Jeffrey Frisco

US Patent:

6748597, Jun 8, 2004

Filed:

Apr 7, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/544883

Inventors:

Jeffrey A. Frisco - Palm Bay FL
Michael Keen - Malabar FL

Assignee:

Live TV, Inc. - Melbourne FL

International Classification:

H04N 718

US Classification:

725 76, 725 74, 725 75, 725 77, 725 63

Abstract:

A method for installing and operating an aircraft in-flight entertainment system preferably includes installing an entertainment source on the aircraft; installing spaced apart signal distribution devices, each generating audio signals for at least one passenger in an audio-only mode, and generating audio and video signals to at least one passenger in an audio/video mode; installing a cable network connecting the entertainment source to the signal distribution devices; and operating the aircraft in-flight entertainment system with at least one predetermined signal distribution device in the audio-only mode. In addition, the method preferably includes 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. Accordingly, the downtime experienced by air carrier is greatly reduced over other systems which require significant recabling and other difficult equipment installation operations for upgrading.

US Patent:

6751801, Jun 15, 2004

Filed:

Apr 7, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/545265

Inventors:

Jeffrey A. Frisco - Palm Bay FL
Michael Keen - Malabar FL

Assignee:

Live TV, Inc. - Melbourne FL

International Classification:

H04N 718

US Classification:

725 76, 725 68, 725 69, 725 72, 343705, 343708, 343757, 455 302

Abstract:

An aircraft in-flight entertainment system includes a satellite TV receiver, at least one video display connected to the receiver, and a multi-beam antenna on the aircraft for receiving signals from a plurality of satellite TV transponders. The multi-beam antenna may have right-hand circularly polarized (RHCP) and left-hand circularly polarized (LHCP) beams offset from one another by a beam offset angle. The beam offset angle may be less than an angle defined by the spacing of the DBS transponders. The system may also include an antenna steering positioner connected to the multi-beam antenna, and an antenna steering controller for steering the multi-beam antenna based upon received signals from at least one of the RHCP and LHCP beams. The antenna steering controller may comprise a processor for steering the multi-beam antenna based on a selected master one of the RHCP and LHCP beams and slaving the other beam therefrom. Alternately, the processor may steer the multi-beam antenna based on a predetermined contribution from each of the RHCP and LHCP beams.

US Patent:

7280825, Oct 9, 2007

Filed:

Dec 28, 2004

Appl. No.:

11/023758

Inventors:

Robert M. Keen - Malabar FL, US
Jeffrey A. Frisco - Palm Bay FL, US

Assignee:

Live TV, LLC - Melbourne FL

International Classification:

H04Q 7/20
H04H 1/00
H04B 1/38
H04B 7/00
H04M 1/00

US Classification:

455431, 455 306, 455427, 455 412, 4555501, 4555562, 455 73, 455517

Abstract:

An aircraft in-flight entertainment (IFE) system includes an antenna, an external communications transceiver connected to the antenna for communicating external the aircraft, and a plurality of seat electronic boxes (SEBs) spaced throughout the aircraft for distributing entertainment related data. A distribution network is connected to the SEBs and to the external communications transceiver. An internal communications transceiver is connected to the distribution network for establishing an external communications link with a portable wireless device carried by a passenger internal to the aircraft.

US Patent:

7587733, Sep 8, 2009

Filed:

May 2, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/429115

Inventors:

Robert M. Keen - Malabar FL, US
Scott D. Easterling - Malabar FL, US
Glenn S. Latta - Melbourne FL, US
Jeffrey A. Frisco - Palm Bay FL, US

Assignee:

LiveTV, LLC - Melbourne FL

International Classification:

H04N 7/18

US Classification:

725 76, 725 77

Abstract:

An aircraft in-flight entertainment system includes a satellite weather information receiver receiving a weather related programming channel from a satellite, and at least one passenger display connected to the satellite weather information receiver for displaying weather related information corresponding to a selected geographic area. A passenger control unit is associated with each passenger display for selecting the geographic area.

