Systems and methods for delivery of wireless data and multimedia content to aircraft

Abstract

Systems and methods for provisioning of media content and data to aircraft are described. A hierarchical network, including one or more wireless networks, may be used to provided selected media content to aircraft and update aircraft with specific content based on tailored criteria. Aircraft arrival may be detected and content uploaded based on presence at an airport or other landing facility.

1 . A system for distributing media content to a plurality of aircraft, comprising:
 a first local controller disposed on a first aircraft of said plurality of aircraft, said first local controller configured to receive media content from one or more wireless connections; and   a regional controller comprising:   a first server configured to store a set of media content for delivery to said plurality of aircraft;   a software module configured to select one or more items of media content from said set of media content, said selection based at least in part on a media content prioritization criteria associated with said first aircraft; and   a base station communicatively coupled to the first server and the first local controller to facilitate transfer of said one or more items of media content to said first aircraft via a wireless connection.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said regional controller is further configured to:
 detect the presence of said first aircraft at an airport facility; and   provide flight information associated with said first aircraft to a global controller to facilitate media content provisioning of said first aircraft through said regional controller.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2  wherein the regional controller is configured to select, based on media content metadata provided by said global controller, said one or more items of media content for delivery to said first aircraft. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3  wherein said base station is configured to receive said one or more items of media content to be provided to said first aircraft from said regional controller and provide, via a wireless connection, said one or more items of media content to said first local controller. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4  wherein said one or more items of media content are further provided to an IFE system, disposed on said first aircraft, from said local controller. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a repeater module configured to receive, via a first wireless connection to said base station, said one or more items of media content; and
 provide, via a second wireless connection to said first local controller, said one or more items of media content to said first local controller.   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said first local controller disposed on said first aircraft of said plurality of aircraft is further configured to:
 search for the presence of a second local controller disposed on a second aircraft of said plurality of aircraft;   establish, responsive to said search, a wireless connection with said second local controller;   receive, from said second local controller, a content update requirement associated with said second aircraft; and   provide, responsive to said received content update requirement, a second set of one or more items of media content to said second aircraft.   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7  wherein said first local controller is communicatively coupled to a first IFE system disposed on the first aircraft and said second local controller is communicatively coupled to a second IFE system on said second aircraft. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said regional controller is further configured to:
 search for the presence of said first local controller disposed on said first aircraft of said plurality of aircraft;   establish, responsive to said search, a wireless connection with said first local controller;   receive, from said first local controller, flight information associated with said first aircraft;   transfer said flight information to a global controller coupled to said regional controller, wherein said global controller is configured to schedule content update to ones of said plurality of aircraft; and   receive, from said global controller, media update metadata associated with said first aircraft to facilitate uploading of media content to said first of said plurality of aircraft.   
     
     
         10 . A system for wirelessly providing media content to aircraft, comprising:
 a first local controller disposed on a first aircraft of a plurality of aircraft; and   a second local controller disposed on a second aircraft of said plurality of aircraft, said second local controller configured to:   search for the presence of said first local controller disposed on said first aircraft;   establish, responsive to said search, a wireless connection with said first local controller;   receive, from said first local controller, a content update requirement associated with said first aircraft; and   provide, responsive to said content update requirement, one or more items of media content to said first local controller.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10  wherein said one or more items of media content are provided from a set of media content stored on said first aircraft. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10  wherein said one or more items of media content are provided from a set of media content provided to said first local controller from a regional controller wirelessly connected to said second local controller.