Inflight entertainment system with selectively preloaded seat end video caches

摘要

An inflight entertainment (IFE) system preloads from head end equipment onto seat end video caches subsets of prerecorded video entertainment programs from a library of prerecorded video entertainment programs stored on the head end equipment. Preloading is done independent of play requests made by passengers using the IFE system. The selected subsets are selected using selection metrics such as program popularity, passenger demographics and/or passenger preferences. The same or a different subset may be selected for different passengers. As a result of the selective preloading of the seat end video caches, if the head end equipment or the distribution system becomes inoperable during the flight, the IFE system is able to continue to deliver a limited offering of popular, demographically indicated and/or passenger preferred video entertainment from the seat end video caches, without requiring a large multiplier in storage capacity or loading time.

主权项

1. An inflight entertainment (IFE) system, comprising:
head end equipment having stored thereon a library of prerecorded video entertainment programs and a plurality of personalized selection metrics for a respective plurality of passengers on a flight determined without regard to input on the IFE system by any of the passengers after boarding the flight; and seat end equipment communicatively coupled with the head end equipment and having a plurality of video caches and video displays for the respective passengers, wherein the head end equipment is configured to select from the library using the selection metrics a plurality of personalized subsets of prerecorded video entertainment programs for the respective passengers and download the selected subsets to the video caches for the respective passengers, wherein the seat end equipment is configured to determine availability of the head end equipment, display on the video displays for the respective passengers when the head end equipment is available first video playlists for the respective passengers whose offerings include prerecorded video entertainment programs beyond the downloaded subsets for the respective passengers and display on the video displays for the respective passengers when the head end equipment is unavailable second video playlists for the respective passengers whose offerings are limited to prerecorded video entertainment programs that are within the downloaded subsets for the respective passengers.