System and method for downloading files

A method for distributing viewing content aboard a passenger vehicle, comprising:

• providing a headend system including a local content source for providing a first content library associated with a first passenger seat group within the passenger vehicle, said headend system for communicating with a remote content source including a second content library associated with a second passenger seat group within the passenger vehicle;
• providing a first content catalog of first entertainment files available from the first content library and a second content catalog of second entertainment files available from the second content library, the second content catalog having file information, including a title, a content description, and a content rating, for each of the second entertainment files;
• initializing automatically a first portable media device associated with the first passenger seat group to wirelessly communicate with said headend system and providing a first operational status of said first portable media device upon boarding the passenger vehicle;
• presenting the first content catalog via the first portable media device;
• enabling the first portable media device to select a first entertainment file via the first content catalog and to receive the entire selected first entertainment file from the first content library via said headend system;
• initializing automatically a second portable media device associated with the second passenger seat group to wirelessly communicate with said headend system and providing a second operational status of said second portable media device upon boarding the passenger vehicle;
• presenting the second content catalog having the file information via the second portable media device;
• and
• enabling the second portable media device to select a selected second entertainment file via the second content catalog;
• verifying the content rating of the selected second entertainment file satisfies a predetermined content standard,
• enabling the second portable media device to receive the entire verified second entertainment file from the second content library via said headend system;
• enabling the local content source to store an archival copy of the verified second entertainment file in an appropriate file library based upon the file information;
• and
• configuring the second portable media device to upload a passenger entertainment file associated with passenger file information, including a title, a content description, and a content rating to said local content source for subsequent download by another portable media device, verifying the content rating of the passenger entertainment file satisfies the predetermined content standard, and enabling the local content source to receive and store the verified passenger entertainment file in an appropriate file library based upon the passenger file information,
• wherein the second content library is different from the first content library and is not available to said first portable media device, and
• wherein said first and second portable media devices can respectively present the selected first and second entertainment files regardless of whether said first and second portable media devices are in communication with said headend system.