DESC:TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] This invention relates generally to systems and methods forwirelesscontent distribution system and, particularly, a wireless content distribution system in a transportation vehicle having a plurality of compartments.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Today, the people on the move, always have their trusted mobile, tablet or laptop device with them. At the times that they are not sleeping off, they would like to swap boredom with entertainment whether they are in a bus, train or a flight. The more industrious ones may have before-hand downloaded some video content, which they are hoping to catch up in their journey, others have no options but to indulge in their mobile games or look again at their social media.
[0003] While stuck in a traffic, most people don’t have any option in a cab but to make mobile calls. It would be nice, if they can utilize this time too in an entertaining way, and catch up with their favorite movie or TV show.In fact, in an increasingly busy world, with longer working hours and commute times, there is very little time left at the homes for the traditional TV based entertainment. People would rather use their spare time at homes with family and friends without having to worry about missing out on their favorite shows on TV. This could be possible, if they can watch the same during their commutes. In fact, they can now plan out their longer outstation trips on buses and trains in a more leisurely way, and get the time to catch up with their favorite movies.
[0004] There is thus a vacuum for a “WiFi Media”, which will be ubiquitous within all the vehicles. This has to be free, using Ad sponsorship, so that people will feel free to tap on to it and form regular viewing habits. They will not have to worry about the huge bills, if the same was accessed through 3G Internet. They can infact, like any other broadcast media, look forward to daily updates in the content.
[0005] So in the world of vehicles BYOD (Bring Your Own Devices), will become a standard, and every passenger will be automatically connected the WiFi Media, emanating from the WiFi Media Spot. The automatic connection, will be similar to the way that the present mobiles connect to WiFi HotSpots.
[0006] A new market will emerge for WiFi Devices, which will be primarily used with the WiFi Media Spots and would thus require no SIM card, and the monthly bill. Parents will be now delighted to give these “safe” devices to the kids.
[0007] The TV World had conditioned people for expecting bigger screens to be for watching HD Videos. It is therefore quite surprising that out of sheer necessity, people de-conditioned themselves and readily adapted for watching the same video on the small screen of their smart phones. Watching videos immediately on the screen of the mobiles, has the advantage of immediacy; users can do it anywhere and not wait till they can get to a big screen and somehow connect to it. The mobile screens in response have become larger, sporting higher resolution to make the watching as convenient as possible, while not sacrificing the handy nature of the device.
[0008] Infact, the mobile evolution has made the bigger screens of TV and Computer as peripheral to the mobile itself, where the same content can be transferred on the bigger screen using a “ScreenCast”. Broadcast media such as the Radio and TV have traditionally been able to provide free content to unlimited number of users in a particular region. The region was limited to the coverage area of the transmission tower, and portable sets could be used in the areas where the signal was strong.The advent of Direct-to-Home (DTH), allowed the scope of broadcast to extend to a region as big as a country. Although the reception was normally through fixed antenna and TV sets in the home, the same could be done from the roof-top of a vehicle, using a satellite tracking dish. The satellite tracking dish, could not though become popular for cost reasons, as well as reception problems due to adjoining tall buildings, flyovers etc.
[0009] More recently, with the advent of digital broadcast DVB-T standard in Europe, it has been possible to receive digital Radio and TV channels in portable receivers. The latest version of the standard, DVB-T2 Lite, allows broadcast TV channels to be received in a moving vehicle, till 100 kmph. The range of DVB-T2 transmitter is though limited to a city, and country wide coverage requires large number of transmitters to be deployed in a Synchronous mesh configuration. This standard yet has to catch on in the world, for the cost reason.
[0010] While digital broadcasting has reached a stagnation point on a curve of diminishing return, there has been abundant zeal in making contents available “on-the-move” through 2G, 3G and now 4G networks of Telecom operators. This is strictly, not a broadcast network, and each user mobile has to be in touch with a nearby Cell tower, limiting the number of connections which can be sustained. Moreover, as a mobile user is moving, the connection has to be dynamically transferred from one Cell tower to another, with disruptions occurring many time because of lack of capacity.
[0011] There have been attempts by many Telecom operators to provide TV type of broadcast channels on the mobiles, but they have not really been able to dedicate bandwidth for these channels, in face of shortage of bandwidth for their prime channels for voice communication. As a result, most of the operators have been concentrating in utilizing the bandwidth remaining after voice-communication, for providing internet data to the mobiles.
[0012] As a result, most of the content service providers have restricted themselves for providing their content over Internet, through WiFi or 3G connection. Internet media, is more suited for bursty traffic such as what is required for Video-on-Demand rather that isochronous real-time traffic as what is required for TV Channels. This problem, though can be mitigated a bit, by using large buffering with the consequent delay in reception of the channel. The popularity of the broadcast content though still suffers, because of the high costs associated with continuous download of data through internet, specially through 3G.
[0013] The Smart Phone revolution, in the past decade displaced all other portable media devices, and saw a convergence of them into corresponding App for convenience reasons. Many of these Apps though, could not replicate the performance of the dedicated device they displaced, e.g. FM Radio and TV sets. The internet App, such as those from HotStar and ErosNow, confined themselves to Video-on-Demand techniques over internet – entailing a higher usage cost for the end-user.
[0014] Another big problem with the internet based services, has been the lack of internet itself within vehicles on-the-move. This was because the ground based Cell towers were mostly designed for catering to the population density around. Although Cell towers were deployed to cover highways, the sparse nature of these, curtail usage of high-bandwidth as needed for video based services.
[0015] 3G-Dongle based WiFi Hotspot solutions are today available for providing internet in moving vehicles. The cost and the patchiness of the 3G internet availability has though not made this popular. Instead, people prefer to consume 3G data directly into their mobile unit, so that background update of their Social Media Apps is possible. These Apps don’t require availability of internet continuously. So a problem is still faced, when a user tries to make a VoIP phone call through the 3G.
[0016] So world over the mobile users have been preferring to use of the WiFi Hotspots, instead of 3G, for accessing internet. In fact, some townships in the world have made a “Mesh network” of interconnected WiFi Hotspots for providing roaming internet, and even free but limited internet to the WiFi Devices of the users. A Mesh network is good enough to distribute a few Mbits of internet coming from an ISP modem, but doesn’t have the bandwidth to provide each user with a VOD access to central content server, which may require caching of content in each node.
[0017] So although Mobile Smartphones are today with everyone who travels, there is no Broadcast Media or wireless network which they can tap on to – cost-effectively.
