Patent Publication Number: US-9407034-B2

Title: Communication connector system and method

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/210,652, filed on Sep. 15, 2008, which claims priority to each of the following provisional patent applications: U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/972,383, filed on Sep. 14, 2007; U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/972,648, filed on Sep. 14, 2007; and U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/972,689, filed on Sep. 14, 2007. Priority to each of these patent applications is expressly claimed, and the disclosures of the applications are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties and for all purposes. 
    
    
     CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED NONPROVISIONAL APPLICATIONS 
     The following United States nonprovisional patent applications are fully owned by the assignee of the present application and were filed on the same date as the parent application. The disclosure of the nonprovisional patent applications are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties and for all purposes: 
     “SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INTERFACING A PORTABLE MEDIA DEVICE WITH A VEHICLE INFORMATION SYSTEM,” Ser. No. 12/210,624, filed on Sep. 15, 2008; 
     “MEDIA DEVICE INTERFACE SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR VEHICLE INFORMATION SYSTEMS,” Ser. No. 12/210,636, filed on Sep. 15, 2008; and 
     “PORTABLE USER CONTROL DEVICE AND METHOD FOR VEHICLE INFORMATION SYSTEMS,” Ser. No. 12/210,689, filed on Sep. 15, 2008. 
     FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates generally to interface systems and more particularly, but not exclusively, to communication connector systems suitable, for example, for interfacing personal media devices with vehicle information systems installed aboard passenger vehicles. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Vehicles, such as automobiles and aircraft, often include vehicle information systems for satisfying passenger demand for access to viewing content, such as entertainment, information content, or other viewing content, while traveling. 
     Conventional passenger information (or entertainment) systems typically include overhead cabin video systems or seat-based video systems with individual controls such that viewing content is selectable by the passengers. The viewing content can include audio and video content that is derived from a variety of content sources. Prerecorded viewing content, such as motion pictures and music, can be provided by internal content sources, such as audio and video players, that are installed aboard the vehicle. The conventional passenger information systems likewise can include an antenna system for receiving viewing content, such as live television programming and/or Internet content, transmitted from one or more content providers (or sources) that are external to, and/or remote from, the vehicle. 
     Such conventional passenger information systems, however, suffer from numerous disadvantages. Some passengers find the passenger information systems to be complicated to operate and the viewing content difficult to enjoy. Selection of the viewing content, for example, can prove difficult due to the awkward placement and operation of the user controls. Similarly, the video systems of the passenger information systems typically are located distally from the passenger controls, such as overhead and/or on an opposing seatback. In addition, some or all of the passengers traveling aboard the vehicle can be inhibited from enjoying the viewing content if one or more of the video systems fails. Conventional passenger information systems further require a plurality of interface points and multiple cables, such as left audio, right audio, video, data, and/or power, for communicating with passengers&#39; handheld personal media devices and do not support remote control for these personal media devices. Such system shortcomings are a frequent source of passenger complaints during travel. 
     Further, passenger demand for viewing content is continually evolving. Not only do passengers want to access the most current viewing content, such as live television programming and the latest games, but they also require a more extensive selection of information products and services, such as Internet access and in-transit shopping, to be available. Passengers likewise wish to view their own personally-provided viewing content, such as photo albums and/or music selections, during travel. Conventional passenger information systems, however, are limited by their fixed hardware technology and cannot easily be adapted to accommodate changing passenger viewing content and other information preferences. 
     In view of the foregoing, a need exists for an improved passenger information system and method for integrating passengers&#39; personal media devices into the passenger information system in an effort to overcome the aforementioned obstacles and deficiencies of conventional passenger information systems. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an exemplary top-level drawing illustrating an embodiment of an interface system for interfacing a personal media device with an information system. 
         FIG. 2A  is an exemplary top-level drawing illustrating the information system of  FIG. 1 , wherein the information system comprises a vehicle information system installed aboard an automobile. 
         FIG. 2B  is an exemplary top-level drawing illustrating the vehicle information system of  FIG. 2A , wherein the vehicle information system is installed aboard an aircraft. 
         FIG. 3  is an exemplary detail drawing illustrating one preferred embodiment of a distribution system for the vehicle information systems of  FIGS. 2A-B . 
         FIG. 4A  is an exemplary top-level drawing illustrating a passenger cabin of a vehicle, wherein the vehicle information system of  FIGS. 2A-B  has been installed. 
         FIG. 4B  is an exemplary top-level drawing illustrating an embodiment of the vehicle information system of  FIG. 4A , wherein the vehicle information system is in communication with the personal media device of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is an exemplary top-level drawing illustrating an embodiment of the vehicle information system of  FIGS. 2A-B , wherein the vehicle information system is in communication with an iPod® digital electronic media device. 
         FIG. 6A  is an exemplary detail drawing illustrating an embodiment of an integrated audio/video presentation system for the vehicle information system of  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 6B  is an exemplary detail drawing illustrating an embodiment of the integrated audio/video presentation system of  FIG. 6A , wherein the integrated audio/video presentation system supports selection of viewing content provided by the iPod® digital electronic media device and viewing content provided by the vehicle information system. 
         FIG. 6C  is an exemplary detail drawing illustrating an embodiment of the integrated audio/video presentation system of  FIG. 6B , wherein the integrated audio/video presentation system, upon selection of the viewing content provided by the iPod® digital electronic media device, presents a menu structure of available viewing content from the iPod® digital electronic media device. 
         FIGS. 6D-E  is an exemplary detail drawing illustrating an embodiment of the integrated audio/video presentation system of  FIG. 6C , wherein the menu structure of the available viewing content comprises a hierarchical menu structure. 
         FIG. 6F  is an exemplary detail drawing illustrating an embodiment of the integrated audio/video presentation system of  FIGS. 6B-E , wherein the integrated audio/video presentation system presents the selected viewing content from the iPod® digital electronic media device. 
         FIG. 7A  is an exemplary detail drawing illustrating an embodiment of the integrated audio/video presentation system of  FIGS. 6A-F , wherein the integrated audio/video presentation system includes a break-away communication connector system for coupling a peripheral presentation system with the integrated audio/video presentation system. 
         FIG. 7B  is an exemplary detail drawing illustrating an embodiment of the break-away communication connector system of  FIG. 7A . 
         FIG. 8A  is an exemplary detail drawing illustrating an embodiment of a system contact arrangement of the break-away communication connector system of  FIGS. 7A-B , wherein the system contacts are provided in a concentric (or bull&#39;s eye) contact arrangement. 
         FIG. 8B  is an exemplary detail drawing illustrating an alternative embodiment of the contact arrangement of  FIG. 8A , wherein a spacing between adjacent system contacts is not uniform. 
         FIG. 8C  is an exemplary detail drawing illustrating another alternative embodiment of the contact arrangement of  FIG. 8A , wherein the system contacts are provided as semicircles. 
         FIG. 8D  is an exemplary detail drawing illustrating an alternative embodiment of the contact arrangement of  FIG. 8C , wherein a spacing between adjacent system contacts is not uniform. 
         FIG. 8E  is an exemplary detail drawing illustrating another alternative embodiment of the contact arrangement of  FIG. 8A , wherein the system contacts include an arrangement of straight system contacts. 
         FIG. 8F  is an exemplary detail drawing illustrating another alternative embodiment of the contact arrangement of  FIG. 8A , wherein the system contacts include an arrangement of round contacts. 
         FIG. 8G  is an exemplary detail drawing illustrating another alternative embodiment of the contact arrangement of  FIG. 8A , wherein the system contacts include an arrangement of pie-shaped contacts. 
         FIG. 9  is an exemplary detail drawing illustrating an embodiment of a hardware architecture for implementing the integrated audio/video presentation system of  FIG. 6A . 
         FIG. 10  is an exemplary detail drawing illustrating an embodiment of a software architecture for implementing the integrated audio/video presentation system of  FIG. 6A . 
