Detachable seat mounted audio-visual entertainment system with locally storable, selectable, and updatable content

Abstract

A detachable seat mounted audio-visual entertainment system. The system has locally storable, selectable, and updatable content. The passenger in-flight entertainment device terminal has passenger selectable controls, a video display, an audio output, storage media such as a magnetic or “hard disk”, and a payment interface device such as a card swipe, all located in a seat which has been wired with power, local network, and audio wiring. A local, transport vehicle mounted local host computer provides supports the local network, and may be used to collect revenue slips resulting from passenger input to the payment interface device. Revenue slips may be posted to a remote server during a trip segment via satellite or direct radio frequency communication to receiving facilities providing connection to the internet, or alternately collected and posted batch-wise.

1 . An enclosure for providing an in-flight entertainment device in a seat back, comprising:
 a mount configured to receive an in-flight entertainment device;   a cover configured to be secured to the mount and to fit over a seat back portion of a seat in a manner that straddles a component of a tray table of the seat; and   one or more fasteners securable to the cover to secure the cover to the seat.   
     
     
         2 . The enclosure recited in  claim 1 , wherein the one or more fasteners are securable to the cover to releasably secure the cover to the seat. 
     
     
         3 . The enclosure recited in  claim 1 , further comprising the in-flight entertainment device secured to the mount. 
     
     
         4 . The enclosure recited in  claim 1 , wherein the mount includes a mounting pan secured to a rear portion of the cover. 
     
     
         5 . The enclosure recited in  claim 1 , wherein the cover defines an aperture sized to receive the mount and the in-flight entertainment device. 
     
     
         6 . The enclosure recited in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a cushion substantially surrounding the mount and providing padding adjacent thereto.   
     
     
         7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . The enclosure recited in  claim 1 , wherein the mount has a size generally matching a size of the cover. 
     
     
         9 . The enclosure recited in  claim 1 , wherein the cover is a slip-on cover for slipping over a headrest of an upper seat back portion of the seat. 
     
     
         10 . The enclosure recited in  claim 1 , wherein the cover includes a rear portion having first and second lower end portions, the first and the second lower end portions being adapted to straddle a tray table lock of the tray table of the seat. 
     
     
         11 . A method for assembling a mount for an in-flight entertainment device, comprising:
 securing a mount to a seat back;   placing a cover over the seat back, the cover straddling a component of a tray table, leaving the component of the tray table exposed; and   securing the cover to the seat back and the mount.   
     
     
         12 . The method recited in  claim 11 , wherein securing the cover comprises removably securing the cover to the seat back. 
     
     
         13 . The method recited in  claim 11 , further comprising:
 securing an in-flight entertainment device to the mount.   
     
     
         14 . The method recited in  claim 13 , wherein securing the in-flight entertainment device comprises removably securing the in flight entertainment device to the mount. 
     
     
         15 . A method for removably securing an in-flight entertainment device to a seat, comprising:
 securing an in-flight entertainment device to a mount in a seat back, the mount configured to receive the in-flight entertainment device; and   slipping a cover over the seat back of a seat, the cover laterally surrounding at least a portion of the mount.   
     
     
         16 . The method recited in  claim 15 , wherein the cover provides cushioning laterally adjacent to the mount. 
     
     
         17 . The method recited in  claim 15 , wherein slipping the cover over the seat back comprises removably securing the cover in place on the seat back. 
     
     
         18 . The method recited in  claim 15 , wherein slipping the cover over the seat back includes positioning the cover to straddle a tray table or a component of a tray table. 
     
     
         19 . The method recited in  claim 18 , wherein slipping the cover over the seat back includes positioning portions of the cover on a rearward side of the seat, so as to straddle a tray table lock component. 
     
     
         20 . The method recited in  claim 15 , wherein the seat located in a land, air or aquatic passenger transportation vehicle. 
     
     
         21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . The method recited in  claim 15 , further comprising:
 using one or more cables to connect the in-flight entertainment device to an existing local network within a passenger transportation vehicle that includes the seat.   
     
     
         23 . The method recited in  claim 22 , wherein the existing local network provides one or more of data transfer, audio transfer, or power supply. 
     
     
         24 . The method recited in  claim 15 , wherein slipping the cover over a the seat back includes removably securing the in-flight entertainment device to the seat back and external to a footprint of an existing seat back portion of the seat. 
     
     
         25 . The method recited in  claim 15 , wherein the cover is sized and shaped to generally match an upper seat back portion of the seat. 
     
     
         26 . The method recited in  claim 15 , wherein the in-flight entertainment device is connected to, or includes, a payment interface, the method further comprising:
 through the payment interface, receiving payment information from a passenger located in a passenger transportation vehicle, and behind the seat, in exchange for audio-visual content accessible via the in-flight entertainment device.   
     
     
         27 . The method recited in  claim 26 , further comprising:
 verifying a validity of a payment method used by the passenger during travel of the passenger in the passenger transportation vehicle.   
     
     
         28 . The method recited in  claim 26 , wherein receiving payment information includes receiving credit card, debit card, or electronic fund transfer information. 
     
     
         29 . The method recited in  claim 26 , further comprising:
 posting an electronic revenue data slip associated with the payment information.   
     
     
         30 . The method recited in  claim 26 , wherein the electronic revenue data slip is posted in one or more of the following manners:
 individually;   in a batch process, collectively with other electronic revenue data slips;   during a trip segment of the passenger in the passenger transportation vehicle; or   following completion of a trip segment of the passenger in the passenger transportation vehicle.   
     
     
         31 . An assembly for providing an in-flight entertainment device in a seat back of a seat of a passenger transportation vehicle, comprising:
 a backing;   a mount secured to the backing and extending rearwardly therefrom, the mount being configured to receive an in-flight entertainment device;   one or more cushioning elements secured in place relative to the backing and extending rearwardly therefrom, the one or more cushioning elements at least partially surrounding the mount; and   a slip-on cover configured to fit over a seat back of a seat within a passenger transportation vehicle while straddling a tray table in a seat back, or a component for use with the tray table.   
     
     
         32 . The assembly recited in  claim 31 , wherein the slip-on cover is configured to secure at least one of the backing, the mount, and the one or more cushioning elements in place relative to the seat. 
     
     
         33 . The assembly recited in  claim 31 , wherein the slip-on cover includes first and second lower end portions adapted to straddle, in a spaced apart relationship, a locking portion of the tray table. 
     
     
         34 . The assembly recited in  claim 31 , wherein the backing is a backing board sized to generally correspond to a size of an upper seat back portion of the seat.