[0018] In view of the above, there is a need in the art for providing systems and methods that address the shortcoming associated with prior art.
OBJECTS
[0019] Some of the objects of the present invention aim to ameliorate one or more problems of the prior art or to at least provide a useful alternative are listed herein below.
[0020] To provide WiFi based infotainment and communication services to portable WiFi devices throughout the train.
[0021] To allow passengers to avail of these WiFi based services through their Browsers or a special Infotainment App.
[0022] To provide a bandwidth limited internet service for updating of the mobile apps such as “WhatsApp” and emails in the background.
[0023] To provide services at no cost to the consumers, through sponsored Ads.
[0024] To provide these WiFi services in a distributed manner, by having WiFi Access Points with built-in storage, called WiFi Media Spots, in each compartment.
[0025] To provide an enhanced WiFi Media Spot in the Engine, which would have additional facilities such as Monitor, Keyboard, Microphone, and GPS.
[0026] The same enhanced WiFi Media Spot can be provided at the Guard end too, for redundancy and functionality.
[0027] The Engine WiFi Media Spot, can be mostly connected to internet through 3G Dongles or even through a roof-top satellite tracking antenna.
[0028] To ensure that each WiFi Storage can operate in a stand-alone manner, and that there are at least two WiFi Media Spots in each compartment for providing fail-safe operation to consumers.
[0029] To allow each WiFi Media Spot to be configured remotely through a central server, using an internal 3G Dongle.
[0030] To allow each WiFi Media Spot to fetch a daily content list via 3G from a Central server.
[0031] To allow content to be updated in the WiFi Node within the Engine via 3G itself.
[0032] To allow the WiFi Node in the Engine to initiate automatic formation of an intranet which chains the adjacent WiFi Nodes in all the compartments in the physical sequence.
[0033] To allow the train intranet to allow each WiFi Node to update its content from the previous WiFi Node towards the Engine side. This operation can proceed in a parallel pipelined manner for maximum efficiency.
[0034] To allow communication between mobile devices through-out the train using the intranet, and provide directory services of passengers in each coach through each WiFi Node.
[0035] To allow basic infotainment and communication services to continue between the connected compartments, even when the Engine detaches itself.
[0036] To allow automatic reconfiguration of the chain of WiFi Nodes on addition or deletion of any compartment.
[0037] To allow chaining of the WiFi Nodes to occur, even when there is an intermediate WiFi Node failure, though the communication bandwidth may get reduced.
[0038] To allow the Public Address System in each compartment to be attached to one of the WiFi Node, such that the Engine or the Guard can make a live announcement on it, using Microphones attached to their WiFi Nodes.
[0039] To allow the Public Address System to be also used by the Engine or Guard to play pre-recorded Messages or provided piped-music to the compartments.
[0040] To allow features such as Moving Maps, and a dynamic display of the train-route and the present geographical position to be displayed on the Train App, using the GPS coordinates provided through the WiFi Node at the Engine.
[0041] To allow WiFi Nodes to be interfaced to Monitor Displays for showing announcements and the next Station name.
[0042] To allow the usage logs and configuration information to be communicated using the 3G internet connection from the WiFi Node in the Engine.
[0043] If internet is not available through the Engine, the same would be accessed through the 3G Dongles within each WiFi Node, providing redundancy.
SUMMARY
[0044] In an embodiment of the present invention, a wireless content distribution system is provided in a vehicle. The vehicle has a plurality of compartments. The wireless content distribution system comprises a central media server and a secondary media server. The central media server is placed in a first compartment of the vehicle. The central media server comprises a storage device, a mobile data network modem, a wireless network access point, and a processor. The storage device stores a plurality of digital content media. The mobile data network modem is configured to connect to a wireless mobile data network and to update the digital media content through the wireless mobile data network. This establishes a wireless local area network (W-LAN). The wireless network access point is configured to connect to one or more mobile devices within the first compartment and to provide to said mobile devices an access to the digital media content and the wireless mobile data network. The processor is configured to assign a first set of Internet Protocol (IP) addresses to the mobile devices and to transmit a first re-configuration signal through the W-LAN. The secondary media server is placed in a second compartment of the vehicle. The secondary media server is connected wirelessly to the central media server. The secondary media server is configured to receive the first re-configuration message, to register an IP address and a corresponding IP subnet, to assign a second set of IP addresses within said IP subnet to said mobile devices, to connect wirelessly to the mobile devices within the second compartment, and to provide to said mobile devices an access to the digital media content and to the wireless mobile data network through the W-LAN.
[0045] In another embodiment of the present invention, a method for distributing content in a vehicle having one or more compartments is provided. A central media server is placed in a first compartment of the vehicle and a secondary media server is placed in a second compartment of the vehicle. The first and second compartments having a plurality of mobile devices. The method comprises storing a plurality of digital media content in a memory coupled to the central media server, establishing a wireless local area network (W-LAN) by connecting the central media server to a mobile data network, and updating the digital media content stored in the central media server through the mobile data network. The method further comprises assigning a first set of Internet Protocol (IP) addresses by the central media server to a plurality of mobile devices in the first compartment, establishing a first wireless connection between the central media server and the plurality of mobile devices within the first compartment, thereby providing to said mobile devices an access to the digital media content and to the wireless mobile data network, transmitting a re-configuration message by the central media server to the secondary media server, thereby allotting an IP address and a corresponding IP subnet to the secondary media server, establishing a second wireless connection between the central media server and the secondary media server, thereby providing to the secondary media server an access to the digital media content and to the wireless mobile data network through the W-LAN, assigning a second set of IP address within said IP subnet to the plurality of mobile devices within the second compartment, and establishing a third wireless connection between the secondary media server and a plurality of mobile devices within the second compartment, thereby providing to said mobile devices an access to the digital media content and to the wireless mobile data network through the W-LAN.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS

[0046] Reference will be made to embodiments of the invention, examples of which may be illustrated in the accompanying figures. These figures are intended to be illustrative, not limiting. Although the invention is generally described in the context of these embodiments, it should be understood that it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to these particular embodiments:
[0047] Figure 1 illustrates a schematic block diagram of a media server in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
[0048] Figure 2 illustrates a schematic block diagram of a media server interfaced with peripheral devices of a vehicle inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
[0049] Figure 3 illustrates a schematic block diagram of a media server interfaced with a public address system of a vehicle in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;
[0050] Figure 4 illustrates a schematic block diagram of a wireless content distribution system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
[0051] Figure 5 illustrates a schematic block diagram of a wireless content distribution system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
[0052] Figure 6 illustrates a schematic block diagram of a wireless content distribution system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
[0053] Figure 7 illustrates a schematic block diagram of a content distribution system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and
[0054] Figure 8 illustrates a flowchart illustrating a method of distributing content in a vehicle in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0055] Although specific terms are used in the following description for the sake of clarity, these terms are intended to refer only to the particular structure of the invention selected for illustration in the drawings, and are not intended to define or limit the scope of the invention.