     
    
    
     It should be noted that the figures are not drawn to scale and that elements of similar structures or functions are generally represented by like reference numerals for illustrative purposes throughout the figures. It also should be noted that the figures are only intended to facilitate the description of the preferred embodiments. The figures do not illustrate every aspect of the described embodiments and do not limit the scope of the present disclosure. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Since currently-available passenger information systems are complicated to operate, limited by fixed hardware technology, and cannot easily be adapted to accommodate changing passenger viewing content and other information preferences, an information system that includes at least one communication interface for enabling communication with a personal media device can prove desirable and provide a basis for a wide range of system applications, such as vehicle information systems for use aboard automobiles, aircraft, and other types of vehicles during travel. This result can be achieved, according to one embodiment disclosed herein, by an information system  100  as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
     Turning to  FIG. 1 , the information system  100  is shown as being configured for use with a personal (or portable) media device  200 . The information system  100  supports a simple manner for permitting the personal media device  200  to be seamlessly integrated with the information system  100 , immersing a user (or passenger)  700  (shown in  FIG. 6B ) in a rich and intuitive media environment. When the personal media device  200  and the information system  100  are coupled, viewing content  210  from the personal media device  200  can be integrated “on the fly” into the information system  100  via an interactive audio/video presentation system  600  (shown in  FIGS. 6A-F ). The audio/video presentation system  600  can be provided with any suitable branding indicia. The information system  100  thereby provides the user  700  with an ability to switch easily between viewing content  210  provided by the information system  100  and the viewing content  210  from the personal media device  200 . 
     Operation of the personal media device  200  can be controlled in any conventional manner, including directly via a user control system  260  (shown in  FIG. 5 ) of the personal media device  200  and/or indirectly via an input system  366  (shown in  FIGS. 4A-B ) associated with the information system  100 . Viewing content  210  thereby can be selected from audio and/or video viewing content stored internally within the personal media device  200  and can be communicated from the personal media device  200  to the information system  100  for presentation via a video presentation system  362  (shown in  FIGS. 4A-B ) and/or an audio presentation system  364  (shown in  FIGS. 4A-B ) of the information system  100 . The personal media device  200  likewise can exchange control signals (or commands)  220 , such as user control signals (or user control instructions)  230  (shown in  FIGS. 4A-B ), with, and/or receive operating power  220 P (shown in  FIGS. 7A-B ) from, the information system  100 . Thereby, the user  700  can advantageously enjoy his own personal viewing content  210  from the personal media device  200  via the larger video presentation system  362  and/or the enhanced audio presentation system  364  of the information system  100 , while an internal battery system (not shown) of the personal media device  200  is being recharged. 
     The personal media device  200  can store the audio and/or video viewing content  210  and can be provided as a handheld device, such as a laptop computer, a palmtop computer, a personal digital assistant (PDA), cellular telephone, and/or a MPEG Audio Layer 3 (MP3) device. Illustrative personal media devices  200  are shown and described in the co-pending U.S. patent applications, entitled “SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DOWNLOADING FILES,” Ser. No. 10/772,565, filed on Feb. 4, 2004; entitled “PORTABLE MEDIA DEVICE AND METHOD FOR PRESENTING VIEWING CONTENT DURING TRAVEL,” Ser. No. 11/154,749, filed on Jun. 15, 2005; and entitled “SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR RECEIVING BROADCAST CONTENT ON A MOBILE PLATFORM DURING INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL,” Ser. No. 11/269,378, filed on Nov. 7, 2005, which are assigned to the assignee of the present application and the respective disclosures of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. Preferably, the personal media device  200  is provided as an iPod® digital electronic media device and/or an iPhone® digital electronic media device each as manufactured by Apple Computer, Inc., of Cupertino, Calif. 
     The viewing content  210  can comprise any conventional type of audio and/or video viewing content, such as stored (or time-delayed) viewing content and/or live (or real-time) viewing content, in the manner set forth in the above-referenced co-pending U.S. patent applications, entitled “SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DOWNLOADING FILES,” Ser. No. 10/772,565, filed on Feb. 4, 2004; entitled “PORTABLE MEDIA DEVICE AND METHOD FOR PRESENTING VIEWING CONTENT DURING TRAVEL,” Ser. No. 11/154,749, filed on Jun. 15, 2005; and entitled “SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR RECEIVING BROADCAST CONTENT ON A MOBILE PLATFORM DURING INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL,” Ser. No. 11/269,378, filed on Nov. 7, 2005. Exemplary viewing content  210  can include television programming content, music content, podcast content, photograph album content, audiobook content, movie content, and/or game content without limitation. 
     As desired, the viewing content  210  can include geographical information in the manner set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 6,661,353, entitled “METHOD FOR DISPLAYING INTERACTIVE FLIGHT MAP INFORMATION,” which is assigned to the assignee of the present application and the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Alternatively, and/or additionally, to entertainment content, such as live satellite television programming and/or live satellite radio programming, the viewing content likewise can include two-way communications, such as real-time access to the Internet  310 C (shown in  FIG. 2B ) and/or telecommunications in the manner set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 5,568,484, entitled “TELECOMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR USE ON COMMERCIAL AIRCRAFT AND OTHER VEHICLES,” which is assigned to the assignee of the present application and the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. The exemplary viewing content as shown and described herein are not exhaustive and are provided herein for purposes of illustration only and not for purposes of limitation. 
     Although the information system  100  can be disposed in a fixed location, such as a building, the information system  100  likewise can advantageously be applied in portable system applications. Turning to  FIGS. 2A-B , the information system  100  is shown as comprising a vehicle information system  300  that can be configured for installation aboard a wide variety of vehicles  390 . Exemplary types of vehicles can include an automobile  390 A (shown in  FIG. 2A ), an aircraft  390 B (shown in  FIG. 2B ), a bus, a recreational vehicle, a boat, and/or a locomotive, or any other type of passenger vehicle without limitation. If installed on an aircraft  390 B as illustrated in  FIG. 2B , for example, the vehicle information system  300  can comprise a conventional aircraft passenger in-flight entertainment system, such as the Series 2000, 3000, eFX, and/or eX2 in-flight entertainment system as manufactured by Panasonic Avionics Corporation (formerly known as Matsushita Avionics Systems Corporation) of Lake Forest, Calif. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2A-B , the vehicle information system  300  comprises at least one conventional content source  310  and one or more user (or passenger) interface systems  360  that communicate via a real-time content distribution system  320 . Each content source  310  can be provided in the manner set forth in the co-pending U.S. patent applications, entitled “SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DOWNLOADING FILES,” Ser. No. 10/772,565, filed on Feb. 4, 2004; entitled “SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MANAGING CONTENT ON MOBILE PLATFORMS,” Ser. No. 11/123,327, filed on May 6, 2005; entitled “PORTABLE MEDIA DEVICE AND METHOD FOR PRESENTING VIEWING CONTENT DURING TRAVEL,” Ser. No. 11/154,749, filed on Jun. 15, 2005; and entitled “SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR RECEIVING BROADCAST CONTENT ON A MOBILE PLATFORM DURING INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL,” Ser. No. 11/269,378, filed on Nov. 7, 2005, which are assigned to the assignee of the present application and the respective disclosures of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. 
     The content sources  310  can include one or more internal content sources, such as server system  310 A, that are installed aboard the vehicle  390  and/or remote (or terrestrial) content sources  310 B that can be external from the vehicle  390 . The server system  310 A can be provided as an information system controller for providing overall system control functions for the vehicle information system  300  and/or at least one media (or file) server system, as illustrated in  FIGS. 2A-B ), for storing preprogrammed content and/or downloaded viewing content  210 D, as desired. The server system  310 A can include, and/or communicate with, one or more conventional peripheral media storage systems (not shown), including optical media devices, such as a digital video disk (DVD) system or a compact disk (CD) system, and/or magnetic media systems, such as a video cassette recorder (VCR) system or a hard disk drive (HDD) system, of any suitable kind, for storing the preprogrammed content and/or the downloaded viewing content  210 D. 
