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.

1 . An aircraft in-flight entertainment data communication system, comprising: 
 a server/switch unit comprising a plurality of servers, a plurality of passenger seat transceivers, and a switch configured to provide data communication between said passenger seat transceivers and said plurality of servers such that each of said servers can communicate with each of passenger seat transceivers through said switch;    a plurality of video display units, each video display unit comprising a video display unit transceiver provided to a processor module, a video display provided to said processor module, and one or more user input devices provided to said processor module; and    a plurality of fiber-optic cables, wherein each cable comprises a head-end connection and a passenger-end connection such that each one of said video display unit transceivers is provided to a corresponding one of said passenger seat transceivers through a corresponding one of said fiber-optic cables.    
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one auxiliary port, wherein said switch is further configured to provide data communication between said passenger seat transceivers and said at least one auxiliary port such that each of said servers can communicate with said at least one auxiliary port.  
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said plurality of fiber-optic cables comprises a plurality of intermediate fiber-optic cables connected in series.  
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said switch comprises a packet switch.  
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said switch comprises a circuit switch.  
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said switch uses packet switching and circuit switching.  
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein a plurality of said server/switch units are provided to a head-end mounting bay.  
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said server/switch further comprises a chassis configured to mount in an equipment rack, and wherein an optical port of each of said passenger seat transceivers is provided to a first fiber-optic connector, said first fiber-optic connector provided to said chassis, said system further comprising an equipment rack configured to receive said chassis, said system further comprising a second fiber-optic connector provided to said equipment rack and configured to mate with said first fiber-optic connector when said chassis is installed in said rack.  
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of servers comprises an audio server.  
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of servers comprises a video server.  
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of servers comprises an application server.  
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of servers comprises a game server.  
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of servers comprises a game server.  
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said server/switch unit is provided to a second server/switch unit to provide failover capability.  
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said server/switch unit is configured operate as a master provided to a second server/switch unit to provide failover capability.  
   
   
       16 . An aircraft in-flight entertainment data communication system, comprising: 
 a hybrid-switch unit, comprising: 
 a packet switch configured to switch packets for a packet-based data network;  
 a circuit switch configured to switch circuits for a circuit-based data network;  
 a first packet transceiver having an electrical port provided to said packet switch and an optical port provided to a first coupler;  
 a second packet transceiver having an electrical port provided to said packet switch and an optical port provided to a second coupler;  
 a first circuit transceiver having an electrical port provided to said circuit switch and an optical port provided to said first coupler; and  
 a second circuit transceiver having an electrical port provided to said circuit switch and an optical port provided to said second coupler;  
   a first packet server provided to said packet switch;    a second packet server provided to said packet switch;    a first premium server provided to said circuit switch;    a hybrid video display unit comprising: 
 a processing module;  
 a video display provided to said processing module;  
 a third packet transceiver having an electrical port provided to said processing module and an optical port provided to a third coupler; and  
 a third circuit transceiver having an electrical port provided to said processing module and an optical port provided to said third coupler; and  
   a fiber-optic cable having a first connector provided to said first coupler and a second connector provided to said third coupler.    
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein said optical port of said first packet transceiver communicates with said first coupler at a first optical wavelength and said optical port of said first circuit transceiver communicates with said first coupler at a second optical wavelength.  
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein said fiber-optic cables comprises a plurality of intermediate fiber-optic cables connected in series.  
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein said a data output of said packet switch is provided to a control input of said circuit switch.  
   
   
       20 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein said first premium server comprises a game server.  
   
   
       21 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein said premium server provides raw pixel data.  
   
   
       22 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein a plurality of said hybrid-switch units are provided to an aircraft equipment rack.  
   
   
       23 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein said hybrid-switch unit further comprises a chassis configured to mount in an equipment rack, and wherein said first coupler is provided to a first fiber-optic connector, said first fiber-optic connector provided to said chassis, said system further comprising an equipment rack configured to receive said chassis, said system further comprising a second fiber-optic connector provided to said equipment rack and configured to mate with said first fiber-optic connector when said chassis is installed in said rack.  
   
   
       24 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein said first packet server comprises an audio server.  
   
   
       25 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein said first packet server comprises a video server.  
   
   
       26 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein said first packet server comprises an application server.  
   
   
       27 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein said first packet server comprises a game server.  
   
   
       28 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein said first packet server comprises an application server.  
   
