Integrated video and audio signal distribution system and method for use on commercial aircraft and other vehicles

A method using a single digital-to-analog converter for distributing digital audio signals to remote locations within a commercial aircraft or other passenger vehicle, said method comprising the steps of:

• generating a plurality of compressed digital audio signal outputs, each compressed digital audio signal output being generated in response to a retrieval of compressed digital audio data from a mass data storage device;
• providing said compressed digital audio signal outputs directly to a multiplexer;
• time domain multiplexing said compressed digital audio signal outputs to form a composite digital audio data signal;
• delivering said composite digital audio data signal to a demultiplexer disposed at a seat location remote from said multiplexer;
• selecting a channel from said composite digital audio data signal at said seat location;
• decompressing said selected channel to form an expanded digital audio signal at said seat location;
• converting said expanded digital audio signal to an analog signal using said digital-to-analog converter at said seat location;
• and
• providing said analog signal to an audio transducer at said seat location.

A method using a single digital-to-analog converter for distributing digital audio signals to remote locations within a commercial aircraft or other passenger vehicle, said method comprising the steps of:

• generating a plurality of compressed digital audio signal outputs at a predetermined data sampling rate, each compressed digital audio signal output being generated in response to a retrieval of compressed digital audio data from a mass data storage device;
• providing said compressed digital audio signal outputs directly to a multiplexer;
• time domain multiplexing said compressed digital audio signal outputs to form a composite digital audio data signal;
• delivering said composite digital audio data signal to a demultiplexer disposed at a seat location remote from said multiplexer;
• selecting a channel from said composite digital audio data signal at said seat location;
• decompressing said selected channel to form an expanded digital audio signal at said seat location;
• converting said expanded digital audio signal to an analog signal using said digital-to-analog converter at said seat location;
• providing said analog signal to an audio transducer at said seat location;
• and
• establishing synchronization of said above listed steps based upon a detected frame transfer rate which is approximately equal to said data sampling rate.

A method of distributing digital audio signals to remote locations within a passenger vehicle such as a commercial aircraft, said method comprising the steps of:

• retrieving from a digital audio data storage medium compressed digital audio data;
• generating a compressed digital audio data signal responsive to said compressed digital audio data;
• transmitting said compressed digital audio data signal to a selected location within said passenger vehicle;
• decompressing said compressed digital audio data signal at said selected location to form an expanded digital audio data signal;
• converting said expanded digital audio data signal to an analog signal at said selected location;
• and
• providing said analog signal to an analog signal transducer located at said selected location, whereby only a single digital-to-analog conversion is performed throughout said retrieving, generating, transmitting, decompressing, converting and providing steps.

A digital audio data distribution system with a single digital-to-analog converter for use on commercial aircraft and other vehicles comprising:

• a plurality of digital audio storage media at a first location, said storage media including first digital audio data having a first sample size;
• a digital audio data compressor located at said first location within said vehicle for compressing said plurality of first audio digital data to generate a plurality of second audio digital data with a second sample size smaller than said first sample size;
• a multiplexer located at said first location and having a plurality of data input terminals for receiving said plurality of second digital audio data, said multiplexer being capable of time domain multiplexing said second digital audio data to produce a single composite data;
• a demultiplexer located at a location remote from said first location and adapted to receive said composite data and being capable of selecting a desired channel from said composite data;
• a decompressor located at said remote location and adapted to receive said selected channel from said demultiplexer and being capable of decompressing said channel to produce a decompressed digital data;
• and
• wherein said digital-to-analog converter is located at said remote location and is adapted to receive said decompressed digital data and converts said decompressed digital data to an analog audio signal.

A method of distributing digital audio data to remote locations within a passenger vehicle such as a commercial aircraft, said method comprising the steps of:

• retrieving first audio digital data with a first sample size from a digital audio storage medium;
• compressing said first audio digital data to generate a second audio digital data with a second sample size samller than said first sample size;
• transmitting said second audio digital data to a select location within said passenger vehicle;
• decompressing said second audio digital data at said selected location to generate a third audio digital data with a third sample size higher than said second sample size;
• converting said third digital audio signal to an analog signal at said selected location;
• and
• providing said analog signal to an audio transducer at said selected location, whereby only a single digital-to-analog conversion is performed throughout said retrieving, compressing, transmitting, decompressing, converting and providing steps.