IFE System Description General The In-Flight Entertainment System (IFES) installed on this (these) airplane(s) is designed and manufactured by Panasonic Avionics Corporation. The IFES is an electronic control data and distribution system. It provides broadband network connectivity between the passenger computing device at the seat and the head-end network equipment. The system is used for Internet data application and digital video/audio distribution. The system architecture is modular in design, allowing for additional components to be integrated without aircraft-side wiring changes. The multi-feature IFES supplies high-quality digital audio and video and Audio/Video On Demand (AVOD) to all passenger seats. The IFES also offers interactive services such as video games. The IFE System Controller (SC) is located in the Aft Cargo Bay. The system consists of the SC, which lets the system to interface to aircraft subsystems. These interfaces include ARINC-429, Ethernet, discrete input/output keylines, PA audio input, and baseband video and audio outputs. Communication between units in the system is provided by a highspeed 10/100 BaseT Ethernet network. The network provides passenger access to Internet, audio and video data. The SC serves as a network gateway between the IFES and aircraft avionics equipment. The Area Distribution Box (ADB) serves as a network hub allowing Video Seat Electronic Boxes (VSEBs) to connect to the system. Cabin configuration data is transferred to the system by way of a Data Loader through an Ethernet port. The Crew Panel (CP) provides a user interface to show and make changes to seat layout, PA zones, database control, and audio channel assignments. In addition to configuration control, the CP can perform system Built-In Test Equipment (BITE) and software downloads. In-seat entertainment and connectivity equipment is installed in the passenger seats. Each passenger has access to a Smart Display Unit (SDU), a Handset/Passenger Control Unit (PCU), and a Remote Jack Unit (RJU). The SDU displays MPEG encoded, broadcast video as selected by the passenger. Broadcast audio and video channels and audio volume can be selected and adjusted by the passenger by use of the PCU, Handset, or the SDU touchscreen. Passengers can listen to the selected audio and video channels by connecting a headset to the RJU. System Control The IFES control components send and receive data on an Ethernet network. The system control functions for the IFES are done by the SC, File Server (FS), and the CP. The SC is the primary interface between the IFES and the aircraft avionics equipment. The SC controls the IFES BITE and stores and distributes audio and video media for broadcast. The FS is a high-performance, high-capacity network server that provides extensive audio and video content. It also contains interactive menus, media content, electronic catalog sales to passengers, and unit-downloadable software, as appropriate. The FS also handles all of the AVOD applications available to passengers with in-seat audio and video. The CP is the primary human interface between the IFES and cabin and maintenance crews. IFES configuration and commands are accomplished at the CP. Seat power is controlled and monitored by two Master Control Units (MCUs). The MCU is a third-party component. Current power condition information is sent to the SC through the Ethernet network.
Ethernet Network The IFES Ethernet network consists of a set of units serially connected by two balanced and twisted pair wires. All units attached to an Ethernet bus are connected to a shared signaling system. The Ethernet signals are transmitted serially, one bit at a time, over the shared signal channel to every attached unit. To send data a unit first listens to the channel and when the channel is idle the unit transmits its data in the form of an Ethernet frame or packets, thereby preventing data collisions on the data bus. If the channel is busy, the unit continues to listen until the channel is idle. The Ethernet data frame consists of a set of bits organized into several fields. These fields include address fields, a variable size data field that carries from 46 to 1,500 bytes of data and an error checking field that checks the integrity of the bits in the frame to make sure that the frame has arrived intact. The first two fields in the frame carry 48-bit addresses, called the destination and source addresses. All units connected on the network look at the destination address. The unit with the same address as the destination address in the frame reads in the entire frames. All other units stop reading the frame when the destination address does not match their own address. The Ethernet network provides communication between the IFES subsystems. Internet data, media contents, application codes, database, and BITE commands can be sent from the CP and FS to the VSEB through the Ethernet network. The VSEB can also send program request, BITE status, and passenger service data back to head-end equipment thru the Ethernet. The overall system block diagram that follows shows the primary components, signal paths, and control lines of the IFES. The diagram also shows other aircraft components that interface with the IFES.
