Patent ID: 8326282
Filing Date: 2012-12-04
Classification: B64D,H04B,H04H,H04N,H04W

Abstract:
1. A vehicle information system suitable for installation aboard a passenger vehicle and for supporting broadband communications with a terrestrial content source via a preselected satellite communication system, comprising: a broadband antenna system; an antenna control system for directing said broadband antenna system toward the preselected satellite communication system based upon a comparison of a position of the passenger vehicle with a position of the preselected satellite communication system; a broadband-control system for establishing a bidirectional broadband data connection with the terrestrial content source via said broadband antenna system; a content distribution system for distributing selected viewing content received by said broadband-control system from the terrestrial content source throughout the vehicle information system, said content distribution system including a switching system being segmented into a private switching system for communicating with said broadband control system and a public switching system for communicating with a wireless access point; and an operator device disposed aboard the passenger vehicle for communicating with said broadband control system, wherein a personal media device disposed aboard the passenger vehicle is enabled to securely communicate with the terrestrial content source via said wireless access point, and wherein said switching system prevents unauthorized wireless access to the vehicle information system by unauthorized persons outside of the passenger vehicle.