On a 747-400 aircraft having 400 seats, for example, this represents a savings of $55,000 in the cost of the system. The present invention removes the tuner from the seatback, allowing larger displays to be installed, while reducing the power requirements of the system. Due to the reduction in the number of components, the mean time between failure (MTBF) of the system increases, thus reducing service costs.

Problems solved by technology

The cost of tuners is relatively high, and because of the large number of seats and associated tuners, the overall cost of prior distribution systems has been high.

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