Past 2012 TC Meetings:
22-23 May / Burbank, California USA
13-14 November / Irvine, California USA
13-14 NOVEMBER / TC MEETING / IRVINE, CALIFORNIA USA
Keynote Address
Jon Rettinger – President & Editorial Director of TechnoBuffalo
Roy Choi - Managing Editor, TechnoBuffalo
Content is Still King
What makes an IFE game tick? What’s the difference between a Game App you’d find on the App Store and one developed for IFE? Games are one of the least known and least-understood forms of IFE entertainment. We look under the ‘hood’ to understand the challenges that software developers face in our industry; busting the myth about integrating games onto aircraft IFE systems (it’s not just plug and play!) and looking at what the future of inflight gaming will hold.
Moderated by: Jonathan Norris – Executive Director, APEX Media Platform
Panelists: Marc-André Bruneau – VP of Engineering, DTI Software
Dan Harris – Managing Director, Flightbet
Max Lingua, GueTech
Ian Walberg – CEO, Airborne Interactive
Second Screens
“Second screens” represent a tablet, phone or other mobile device used by viewers while also watching content on a larger screen. Studios are looking to offer content including behind-the-scenes features, quizzes and facts on the second screen that compliments the primary programing. Speakers will describe its application and relation to IFE.
Tom Engdahl, MagicRuby
Chuck Parker – Chairman, Second Screen Society
Michael Papish – Director, Innovation, Rovi
Content Security
Aspects will cover early and late window content availability, digital rights management, watermarking and digital file transfer system. Hear from studios on requirements and what is currently available.
Bryan Rusenko – Vice President, Strategy & Technology, IFE, Technicolor
Interoperable Master Format (IMF)
This session will serve as an update on the activities of the SMPTE Working Group that is codifying IMF.
Mike Krause – Mastering Systems Engineer, The Walt Disney Company
Metadata Exchange Format
Andy Beer – Vice President of Technology, IFP
Michael Childers – Chief Consultant, Content and Media Strategy, Lufthansa Systems
Michael Papish – Director, Innovation, Rovi
Handheld Devices – Real World Operation
With a number of airlines having had handheld consumer devices in revenue service for about a year now we ask our panel: how they’re holding up to daily use; what’s the feedback been like from the passengers; what upgrades do they foresee with respect to devices and/or functionality and do they really provide a genuine alternative to aviation certified IFE systems?
Moderated by: Jonathan Norris – Executive Director, APEX Media Platform
Kevin Birchmore – Head of Technology, Bluebox / DMD Phantom
Victor Hernandez, IFE Services
Dr. Joerg Liebe – CIO, Lufthansa Systems
Trouble-Shooting Wifi Network
Wi-Fi is being deployed on more and more aircraft as a cost-effective way to provide existing services as well as new revenue opportunities. This session will cover the basics of wireless operation plus real world problems and how to solve them. We will also demonstrate Wi-Fi testing solution as time and circumstances permit.
Carolyn Carter – PNT Product Manager, Fluke Network
Adaptive Bit-Rate Streaming: How it Works, Why it is Better, and Changes in Distribution
This session will look at the hotly discussed topic of streaming. Bill Evjen will walk you through the different types of streaming and how adaptive bit-rate streaming works. Understand how this new type of streaming effects bandwidth, distribution of content, and the overall quality of what is delivered.
