Patent ID: 6748597
Filing Date: 2004-06-08
Classification: G06Q,H04N

Abstract:
A method for installing and operating an aircraft in-flight entertainment system comprising:installing at least one entertainment source on the aircraft; installing a plurality of signal distribution devices spaced throughout the aircraft, each signal distribution device generating audio signals for at least one passenger in an audio-only mode, and generating audio and video signals for at least one passenger in an audio/video mode; installing a cable network on the aircraft connecting the at least one entertainment source to the signal distribution devices, the cable network comprising common cabling carrying the audio signals for the at least one passenger in the audio-only mode, and carrying the audio and video signals for the at least one passenger in the audio/video mode; operating the aircraft in-flight entertainment system with at least one predetermined signal distribution device in the audio-only mode; and later upgrading the aircraft in-flight entertainment system by connecting at least one passenger video display to the at least one predetermined signal distribution device to operate in the audio/video mode and while leaving the cable network unchanged.