[0056] References in the specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” member that a particular feature, structure, characteristics, or function described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the invention. The appearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment.
[0057] In an embodiment of the present invention, a wireless content distribution system is provided in a vehicle. The vehicle has a plurality of compartments. The wireless content distribution system comprises a central media server and a secondary media server. The central media server is placed in a first compartment of the vehicle. The central media server comprises a storage device, a mobile data network modem, a wireless network access point, and a processor. The storage device stores a plurality of digital content media. The mobile data network modem is configured to connect to a wireless mobile data network and to update the digital media content through the wireless mobile data network. This establishes a wireless local area network (W-LAN). The wireless network access point is configured to connect to one or more mobile devices within the first compartment and to provide to said mobile devices an access to the digital media content and the wireless mobile data network. The processor is configured to assign a first set of Internet Protocol (IP) addresses to the mobile devices and to transmit a first re-configuration signal through the W-LAN. The secondary media server is placed in a second compartment of the vehicle. The secondary media server is connected wirelessly to the central media server. The secondary media server is configured to receive the first re-configuration message, to register an IP address and a corresponding IP subnet, to assign a second set of IP addresses within said IP subnet to said mobile devices, to connect wirelessly to the mobile devices within the second compartment, and to provide to said mobile devices an access to the digital media content and to the wireless mobile data network through the W-LAN.
[0058] In another embodiment of the present invention, a method for distributing content in a vehicle having one or more compartments is provided. A central media server is placed in a first compartment of the vehicle and a secondary media server is placed in a second compartment of the vehicle. The first and second compartments having a plurality of mobile devices. The method comprises storing a plurality of digital media content in a memory coupled to the central media server, establishing a wireless local area network (W-LAN) by connecting the central media server to a mobile data network, and updating the digital media content stored in the central media server through the mobile data network. The method further comprises assigning a first set of Internet Protocol (IP) addresses by the central media server to a plurality of mobile devices in the first compartment, establishing a first wireless connection between the central media server and the plurality of mobile devices within the first compartment, thereby providing to said mobile devices an access to the digital media content and to the wireless mobile data network, transmitting a re-configuration message by the central media server to the secondary media server, thereby allotting an IP address and a corresponding IP subnet to the secondary media server, establishing a second wireless connection between the central media server and the secondary media server, thereby providing to the secondary media server an access to the digital media content and to the wireless mobile data network through the W-LAN, assigning a second set of IP address within said IP subnet to the plurality of mobile devices within the second compartment, and establishing a third wireless connection between the secondary media server and a plurality of mobile devices within the second compartment, thereby providing to said mobile devices an access to the digital media content and to the wireless mobile data network through the W-LAN.
[0059] The description herein and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained further with reference to the non-limiting embodiments that are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and detailed in the following description. Descriptions of well-known components and processing techniques are omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments herein. The examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the invention herein may be practiced and to further enable those of skill in the art to practice the invention herein.
[0060] Various embodiments of the invention provide a media server that is installed in each compartment of a vehicle for providing infotainment and communication services to a plurality of mobile devices (such as mobiles, tablets and laptops) within the compartments of the vehicle.
[0061] In an embodiment of the present invention, a communication protocol is provided, which allows a Wireless Local Area Network (W-LAN) to be configured when an engine of the vehicle that is coupled to a media server is attached to the vehicle. The W-LAN extends dynamically by way of aforementioned communication protocol to one or more compartments attached to the said engine. The W-LAN remains functional even when the engine is separatedfrom the vehicle. The W-LAN is formed even when one or more of the media servers in the vehicle are non-functional.
[0062] In another embodiment of the present invention, a protocol by which the digital media content is updated via the engine to the plurality of media servers in a parallel, pipelined manner is provided. The content at the Engine itself can be updated from a WiFi Media Station or on the move using 3G Dongles or roof-mounted VSAT terminal.
[0063] In yet another embodiment of the present invention,a method to for a fail-safe infotainment service is provided. The method is implemented by way of a mobile data network modem coupled to each media server that providesinfotainment services in a compartment.
[0064] The invention also allows anengine driver and aguard of the vehicle to know a sequence of the compartments attached to the engine. It also allows them to communicate to passengers via the W-LAN and allows the passengers to contact them in case of an emergency.
[0065] The invention minimizes cost of distributing digital media content via mobile data network to the vehicle and enables an ad-supported free infotainment service to the passengers of the vehicle.
[0066] In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. the media servers as described above form fourth broadcast media after radio, TV and cinema the media servers will create a fourth media: the “WiFi Media” for broadcasting Infotainment content. Here, being a high-tech modern media, the WiFi Media has best of both the worlds: advantages of the broadcast media and that of internet. The free WiFi Media will also be like the free-to-air channels that sustain by sponsorship of advertisements. Unlike the channels, though, the WiFi Media provides precise consumption statistics to the broadcasters. The media servers of the WiFi media have built-in intelligence, thereby prioritizing advertisements to meet targets set by the sponsors.
[0067] The WiFi Mediaallows video-on-demand, thereby providing latest programs to be accessed on-demand basis with full VCR controls. For example, a person can thus get down from one vehicle, and have his video automatically resume from the same position in another vehicle because of common set of content.
[0068] Here, for example, the internet or video-on-demand contents are like a library full of books – where the books can be subscribed at any time later, so there is no immediate watching urgency. The WiFi Media, though, will be limited to the latest 500 hours of programming, so although it has more flexibility than the traditional broadcast media, it will still retain the watching urgency as that of a film at a cinema hall. Therefore, afree and ubiquitous media, such as the WiFi Media, has the additional advantage of cutting across the economical, geographical and cultural strata, to form a common infotainment base, which people would be exposed to.The foremost importance of a broadcast media for the viewers is that of “shared experiences”. Like the traditional broadcast media, the WiFi Media too will be updated with few hours of content on a daily basis. Thus, everyone can easily check out the new updates and be aware of the content, thereby providing a common base for social exchanges.