US Patent:

7707612, Apr 27, 2010

Filed:

Nov 19, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/716987

Inventors:

Jeffrey A. Frisco - Palm Bay FL, US
Michael Keen - Malabar FL, US

Assignee:

Live TV, Inc. - Melbourne FL

International Classification:

H04N 7/18
G06F 11/00
H04N 7/20

US Classification:

725 76, 725 71, 714 57

Abstract:

An aircraft in-flight entertainment system preferably includes, in one embodiment, a satellite TV receiver, at least one passenger video display connected to the receiver, and a processor connected to the receiver for determining an undesired condition and for generating a substitute image on the passenger video display rather than permit display of an undesired image which would otherwise be produced. The undesired condition may relate to a weak signal or component malfunction. Accordingly, the undesired image may be an undesired default text message or a degraded picture image. Other embodiments of the in-flight entertainment system are directed to providing a moving map image flight information channel integrated with the programming channels of the system.

US Patent:

8094605, Jan 10, 2012

Filed:

Mar 13, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/047421

Inventors:

Michael J. Lynch - Merritt Island FL, US
Robert M. Keen - Malabar FL, US
Jeffrey A. Frisco - Palm Bay FL, US

Assignee:

LiveTV, LLC - Melbourne FL

International Classification:

H04B 7/185

US Classification:

370316, 370329, 370338, 370389, 455 121, 455431

Abstract:

A communications system for an aircraft carrying at least some personnel having personal electronic devices (PEDs) for wireless data communications outside the aircraft includes a ground-based communications network, and a satellite-based communications network. An access point is in the aircraft for providing a WLAN for data communications with the PEDs. An air-to-ground transceiver in the aircraft cooperates with the access point for data communications with the ground-based communications network. A satellite receiver in the aircraft cooperates with the access point for data communications with the satellite-based communications network to the PEDs. At least one network selection controller determines whether to send data communications to the PEDs through the air-to-ground transceiver or the satellite receiver.

US Patent:

8169946, May 1, 2012

Filed:

Mar 13, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/047367

Inventors:

Michael J. Lynch - Merritt Island FL, US
Robert M. Keen - Malabar FL, US
Jeffrey A. Frisco - Palm Bay FL, US

Assignee:

LiveTV, LLC - Melbourne FL

International Classification:

H04W 4/04

US Classification:

370316, 370331, 455431, 455436

Abstract:

A communications system for an aircraft carrying at least some personnel having personal electronic devices (PEDs) for wireless data communications outside the aircraft includes a ground-based communications network comprising spaced apart base stations, and an access point in the aircraft for providing a WLAN for data communications with the PEDs. An air-to-ground transceiver in the aircraft cooperates with the access point for data communications with the ground-based communications network. First and second base stations define respective first and second adjacent coverage areas, and include respective first and second hard handoff controllers. The respective first and second hard handoff controllers implement a hard handoff of a data communications channel with the air-to-ground transceiver as the aircraft moves from the first coverage area to the second adjacent coverage area.

US Patent:

8233425, Jul 31, 2012

Filed:

Mar 13, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/047349

Inventors:

Michael J. Lynch - Merritt Island FL, US
Robert M. Keen - Malabar FL, US
Jeffrey A. Frisco - Palm Bay FL, US

Assignee:

Livetv, LLC - Melbourne FL

International Classification:

H04B 7/185

US Classification:

370316, 370329, 370338, 370341, 455 111, 455431

Abstract:

A communications system for an aircraft carrying personnel having personal electronic devices (PEDs) for wireless data communications outside the aircraft includes a ground-based communications network, and an access point in the aircraft for providing a WLAN for data communications with the PEDs. An air-to-ground transceiver in the aircraft cooperates with the access point for data communications with the ground-based communications network. At least one data traffic controller selectively allocates data communications channel capacity between the PEDs and the ground-based communications network.