| Patent application number | Description | Published |
|---|
| 20080240029 | AIRCRAFT COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM SELECTIVELY ALLOCATING DATA COMMUNICATIONS CHANNEL CAPACITY AND ASSOCIATED METHODS - A communications system for an aircraft carrying personnel having personal electronic devices (PEDs) for wireless data communications outside the aircraft includes a ground-based communications network, and an access point in the aircraft for providing a WLAN for data communications with the PEDs. An air-to-ground transceiver in the aircraft cooperates with the access point for data communications with the ground-based communications network. At least one data traffic controller selectively allocates data communications channel capacity between the PEDs and the ground-based communications network. | 10-02-2008 |
| 20080240038 | AIRCRAFT COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM WITH HARD HANDOFF AND ASSOCIATED METHODS - A communications system for an aircraft carrying at least some personnel having personal electronic devices (PEDs) for wireless data communications outside the aircraft includes a ground-based communications network comprising spaced apart base stations, and an access point in the aircraft for providing a WLAN for data communications with the PEDs. An air-to-ground transceiver in the aircraft cooperates with the access point for data communications with the ground-based communications network. First and second base stations define respective first and second adjacent coverage areas, and include respective first and second hard handoff controllers. The respective first and second hard handoff controllers implement a hard handoff of a data communications channel with the air-to-ground transceiver as the aircraft moves from the first coverage area to the second adjacent coverage area. | 10-02-2008 |
| 20080240061 | AIRCRAFT COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM WITH DATA MEMORY CACHE AND ASSOCIATED METHODS - A communications system for an aircraft carrying at least some personnel having personal electronic devices (PEDs) for wireless data communications outside the aircraft includes a ground-based communications network, and an access point in the aircraft for providing a wireless local area network (WLAN) for data communications with the PEDs. An air-to-ground transceiver in the aircraft cooperates with the access point for data communications with the ground-based communications network. An aircraft data memory cache is in the aircraft and cooperates with the access point for storing common data accessible by the PEDs during flight of the aircraft. | 10-02-2008 |
| 20080240062 | AIRCRAFT COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM WITH NETWORK SELECTION CONTROLLER AND ASSOCIATED METHODS - A communications system for an aircraft carrying at least some personnel having personal electronic devices (PEDs) for wireless data communications outside the aircraft includes a ground-based communications network, and a satellite-based communications network. An access point is in the aircraft for providing a WLAN for data communications with the PEDs. An air-to-ground transceiver in the aircraft cooperates with the access point for data communications with the ground-based communications network. A satellite receiver in the aircraft cooperates with the access point for data communications with the satellite-based communications network to the PEDs. At least one network selection controller determines whether to send data communications to the PEDs through the air-to-ground transceiver or the satellite receiver. | 10-02-2008 |
| 20090096857 | AIRCRAFT IN-FLIGHT ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM HAVING A MULTI-BEAM PHASED ARRAY ANTENNA AND ASSOCIATED METHODS - An in-flight entertainment (IFE) system for an aircraft includes a phased array antenna and control circuitry associated therewith to be carried by the aircraft and to generate dual antenna beams for television programming and Internet data from respective spaced apart satellites. A television programming distribution system is to be carried by the aircraft and coupled to the phased array antenna and control circuitry to provide television programming within the aircraft. At least one access point is to be carried by the aircraft and coupled to the phased array antenna and control circuitry to provide a wireless local area network (WLAN) within the aircraft for the Internet data. | 04-16-2009 |
| 20090100476 | AIRCRAFT IN-FLIGHT ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM HAVING A DUAL-BEAM ANTENNA AND ASSOCIATED METHODS - An aircraft in-flight entertainment (IFE) system for an aircraft includes a radome to be carried by the aircraft, and a dual-beam satellite antenna and at least one positioner coupled thereto to be carried by the aircraft and protected by the radome. The dual-beam satellite antenna is to generate dual antenna beams for television programming and Internet data from respective spaced apart satellites. The dual-beam satellite antenna includes a first aperture for receiving the television programming, and a second aperture adjacent the first aperture for receiving the Internet data. A television programming distribution system is to be carried by the aircraft and coupled to the dual-beam satellite antenna to provide television programming within the aircraft. At least one access point is to be carried by the aircraft and coupled to the dual-beam 0satellite antenna to provide a wireless local area network (WLAN) within the aircraft for the Internet data. | 04-16-2009 |
| 20110219408 | AIRCRAFT IN-FLIGHT ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM WITH ENHANCED PASSENGER CONTROL UNITS AND ASSOCIATED METHODS - An aircraft in-flight entertainment (IFE) system includes an entertainment source, passenger seatback displays coupled to the entertainment source, and passenger control units. Each PCU is associated with a respective seatback display and includes a touchpad configured to recognize multiple simultaneous touch points. | 09-08-2011 |
| 20110219409 | AIRCRAFT IN-FLIGHT ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM WITH ENHANCED SEATBACK TRAY PASSENGER CONTROL UNITS AND ASSOCIATED METHODS - An aircraft in-flight entertainment (IFE) system includes an entertainment source, passenger seatback displays coupled to the entertainment source, and passenger control units (PCUs). Each PCU is associated with a respective seatback display. Each PCU includes an underside PCU input device carried by an underside of a seatback tray to be accessible by a user from the underside of the seatback tray when the seatback tray is in a stored position, and a topside PCU input device carried by a topside of the seatback tray to be accessible by the user from a topside of the seatback tray when the seatback tray is in a down position. | 09-08-2011 |