     Being configured to distribute and/or present the viewing content  210  provided by one or more selected content sources  310 , the vehicle information system  300  can communicate with the content sources  310  in real time and in any conventional manner, including via wired and/or wireless communications. The vehicle information system  300  and the terrestrial content source  310 B, for example, can communicate in any conventional wireless manner, including directly and/or indirectly via an intermediate communication system  370 , such as a satellite communication system  370 A. The vehicle information system  300  thereby can receive download viewing content  210 D from a selected terrestrial content source  310 B and/or transmit upload viewing content  210 U, including navigation and other control instructions, to the terrestrial content source  310 B. As desired, the terrestrial content source  310 B can be configured to communicate with other terrestrial content sources (not shown). The terrestrial content source  310 B is shown in  FIG. 2B  as providing access to the Internet  310 C. Although shown and described as comprising the satellite communication system  370 A for purposes of illustration, it is understood that the communication system  370  can comprise any conventional type of wireless communication system, such as a cellular communication system (not shown) and/or an Aircraft Ground Information System (AGIS) communication system (not shown). 
     To facilitate communications with the terrestrial content sources  310 B, the vehicle information system  300  can include an antenna system  330  and a transceiver system  340  for receiving the viewing content from the remote (or terrestrial) content sources  310 B as shown in  FIGS. 2A-B . The antenna system  330  preferably is disposed outside the vehicle  390 , such as an exterior surface  394  of a fuselage  392  of the aircraft  390 B. The antenna system  330  can receive viewing content  210  from the terrestrial content source  310 B and provide the received viewing content  210 , as processed by the transceiver system  340 , to a computer system  350  of the vehicle information system  300 . The computer system  350  can provide the received viewing content  210  to the media server system  310 A and/or to one or more of the user interfaces  360 , as desired. Although shown and described as being separate systems for purposes of illustration, the computer system  350  and the media server system  310 A can be at least partially integrated. 
     The vehicle information system elements, including the content sources  310  and the user interface systems  360 , are shown in  FIGS. 2A-B  as communicating via the content distribution system  320 .  FIG. 3  illustrates an exemplary content distribution system  320  for the vehicle information system  300 . The content distribution system  320  of  FIG. 3  couples, and supports communication between a headend system  310 H, which includes the content sources  310 , and the plurality of user interface systems  360 . The distribution system  320  as shown in  FIG. 3  is provided in the manner set forth co-pending U.S. patent application, entitled “SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ROUTING COMMUNICATION SIGNALS VIA A DATA DISTRIBUTION NETWORK,” Ser. No. 11/277,896, filed on Mar. 29, 2006, and in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,596,647, 5,617,331, and 5,953,429, each entitled “INTEGRATED VIDEO AND AUDIO SIGNAL DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR USE ON COMMERCIAL AIRCRAFT AND OTHER VEHICLES,” which are assigned to the assignee of the present application and the respective disclosures of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. 
     As desired, the distribution system  320  likewise can include a network management system (not shown) provided in the manner set forth in co-pending U.S. patent applications, entitled “SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR IMPROVING NETWORK RELIABILITY,” Ser. No. 10/773,523, filed on Feb. 6, 2004, and entitled “SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR IMPROVING NETWORK RELIABILITY,” Ser. No. 11/086,510, filed on Mar. 21, 2005, which are assigned to the assignee of the present application and the respective disclosures of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the distribution system  320  can be provided as a plurality of area distribution boxes (ADBs)  322 , a plurality of floor disconnect boxes (FDBs)  323 , and a plurality of seat electronics boxes (SEBs) (and/or premium seat electronics boxes (PSEBs))  324  being configured to communicate in real time via a plurality of wired and/or wireless communication connections  325 . The distribution system  320  likewise can include a switching system  321  for providing an interface between the distribution system  320  and the headend system  310 H. The switching system  321  can comprise a conventional switching system, such as an Ethernet switching system, and is configured to couple the headend system  310 H with the area distribution boxes  322 . Each of the area distribution boxes  322  is coupled with, and communicates with, the switching system  321 . 
     Each of the area distribution boxes  322 , in turn, is coupled with, and communicates with, at least one floor disconnect box  323 . Although the area distribution boxes  322  and the associated floor disconnect boxes  323  can be coupled in any conventional configuration, the associated floor disconnect boxes  323  preferably are disposed in a star network topology about a central area distribution box  322  as illustrated in  FIG. 3 . Each floor disconnect box  323  is coupled with, and services, a plurality of daisy-chains of seat electronics boxes  324 . The seat electronics boxes  324 , in turn, are configured to communicate with the user interface systems  360 . Each seat electronics box  324  can support one or more of the user interface systems  360 . 
     As desired, the floor disconnect boxes  323  advantageously can be provided as routing systems and/or interconnected in the manner set forth in the above-referenced co-pending United States patent application, entitled “SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ROUTING COMMUNICATION SIGNALS VIA A DATA DISTRIBUTION NETWORK,” Ser. No. 11/277,896, filed on Mar. 29, 2006. The distribution system  320  can include at least one FDB internal port bypass connection  325 A and/or at least one SEB loopback connection  325 B. Each FDB internal port bypass connection  325 A is a communication connection  325  that permits floor disconnect boxes  323  associated with different area distribution boxes  322  to directly communicate. Each SEB loopback connection  325 B is a communication connection  325  that directly couples the last seat electronics box  324  in each daisy-chain of seat electronics boxes  324  for a selected floor disconnect box  323  as shown in  FIG. 3 . Each SEB loopback connection  325 B therefore forms a loopback path among the daisy-chained seat electronics boxes  324  coupled with the relevant floor disconnect box  323 . 
     Returning to  FIGS. 2A-B , the user interface systems  360  are provided for selecting viewing content  210  and for presenting the selected viewing content  210 . As desired, the user interface systems  360  can comprise conventional passenger interfaces and can be provided in the manner set forth in the above-referenced co-pending U.S. patent application, entitled “PORTABLE MEDIA DEVICE AND METHOD FOR PRESENTING VIEWING CONTENT DURING TRAVEL,” Ser. No. 11/154,749, filed on Jun. 15, 2005, as well as in the manner set forth in the co-pending U.S. patent application, entitled “SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PRESENTING HIGH-QUALITY VIDEO TO PASSENGERS ON A MOBILE PLATFORM,” Ser. No. 60/673,171, filed on Apr. 19, 2005, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
       FIG. 4A  provides a view of a passenger cabin  380  of a passenger vehicle  390 , such as the automobile  390 A (shown in  FIG. 2A ) and/or the aircraft  390 B (shown in  FIG. 2B ), aboard which the vehicle information system  300  has been installed. The passenger cabin  380  is illustrated as including a plurality of passenger seats  382 , and each passenger seat  382  is associated with a selected user interface system  360 . Each user interface system  360  can include a video interface system  362  and/or an audio interface system  364 . Exemplary video interface systems  362  can include overhead cabin display systems  362 A with central controls, seatback display systems  362 B or armrest display systems (not shown) each with individualized controls, crew display panels, and/or handheld presentation systems. The audio interface systems  364  can be provided in any conventional manner, including an overhead speaker system  364 A, the handheld presentation systems, and/or headphones coupled with an audio jack provided, for example, at an armrest  388  of the passenger seat  382 . A speaker system likewise can be associated with the passenger seat  382 , such as a speaker system  364 B disposed within a base  384 B of the passenger seat  382  and/or a speaker system  364 C disposed within a headrest  384 C of the passenger seat  382 . In a preferred embodiment, the audio interface system  364  can include an optional noise-cancellation system for further improving sound quality produced by the audio interface system  364 . 
     The video interface systems  362  and the audio interface systems  364  can be installed at any suitable cabin surface, such as a seatback  386 , wall  396 , ceiling, and/or bulkhead, or an armrest  388  of a passenger seat  382  in any conventional manner including via a mounting system  363  provided in the manner set forth co-pending U.S. patent applications, entitled “SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MOUNTING USER INTERFACE DEVICES,” Ser. No. 11/828,193, filed on Jul. 25, 2007, and entitled “USER INTERFACE DEVICE AND METHOD FOR PRESENTING VIEWING CONTENT,” Ser. No. 11/835,371, filed on Aug. 7, 2007, which are assigned to the assignee of the present application and the respective disclosures of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. 
