At present there is no satisfactory communication system which will allow a wide range of information types to be made readily available to aircraft passengers. Whilst some information such as, for example, films, games and other items such as news are available to passengers in aircraft, the systems are not flexible, relying on the provision of a fixed screen in the aircraft mounted either on the back of the seat in front or on an extendible arm, however such systems are disadvantageous because of that lack of flexibility.

Accordingly it is an object of the present invention to provide a communication system and/or a method of communicating which will obviate or minimise the foregoing disadvantages in a simple yet effective manner or which will at least provide the public with a useful choice.

Accordingly in one aspect the invention may broadly be said to consist in a communication systems comprising; a server positioned on an aircraft, a means to retrieve information to the server, electric or electronic communication means between the server and at least some selected positions in the aircraft, connector means at each selected position so that, in use, a portable personal processing device may be connected to the connector means to receive information from the server.

Preferably the selected positions are associated with each or at least a substantial number of the seats in the aircraft.

Preferably the communication means comprises a universal serial bus.

Preferably the personal processing device comprises a personal digital system.

Preferably power for the personal processing device is supplied at each selected position.

Preferably the server comprises a contents server and a terminal server.

Preferably control means are provided at each selected position to enable selection and downloading of information from the server to the personal processing device.

Preferably a support is provided on or associated with each selected position to receive a personal processing device.

Preferably the support is provided on the aircraft seat or a member associated therewith.

Preferably the support is in the form of an arm extending from the chair.

In a further aspect the invention consists in a method of communicating comprising the steps of providing a communication system according to the preceding paragraphs, and updating the information held in the server from time to time.

To those skilled in the art to which the invention relates, many changes in construction and widely differing embodiments and applications of the invention will suggest themselves without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. The disclosures and the description herein are purely illustrative and are not intended to be in any sense limiting.

One preferred form of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which, FIGURE 1 is a diagrammatic representation of a communication system according to one preferred form of the invention, FIGURE 2 is a diagrammatic representation of the circuitry for putting into effect the communication system shown in Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings, an aircraft 1 is provided which includes a number of seats such as seats 2 and 3.

A server 4 is provided which is able to receive information thereto, for example, by means of a router 5 which is connected to wired and wireless devices for content update. The server 4 may comprise a content server 6 which includes a database into which the content is received and a terminal server 7 through which updates from router 5 to content server 6 are provided and through which downloads as will be further described herein are transmitted. Thus the database 8 is contained within the contents server 6 and electric or electronic communication means are provided between the server, preferably the terminal server 7 and various selected positions on the aircraft, which in the preferred form comprise each, or at least a substantial number of the seats 2 and 3. The communications means may take the form of a universal serial bus (USB network) 9 and may include physical cabling 10. At each selected position such as each seat, a connector means is provided which in the preferred form enables a portable personal processing device such as a personal digital assistant to be connected thereinto to receive information downloaded from the database 8. To assist a suitable support is desirably provided in association with each selected position, such as each seat, and this may take the form of a holder

11 mounted on an arm 12 which may extend from the seat, such as the seat arm, and is preferably adjustable, for example, through connecting device 13 or a series of adjustable members in substantially known form.

The personal digital assistant 20 which may be of any known type or brand, or may also be other similar devices, are able to be placed into the support 11 and connected to the database through the connector means. In the preferred form of the invention information is uploaded to the contents server from time to time, for example, at each landing or before each take off of the aircraft. In flight updating is of course also possible and would be an expected part of the service described. It is also envisaged that a power supply, preferably an AC power supply, would be provided to enable the personal digital assistance batteries to be recharged as desired.

To allow selection of information and the downloading thereof a suitable control means is provided, again at or adjacent each selected position and this may take the form of the control console and LCD screen provided at each aircraft seat. The console can be programmed to allow such selection and downloading to take place. Payment, if required, could be made using the credit card swipe already available at every chair for making telephone calls whilst in the air. The information that could be provided is essentially anything that can be stored within the contents server but would include information such as maps, guides, entertainment, news and the like.

In relation to the required programming there are two components. One is the hardware that forms the USB network and the second is the terminal server that is able to serve the connection from the different personal digital assistance. The first, the hardware that forms the network, can be substantially standard and the USB again could be provided in the form of industrial standard equipment. The second element requires software to be developed to serve differing

personal digital assistance, for example, PALMS, MS Windows CE and MS Pocket Windows. It is envisaged that the terminal server 7 would be equipped with AAA functions, that is to say authentication, authorisation/approval and accounting. IP stack 21 provides a suitable protocol to enable the various communications to take place.

In use, a passenger carrying a portable personal processing device such as a personal digital assistant may, on entering the aircraft, connect the personal digital assistance to the USB terminal in the seat. Recharging of the batteries may be effected, if required, and also the option on the seat console enabling downloading of information, is selected. If the airline requires, a payment can be made at the beginning or the end of the service.

By using the console the passenger may select and download any required information available on the contents server 6.

From time to time the content of the server is updated.

Thus it can be seen that a communication system and/or a method of communicating are provided which have the advantage that the system is substantially flexible in that it is able to receive a wide variety of information which is readily updated into a contents server which is made available to a wide variety of portable personal processing devices such as personal digital assistance.