Patent ID: 8621527

Claim:
An entertainment system in an aircraft comprising: a plurality of electronic units that are daisy chain connected by segments of a packet data network (PDN) loop to a content server containing media content, and each of the electronic units are connected to at least one seat video display unit and comprise: a power supply that is powered from a source, which is separate from the PDN loop, and supplies power to a communication switch, a processor, and a communication interface, wherein the communication switch selectively routes packets containing media content, received via a segment of the PDN loop connected to an upstream electronic unit, to: a) the processor for communication through the communication interface to at least one seat video display unit connected to the electronic unit; or b) through a segment of the PDN loop connected to a downstream electronic unit; and a power control circuit that responds to the power supply supplying less than a threshold level of power to the communication switch, the processor, and/or the communication interface by supplying power to the communication switch from the segment of the PDN loop connected to the upstream electronic unit and/or from the segment of the PDN loop connected to the downstream electronic unit; wherein the communication switch is configured to: receive a packet containing media content from the content server via the segment of the PDN loop connected to the upstream electronic unit; identify an address of the packet; determine whether the address corresponds to the at least one seat video display unit connected to the electronic unit; route the media content to the processor for communication through the communication interface to the corresponding seat video display unit when the address corresponds; and route the packet through the segment of the PDN loop connected to the downstream electronic unit when the address does not correspond; and wherein the power control circuit responds to the power supply supplying less than the threshold level of power to the communication switch, the processor, and/or the communication interface by supplying power, from the segment of PDN network connected to the upstream electronic unit and/or the segment of PDN network connected to the downstream electronic unit, to the communication switch to continue operations to route packets to the downstream electronic unit wherein the communication switch is configured to cease performing operations to route the media content to the processor to consume less power while receiving power through the power control circuit from the segment of the PDN loop connected to the upstream electronic unit and/or from the segment of the PDN loop connected to the downstream electronic unit.