Location-Based In-Route Entertainment System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current in-flight entertainment systems lack location-specific content and effective methods to provide real-time, location-based information and advertising to passengers, with existing solutions being expensive, of low quality, and cumbersome.
Innovation Solution
A computing system that determines a vehicle's geographic location and serves relevant content to users, using a moving map interface that updates as the vehicle moves, incorporating user-generated content, advertising, and information about destinations and regions, accessed through onboard or offboard servers via internet connectivity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If traditional in-flight entertainment systems are used, then passengers can access entertainment content, but the systems are expensive, provide low quality content, and are cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses mobile devices (smartphones, tablets, laptops) that passengers already possess as copies of entertainment systems. Instead of installing expensive seatback screens and onboard servers, the system leverages the existing computing power, displays, and connectivity of passengers' personal devices to deliver entertainment and information content.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses a universal platform (mobile devices) that can serve multiple functions: entertainment, information display, advertising delivery, and communication. This eliminates the need for dedicated hardware for each function, reducing overall system cost and complexity while maintaining high content quality through the device's native capabilities.
2Measurement precision
If location determination methods (IP address, WiFi hotspots, GPS) are used, then real-time location can be determined, but these methods are not available in moving vehicles like flying aircraft
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary system consisting of ground-based transmitters and aircraft-mounted receivers that work together to determine aircraft location. The ground transmitters broadcast identification signals, and the aircraft receiver captures these signals to calculate position based on signal strength and timing, enabling location determination without GPS or WiFi hotspots.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces GPS satellite-based electromagnetic positioning with a ground-based radio signal system. Instead of relying on satellite signals that may be blocked or unavailable during flight, the system uses terrestrial transmitters that broadcast signals detectable by aircraft receivers, providing location data through a different physical mechanism.
3Productivity
If current in-flight entertainment infrastructure is deployed, then entertainment content is provided, but advertisers have few ways to reach passengers and content is overpriced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent delivers location-specific advertising content to passengers based on the aircraft's current geographic position. Advertisements are tailored to local businesses, attractions, and services in the areas the aircraft is flying over or approaching, making the advertising more relevant and effective while allowing targeted advertisers to reach specific passenger demographics.
Solution Approach 2:
The advertising system is dynamic and adaptive, changing content in real-time based on aircraft location, passenger demographics, and contextual factors. This allows advertisers to deliver timely, location-relevant messages without requiring expensive traditional advertising slots, increasing advertising effectiveness while reducing content costs.
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques are described herein for generating a moving map that includes a graphical representation of a vehicle, such as an airplane, and content relevant to a location of the vehicle as the vehicle is in transit. An in-route entertainment server that serves the moving map may be onboard the vehicle or offboard the vehicle. The moving map may display the current location of the vehicle displayed by modifying a delayed location of the vehicle to account for a speed, a heading, and an amount of delay. Content items may be included on the moving map if they are within a bounded region around the location of the vehicle or in the vehicle. Content items may also be included if they are associated with a region that overlaps the bounded region. The bounded region changes as the vehicle moves in transit.