     As shown in  FIG. 4A , the user interface system  360  likewise can include an input system  366  for permitting the user (or passenger)  700  (shown in  FIG. 6B ) to communicate with the vehicle information system  300 , such as via an exchange of control signals  220 . For example, the input system  366  can permit the user  700  to enter one or more user instructions  230  for controlling the operation of the vehicle information system  300 . Illustrative user instructions  230  can include instructions for initiating communication with the content source  310 , instructions for selecting viewing content  210  for presentation, and/or instructions for controlling the presentation of the selected viewing content  210 . If a fee is required for accessing the viewing content  210 , payment information likewise can be entered via the input system  366 . 
     The input system  366  can be provided in any conventional manner and typically includes one or more switches (or pushbuttons), such as a keyboard or a keypad, and/or a pointing device, such as a mouse, trackball, or stylus. As desired, the input system  366  can be at least partially integrated with, and/or separable from, the associated video interface system  362  and/or audio interface system  364 . For example, the video interface system  362  and the input system  366  can be provided as a touchscreen display system. The input system  366  likewise can include one or more input ports (not shown) for coupling a peripheral input device (not shown), such as a full-size computer keyboard, an external mouse, and/or a game pad, with the vehicle information system  300 . 
     Preferably, at least one of the user interface systems  360  includes a wired and/or wireless access point  368 , such as a conventional communication port (or connector), for coupling a personal media device  200  (shown in  FIG. 4B ) with the vehicle information system  300 . Passengers (not shown) who are traveling aboard the vehicle  390  thereby can enjoy personally-selected viewing content during travel. The access point  368  is located proximally to an associated passenger seat  382  and can be provided at any suitable cabin surface, such as a seatback  386 , wall  396 , ceiling, and/or bulkhead. 
     Turning to  FIG. 4B , the personal media devices  200  and the vehicle information system  300  are shown as communicating via respective access points  368 . Being provided in the manner set forth above with reference to  FIG. 1 , the illustrated personal media devices  200  each include a video display system  240  for visually presenting the viewing content  210  and an audio system  250  for audibly presenting the viewing content  210 . Each personal media device  200  can include a user control system  260 , which can be provided in any conventional manner and typically includes one or more switches (or pushbuttons), such as a keyboard or a keypad, and/or a pointing device, such as a mouse, trackball, or stylus. The personal media devices  200  thereby can select desired viewing content  210  and control the manner in which the selected viewing content  210  is received and/or presented. 
     The personal media devices  200  likewise include a communication port (or connector)  270 . The communication port  270  enables the personal media devices  200  to communicate with the vehicle information system  300  via the access points  368  of the user interface systems  360 . As illustrated with personal media device  200 A, the communication port  270  and the access points  368  can supported wireless communications; whereas, support for wired communications between the communication port  270  and the access points  368  via a communication cable assembly  500  is shown with personal media device  200 B. When the communication port  270  and the access points  368  are in communication, the vehicle information system  300  supports a simple manner for permitting the associated personal media device  200  to be integrated with the vehicle information system  300  using a user-friendly communication interface. 
     When the personal media device  200  and the vehicle information system  300  are in communication, the vehicle information system  300  can perform a plurality of integration tasks simultaneously, enabling the personal media device  200  to become fully integrated with the vehicle information system  300  via a selected access point  368 . The system elements of the vehicle information system  300  and the personal media device  200  thereby become interchangeable. The personal media device  200  likewise can receive control signals (or commands)  220  and/or operating power  220 P from the vehicle information system  300 . Thereby, the personal media device  200  advantageously can become a seamless part of the vehicle information system  300 . 
     For example, user instructions  230  (shown in  FIGS. 2A-B ) for controlling the operation of the vehicle information system  300  can be provided via the input system  366  of the vehicle information system  300  and/or the user control system  260  of the personal media device  200 . In other words, the input system  366  of the vehicle information system  300  and/or the user control system  260  of the personal media device  200  can be used to select viewing content  210  and control the manner in which the selected viewing content  210  is received and/or presented. The selected viewing content  210  can be provided by a relevant content source  310  (shown in  FIGS. 2A-B ) of the vehicle information system  300  and/or by storage media (not shown) disposed within the personal media device  200 . A video portion of the selected viewing content  210  thereby can be presented via the video presentation system  362  of the vehicle information system  300  and/or the video display system  240  of the personal media device  200 . The audio presentation system  364  of the vehicle information system  300  and/or the audio system  250  of the personal media device  200  can be used to present an audio portion of the selected viewing content  210 . If the video display system  240  of the personal media device  200  is much smaller than the video presentation system  362  of the vehicle information system  300 , a passenger may prefer to view the selected viewing content  210  via the larger video presentation system  362 . 
     When no longer in use and/or direct physical contact with the personal media device  200  is not otherwise required, the personal media device  200  can be stored at the passenger seat  382 . For example, the passenger seat  382  can include a storage compartment  389  for providing storage of the personal media device  200 . The storage compartment  389  can be provided in any conventional manner and at any suitable portion of the passenger seat  382 . As illustrated with passenger seat  382 B, the personal media device  200  can be placed in a storage pocket  389 B formed in the armrest  388  of the passenger seat  382 B. The storage compartment  389  likewise can be provided on the seatback  386  and/or the headrest  384  of the passenger seat  382 . Storage compartment  389 A of passenger seat  382 A, for example, is shown as being formed on the lower seatback  386  of the passenger seat  382 A. As desired, the storage compartment  389  can comprise an overhead storage compartment, a door storage compartment, a storage compartment provided underneath the passenger seat  382 , or any other type of conventional storage compartment, such as a glove compartment, trunk, or closet, available in the passenger vehicle  390 . 
     As set forth in more detail above, the vehicle information system  300  can communicate with the personal media device  200  in any conventional wired and/or wireless manner. If the personal media device  200  comprises an iPod® digital electronic media device  200 ′, for example, the vehicle information system  300  and the iPod® digital electronic media device  200 ′ can communicate in the manner illustrated in  FIG. 5 . Exemplary manners for establishing communication between the vehicle information system  300  and the iPod® digital electronic media device  200 ′ are shown and described in the above-referenced “SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INTERFACING A PORTABLE MEDIA DEVICE WITH A PASSENGER INFORMATION SYSTEM,” Ser. No. 12/210,624, filed on Sep. 15, 2008. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates an exemplary communication cable assembly  500  for supporting wired communications between the vehicle information system  300  and the iPod® digital electronic media device  200 ′. The communication cable assembly  500  can comprise a conventional communication assembly, having a communication cable  510  with a suitable cable length and being terminated with two or more communication connectors (or ports)  520 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , the communication cable  510  is terminated with a system communication connector (or port)  520 A for removably coupling with the vehicle information system  300  and a device communication connector (or port)  520 B for removably coupling with the iPod® digital electronic media device  200 ′. The system communication connector  520 A and the device communication connector  520 B each can comprise any conventional type of connector system. Although shown and described as being provided on respective opposite end regions  510 A,  510 B of the communication cable assembly  500  for purposes of illustration only, the system and device communication connectors  520 A,  520 B can be provided the communication cable assembly  500  in any conventional manner. 
     In the manner set forth above, the communication cable assembly  500  can be utilized to transmit a variety of diverse signal types, such as audio signals, video signals, data signals, control signals, and power signals. The communication cable  510  preferably is provided in a manner to minimize interference (or crosstalk) among these diverse signals. The access point  368  of the vehicle information system  300  can be provided as a communication connector (or port) that is configured to cooperate with the system communication connector  520 A. The access point  368  thereby can receive, and couple with, the system communication connector  520 A. As desired, the system communication connector  520 A likewise can be removed (or disconnected) from the access point  368 . 
