Fiber Optic Interface for Aircraft In-Flight Entertainment Content Transfer

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Solution Overview

Problem

In-flight entertainment systems face challenges in efficiently transferring high-bandwidth content due to limitations with traditional cable lengths and signal integrity issues, necessitating a reliable and fast data transfer method within aircraft.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a fiber optic interface between the content loading component and the content server, utilizing fiber optic cabling for high-speed content transfer, and incorporating a PCIe bus connection to enhance data processing and storage, allowing for the use of portable content storage devices and providing power and Ethernet connectivity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional cables are used for content transfer, then the system is simpler to implement, but signal integrity issues and cable length limitations occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesignal integrityVSAvoidcabling complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces traditional electrical cable connections with optical fiber connections. The content loading component includes an optical fiber interface that communicates with the content server via optical fiber, eliminating the signal integrity issues and length limitations of traditional electrical cables while maintaining reliable data transfer.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Productivity

If faster content transfer is implemented, then content loading speed improves, but bandwidth requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontent loading speedVSAvoidbandwidth

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs optical fiber technology which provides significantly higher bandwidth capacity compared to traditional electrical cables. This enables fast content loading speeds while accommodating the increased data throughput requirements through the high-capacity optical transmission medium.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This solution enables fast, high-bandwidth content transfer without signal integrity issues, supporting services like AVOD, moving maps, and e-commerce, while ensuring reliable delivery of entertainment content to passenger devices across the aircraft.

Implementation Method 1

fiber optics cabling in loading and transferring content from the content loading component to the content server

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectOptical fiber transmission: Optical Fibre

Data Source

PatentUS10575029B1Systems and methods for in-flight entertainment content transfer using fiber optic interface

Publication Date: 2020.02.25 ROCKWELL COLLINS INC

AI summary

In some aspects, the disclosure is directed to systems and methods for transferring in-flight entertainment content. A content loading panel in an aircraft may load content from at least one of a plurality of types of portable content storage devices. A content server in the aircraft may receive, from the content loading panel via a fiber optic link, the in-flight entertainment content loaded via the content loading panel. The content server may store the received in-flight entertainment content for provisioning to one or more wireless access points located in the aircraft.