   
       29 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein said hybrid video display unit further comprises one or more user input devices provided to said processing module.  
   
   
       30 . An aircraft in-flight entertainment data communication system, comprising: 
 a switch unit comprising a plurality of passenger seat transceivers, and a switch configured to provide data communication between said passenger seat transceivers and a plurality of auxiliary ports to provide data communication between said auxiliary ports and said passenger seat transceivers through said switch;    a plurality of video display units, each video display unit comprising a video display unit transceiver provided to a processor module, a video display provided to said processor module, and one or more user input devices provided to said processor module; and    a plurality of fiber-optic cables, wherein each cable comprises a head-end connection and a passenger-end connection such that each one of said video display unit transceivers is provided to a corresponding one of said passenger seat transceivers through a corresponding one of said fiber-optic cables.    
   
   
       31 . The system of  claim 30 , wherein at least one of said plurality of fiber-optic cables comprises a plurality of intermediate fiber-optic cables connected in series.  
   
   
       32 . The system of  claim 30 , wherein said switch comprises a packet switch.  
   
   
       33 . The system of  claim 30 , wherein said switch comprises a circuit switch.  
   
   
       34 . The system of  claim 30 , wherein said switch uses packet switching and circuit switching.  
   
   
       35 . The system of  claim 30 , wherein a plurality of said switch units are provided to a head-end mounting bay.  
   
   
       36 . The system of  claim 30 , wherein said switch unit further comprises a chassis configured to mount in an equipment rack, and wherein an optical port of each of said passenger seat transceivers is provided to a first fiber-optic connector, said first fiber-optic connector provided to said chassis, said system further comprising an equipment rack configured to receive said chassis, said system further comprising a second fiber-optic connector provided to said equipment rack and configured to mate with said first fiber-optic connector when said chassis is installed in said rack.  
   
   
       37 . The system of  claim 30 , further comprising an audio server provided to at least one of said auxiliary ports.  
   
   
       38 . The system of  claim 30 , further comprising a video server provided to at least one of said auxiliary ports.  
   
   
       39 . The system of  claim 30 , further comprising an application server provided to at least one of said auxiliary ports.  
   
   
       40 . The system of  claim 30 , further comprising a game server provided to at least one of said auxiliary ports.  
   
   
       41 . The system of  claim 30 , wherein said switch unit is provided to a second switch unit to provide failover capability.  
   
   
       42 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said server/switch unit is configured operate as a master provided to a second server/switch unit to provide failover capability.  
   
   
       43 . An aircraft in-flight entertainment data communication system, comprising: 
 a switch unit comprising a plurality of servers, a plurality of passenger seat transceivers, and a switch configured to provide data communication between said passenger seat transceivers and said plurality of servers such that each of said servers can communicate with each of passenger seat transceivers through said switch.    
   
   
       44 . The system of  claim 43 , wherein said server/switch further comprises a chassis configured to mount in an equipment rack, and wherein an optical port of each of said passenger seat transceivers is provided to a first fiber-optic connector, said first fiber-optic connector provided to said chassis, said system further comprising an equipment rack configured to receive said chassis, said system further comprising a second fiber-optic connector provided to said equipment rack and configured to mate with said first fiber-optic connector when said chassis is installed in said rack.  
   
   
       45 . An aircraft in-flight entertainment data communication system, comprising: 
 a hybrid-switch unit, comprising: 
 a packet switch configured to switch packets for a packet-based data network;  
 a circuit switch configured to switch circuits for a circuit-based data network;  
 a first packet transceiver having an electrical port provided to said packet switch and an optical port provided to a first coupler;  
 a second packet transceiver having an electrical port provided to said packet switch and an optical port provided to a second coupler;  
 a first circuit transceiver having an electrical port provided to said circuit switch and an optical port provided to said first coupler; and  
 a second circuit transceiver having an electrical port provided to said circuit switch and an optical port provided to said second coupler.  
   
   
   
       46 . The system of  claim 45 , wherein said hybrid-switch further comprises a chassis configured to mount in an equipment rack, and wherein an optical port of each of said passenger seat transceivers is provided to a first fiber-optic connector, said first fiber-optic connector provided to said chassis, said system further comprising an equipment rack configured to receive said chassis, said system further comprising a second fiber-optic connector provided to said equipment rack and configured to mate with said first fiber-optic connector when said chassis is installed in said rack.