Bill Evjen – Chief Information Officer, SWANK Motion Pictures
Wireless Streaming Technology for Bring-Your-Own-Devices (BYOD)
William Mutual – CEO, LiveCast
FAA PED Update
The US FAA has announced the formation of a working group (WG) to investigate the passenger use of PEDs onboard, with an objective of providing guidance to airlines re the approval of portable devices for onboard use. The public comment period for this project was 28 August 28 – 28 October, and the WG will be formed shortly. In this session we heard from Tim Shaver, FAA Branch Manager, Avionics Maintenance Branch, (live via teleconference.) And some other topics included:
• Background of what the FAA WG is looking to accomplish
• Summary of public comments received during the 60 day period
• Project schedule / milestones / tasks going forward
• What policies, FARs, ACs will this project affect
• Who are WG members, what is meeting schedule, and more
Timothy Shaver – Branch Manager, Avionics Maintenance Branch, FAA
Fasten Your Seatbelts for Streaming Media: Challenges and Opportunities
The session shall provide attendees with a first-hand look at what is involved (end to end) with delivering a pioneering IFE solution including the numerous design considerations, the barriers to entry, the technical hurdles and ultimately the successful deployment of the world's first production streaming IFE AVOD platform currently being installed on three of the world's largest airlines.
Barry Atkinson – Chief Architect, Gogo, LLC
Connectivity – How Much Bandwidth is Really Available?
Typically the first thing one is told about any new Ku or Ka-band satellite is that bandwidth capacity won't be a problem and it's going to be much cheaper than other connectivity solutions on the market. Putting the ‘thorny’ issue of cost to one side we’ll focus on the topic of capacity and the service level an airline or more importantly an airline passenger can reasonably expect to receive.
Moderated by: Jonathan Norris – Executive Director, APEX Media Platform
Jonathan Norris – Executive Director, APEX Media Platform
Anand Chari – SVP & CTO, Gogo, LLC
David Coiley – VP Aeronautical, Inmarsat
Don Buchman – Director Mobile Broadband Systems, ViaSat
Todd Hill – Director of Satellite Operations, Panasonic Avionics
Richard Nordstrom – Managing Director, OnAir North America
Wayne Pierzga – Strategic Innovation, Intelsat
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22-23 MAY 2012 / TC MEETING / TECHNICOLOR - BURBANK, CALIFORNIA USA
Welcome & Introduction
Technology Committee Leadership:
Ian Walberg – Chief Executive Officer, Airborne Interactive Ltd.
Michael Childers – Chief Consultant, Content and Media Strategy, Lufthansa Systems
David Coiley – Aeronautical Business Director, Inmarsat Ltd.
John Craig – Chief Engineer, Cabin & Network Systems, Boeing Commercial Airplanes
Victor Hernandez – Executive Vice President, Technical Operations, IFE Services
Leigh Mantle – Chief Operating Officer, Inflight Productions
Erik Miller – Manager, IFE Systems Engineering, American Airlines
Jonathan Norris - Executive Director - APEX Media Platform, Ink
Bryan Rusenko – Vice President, Strategy & Technology, IFE, Technicolor
Rich Salter – Chief Technical Officer, Lumexis Corporation
Regina Stewart – Lead Engineer, IFE and Cabin Systems Engineering, American Airlines
Keynote Address
Vince Pizzica – Head of Corporate Partnerships and Ventures, Technicolor
Content is Still King...'The Sequel'
The consensus coming from the panel discussion during the last TC meeting was that content does is indeed still King. But what content? Content and passenger’s viewing habits are changing and evolving as they’re tempted by the ever-increasing array of available media. How will passenger’s ‘consume’ their content: second-screening? ... binge TV viewing? What will Geo-Entertainment and Social Gaming bring to your passengers?
Led by: Jonathan Norris– Executive Director - APEX Media Platform, Ink
Peter Nissen – President, Gotham Studios / GeoRadio
Tyler Sterkel – Co-Founder and CEO, MondoWindow
Dan Harris – Managing Director, FlightBet (IOM) Limited
Ben Jarman – Project Coordinator, Royal Geographical Society
Tele-Cine Artifacts in MPEG Movies
In the IFE compression ‘battle’ video compression codecs (including MPEG) are renowned for leaving behind block and mosquito artifacts – a penalty for reducing the bandwidth requirement for streaming movies – especially those with fast movements, scene changes and a lot of motion. How does the tele-cine process affect quality? What can be done to tackle the artifacts?
