Vehicle data distribution system and method

A method of distributing data generated on a vehicle that is in-flight, comprising:

• selecting, by a computing device that is fixedly connected to the vehicle that is in-flight, and based on a bearer selection preference indicated by a system user, a bearer selection preference indicated by an end-user, and a set of selection rules, a particular bearer from a plurality of bearers,
• the bearer selection preference indicated by the system user corresponding to a particular type of data included in information that is to be transmitted from the vehicle,
• the particular type of data from a set of data types including one or more types of end-user data and one or more types of vehicle data,
• the plurality of bearers being of different types and coupled to interfaces for transmitting information from the vehicle,
• the interfaces being fixedly coupled to the vehicle and communicatively coupled to the computing device,
• the bearer selection preference indicated by the end-user corresponding to at least one of a speed, an urgency, or a cost of data delivery,
• the set of selection rules represented by a respective set of weightings applied to each selection criterion for a plurality of possible conditions associated with the vehicle, and the set of selection rules indicating, for a plurality of current conditions associated with the vehicle, a respective relative importance of each selection criterion amongst a plurality of selection criteria for the plurality of current conditions, wherein at least one current condition is a current physical state of the vehicle during a journey from an origination point to a destination point and wherein the current physical state of the vehicle is detected by the vehicle, and
• the end-user being a passenger operating a originating device within the vehicle;
• receiving, by the computing device via one or more networks on-board the vehicle that is in-flight, information generated by the originating device within the vehicle, the information generated by the originating device including the particular type of data;
• and
• causing the received information to be transmitted from the vehicle using the particular bearer while the vehicle is in-flight.

A data distribution system on a vehicle, comprising:

• a memory that is fixedly disposed at the vehicle;
• and
• computer-executable instructions stored on the memory and executable by a processor to, while the vehicle is in-flight:
• select a particular bearer from a plurality of bearers, the selection based on a bearer selection preference indicated by a system user, a bearer selection preference indicated by an end-user, and a set of selection rules,
• the bearer selection preference indicated by the system user corresponding to a particular data type that is to be at least one of received onto or transmitted from the vehicle,
• the particular data type from a set of data types including one or more types of end-user data and one or more types of vehicle data,
• the bearer selection preference indicated by the end-user corresponding to at least one of a speed, an urgency, or a cost of data delivery,
• the set of selection rules represented by a respective set of weightings applied to each selection criterion for a plurality of possible conditions associated with the vehicle, and the set of selection rules indicating, for a plurality of current conditions associated with the vehicle, a respective relative importance of each selection criterion amongst a plurality of selection criteria for the plurality of current conditions, wherein at least one current condition is a current physical state of the vehicle during a journey of the vehicle between an origination point and a destination point, and wherein the current physical state of the vehicle is detected by the vehicle, and
• the end-user being a passenger operating at least one of:
• a destination device within the vehicle or an origination device within the vehicle, and
• at least one of:
• cause first data to be received onto the vehicle that is in-flight, via a respective interface fixedly coupled to the vehicle and corresponding to the particular bearer, and cause the first data to be routed to the destination device within the vehicle;
• or
• cause second data to be transmitted from the vehicle that is in-flight via the respective interface corresponding to the particular bearer, the second data generated by the origination device on the vehicle,
• wherein:
• at least one of the first data or the second data is of the particular data type corresponding to the bearer selection preference indicated by the system user,
• the respective interface is one of a plurality of interfaces,
• each interface of the plurality of interfaces corresponds to a respective bearer or to a respective network on-board the vehicle, and
• each interface of the plurality of interfaces is included in a vehicle portal device fixedly connected to the vehicle.

An information distribution system for distributing data to and from a vehicle that is in flight, comprising:

• an on-board information distribution device that is fixedly connected to the vehicle that is in-flight, the on-board information distribution device including a plurality of connections to a plurality of interfaces of a plurality of bearers to transmit first data from the in-flight vehicle and to receive second data onto the in-flight vehicle, the plurality of bearers being of different types and the plurality of interfaces being fixedly coupled to the in-flight vehicle;
• a bearer selector engine included in the on-board information distribution device to select a particular bearer from the plurality of bearers based on a bearer selection preference indicated by a system user, a bearer selection preference indicated by an end-user, and a set of selection rules,
• the end-user being a person within the in-flight vehicle, the bearer selection preference indicated by the system user corresponding to a particular type of data that is to be at least one of received onto or transmitted from the in-flight vehicle,
• the particular type of data from a set of data types including one or more types of end-user data and one or more types of vehicle data,
• the bearer selection preference indicated by the end-user corresponding to at least one of a speed, an urgency, or a cost of data delivery, and
• the set of selection rules represented by a respective set of weightings applied to each selection criterion for a plurality of possible conditions associated with the vehicle, and the set of selection rules indicating, for a plurality of current conditions associated with the vehicle, a respective relative importance of each selection criterion amongst a plurality of selection criteria for the plurality of current conditions, wherein at least one current condition is a current physical state of the vehicle during a journey from an origination point to a destination point, and wherein the current physical state of the vehicle is detected by the vehicle;
• and
• a processor configured to receive detection data from a detection device on-board the vehicle and at least one of:
• cause the first data to be received onto the vehicle that is in-flight, via a respective interface of the plurality of interfaces and cause the first data to be routed to a destination device of the end-user within the vehicle, wherein the destination device is separate from the detection device, or
• cause the second data to be transmitted from the vehicle that is in-flight via the respective of the plurality of interfaces, the second data generated by an origination device of the end user on the vehicle, wherein the detection device is separate from the origination device.