The present invention relates to an aircraft information system and a method for providing passenger information, such as flight information or entertainment information, to the passengers in an aircraft by making use of communication between at least one passenger device and the aircraft information system, the aircraft information system comprising: —storage means for storing information thereon, —one or more processing units for performing information processing, —energy providing means for providing energy to the aircraft information system, —data communication means, such as wireless communication means, for communication with the at least one passenger device, —wherein the aircraft information system is configured as autonomous unit for autonomous functioning, such as independently of further systems in the aircraft, and wherein the aircraft information system comprises: —receiving means for receiving source information relating to the aircraft for forming on the basis of the source information respective passenger information for transmission to the at least one passenger device.

A content distribution apparatus onboard a vehicle periodically travelling within direct communicative range of other content distribution apparatuses onboard respective other vehicles has a storage interface to a local content data repository, and a mesh network interface establishing mesh network data communications links with the content distribution apparatuses. A comparator is in communication with the local content data repository over the storage interface, and a missing content segments list is generated by the comparator based upon an evaluation of a master content list against a local inventory of the segments of content data. The missing content data is retrieved from one or more upstream source content distribution apparatuses over a first mesh network data communications link. The content data in the local inventory is also transmitted to a downstream requestor content distribution apparatus over a second mesh network data communications link.

An aircraft includes a video display, first and second wireless pairing transmitters, and a media distribution processor. The video display is associated with an audio content stream and a seating location in the aircraft. The first wireless pairing transmitter is associated with the video display and has a first wireless coverage volume. The second wireless pairing transmitter has a second wireless coverage volume that overlaps the first wireless coverage volume. The media distribution processor is programmed and configured to: associate a wireless speaker device with the seating location; pair the first wireless pairing transmitter with the wireless speaker device in response to associating the wireless speaker device with the seating location; and direct the audio content stream through the first wireless pairing transmitter to the wireless speaker device in response to connecting the first wireless pairing transmitter with the wireless speaker device.

According to one configuration, a wireless base station has access to a cache (repository) that stores a stream of content including multiple segments of content. The cache stores (caches) a first segment of content from the received stream of content. The first segment of content is cached in the repository for a window of time during which the first segment of content is temporarily available from the wireless base station. In response to receiving a respective request from each mobile communication device in a group of multiple mobile communication devices requesting the first segment of content during the window of time, a wireless base station communicates the first segment of content from the cache to each mobile communication device in the group.

Techniques are described for dynamic production of linear media channels for delivery to passenger devices disposed on mobile transport craft while the transport craft are in transit. For example, each transport craft has an on-board media system. In accordance with a linear channel schedule, the on-board media system can generate a dynamically produced linear media (DPLM) channel that can be streamed as a continuous media channel to passengers on-board the transport craft. The linear channel schedule defines a sequence of programming time slots, including multiple broadcast programming time slots and multiple pre-positioned programming time slots. Dynamically producing the DPLM channel involves, for each upcoming broadcast programming time slot, obtaining a corresponding broadcast channel for receipt as a stream via an off-board communications network; and for each upcoming pre-positioned programming time slot, obtaining a corresponding pre-positioned content segment for receipt from storage on-board the transport craft.

A system for managing media content data sets loaded onto a content server has a media content repository storing media content data items. A usage data aggregator retrieves usage log data from each passenger terminal device of the vehicle entertainment system. A load set generator builds a ranked media content data set based upon prioritization scores assigned to each of the media content data items with adaptive inferences from the usage log data. The prioritization scores are correlated with trip factors established for a subsequent vehicle trip for which the ranked media content data set is being built. A content retriever transfers the one or more media content data items specified in the ranked media content data from the media content repository.

A device for notification to a moving body passenger includes an information processing device, a moving-body-mounted output device configured to output the notification content, and a communication device configured to transmit the notification content to a device carried by the passenger. The information processing device includes a storage device in which travel information, passenger information and information about a notification content list, and a processor. In the output control process, the processor identifies a control target content indicating the notification content to be targeted by the output control, based on the travel information and the information about the notification content list or based on the travel information, the passenger information and the information about the notification content list, and outputs the control target content to the moving-body-mounted output device if it is determined that a degree of importance of the control target content is at or above a predetermined level.

A media guidance application is provided by which users can define rules for assigning user equipment devices as destinations for media content. For example, a user may define a rule by which selected media content having attributes that satisfy a user-defined condition are downloaded, recorded, or streamed to a particular, user-specified user equipment device. The user may define and manage rules using media guidance menus, and may restrict other users from accessing the rules (e.g., parents restricting children).

Systems and methods for dynamically multiplexing requested linear media channels and network data on forward link traffic streams of a communication link to a craft media delivery system are provided. Furthermore, systems and methods for receiving dynamically multiplexed requested linear media channels and network data on forward link traffic streams of a communication link by a craft media delivery system are also provided.

Methods, systems, and devices are described for providing selectable content offerings to mobile users via mobile terminals over a satellite system. In embodiments, a database of access profiles for accessing a network via the satellite system may be maintained. Each access profile corresponds to a respective content category of a plurality of content categories and is associated with a respective set of content sources available via the network. Devices may be provided with a respective set of content categories for display based at least in part on a device-specific profile associated with the corresponding device. In embodiments, a request is received from particular device for a particular content category. An access profile may be identified from the database that is associated with the particular content offering. Communications may be permitted between the device and the respective set of content sources associated with the content category associated with the access profile.