     If the personal media device  200  comprises an iPod® digital electronic media device  200 ′ as shown in  FIG. 5 , the device communication connector  520 B of the communication cable assembly  500  can comprise a thirty-pin connector suitable for being received by, and removably coupling with, the communication connector  270  of the iPod® digital electronic media device  200 ′. In other words, the device communication connector  520 B of the communication cable assembly  500  can cooperate with the communication connector  270  of the iPod® digital electronic media device  200 ′. The iPod® digital electronic media device  200 ′ is shown as including a video display system  240 , an audio system  250 , and a user control system  260  each being provided in the manner set forth in more detail above with reference to  FIG. 4B . As shown in  FIG. 5 , the audio system  250  of the iPod® digital electronic media device  200 ′ includes at least one audio jack for receiving a headset (not shown). The iPod® digital electronic media device  200 ′ thereby can exchange control signals (or commands)  220  for selecting desired viewing content  210  and/or controlling the manner in which the selected viewing content  210  is received and/or presented. The iPod® digital electronic media device  200 ′ likewise is shown as receiving the operating power  220 P from, the vehicle information system  300 . 
     When the iPod® digital electronic media device  200 ′ and the vehicle information system  300  are coupled via the communication cable assembly  500 , the viewing content  210 , including any onboard service and local viewing content, can be selected by the user control system  260  of the iPod® digital electronic media device  200 ′ for presentation on the video display system  240  and/or the audio system  250  of the iPod® digital electronic media device  200 ′. The user control system  260  of the iPod® digital electronic media device  200 ′ likewise can select viewing content  210  provided by the iPod® digital electronic media device  200 ′ for presentation. Since the video display system  240  of the iPod® digital electronic media device  200 ′ typically is much smaller than the video presentation system  362  of the vehicle information system  300 , a user (or passenger)  700  (shown in  FIG. 6B ) may prefer to view the selected viewing content  210  via the larger video presentation system  362 . If the audio presentation system  364  of the vehicle information system  300  includes a sound enhancement system (not shown), such as an optional noise-cancellation system, for further improving sound quality produced by the audio interface system  364 , the passenger  700  can elect to listen to the selected viewing content  210  via the audio presentation system  364  rather than via the audio system  250  of the iPod® digital electronic media device  200 ′. 
     Alternatively, and/or additionally, the input system  366  of the vehicle information system  300  can enable selection of the viewing content  210  from the vehicle information system  300  and/or the iPod® digital electronic media device  200 ′ for presentation. The input system  366  likewise can control the presentation of the selected viewing content  210  in the manner discussed above. In other words, the input system  366  can provide control signals (or commands)  220 , such as user control signals (or user control instructions)  230 , to the vehicle information system  300  and/or the iPod® digital electronic media device  200 ′. When in communication with the vehicle information system  300  and controlled by the input system  366 , the iPod® digital electronic media device  200 ′ may be conveniently stored in the storage compartment  389  (shown in  FIGS. 4A-B ) provided at the passenger seat  382  (shown in  FIGS. 4A-B ) while the vehicle information system  300  continues to communicate with the iPod® digital electronic media device  200 ′ via the access point  368 . Advantageously, the viewing content  210  provided by the iPod® digital electronic media device  200 ′ can be viewed via the video presentation system  362  and/or the audio presentation system  364  of the vehicle information system  300  while the iPod® digital electronic media device  200 ′ is safely stowed in the storage compartment  389 . 
     Turning to  FIGS. 6A-F , the video presentation system  362 , the audio presentation system  364 , and/or the input system  366  of the vehicle information system  300  can be provided as an integrated audio/video presentation system  600 . In other words, the video presentation system  362  can include a viewing screen  610  disposed on the integrated audio/video presentation system  600 , and one or more audio ports (or connectors or jacks)  620  (or internal speaker systems) are provided on the integrated audio/video presentation system  600  as the audio presentation system  364 . Thereby, when the vehicle information system  300  is in communication with the iPod® digital electronic media device  200 ′ (shown in  FIG. 5 ), selected viewing content  210  (shown in  FIGS. 2A-B ) provided by the iPod® digital electronic media device  200 ′ can be presented via the viewing screen  610  and/or the audio jacks  620  of the integrated audio/video presentation system  600 . As desired, the integrated audio/video presentation system  600  likewise can include one or more other types of ports (or connectors or jacks) (not shown) for communicating with a peripheral video presentation system and/or a handheld user control system. 
     The integrated audio/video presentation system  600  preferably provides enhanced viewing content presentation capabilities. For example, the viewing screen  610  can be provided as a high-resolution viewing screen  610  with a screen size that is larger than a screen size of the video display system  240  (shown in  FIG. 5 ) of the iPod® digital electronic media device  200 ′ (shown in  FIG. 5 ). Alternatively, and/or additionally, the audio presentation system  364  of the integrated audio/video presentation system  600  can include a conventional noise-cancellation system (not shown) for further improving sound quality of the viewing content  210 . 
     The integrated audio/video presentation system  600  likewise can be associated with the input system  366  for selecting the viewing content  210  available from the iPod® digital electronic media device  200 ′ and/or controlling the manner by which the selected viewing content  210  is presented by the integrated audio/video presentation system  600 . As desired, the video presentation system  362 , the audio presentation system  364 , and/or the input system  366  of the integrated audio/video presentation system  600  can be at least partially integrated. The video presentation system  362  and the input system  366  of the integrated audio/video presentation system  600 , for example, can include a touchscreen display system. Although a conventional touchscreen display system can be incorporated into the integrated audio/video presentation system  600 , conventional touchscreen display systems can prove difficult to configure for use with the vehicle information system  300  and can have reliability issues. 
     The touchscreen display system, for example, can employ capacitive touchscreen technology. Exemplary capacitive touchscreen display systems are manufactured by Trident Ltd. of Surrey, United Kingdom, Elo TouchSystems Inc., of Menlo Park, Calif., and TouchKO Inc., of Cedar Park, Tex. If the color mask of the touchscreen display system is disposed between the touchscreen panel and the display, a surface capacitive touchscreen display system may be employed. Although shown and described as comprising capacitive touchscreen technology for purposes of illustration only, the touchscreen display system can be provided using other touchscreen technologies, such as resistive touchscreen technology and/or infrared (IR) touchscreen technology. 
     As desired, the viewing screen  610  and the audio jacks  620  (or internal speaker systems) of the integrated audio/video presentation system  600  can be mounted in a coplanar arrangement. In other words, the audio jacks  620  (or internal speaker systems) can be mounted flush with the viewing screen  610  on the integrated audio/video presentation system  600 . At least one opening (not shown) can be formed in the viewing screen  610  of the integrated audio/video presentation system  600  for receiving the audio jacks  620  (or internal speaker systems). The audio jacks  620  (or internal speaker systems) thereby can be received by and/or disposed within the opening. Application of surface acoustical wave (SAW) technology can further ensure that the viewing screen  610  operates properly after the opening is formed. A capacitive touchscreen display system advantageously can be provided with sufficient power to work through the opening and/or a film overlay (not shown). The film overlay can be disposed on the capacitive touchscreen display system in any convention manner, including behind, or in front of, the touchscreen panel. 
       FIG. 6A  shows that the input system  366  of the integrated audio/video presentation system  600  can include one or more user controls that are provided in any suitable arrangement. For instance, the input system  366  can include a video control system  630  for controlling the playback of the viewing content  210  (shown in  FIGS. 2A-B ), such as via a conventional scroll bar  210 S (shown in  FIG. 6F ). An exemplary audio control system  640  of the input system  366  is shown as being a volume control system with a first button  640 A for increasing the volume of an audio portion of the viewing content  210  and/or a second button  640 B for decreasing the volume of the audio portion. As desired, the input system  366  of the integrated audio/video presentation system  600  can include at least one other user controls. The integrated audio/video presentation system  600  of  FIG. 6A  is shown as having a power control system  650 , such as an on/off button. If installed aboard a passenger vehicle, the integrated audio/video presentation system  600  likewise can include an onboard services control system  655  for controlling one or more onboard passenger services. The onboard services control system  655  is illustrated in  FIG. 6A  as including a flight attendant call button  655 A, a cancel flight attendant call button  655 B, and/or a seat lighting system control button  655 C. 
