Antenna system of in-flight entertainment and communication system

An antenna system of an in-flight entertainment and communication (IFFC) system provided in a commercial passenger vehicle, the antenna system comprising:

• a first set of antennas, each contoured to be affixed on an armrest of a first passenger seat;
• a second set of antennas, each comprising one or more elements structured to be fitted within a headrest of a second passenger seat;
• a third set of antennas, each contoured to fit along a boundary of a seatback portion of a third passenger seat;
• and
• a fourth set of antennas, each contoured to fit in a passenger controller associated with a fourth passenger seat, and
• wherein the first set of antennas is coupled to a first electronic circuit and is configured to radiate a first beam pattern along an upward direction from the armrest of the first passenger seat, the second set of antennas is coupled to a second electronic circuit and is configured to radiate a second beam pattern along a forward direction towards a front seat of the second passenger seat, the third set of antennas is coupled to a third electronic circuit and is configured to radiate a third beam pattern along the forward direction, and the fourth set of antennas is coupled to a fourth electronic circuit and is configured to radiate a fourth beam pattern along a lateral axis of the commercial passenger vehicle.

A method for supporting a wireless connectivity to passengers on a commercial passenger vehicle, the method comprising:

• operating a wireless network onboard the commercial passenger vehicle by configuring wireless transceivers that are disposed outside seatback monitors according to beam patterns that depend on a relative position of the wireless transceivers with respect to passenger seats;
• receiving a request via one or more wireless transceivers, from an electronic device on the commercial passenger vehicle, to connect the electronic device to a communication network;
• and
• establishing a connection of the electronic device to the communication network using a selected wireless transceiver having a selected beam pattern suitable for the electronic device, and
• wherein the selected wireless transceiver is selected to minimize a radio interference with other devices on the commercial passenger vehicle caused by wave propagations along the selected beam pattern, and
• wherein the configuring of the wireless transceivers includes 1) configuring a first set of wireless transceivers operating to receive and transmit radio signals and disposed in armrests of first passenger seats, 2) configuring a second set of wireless transceivers operating to receive and transmit the radio signals and disposed in headrests of second passenger seats, 3) configuring a third set of wireless transceivers operating to receive and transmit the radio signals and disposed in close proximity to monitors of third passenger seats, and 4) configuring a fourth set of wireless transceivers operating to receiving and transmit the radio signals and disposed in passenger controllers disposed at fourth passenger seats, and
• wherein the first set of wireless transceivers is coupled to a first electronic circuit and configured to radiate a first beam pattern along an upward direction from the armrests of the first passenger seats, and the second set of wireless transceivers is coupled to a second electronic circuit and is configured to radiate a second beam pattern along a forward direction towards a front seat of the second passenger seats, the third set of wireless transceivers is coupled to a third electronic circuit and is configured to radiate a third beam pattern along the forward direction, and the fourth set of wireless transceivers is coupled to a fourth electronic circuit and is configured to radiate a fourth beam pattern along a lateral axis of the commercial passenger vehicle.