[0069] In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the WiFi Media has an advantage over the traditional broadcast media, by being able to retain the most popular updates over the previous days by automatically deleting the least used content. This allowseach media server of the WiFi Media to fine-tune its content according to the taste of the travelers who are using it. This automatically takes care of both: language and cultural preferences in the contents.
[0070] In another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the wireless content distribution system including one or more media servers of the WiFi media are incorporated as fixed entertainment systems in one or more vehicles.
[0071] The need for providing entertainment to passengers in a vehicle, especially during a long journey has been well recognized in past two decades, and there has been a flood of proprietary, incompatible solutions. These “Seat-based” Entertainment systems, typically have a small TV Display attached to the back of a seat for viewing by the person seated behind it. The controls are either built into the seat handle, or our given through a touch screen. Earphone jacks are provided in the seat handles, while some seats provide foldable neck rest with built-in speakers. Most of the cost-effective Seat-based Entertainment systems, just multicast some TV channels to all the TV displays, allowing the user to select amongst these channels. These channels are mostly replayed from the hard-disk of the Server, but in some cases they are received by a tracking-dish antenna provided on the roof of the vehicle. More sophisticated systems, provide a small computer board attached to a vehicle wide LAN network. This allows Video-on-Demand facility, limited to the content stored in the Main Server on the LAN. The airlines typically have been providing the VOD services in the business class, while providing only the channels in the economy class. In spite of the huge cost of the Seat-based Entertainment system, the user’s have been indifferent towards it. One of the primary reason for this has been lack of quality content and quality TV screens itself. As the Entertainment service is free in all the vehicles, the service provider is generally not able to afford quality content for a very limited audience. Moreover, the user faces the vexing problem of leaving a movie incomplete, on completion of the journey – with a dim possibility of being able to see the remaining elsewhere.The Seat-based Entertainment systems in smaller vehicles such as car have been just refinement of individual Media Players, based on DVD or USB pen-drive. The content procurement problem was left to the user.
[0072] In another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the WiFi Media functions like aninternet website. Unlike normal internet sites, which are accessed only by a small minority of Internet users, the WiFi Media has to be accessible by a growing population of users, which may one day surpass that of internet. Further, the WiFi Media is not limited by any of the limitations faced by the internet. Therefore, the WiFi media is available in moving vehicles, where even the 3G internet connections would be unstable. Further, the WiFi media is available in any geographical location which are visited by the vehicles, where 3G access may not be available, and satellite access would be too costly or obstructed by mountains, high rises etc. The WiFi mediaallows the content to be accessed using WiFi, thereby without the internet access costs.Unlike existing internet unpredictability, the access from the media servers of the WiFi Media would be quick, glitch less and reliable. The WiFi Media would be infinitely scalable. Hence, billions of people all over the world are simultaneously using the WiFi Media, without any slowing down.
[0073] In yet another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a media server or an in-vehicle content server for WiFi enabled mobile devices is provided. There are commercial 3G Hotspot solutions available for vehicles, which allow the internet gained from the 3G to be provided to the mobile devices within a vehicle. Further, with the availability of the wireless building blocks, some service organizations have gravitated towards coupling a Content Server, with a WiFi access point within a vehicle for allowing content to be played through a specialized application on the WiFi enabled mobile devices. The media server of the WiFi Media is updated through a 3G Dongle. The 3G update can become very for large number of video content. Therefore, such in-vehicle content servers face the problem of scalability and sustainability. They need to charge the users, for the content viewed to offset the high operational costs – which the user is reluctant to pay. As a result, they are viable only in only certain elite buses and routes. As the viewer-ship is low, they don’t get the benefit of sustaining of advertisements, such as that for the FTA (Free-to-Air) channels. Moreover, the biggest dampener in sustainability is the demand of the fleet operators to have the service provider bear the cost of the in-vehicle Content Servers. Without a ubiquitous user base, any in-vehicle entertainment service, will be perceived as optional and will not be habit forming. This further erodes the sustainability. In contrast, the WiFi Media has been designed to be ubiquitous in all the in-vehicle environment. This is possible because the media server of the WiFi Media is quite affordable even for individual vehicles such as cars.Once installed, the media server provides access to free content, which is updateddaily.
[0074] The media servers provide Video/Audio channels which can allow easy immersion of the users, in contrast to the VOD content. The update of the media servers can be done at no cost through other media servers which had been earlier updated, or at a very low cost through a central media server of the WiFi Media.A media server, can be even updated manually by transferring the new content, via a WiFi device. The media server, has an additional WiFi client with MIMO antennas, for allowing background downloading on a peer-to-peer basis, while it is serving content from the Access Point antenna. The latter can allow hooking up by few other media servers for updating purpose. This allows a tree to be formed, for pipelined wireless updating of content.
[0075] In another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the WiFi Media accrues the same benefit as that of another broadcast media: scalability. In fact, as the scale of deployment increases sustaining would become easier. The WiFi Media, with free content, would habituate users such that it will become a standard fixture in each vehicle – much like the FM Radio. With mass production, and increasing viewer base, the cost of the WiFi Media servers will come down, making further deployments easier.In an example, the WiFi Media content can be sustained by global advertisement. The revenue from the advertisements would increase in proportion to the users. This would allow affording of better and more recent content, which in turn would increase the number of users.In anotherexample, the central media servers update the other media servers, as those are commonly available in public places and serve as fixed central media servers. In anotherexample, the media servers require to access internet only for retrieving the cached content from the media server, the same can be provided through the caching servers present in the last mile of an ISP. This would enable the ISP to provide a link for only updating WiFi Media at a much more cost-effective rate than the general internet access. In anotherexample, the operational costs for media servers, provides public lighting, and will be absorbed by the housing societies or public places as part of their basic operational cost. The load on the WiFi content server, from the media servers will not be more than any popular website – ensuring sustainability.The WiFi media provides ubiquitous in-vehicle entertainment. The media servers as described in this invention, elegantly addresses the problems of providing a ubiquitous broadcast “WiFi Media” in each vehicle. Here, the media servers first do away with the need for providing costly “seat-based” entertainment systems, by the vehicle owner. Now each of the smart-phone, tablet of laptop themselves become the user-habituated screens. All that the vehicle owner has to do is to provide one media server for covering all the passengers of even a bus. Of course, a train compartment or an aircraft may require more than one media server for adequate coverage. The media servers, would take care of seamless roaming across the entire space covered by overlapping WiFi Media, for example in a vestibulated train.Like most of the popular broadcast media, the WiFi Media is free, to allow a mass usage, and sustains through the advertisement spots.Like any other broadcast media, the WiFi Media, provides many hours or latest contents on a daily basis. The content is replenished on an overnight basis on all the media servers of the WiFi Media. Unlike other broadcast media, however, most of the content over past many days will still be available to the users. Infact, each media server retains 500 hours or more of the most popular content with the users. This will in turn automatically take care of language and cultural preferences in different parts of the country. Thus, the WiFi Media becomes the only broadcast media in the world, which adapts automatically to the regional requirements using a common set of content in the master repository on the central servers.