Andy Beer – Vice President - Technology, Inflight Productions
Content Security
This presentation focuses on content security. It introduces four types of security measure used to secure content (control, protect, trace, and scout). Then, it roughly describes the main threats found in the IFE context. It presents a set of technologies (encryption, domain key management, watermarking) that may mitigate the threats.
Eric Diehl - VP, Security & Content Protection Labs, Technicolor
Audio Specifications
Hear an update on the RTCA Special Committee (SC) 226 Audio Systems and Equipment. Session will also cover perceptual masking, networking, DSP and encoding techniques.
Andy Beer – Vice President - Technology, Inflight Productions
Rich Salter - Chief Technical Officer, Lumexis Corporation
Adoption of HD Video Specs to WAEA 0403
After more than a year of teleconferences and meetings, the High Definition Working Group (HDWG) has proposed revisions to the APEX 0403 digital delivery specification that encompass encoding parameters for HD. The spec is available for public review and will be voted on at this meeting.
To view the draft spec, click here.
Led by: Michael Childers – Chief Consultant, Content and Media Strategy, Lufthansa Systems;
DCMWG Chair
Pierre Schuberth – Sr. Manager, Systems Engineering, Thales; Co-Chair
Bryan Rusenko – Vice President, Strategy & Technology, IFE, Technicolor; Co-Chair
Keynote Address - IMS Rave
Installation and certification experiences for a new seat back system.
Sam Carswell, The IMS Company
Connectivity: How Do Satellite Systems Really Work?
The session will cover system bandwidth and capacity, contention ratios, global and regional systems and network operations. Attendees will gain an excellent grounding that will greatly assist them understand this rapidly evolving aspect of IFEC.
Led by: David Coiley – Aeronautical Business Director, Inmarsat Ltd.
Peter Lemme – President, Mobile Prime Time
Dave Brunnenmeyer, Boeing Space and Defence
Wireless Certification Onboard
From Concept to Completion: What Are the Challenges With Integrating and Certifying Wireless IFE Systems?
John Courtright – Director, Structural Integrity Engineer (SIE)
Stephan Schulte – Product Manager IFE / PTC, Lufthansa Technik
Anthony Pilcher - Engineering Manager, Armstrong Aerospace
Payment Technologies
What new payment technologies are being introduced across the passenger experience? From airport kiosks to onboard point-of-sale devices and payment software apps loaded onto passenger’s own devices there are significant changes ongoing in the market. How does the application of new technologies, blacklisting and re-processing improve the airline bottom line and boost those all important ancillary revenues.
Led by: Rich Salter – Chief Technical Officer, Lumexis Corporation
Marlo McGriff, Google Wallet
Jeff Mullen – CEO, Dynamics Inc.
Dan Thompson – Director of Marketing and Communication, GuestLogix
Wireless IFE & Portable Systems
Portable IFE systems (re-purposed, purpose-built and consumer products) are currently in vogue with many airlines trialling or installing systems in their fleets. In parallel some airlines have been introducing wireless streaming of content to airline supplied and/or passenger PEDs. What has the reaction been from the market? Are these systems delivering the expected performance? Have wireless system/service suppliers demonstrated to the studios that they have the required output protection to gain early-window release movies for streaming to both airline and passenger devices?
Led by: Mary Kirby – Editor in Chief, APEX Media Platform
David Brown – Joint Managing Director, Bluebox Avionics Ltd.
Michael Childers – Chief Consultant, Content and Media Strategy, Lufthansa Systems
John Guidon – Chief Technical Officer and Co-Founder, Row 44
Julie Lichty – Senior Manager, Media Services, Thales Avionics Inc.
Mark Richman – Product Line Manager, Global Communications Services, Panasonic Avionics Corporation
Mary Rogozinski – Manager Content Partnerships, Gogo
Rich Salter – Chief Technical Officer, Lumexis Corporation
Dave Sampson – CEO, Mezzo
Duc Huy Tran – Cabin Systems Marketing Director, Rockwell Collins
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