Device for interfacing a CD-ROM player to an entertainment or information network and a network including such device

An entertainment and/or information network including a CD-ROM player at each of a number of user stations. The network can be installed in a multi-passenger vehicle (such as an aircraft), an auditorium, a stadium, or the like. Audio and video and application software (such as interactive multimedia software) stored on CD-ROM disks can be accessed by playing the disks in a CD-ROM player at each user station. Each user station includes a display device, headphones (or another audio output device), and preferably circuitry for interfacing the CD-ROM player with the network. Typically, large volumes of data are transferred within each user station (e.g., from CD-ROM disk to display device) during execution of interactive applications software, but little or no data is transferred over the network to or from each user station to support such software execution. Thus, the network can have a simple, inexpensive, low bandwidth implementation. Another aspect of the invention is a device for interfacing each CD-ROM player to the network. The interface device has small size and low weight and power requirements, and can be connected to a conventional user station of a conventional video distribution network to enable convenient connection of a CD-ROM player to such user station, and optionally also convenient connection of the CD-ROM players to the computer local area network of the invention. Other aspects of the invention are a CD-ROM player modified for tethered connection to a user station, and a passenger armrest including two CD-ROM players and other components of two user stations.