[0076] Therefore, the media servers of the WiFi media, as such do away with the reliance on internet on-the-move through the costly 3G connection – the biggest hurdle coming in the way of providing free WiFi Media services to the users. The media storage within each media server, is designed to update through WiFi itself, in peer-to-peer manner through other media servers that are proximate. The daily content updates thus have to be received by only few media servers from a fixed internet access point (designated as central media server) – these inturn disseminate the same to other media servers as and when they come in touch with - starting off a chain reaction.
[0077] Hence, the WiFi Media is ubiquitous, and makes it possible for a person to get down from one vehicle and resume the content from the same point in another vehicle. This cannot happen in the world, of proprietary and fixed entertainment systems as found in some aircrafts and trains. Therefore, in future, the WiFi Media in cars, buses and trains and help would be ubiquitous. Hence, as the WiFi usage restrictions vanish in the airline industry, the WiFi Media extends to the aircrafts.With the ubiquity of WiFi Media in vehicles and new habit formation, it is a matter of time that the same will spill over to homes, offices and public places. So it would be safe to say that like the 3G internet, users will get continuous WiFi Media experience too, everywhere where they go.
[0078] The media server is present on the internet cloud, and has the main repository of content, which are disseminated via all the central media servers to all the media servers and thus ultimately to all the users.At the end of each day a few hours of content are updated in each language category on the media server. This would be disseminated overnight such that the same are available to the mobile devices, the next morning. The media server is normally used for updating only the central media servers via a cost-effective land internet connection. The central media servers in turn update other media servers. A media server, will access the central media server, through a 3G connection, only if it has not got updated by the time the users require the content.
[0079] The media server (Figure 1) is a wireless device for ushering in WiFi Media in any place where it is installed. This can be in fixed places as well as within vehicles.The media server has a power-supply-with battery back-up (1.6) specially optimized for in-vehicle use and the voltage fluctuations during ignition or loading by other devices.The power supply can take from 8V to 28V DC, through an external connector (1.6a) when it is used within vehicles such as car and buses. (The models for trains and fixed places, allows voltage from 85V to 280V AC to be used).DC 5V (1.6b) is provided to the router board. The battery-back up would allow few hours of working without external power. An external power-failure signal (6c) is also provided to the Router board (1).The Router board, supports Access Point directional MIMO antennas (1.3a, 1.3b) for catering to the WiFi devices, and minimizing the RF spillage outside the vehicle. The Router board also has a WiFi Client Dongle with its MIMO Antenna (1.4) for connecting to another WiFi Media Spot.The Router board also has a built-in 3G Dongle (1.2) for allowing the WiFi Media Spot to send its log periodically to the WiFi Media Server, and receiving new Configuration and Content Update List information. The 3G Dongle (1.2) is also used for Content Update, when the same could not be fetched using the WiFi medium. Router board is connected to a Solid State Drive (SSD) device (5) of more than 100GB capacity. The WiFi Media Station, meant to be installed at stationary points, can have a much higher capacity Hard Disk, which will allow the super-set of all the language content to be cached. Here, each user is required to register his mobile device with any media server, before he can use the services. Further, a user has to separately register, for each device which he owns.
[0080] Each media server sends a periodic usage log to the central media server. This includes information about the advertisements and contents used by a particular mobile device or user. It also records the content uploaded by a user, so that he can get some credits.When the engine is connected, the usage log is sent via the engine to the central media server, otherwise it is sent directly through the 3G Dongle. Similarly, the configuration information is got through the engine, or directly through the 3G.The engine provides good 3G or satellite internet connectivity for sending logs and receiving configuration information periodically from the central media server.
[0081] The central media server (7.1) is a fixed, with an internet link, which allows access to all the content of a central WiFi Media Server. It announces its SSID as “WiFi Media Station”.A central media server, can simultaneously be used as a media server, through its “WiFi Media Spot” SSID.The central media server has a larger storage as required for caching the content in all the languages. The central media server or the media server is configured from the central media server for caching some specified languages. It ignores the rest. This information is kept in a specific metafile within the media server.New content is updated in the media server (7.4) of the engine (2), through a central media server (7.1). This then makes the engine act as a central media server for updating the adjacent media server (7.5) in a compartment (7.3), which in turn becomes a central media server to update media servers (7.6). This will repeat till the content are update till the last media server at the guard van. The content update in the engine’s media server is done through the central media server, preferably at the beginning of the journey. However, for long journeys, overnight updating can be done through some central media servers located at stations where the vehicle halts at the night. If the halt is not of sufficient duration, updating of the central media servers of the engine can be done through the 3G or Satellite Internet connection itself.