     Viewing content  210  (shown in  FIGS. 2A-B ) available on the vehicle information system  300  as well as viewing content  210  available from any connected personal media devices  200  and/or iPod® digital electronic media devices  200 ′ (shown in  FIG. 5 ) can be selected for presentation in any conventional manner. Since the personal media devices  200 , such as iPod® digital electronic media devices  200 ′, typically include personally-provided viewing content, the viewing content  210  provided by a selected personal media device  200  preferably is only available at the associated passenger seat  382  (shown in  FIGS. 4A-B ) within a vehicle  390  (shown in  FIGS. 2A-B ) to protect the privacy of the passenger (or user)  700  (shown in  FIG. 7B ). The viewing content  210  provided by the selected personal media device  200 , however, can be made available at other passenger seats  382  within the vehicle  390 , as desired. For example, if two or more passengers  700  are traveling in a group, the passengers in the group may wish to share the viewing content  210  from their personal media devices  200  with each other via the vehicle information system  300 . Accordingly, a passenger  700  can elect to make the viewing content  210  on his personal media device  200  available to one or more selected passengers  700  (or selected passenger seats  382 ) via the vehicle information system  300  during travel. 
     The integrated audio/video presentation system  600 , for example, can present a menu system for selecting viewing content  210  (shown in  FIGS. 2A-B ) available on the vehicle information system  300  for presentation. In one embodiment, the menu system can comprise a hierarchical (or sequential) menu system. Turning to  FIG. 6B , the integrated audio/video presentation system  600  can present a content menu system  660  that includes a listing of a plurality of content indicia  665  associated with various types of viewing content  210  and/or types of content sources  310  (shown in  FIGS. 2A-B ) associated with the vehicle information system  300 . Exemplary types of content indicia  665  can include shopping content indicia  665 A, at least one iPod® digital electronic media device content indicia  665 B, and/or television/film content indicia  665 C. 
     As shown in  FIG. 6B , the content indicia  665  can identify the available viewing content  210  in any conventional manner, including use of text, such as words or abbreviations, and/or at least one symbol that identify the available viewing content  210 . The textual description can be provided in one or more relevant languages and preferably is changeable such that a suitable language is presented based upon the geographical location of the vehicle information system  300 . The user  700  can navigate the content menu system  660  via the input system  366  (shown in  FIG. 6A ), such as the touchscreen display system, of the integrated audio/video presentation system  600  and thereby can select a relevant type of viewing content  210  and/or content source  310  by selecting (or activating) the associated content indicia  665  via the input system  366  (shown in  FIG. 6A ) of the integrated audio/video presentation system  600 . 
     If the iPod® digital electronic media device content indicia  665 B (shown in  FIG. 6B ) is activated, the integrated audio/video presentation system  600  can present an iPod® content menu system  670  as illustrated in  FIG. 6C . The iPod® content menu system  670  is shown as including a listing of a plurality of iPod® content indicia  675  associated with various types of viewing content  210  (shown in  FIGS. 2A-B ) available from the relevant iPod® digital electronic media device  200 ′ (shown in  FIG. 5 ), which is in communication with the vehicle information system  300 . Exemplary types of iPod® content indicia  675  can include iPod® music content indicia  675 A, iPod® photographic content indicia  675 B, iPod® video content indicia  675 C, and/or iPod® extras content indicia  675 D. 
     Preferably, the vehicle information system  300  downloads a viewing content menu structure from the iPod® digital electronic media device  200 ′, and the integrated audio/video presentation system  600  generates the iPod® content menu system  670  based upon the iPod® viewing content menu structure. The iPod® content menu system  670  thereby can include additional iPod® content indicia  675  for other iPod® digital electronic media device options, such as iPod® settings indicia  675 E and/or iPod® shuffle songs indicia  675 F. The user  700  can navigate the iPod® content menu system  670  via the input system  366  of the integrated audio/video presentation system  600  and thereby can select a relevant type of iPod® viewing content  210  by selecting (or activating) the associated iPod® content indicia  675  via the input system  366  (shown in  FIG. 6A ) of the integrated audio/video presentation system  600 . 
       FIG. 6D  shows an iPod® video content menu system  680  as presented by the integrated audio/video presentation system  600  once the iPod® video content indicia  675 C (shown in  FIG. 6C ) is activated. The iPod® video content menu system  680  can include a listing of a plurality of iPod® video content indicia  685  associated with various types of video viewing content  210  (shown in  FIGS. 2A-B ) available from the relevant iPod® digital electronic media device  200 ′ (shown in  FIG. 5 ). As illustrated in  FIG. 6D , the iPod® video content indicia  685  of the iPod® video content menu system  680  can include iPod® movie content indicia  685 B, iPod® music video content indicia  685 C, iPod® television programming content indicia  685 D, and/or iPod® video podcast content indicia  685 E. 
     Since the vehicle information system  300  preferably downloads the viewing content menu structure from the iPod® digital electronic media device  200 ′, the integrated audio/video presentation system  600  can generate the iPod® video content menu system  680  based upon the iPod® viewing content menu structure. Thereby, the iPod® video content menu system  680  can include additional iPod® video content indicia  685  for other iPod® digital electronic media device options, such as iPod® video playlist indicia  675 F and/or iPod® video settings indicia  685 F. In the manner set forth above, the iPod® video content menu system  680  can be navigated via the input system  366  of the integrated audio/video presentation system  600 , and a relevant type of video viewing content  210  can be selected by selecting (or activating) the associated iPod® video content indicia  685  via the input system  366  (shown in  FIG. 6A ) of the integrated audio/video presentation system  600 . 
     Turning to  FIG. 6E , the integrated audio/video presentation system  600  is shown as presenting an iPod® movie content menu system  690 . The integrated audio/video presentation system  600  preferably presents the iPod® movie content menu system  690  if the iPod® movie content indicia  685 B (shown in  FIG. 6D ) is selected (or activated) via the input system  366  (shown in  FIG. 6A ) of the integrated audio/video presentation system  600 . The iPod® movie content menu system  690  can include a listing of a plurality of iPod® movie content indicia  695  associated with various types (or titles) of movie viewing content  210  (shown in  FIGS. 2A-B ) available from the relevant iPod® digital electronic media device  200 ′ (shown in  FIG. 5 ). As illustrated in  FIG. 6E , the movie content indicia  695  of the iPod® movie content menu system  690  can include movie content indicia  695 A-H associated with selected titles of movie viewing content  210  available from the relevant iPod® digital electronic media device  200 ′. 
     In the manner set forth above, the vehicle information system  300  can download the viewing content menu structure from the iPod® digital electronic media device  200 ′, and the integrated audio/video presentation system  600  can generate the iPod® movie content menu system  690  based upon the iPod® viewing content menu structure. As the iPod® movie content menu system  690  is navigated via the input system  366  of the integrated audio/video presentation system  600 , relevant title of the movie viewing content  210  can be selected by activating the associated iPod® movie content indicia  695  as discussed above. If the iPod® movie content indicia  695 D is selected, for example, the movie viewing content  210 A associated with the iPod® movie content indicia  695 D can be retrieved from the iPod® digital electronic media devices  200 ′ (shown in  FIG. 5 ) and can be presented via the integrated audio/video presentation system  600  as illustrated in  FIG. 6F . Advantageously, the movie viewing content  210 A provided by the iPod® digital electronic media device  200 ′ can be selected and/or presented via integrated audio/video presentation system  600  of the vehicle information system  300  while the iPod® digital electronic media device  200 ′ is safely stowed within the storage compartment  389  (shown in  FIGS. 4A-B ) of a relevant passenger seat  382  (shown in  FIGS. 4A-B ). 
