Patent ID: 6256554
Filing Date: 2001-07-03
Classification: H04H,H04N

Abstract:
A method of providing media to a plurality of in-room systems from a head-end system remote from the plurality of in-room systems, said method comprising the steps of:storing a plurality of acquisition media at each of the in-room systems each of the acquisition media having stored thereon, at least one of audio and video data;storing a plurality of access-only media at the head-end system, the access-only media comprising at least one of audio and video data identical to that stored on the acquisition media;at each in-room system, providing access to each of the access-only media, such that the access-only media is played by the head-end system and is at least one of audibly and visually presented at the in-room system to assist an in-room system user in media acquisition choices;at the in-room system, sensing the removal of one of the acquisition media;upon sensing the removal of one of the acquisition media, activating a check-out timer and storing an acquisition signal encoded with a room identifier and a media acquisition identifier at the in-room system;monitoring the in-room system for the return of the removed acquisition media; andif the media is not returned within the check-out time allotted, transmitting the acquisition signal to the head-end system and processing the acquisition signal to determine any charge associated with the acquisition.