[0082] Further, each media server has a fixed storage capacity for keeping around 500 hours of video content and each media server in the vehicle, periodically sends the usage log to the media server in the engine. The latter sends the logs to the WiFi Media server, via the 3G or Satellite Internet connection.The media server at the engine also aggregates the received log files, to find out about the content usage frequency. When the media server of the engine is being updated for content, the least used content (as found from the log statistics) are automatically deleted). Further, the engine media server also enables, the language configuration metafile to be copied to each of the media servers in the train, so that they are all in sync for the languages required. Therefore, in this way, the content in each travel route will get fine-tuned to cater to the preferences of the audience.The media server can push some older popular content along with the new content, as part of its daily update. This allows users to revisit some of the earlier popular content, which may have vanished for some time. It’s like a re-release of a popular old movie in the cinema halls. In an exemplary embodiment, the WiFi Media catering to operational requirements of railways. Railways have from a long time faced the problem of noting which coaches have been attached in a rack, before the commencement of the train route. This information is erroneous, when gathered manually. The Railways would also like to be able to link up their Public Address System in each compartment wirelessly, for piping in Music or making Announcements. Similarly, they would like to show station arrival information in each compartment on some existing displays.Railways would also like emergency communication to happen between passengers and the engine driver or guard, through the wireless system.They would also like a GPS based moving map to be integrated for information to the engine driver and guard, as well as tracking from a central location. The invention allows enhancement of media servers in engine/guard-van and compartments to be able to cater to these requirements.Figure 3 shows the enhancements possible to the media servers at the engine end. It can provide for a monitor display (3.7), keyboard (3.6), Microphone (3.5) as a user interface. The media server at the engine can also be enhanced for interface to a GPS (3.4). Alternative internet sources can be provided through 3G dongles (3.8a, 3.8b) or satellite tracking antenna (3.2). In the compartments, as shown in Figure 2, one or both of the media servers (2.1) can be interfaced to a sound system (2.2), display (2.5) and even a surveillance camera (2.4) and microphone (2.3).This makes it possible for the engine driver or the guard to use the sound-system in each compartment, for live or canned announcements, or piped music. The GPS can be used for showing the approaching station in the displays at the compartments. The surveillance camera, can allow the personnel at engine/guard-van to keep an eye on what is happening in any compartment. The same can be monitored centrally via the 3G or satellite internet connection.Even as the engine or the guard van joins up at either end, the exact sequence of coaches, will be available on the display, as the coach information would have been pre-configured in each of the media servers.
[0083] In an exemplary embodiment, media servers are provided in a standalone compartment. Here, a compartment is not connected to any other compartment, and therefore, the media servers, as shown in Figure 4, act on a stand-alone basis to cater to the stored contents to the devices nearby. Two media servers (4.1a, 4.2a) are provided in each compartment, both for the sake of redundancy as well as being able to wirelessly interface to the media servers in the adjacent compartments. In a standalone scenario, the logs will be sent directly through the 3G dongles inside each media server to the central media server. The configuration information and the latest content update list is also got directly through the 3G dongles.
[0084] In another exemplary embodiment, train-wide intranet is provided. Here, when the engine attaches itself to the compartments, the media server in the engine initiates the aforementioned protocol which automatically configures the intranet across the train, as shown in Figure 5.The W-LAN is configured such that each of the media servers, cycle through the three available frequencies in the 2.4 GHz spectrum: Channel 1, 6 and 11. For example in Figure 5, the engine (5.5) would be on channel 1, and the subsequent nodes (5.6, 5.7, 5.8, 5.9, 5.10) being respectively at channel 3, 6, 1, 3 & 6. This way the interface between adjacent media servers is minimized.
[0085] The W-LAN is also configured such that the engine always gets the 192.168.0.xx subnet, while the media server which is “n” removed from it, gets a subnet of 192.168.n.xx. Each media server thus has unique subnets, by which unique addressing of each device in the entire intranet is possible.An access point of the “n”th media server, will always have a fixed address of 192.168.n.1, while the mobile devices connected to it will get a DHCP address from 192.168.n.2 to 192.168.n.253. The address 192.168.n.254 is reserved for the client of the “n+1”th node to join in.For the “n”th media server, all IP addresses 192.168.m.xx, where m n the packets are sent towards the engine side.The routing tables for the “n”th media server are configured such that 192.168.(n-1).1 becomes the gateway for all the packets which need to go towards the engine side, and 192.168.n.254 becomes the gateway for all the packets going towards the guard side.
[0086] In an example, the W-LAN is re-configured automatically. The media server(5.5) in the engine (1) periodically (say every 5 minutes) adds a “RE-CONFIGURE” SSID on its access point (this is actually hidden for not showing up on a mobile device). This is seen by the adjacent media server(5.6), which then connects to the media server and gets a 192.168.0.yy as its address. It then knows that its sequence Number has to be 1, and it assumes the subnet 192.168.1.xx. It also switches its AP to the corresponding cycling WiFi frequency as discussed before.The engine takes down its RE-CONFIGURE SSID as soon as the DHCP address had been given to the subsequent node. After this SSID has disappeared, the first node itself raises the RE-CONFIGURE SSID, for attention of the subsequent node. Any node, like the engine in this case, which has been configured within the last minute, doesn’t take part in the reconfiguration process.So now the whole process will repeat with node 5.7 getting the address 192.168.2.xx, and so on it will percolate till the guard van gets the address 192.168.5.xx. The configured nodes can immediately start communicating to the left hand side. Although they may not know the information about how many compartments lie towards their right, that doesn’t matter as they can always blindly program the routing table for all the subnets till 192.168.44.xx, assuming that the longest train will not have more than 22 coaches.As soon as the configuration reaches the end, the intranet is fully formed and communication can happen in either direction from any node.The subsequent RE-CONFIGURE SSID initiation by the Engine still causes the RE-CONFIGURE protocol to move towards the Guard-end of the train. But each node, does nothing as it finds that there is nothing to be reconfigured. However, if a coach was added at the end (by another engine), that will get reconfigured and then when the Guard Van gets appended, it will get a different sequence number. After the intranet formation, even if the Engine gets removed the rest of the intranet will remain functional, as no re-configuration would happen. Even when the compartments get separated eventually, they would retain the same subnet as what they had got during the last RE-CONFIGURATION.
[0087] In another exemplary embodiment, resilience to failures of the W-LAN is provided. Here, as Figure 6 how, the W-LAN formation is quite immune to a single intermediate node failure, as it gets simply skipped in the sequence formation.In Figure 6, node 6.5 has failed in-between. In the subsequent RE-CONFIGURATION process, the node (6.4) advertises its RE-CONFIGURE SSID. This can’t be responded to by 6.5. The compartment distances are such that the further removed node 6.6 can also see the RE-CONFIGURE SSID of 6.4, although it is weak. The node 6.6 thus waits for few seconds for node 6.5 to respond. If it doesn’t than it takes the initiative and connects to node 6.4 and re-numbers itself as “2” (it would have been 3, if the fault was not there), and then continues the protocol.The mobile devices attached to 6.5 would automatically re-attach themselves to the node on the left or right as shown, depending on the strength of the signals. By reattaching they again become part of the intranet, though with different addresses.
