A system enabling hands-free operation of controls for accessing a transportation vehicle is provided. The system comprises code readers associated with respective entry barriers for admitting passengers to a transportation vehicle. The code readers read a machine-readable passenger code generated by a mobile electronic device and actuate mechanisms allowing entry through the barriers responsive confirmation of the code. A signal receiver in communication with a Passenger Service Unit for passenger seat onboard the vehicle receives instructions from the mobile electronic device and instruct the PSU to actuate passenger cabin controls for the passenger seat. An application on the mobile electronic device determines a time-stamped temperature of a passenger and generates the passenger code, which includes passenger identification, authorization to pass through the entry barriers and board the vehicle, and a determination if the temperature of the passenger indicates an acceptable passenger health status.

This patent document describes techniques are related to an apparatus for an electronics box for an in-flight entertainment system. The electronics box comprises: a first module including a first group of electronic components for the in-flight entertainment system and having a housing accommodating a first board on which the first group of electronic components are disposed; and a second module detachably placed over the first module and having a second board on which a second group of electronic components for the in-flight entertainment system are disposed, the second board covered by a frame that forms a sealed enclosure with the housing, and wherein the first group of electronic components and the second group of electronic components are configured to provide power or data to at least one of the in-flight entertainment system that is located in a commercial passenger vehicle.

A system for alerting a passenger is disclosed. The system includes an aircraft seat including a haptic mechanism, the haptic mechanism configured to be selectively activated. The system includes one or more buttons operationally coupled to the haptic mechanism. The one or more buttons are configured to be selectively operated. The one or more buttons are further configured to activate the haptic mechanism based on an operation of at least one of the one or more buttons.

Methods and systems for a transportation vehicle are provided. One method includes generating a packet by an application executed by a processor of a first seat device of an in-flight entertainment system having a plurality of seat devices on an aircraft; dropping the packet by the seat device when the application is not authorized for Internet communication; dropping the packet by the seat device when the packet is one of a broadcast packet, multicast packet or destined to a second seat device of the in-flight entertainment system; determining that the seat device Internet traffic is below a threshold value; and transmitting the packet to a network device when the application is authorized, and the packet is not a broadcast packet, multicast packet or destined for a second seat device.

An aircraft passenger entertainment device for an aircraft passenger seat is disclosed having a cover member attached to the seat so as to serve as a functional accessory for providing additional functions other than a seating function to the seat; a display screen movably attached to at least one surface of the cover member; and a controller embedded on a surface or inside of the cover member and in communication with the display screen. The cover member is attachable and detachable to a rear facing surface of a backrest of the seat above a passenger knee level.

An assembly for opening or accessing an electronic communication and entertainment device holder for repair or replacement of its contents, including a latch which can be released by the contraction of an attached muscle wire actuator in response to a low current pulse sent by an attached wireless receiver.

A tactile interface including a touch pad and a support, the touch pad being hingedly attached to the support between the extended active position and a retracted inactive position, in which the pad is folded back towards the support wherein the support constitutes a drawer which is movable in a casing between a pulled-out position in which the interface is in the active position and an inserted position in which the interface is in the retracted position.

A method for flight information synchronization using ad hoc networking involves enabling a broadcast of an update to a passenger device from a pilot device, determining an update frequency for the broadcast of the update from one or more network thresholds, and determining to broadcast the update when the broadcast is enabled and one or more broadcast thresholds are satisfied. The method further involves generating the update, which includes an estimated time of arrival (ETA), and broadcasting the update by switching between an infrastructure mode and an ad hoc mode and transmitting the update via the ad hoc mode. The update is received by and displayed on the passenger device.

An aircraft is configured to perform onboard analytics using available onboard systems. The aircraft comprises a cabin and crew network core with a middleware layer comprising an orchestrator configured to send application containers to a number of cabin and crew network smart members to perform the onboard analytics; and the number of cabin and crew network smart members each having a respective edge member daemon, each edge member daemon configured to place a respective cabin and crew network smart member in a joined state with the middleware layer and release resources of the respective cabin and crew network smart member when it leaves a joined state and enters a busy state so that the edge member daemon does not interfere with a primary function of the respective cabin and crew network smart member.

A ventilation control system for controlling airflow in an aircraft cabin includes a plurality of controllable ventilation valves associated with a plurality of passenger seats. User interfaces are arranged to individually control the controllable ventilation valves. A control panel is in communication with the controllable ventilation valves, wherein the control panel is arranged to concurrently control the plurality of controllable ventilation valves.