     As shown in  FIG. 7A , the audio ports (or connectors)  620  of the integrated audio/video presentation system  600  can include at least one break-away communication connector system  800 . The break-away communication connector system  800  can removably couple a peripheral audio presentation system  624  with the integrated audio/video presentation system  600 . The break-away communication connector system  800  advantageously facilitates replacement of broken communication jacks, while readily separating from the integrated audio/video presentation system  600  to ensure passenger safety should an emergency arise. In a preferred embodiment, the break-away communication connector system  800  can provide operating power to the peripheral audio presentation system  624 . Thereby, powered peripheral audio presentation devices  624 , such as noise canceling headphones, can receive the operating power via the break-away communication connector system  800 . 
     The peripheral audio presentation system  624  can comprise any conventional type of audio presentation system, such as headphones, speakers, and/or amplifiers. As shown in  FIG. 7A , the peripheral audio presentation system  624  can have a communication cable  628  with a suitable cable length and can be terminated with a peripheral communication connector (or port)  626 . The peripheral communication connector  626  can cooperate (or removably couple) with a system communication connector (or port)  622  of the integrated audio/video presentation system  600 . The communication connectors  622 ,  626  are nonfixedly coupled and, if necessary, can readily separate, forming the break-away communication connector system  800 . The peripheral audio presentation system  624  and the integrated audio/video presentation system  600  thereby can communicate via the break-away communication connector system  800 . 
     As desired, a conventional audio presentation system, such as a set of headphones, with a standard audio plug can be adapted to cooperate with the break-away communication connector system  800 . For example, an interface device (not shown) can provide an interface between the audio plug of the conventional audio presentation system and the system communication connector  622  of the break-away communication connector system  800 . The interface device can cooperate with the audio plug of the conventional audio presentation system and can include the peripheral communication connector  626  for coupling with the system communication connector  622 . Alternatively, and/or additionally, the conventional audio presentation system can be provided with an audio plug that is configured to cooperate with the break-away communication connector system  800 . For the convenience of the user (or passenger)  700  (shown in  FIG. 6B ), a standard jack likewise may be provided at the passenger seat  382  (shown in  FIGS. 4A-B ) and/or more than one break-away communication connector system  800  can be associated with the passenger seat  382 . 
     Although shown and described as coupling the peripheral audio presentation system  624  with the integrated audio/video presentation system  600  for purposes of illustration only, the break-away communication connector system  800  can be employed to couple any conventional type of peripheral presentation system, including peripheral video presentation systems and/or handheld user control systems, with the information system  100  and can be disposed on any suitable mounting surface. In other words, if the information system  100  is installed aboard a vehicles  390  (shown in  FIGS. 2A-B ), the break-away communication connector system  800  can be provided at any suitable passenger cabin surface, such as a seatback  386  (shown in  FIGS. 4A-B ), an armrest  388  (shown in  FIGS. 2A-B ), a wall  396  (shown in  FIGS. 4A-B ), a ceiling, and/or a bulkhead. Exemplary handheld user control systems are shown and described in the above-referenced related nonprovisional patent applications: “SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INTERFACING A PORTABLE MEDIA DEVICE WITH A VEHICLE INFORMATION SYSTEM,” Ser. No. 12/210,624, filed on Sep. 15, 2008; and “PORTABLE USER CONTROL DEVICE AND METHOD FOR VEHICLE INFORMATION SYSTEMS,” Ser. No. 12/210,689, filed on Sep. 15, 2008. 
     The break-away communication connector system  800  preferably employs a magnetic system  810  for providing a magnetic coupling between the communication connectors  622 ,  626  as illustrated in  FIG. 7B . Turning to  FIG. 7B , the system communication connector  622  of the integrated audio/video presentation system  600  can include a plurality of system contacts  820  and a system magnet system  814 . The system contacts  820  and the system magnet system  814  preferably are disposed within a housing assembly  605  of the integrated audio/video presentation system  600 . For example, the system contacts  820  and the system magnet system  814  can be provided within a system bezel  840  recessed within the housing assembly  605 . 
     The peripheral communication connector  626  of the peripheral presentation system  624  similarly can be provided as a plurality of peripheral contacts  830  and a peripheral magnet system  812 . When the communication connectors  622 ,  626  are coupled, the peripheral contacts  830  are configured to cooperate with the system contacts  820 ; whereas, the system magnet system  814  and the peripheral magnet system  812  are configured to cooperate. As shown in  FIG. 7B , the peripheral contacts  830  and the peripheral magnet system  812  can be disposed within a peripheral connector housing  626 A. The peripheral connector housing  626 A preferably includes at least one mating peripheral mating surface  626 B that is configured to cooperate with at least one mating system surface  850  of the housing assembly  605  of the integrated audio/video presentation system  600 . Thereby, when the peripheral communication connector  626  is coupled with the integrated audio/video presentation system  600 , the mating peripheral mating surface  626 B cooperates the mating system surface  850  to help ensure a proper alignment between the system contacts  820  and the peripheral contacts  830  and/or between the peripheral magnet system  812  and the system magnet system  814 . 
     The mating system surface  850 , for example, can form a recess (not shown) for receiving the mating peripheral mating surface  626 B and/or an extension  852  that can be received within an opening  626 C formed by the mating peripheral mating surface  626 B as shown in  FIG. 7B . As desired, the mating surfaces  626 B,  850  can provide via one or more sets of cooperating detents for coupling the peripheral connector housing  626  and the housing assembly  605 . The term “detents” refers to any combination of mating elements, such as blocks, tabs, pockets, slots, ramps, locking pins, cantilevered members, support pins, and the like, that may be selectively or automatically engaged and/or disengaged to couple or decouple the peripheral connector housing  626  and the housing assembly  605 . It will be appreciated that the cooperating detents as illustrated and described below are merely exemplary and not exhaustive. Accordingly, the break-away communication connector system  800  advantageously supports electrical communication between the peripheral contacts  830  of the peripheral communication connector  626  and the system contacts  820  of the system communication connector  622  while permitting the peripheral communication connector  626  to readily separate from the system communication connector  622  to ensure passenger safety should an emergency arise. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the system contacts  820  can be provided on a system printed circuit board (PCB) assembly  825 , and/or the peripheral contacts  830  can be provided on a peripheral printed circuit board (PCB) assembly  835 . The break-away communication connector system  800  thereby can advantageously provide a flat surface-to-surface contact between the communication connectors  622 ,  626 . The PCB assembly  825  and the peripheral PCB assembly  835  can be provided in any convention manner and preferably are provided as flat flexible printed circuit board (PCB) assemblies. If provided as a flat flexible PCB assembly, the peripheral PCB assembly  835  can be used to connect audio conductors within the communication cable  628  (shown in  FIG. 7A ) to the peripheral communication connector  626  of the peripheral audio presentation system  624 . Discrete wiring (not shown) likewise can be used as desired. When the video interface system  362  (shown in  FIGS. 4A-B ) is provided as a touchscreen display system, for example, the touchscreen display system may need to define an internal physical space to accommodate wiring associated with the system communication connector  622 . Use of a flat flexible PCB assembly with the system communication connector  622  advantageously permits the internal physical space to be minimized. 
     The system contacts  820  of the system communication connector  622  can be disposed on the system PCB assembly  825  in any conventional manner or contact arrangement. Similarly, the peripheral contacts  830  of the peripheral communication connector  626  can be disposed on the peripheral PCB assembly  835  in any conventional manner or contact arrangement. The peripheral contacts  830  are configured to cooperate (or communicate) with the system contacts  820  when the system communication connector  622  and the peripheral communication connector  626  are coupled. In other words, the system contacts  820  of the system communication connector  622  and the peripheral contacts  830  of the associated peripheral communication connector  626  preferably are provided with the same contact arrangement. 
     Exemplary contact arrangements for the system contacts  820  and the peripheral contacts  830  are illustrated in  FIGS. 8A-G . Although shown and described with reference to the system contacts  820  of the system communication connector  622  for purposes of illustration only, the exemplary contact arrangements can equally apply to the peripheral contacts  830  of the peripheral communication connector  626 . The exemplary contact arrangements as shown and described herein are not exhaustive and are provided herein for purposes of illustration only and not for purposes of limitation. 