[0088] In an example, a device directory information is maintained by each media server. Each media server, maintains a device directory listing the MAC-ID,device type,user name and the allotted IP address. The device directory metafile, also has the information about the coach number (which was pre-programmed at the time of installation).The device directory information can be accessed by any media server, to be able to have the comprehensive latest information about what IP is associated with each mobile device or user. This then becomes the basis for the WiFi Media application to show a dynamic directory of users, and allow people to instantly connect up with other, either with voice or text. The VoIP communication through the device directory can happen, even if the engine is detached from the train, as there is no need for any master device, and the IP addresses in the intranet do not change. The media servers, provide a QoS (Quality of Service), with the highest priority given to the VoIP traffic, so that it is not affected by any other traffic, including the Multicast.
[0089] In another example, the media servers provide beaming of TV channels. The media server in the engine will generate multicast Video/Audio channels too. The media server would generate the multicast channels from the constituent individual content and advertisements, using an internal play-list which would be updated on a daily basis. The multicast channels from the engine, will be carried across the wireless intranet formed by all the media servers in the coaches.The multicast channels, will be like the TV/Radio channels and will allow continuous playing through the WiFi Media application. It though will provide user convenience features such as pause and play. The multicast channels, conserve the WiFi bandwidth. They can be viewed by any number of mobile devices in the transmission range. The WiFi Media application would take care of the smooth transition from one media server to the other, for a roaming user. The multicast channels require to be sent using the highest priority and QoS (quality of service), such that they don’t get disturbed by the unicast traffic. media servers would adhere to the QoS requirements.
[0090] Referring now to Figure 1, a schematic block diagram of a media server (100) is shown in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
[0091] The media server (100) includes the router board (1) has first and second MIMO (Multiple Input Multiple Output) antennas (3a and 3b) connected therewith. The media server (100) further includes a mobile data network modem (2) (such as 3G dongle) for connection to a mobile data network (such as 2G or 3G wireless networks). The router board (1) is further connected to a WiFi modem (3) with its own antenna, for accessing other access points. The router board(1) is further connected to a solid state storage (5) of 100GB or more capacity. A mini UPS (6) with built-in battery backup provides power (6b) to the Router Board (1) as well as power fail signal (6c) for indicating that the power coming from an external power socket (6a) is absent.
[0092] Referring now to Figure 2, a schematic block diagram of the media server (100) interfaced with multiple peripheral devices of a vehicle is shown in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
[0093] The media server (1) is interfaced with an audio system (2) in a first compartment of the vehicle. The media server (100) can be also interfaced to existing LED Display or TV (5) in the first compartment for displaying approaching station information. For compartment surveillance the router board (1) can be interfaced to a web-camera (4) and a microphone (3). The microphone (3) can also be used for emergency contact with the Engine Driver.
[0094] Referring now to Figure 3, a schematic block diagram of the media server (100) interfaced with a public address system of the vehicle is shown in accordance with an embodiments of the present invention.
[0095] The media server (100) is enhanced for use within the engine or the guard van of the vehicle. The MIMO (Multiple Input Multiple Output) Antennas (3a & 3b) are fitted at the back of the engine for better connection to the next compartment. The WiFi client antenna (9) is installed outside the engine for better connection with a WiFi access point at astation. 3G Dongles (8a & 8b) provide wireless internet connectivity to the media server (100). This internet can be supplemented with a roof-top mounted VSAT terminal (2). The media server (1) also is connected to a GPS Antenna (4) for tracking the geographical position. The media server (100) also has a monitor (7) and a keyboard (6) for tracking the status of each compartment in the vehicle and a microphone (5) for making announcements.
[0096] Referring now to Figure 4, a schematic block diagram of a wireless content distribution system (400) is shown in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
[0097] The wireless content distribution system (400) includes two media servers (1a, 2a) that are placed in a compartment of the vehicle for providing the infotainment services to the WiFi portable devices (4a, 4b, 4c, 5a, 5b, 5c). The media server (2a) attaches to the WiFi channel (3) emanating from the media server (1a). The mobile devices (4a, 4b, 4c) which are nearer to the media server (1a) attach to the MIMO antenna (1c) of the media server (1a), while the mobile devices (5a, 5b, 5c) which are nearer to the media server (2a) attach to the MIMO antenna (2c) of the media server (2a).
[0098] Referring now to Figure 5, a schematic block diagram of a wireless content distribution system (500) is shown in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
[0099] The wireless content distribution system (500) illustrates a wireless local area network (W-LAN) formed in the vehicle with engine (1), first and second compartments (2, 3) and the guard van (4). The media server (6) in the first compartment (2) attaches to the W-LAN (11) emanating from the media server (5) of the engine (1). The media server (7) in the first compartment (2) attaches to the W-LAN (12) emanating from the media server (6) at the beginning of the first compartment. The media server (8) in the server (3) attaches to the W-LAN (13) emanating from the media server (7) in the first compartment (2). The media server (9) in the second compartment (3) attaches to the W-LAN (14) emanating from the media server (8) in the second compartment (3). The media server (10) in the guard van (4) attaches to the W-LAN (15) emanating from the media server (9) in the second compartment (3).
[00100] Referring now to Figure 6, a schematic block diagram of a wireless content distribution system (600) is shown in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
[00101] The wireless content distribution system (600) illustrates that the W-LAN can be formed in spite of an intermediate media server (5) which may be down. The media server (6), instead of connecting to the failed media server (5), connects to the weaker WiFi signals coming from the media server (4) in the previous compartment (6). A few of the mobile devices in compartment (2) which are near the failed media server (5), attach to the previous media server (4) or the subsequent media server (6).
[00102] Referring now to Figure 7, wireless content distribution system (700) is shown in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.The wireless content distribution system (700) illustrates that a media server (1)updates the media server (4) in the engine (2) through the W-LAN (7). This in turn updates the adjacent media server (5) in the compartment (7) over the W-LAN (8), which in turn updates the adjacent media server (6) over the W-LAN (9).
[00103] Referring now to Figure 8, a method of distributing content in a vehicle is shown in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.At step 802, digital media content is stored in a memory coupled to a central media server. At step 804, a W-LAN is established by connecting the central media server to a mobile data network. At step 806, the digital media content stored in the central media server is updated through the mobile data network. At step 808, a first set of IP addresses is assigned to mobile devices in a first compartment. At step 810, a first wireless connection is established between the central media server and the mobile devices in the first compartment, thereby providing to said mobile devices an access to digital media content and to the mobile data network. At step 812, the central media server transmits a re-configuration message to the secondary media server, thereby assigning IP address and corresponding IP subnet to the secondary media server. At step 814, a second wireless connection is established between the central media server and the secondary media server, thereby providing to secondary media server an access to the digital media content and the mobile data network through the W-LAN. At step 816, the secondary media server assigns a second set of IP addresses within said IP subnet to multiple mobile devices within the second compartment. At step 818, a third wireless connection is established between the secondary media server and the mobile devices within the second compartment, thereby providing said mobile devices an access to the digital media content and to the mobile data network through the W-LAN.

ADVANTAGES

[00104] A person can now utilize his journey time productively in catching up with the latest entertainment channels, songs and videos on his mobile, tablet or laptop device.
[00105] While the person is absorbed in the entertainment, his other internet based apps would get updated in the background, through the common Internet facility.
[00106] The WiFi node-based directory services would allow people to locate other people in different compartments and be in touch with them as required.
[00107] A moving map facility in the Train App. which alerts when the destination station is going to come next will take away the clutter of frequent announcement of every station.
[00108] Solves the problems of the Railways, where verification of the coaches in a Rack is error-prone. Now the Engine driver and the Guard will be able to view the sequence of Coaches.
[00109] Traditionally the audio/display based public-announcement system in the trains had to be hooked up at the time of formation of a train-rack, by linking network connectors at each end of the coaches. This was physically tiresome process, with high possibility of failures of the physical connectors. The invention does away with wires, and manual interlinking.
[00110] Invention allows communication between the passengers and the driver/guard using the special Apps. This takes care of the emergency requirement of communication. This also facilitates services such as ordering from pantry car, an even VoIP phone calls between passengers on a moving train.
[00111] Real-time info will be available through a Central Server to the Railway authorities about the constitution of the coaches in each train on each route, and its actual GPS position.
[00112] If the Engine is linked to the internet via a Satellite dish, then it would be possible for people anywhere in the world to be in touch with the passengers in the train via their usual internet Apps.
[00113] Even if the Engine and some coaches at either end are detached, the remaining coaches would remain linked together and the infotainment and communication services will not be disrupted.
[00114] The WiFi Node at the Engine can allow updating through internet provided by a WiFi Media Station. This can be more cost-effective than downloading through 3G or Satellite internet connection.
[00115] The description below is given along with drawings, in order to clarify the working of the preferred embodiment of the device.
[00116] The foregoing description of the invention shall be construed to be explained in specific embodiments and will reveal the general nature of the embodiments herein that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed invention. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Therefore, while the invention shall be construed to be explained in embodiments herein, the invention has been described in terms of preferred embodiments.Those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments herein can be practiced with modification(s) within the scope of the embodiments as described herein.
[00117] It will be apparent to one of the ordinary skill in the art that many modifications, improvements and sub-combinations of the various embodiments, adaptations and variations can be made to the invention without departing from the scope thereof as claimed in the following claims:

,CLAIMS:

1. A wireless content distribution system in a vehicle having a plurality of compartments, said wireless content distribution system comprising:
a central media server placed in a first compartment of the vehicle, said central media server having:
a storage device configured to store a plurality of digital media content;
a mobile data network modem configured to connect to a wireless mobile data network and further configured to update the digital media content through the wireless mobile data network, thereby establishing a wireless local area network (W-LAN);
a wireless network access point configured to connect to one or more mobile devices within the first compartment and to provide to said mobile devices an access to the digital media content and the wireless mobile data network; and
a processor configured to assign a first set of Internet Protocol (IP) addresses to said mobile devices and to transmit a first re-configuration signal through the W-LAN; and
a secondary media server placed in a second compartment of the vehicle, said secondary media server connected wirelessly to the central media server and said secondary media server configured to:
receive the first re-configuration message,
register an IP address and a corresponding IP subnet, assign a second set of IP addresses within said IP subnet to said mobile devices,
connect wirelessly to the mobile devices within the second compartment, and
provide to said mobile devices an access to the digital media content and to the wireless mobile data network through the W-LAN.
2. The wireless content distribution system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a third media server in a third compartment, wherein said third media server is configured to connect wirelessly to the secondary media server.
3. The wireless content distribution system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the secondary media server is further configured to transmit a second re-configuration message to the third media server, and wherein the third media server is further configured to connect wirelessly to the mobile devices within the third compartment, thereby extending the W-LAN to the third compartment.
4. The wireless content distribution system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the central media server, the secondary media server, and the third media server facilitate communication between said mobile devices within the first, second, and third compartments through the W-LAN.
5. The wireless content distribution system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the processor of the central media server is further configured to maintain a directory of media access control addresses (MAC addresses) of the mobile devices within the first compartment, the first set of IP addresses allotted to said mobile devices, and user identifiers corresponding to said mobile devices.
6. The wireless content distribution system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the central media server is further configured to interface with a public address system of the vehicle, said public address system comprising at least one of a display, a speaker, a microphone, and a security camera.
7. The wireless content distribution system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the central media server is further configured to connect to a global positioning satellite or a communication satellite.
8. The wireless content distribution system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the central and the secondary media servers further comprise Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) antennas for simultaneous wireless transmission and reception of data.
9. A method for distributing content in a vehicle having one or more compartments, wherein a central media server is placed in a first compartment of the vehicle and a secondary media server is placed in a second compartment of the vehicle, said first and second compartments having a plurality of mobile devices, the method comprising:
storing a plurality of digital media content in a memory coupled to the central media server;
establishing a wireless local area network (W-LAN) by connecting the central media server to a mobile data network;
updating the digital media content stored in the central media server through the mobile data network;
assigning a first set of Internet Protocol (IP) addresses by the central media server to a plurality of mobile devices in the first compartment;
establishing a first wireless connection between the central media server and the plurality of mobile devices within the first compartment, thereby providing to said mobile devices an access to the digital media content and to the wireless mobile data network;
transmitting a re-configuration message by the central media server to the secondary media server, thereby allotting an IP address and a corresponding IP subnet to the secondary media server;
establishing a second wireless connection between the central media server and the secondary media server, thereby providing to the secondary media server an access to the digital media content and to the wireless mobile data network through the W-LAN;
assigning a second set of IP address within said IP subnet to the plurality of mobile devices within the second compartment; and
establishing a third wireless connection between the secondary media server and a plurality of mobile devices within the second compartment, thereby providing to said mobile devices an access to the digital media content and to the wireless mobile data network through the W-LAN.
10. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the central media server and the secondary media server facilitate communication between said mobile devices within the first and second compartments through the W-LAN.