     Turning to  FIG. 8A , the system contacts  820  of the system communication connector  622  can be provided with a concentric (or bull&#39;s eye) contact arrangement. The contact arrangement of  FIG. 8A  includes a central system contact  826  disposed within one or more circular-shaped system contacts  822 ,  824 . The circular-shaped system contacts  822 ,  824  can be provided with uniform system contact widths as illustrated with system contacts  824  and/or different system contact widths as illustrated with system contacts  822 ,  824 . In other words, the contact arrangement of the system contacts  820  can be provided with any suitable cross-section. As shown in  FIG. 8A , selected circular-shaped system contacts  824  can form a single (or continuous) contact in the shape of a complete circle, and/or selected circular-shaped system contacts  822  can comprise two or more contacts  822 A,  822 B in the shape of a semi-circle. A spacing between adjacent system contacts  822 ,  824 ,  826  can be uniform as illustrated in  FIG. 8A  and/or different as illustrated in  FIG. 8B . Thereby, the system communication connector  622  advantageously leverages the continuous contact surfaces of the system contacts  822 ,  824 ,  826  of the concentric contact arrangement of  FIG. 8A  to help ensure that contact is made for each of the system contacts  822 ,  824 ,  826 . 
     The system contacts  822 ,  824 ,  826  of the concentric contact arrangement shown in  FIG. 8A  provides sufficient system contacts  820  to support peripheral audio presentation devices  624  (shown in  FIG. 7A ), including powered peripheral audio presentation devices such as noise-canceling headphones. The system communication connector  622  (shown in  FIGS. 7A-B ) thereby can provide sufficient system contacts  820  to support the signaling and operating power requirements of the powered peripheral audio presentation device, while leaving the possibility for the device communication connector  626  (shown in  FIGS. 7A-B ) to be revolved through at least one complete rotation relative to the system communication connector  622  in any direction. The concentric contact arrangement of the system contacts  822 ,  824 ,  826  can provide consistent performance for all connector geometries. 
     The system contacts  820  alternatively, or additionally, can be provided with the concentric (or bull&#39;s eye) contact arrangement shown in  FIG. 8C . Turning to  FIG. 8C , the contact arrangement includes a central system contact  826  disposed within one or more semicircular-shaped system contacts  822 ,  824  in the manner set forth in more detail above with reference to the contact arrangement of  FIG. 8A . As set forth above, the semicircular-shaped system contacts  822 ,  824  can be provided with uniform system contact widths as illustrated with system contacts  824  and/or different system contact widths as illustrated with system contacts  822 ,  824 . A spacing between adjacent system contacts  822 ,  824 ,  826  can be uniform, as illustrated in  FIG. 8C , or different as illustrated in  FIG. 8D . 
     The system contacts  822 ,  824 ,  826  can be provided with any suitable contact arrangements and/or geometries. For example,  FIG. 8E  illustrates that a contact arrangement for the system contacts  820 , wherein the contact arrangement includes a plurality of straight central system contacts  824  disposed within one or more circular-shaped system contacts  822 . The circular-shaped system contacts  822  can be provided in the manner set forth in more detail above with reference to the contact arrangement of  FIG. 8A . The straight central system contacts  824  are provided as a parallel arrangement of system contacts  824 . 
     Turning to  FIG. 8F , the illustrated contact arrangement includes a central system contact  826  disposed within one or more circular-shaped system contacts  822 . A plurality of internal system contacts  824  are shown as being disposed around the central system contact  826  and within the circular-shaped system contacts  822 . The internal system contacts  824  can be uniformly disposed about the central system contact  826 , as shown in  FIG. 8F , and/or unevenly disposed about the central system contact  826 . The central system contact  826  and the internal system contacts  824  can be provided with any desired geometrical shape and/or size. As shown in  FIG. 8F , for example, the central system contact  826  and the internal system contacts  824  each are provided as round system contacts. The internal system contacts  824  are shown as being provided as pie-shaped system contacts in  FIG. 8G . 
     As desired, a Z-axis film (not shown) can be applied to the break-away communication connector system  800 , preferably to the peripheral contacts  830  of the peripheral communication connector  626  (shown in  FIGS. 7A-B ). The Z-axis film permits electrical signals to pass through the Z-axis film in the Z-axis but inhibits the electrical signals from spreading to adjacent conductors (or contacts or traces). An exemplary Z-axis film is manufactured from PariPoser® material by Paricon Technologies Corporation of Fall River, Mass. The Z-axis film includes highly-organized conductive columns of spherical particles supported in an elastomeric matrix, which provides a compliant interconnection. The PariPoser® material does not take a set and has been tested up to fifty thousand cycles. Advantageously, the PariPoser®material can form a slightly soft layer that can balance out any unevenness. As needed, one or more extra layers of solder can be disposed on the conductors (or contacts or traces) on the peripheral PCB assembly  835  (shown in  FIG. 7B ) to provide a more even coupling surface on the peripheral PCB assembly  835 . The extra layers of solder likewise can add to the aesthetic appearance of the peripheral communication connector  626  by changing the color of the conductors (or contacts or traces) to a silver color. 
     Turning to  FIG. 9 , a general hardware (or circuit board) architecture  900  for implementing the integrated audio/video presentation system  600  is shown. The hardware architecture  900  advantageously includes a plurality of user interface systems  910 , which enables the hardware architecture  900  to be very adaptable. As desired, one or more of the interface systems  910  can be removed from the hardware architecture  900  for a selected application. As illustrated in  FIG. 9 , exemplary user interface systems  910  can include one or more audio interface systems  910 A, such as a stereo (or monaural) headphone jack (or connectors)  910 A and/or an auxiliary input/output audio connector  910 A 2 . The user interface systems  910  likewise can have at least one data interface systems  910 B. The data interface systems  910 B can comprise any conventional data interface system, including an Universal Serial Bus (USB) data interface system  910 B 1  and/or an Ethernet data interface system  910 B 2 . 
     One or more of the data interface systems  910 B can be configured to communicate with a communication network (not shown). The communication network can be provided as a conventional wired and/or wireless communication network, including a telephone network, a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), a campus area network (CAN), personal area network (PAN) and/or a wireless local area network (WLAN), of any kind. Exemplary wireless local area networks include wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) networks in accordance with Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Standard 802.11 and/or wireless metropolitan-area networks (MANs), which also are known as WiMax Wireless Broadband, in accordance with IEEE Standard 802.16. Preferably being configured to support high data transfer rates, the communication network preferably comprises a high-speed Ethernet network, such as any type of Fast Ethernet (such as 100Base-X and/or 100Base-T) communication network and/or Gigabit (such as 1000Base-X and/or 1000Base-T) Ethernet communication network, with a typical data transfer rate of at least approximately one hundred megabits per second (100 Mbps). To achieve high data transfer rates in a wireless communications environment, free-space optics (or laser) technology, millimeter wave (or microwave) technology, and/or Ultra-Wideband (UWB) technology can be utilized to communicate with selected system resources, the vehicle information system  300 , one or more content sources  310  (shown in  FIGS. 2A-B ), and/or the  310 C (shown in  FIG. 2B ), as desired. 
     The user interface systems  910  likewise can have at least one interface system  910 C for coupling the integrated audio/video presentation system  600  with a personal media device  200 . As illustrated in  FIG. 9 , for example, the interface system  910 C can couple the integrated audio/video presentation system  600  with an iPod® digital electronic media device  200 ′. The interface system  910 C can be provided in any conventional manner, including in the manner shown and described in the above-referenced “SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INTERFACING A PORTABLE MEDIA DEVICE WITH A PASSENGER INFORMATION SYSTEM,” Ser. No. 12/210,624, filed on Sep. 15, 2008. The iPod® digital electronic media device  200 ′ thereby can communicate with the integrated audio/video presentation system  600  in the manner set forth in more detail above. An exemplary software architecture  920  for implementing the integrated audio/video presentation system  600  via the hardware architecture  900  is shown in  FIG. 10 . 
     The described embodiments are susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, and specific examples thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and are herein described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the described embodiments are not to be limited to the particular forms or methods disclosed, but to the contrary, the present disclosure is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives.