Abstract:
A remote video delivery system transmits video and text from a hotel office to hotel rooms. A series of video players generates the video signals to modulators. The modulators transmit the signals on various frequencies. A system controller directs the signals from the modulators to the appropriate converter boxes within the rooms. An outside vendor runs a billing system to charge the guests for the video delivery without the need for involvement by the hotel staff.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 09/421,156 filed Oct. 19, 1999 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,167,443, which is a division of Ser. No. 08/589,727, filed Jan. 22, 1996, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,009,465. This application claims the benefit of priority of these applications and incorporates these applications by reference in their entirety. 

   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to entertainment and information systems and related management networks and, more particularly, to such systems which provide for communication permitting remote operations. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   In the hotel industry, there is a continual need to provide as many services for the guest as possible in the most convenient manner. (The word “hotel” in this application refers to any multi-user establishment including hotels, motels, hospitals, airplanes, etc.) In addition, there is the continual need to provide such services to the guest in the most efficient manner. (The word “guest” or “user” in this application refers to any user of the entertainment and information system described herein.) 
   When video cassette players and tapes were introduced to the consuming public as a whole, some hotel establishments installed individual video cassette players in their guest rooms so that their guests could privately view movies. However, such arrangements were cumbersome and required the hotel guest to walk to the movie rental location in the hotel or elsewhere and rent the video. Then, upon viewing the video, such arrangements typically required the hotel guest to return the video before departing. 
   Subsequently, systems were developed which could disseminate movie videos from a central location within a hotel to the rooms of the individual hotel guests as desired by the guests. Such systems were generally not developed or operated by the hotel establishment, but were developed, installed and operated by outside vendors. An example of such a system is set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 4,947,244 and the corresponding U.S. Reissue Pat. No. 34,611. Such systems were inherently flawed in that, among other things, they depended on the hotel for collecting revenues from the guests and for providing assistance to the guests as required. In addition, such systems required that a large staff of personnel be maintained to provide maintenance and other services as required. 
   In such prior systems, any charges generated by a particular room were either added to the hotel guest&#39;s bill electronically through an interface with the hotel&#39;s accounting computer or were automatically printed and manually entered by the hotel management onto the guest&#39;s acccount. Due to the expense of developing interfaces for every hotel&#39;s accounting system, such automatic systems are often impractical and not universally utilized. The manual method often led to a failure to post certain charges, and in some circumstances, incorrect amounts were charged by the hotel. In addition, unscrupulous hotel guests often fabricated problems in order to escape payment for services rendered. As a result, vendors experienced substantial problems with account adjustments and collections utilizing the prior systems. Moreover, in such systems, the vendor was dependent on the hotel or management company to reconcile invoices and to pay in a timely manner. 
   The limited resources and tight profit margins characterizing the operation of smaller properties exacerbated the above-mentioned difficulties. Further, the transaction costs of dealing with these properties were high. That is, because of an almost universal absence of single source property management, each hotel had to be dealt with on an individual basis. 
   Maintenance for such systems was performed on a regular basis by the vendor who would normally send a representative to the hotel location to change the selection of video choices and provide any maintenance which might be required. 
   If there were a problem during the daily operation of any particular system, the vendor would have to either rely on the hotel operator to fix the problem or provide a service staff near every installation. Of course, providing a maintenance staff near every hotel installation was so expensive that most vendors could not provide such services. Consequently, if a problem developed, the hotel would attempt to correct it or simply refund the movie system user&#39;s money. Even if the vendor were contacted in such situations, the vendor would typically be unable to provide any servicing of the system at the time unless a service representative happened to be at the location. Thus, in the majority of cases, the system would be out of service for a significant amount of time, even if the problem were relatively minor and could have easily been fixed by a trained service person. 
   An additional limitation with these systems was that the only service such systems provided to the hotel guest was the playing of videos. Such systems did not offer any services which required communications to any remote location such as a local food delivery establishment. Therefore, there has been a long-standing need for an entertainment and information system that would offer additional services as provided by the invention disclosed herein. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Accordingly, a primary object of the present invention is to provide an entertainment and information system in which the system&#39;s operation, service and maintenance may be controlled directly by the vendor at a remote central location. 
   Another primary object of the present invention is to provide a point of sale system which controls the presentation of video or audio programming, or the presentation or exchange of information, whereby the user pays for the entertainment or service at the time of use without requiring the involvement of the hotel. 
   Another primary object of the present invention is to provide an entertainment and information system which collects payment information and automatically communicates the information on a periodic basis to a central system for final processing. 
   A still further object of the present invention is to provide other services, such as direct ordering from local food vendors without additional in-room hardware. 
   Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an entertainment and information system which is easily and inexpensively installed and maintained, thereby making such systems applicable in a wide variety of establishments. 
   Still another object of the present invention is to eliminate virtually all hotel management involvement in the daily operation of an entertainment and information system. 
   A further object of the invention is to provide for the maintenance and altering of continuous promotional and advertising previews in a manner which permits efficient customization for individual hotels. 
   To achieve the foregoing and other objects, the present invention is generally directed to an entertainment and information system including a system controller which directs the connection of particular videos or other service items with individual rooms; a central operation for remotely maintaining and updating said entertainment and information system; a central billing operation for processing transactions centrally; and a communication link establishing communication between the entertainment and information system and the central operations or other remote systems. 
   Additional objects, advantages and other novel features of the invention will be set forth in the detailed description, drawings and claims which follow, and will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a diagram of the overall configuration of the present invention including the various individual system installations and the central operations in accordance with the preferred embodiment. 
       FIG. 2  is a diagram of an entertainment and information system according to the preferred embodiment. 
       FIG. 3  is a schematic diagram of the preferred converter and its components. 
       FIG. 4  is a schematic diagram of the preferred headend controller and its components. 
       FIG. 5  is a schematic diagram of the preferred telephone accessory and its components. 
       FIG. 6  is a schematic diagram of the preview system in the preferred embodiment. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Referring to  FIG. 1 , the overall configuration of the multi-installation network system is depicted including vendor controlled central operations  10  and multiple installations  20 . The central operations  10  includes operators  30 , remote servicing terminals  40  and central billing operations  50 . Each installation  20  of the individual entertainment and information system  60  is located at a hotel or another similar establishment. There may be any number of installations  20 . Each system  60  includes a number of users (hotel guests) which varies from time to time. A bi-directional communication link  80  is established between the operators  30  and remote servicing terminals  40  and each installation.  20 . The bi-directional communication link  80  may be any communication network, including, by way of example and not limitation, a public communication network, a private high-speed network or a satellite network. 
   In an exemplary embodiment, a user at a particular hotel installation  20  establishes communication with the central operations  10  by pressing a button on the accessory device associated with the telephone in the user&#39;s hotel room. Such a button may be marked as “help” or by some other appropriate designation. As explained in more detail in the section entitled “Operations” below, by pushing the appropriate button, the telephone automatically dials a central number to establish a connection between its line  72  and a line  32  at central operations  10 . Once an individual user establishes a remote communication link  80  to an operator  30  at central operations  10 , the operator  30  may then assist the user as required. 
   If it becomes apparent to the operator  30  (or other central service personnel including technicians, field service representatives and computer programmers, herein collectively referred to as “operators”) that the particular system  60  requires service, the operator  30  may then use the remote servicing terminals  40  to establish a link  80  with the particular entertainment and information system  60 . The service terminals  40  are provided with lines  42  which may establish links  80  with lines  62  of the systems  60 . The Entertainment and Information System  10  communications are described in more detail in the section below entitled “Communications”. As described below in “Remote Servicing and Maintenance”, the operators  30  at central operations  10  may thereby communicate with the particular system installation  20  and perform diagnostic operations and maintenance thereupon. 
   While the operators  30  are contemplated to be actual persons, the system  10  could be modified to include an automated operator system. In such embodiment, the automated operator system would include multi-line voice technology applications made by Dialogic Corporation. The automated operator system would be controlled by a programmed microprocessor which would query the calling user to obtain critical information that could be utilized to direct diagnostic tests. Such tests would be initiated by a microprocessor through the remote servicing terminals  40 . It is contemplated that such alternative system would include a voice simulator for speaking to the users and an input device which would comprise a voice recognition system or another form of input recognition such as telephone tone recognition. The automated operator alternative may also be configured to pre-process the incoming calls and then deliver the call to a human operator. 
   The central operations  10  further includes central billing operations  50  which receives and processes billing information from the various installations  20 . Each system  60  includes a special line  64  which may create a data link  80  with lines  52  of the central billing operations  50 . Such a link may be initiated by the individual system  60  or by the central operations  10 . In the preferred embodiment, the system  60  accumulates payment information and periodically links with the central billing operations  50  to transfer the accumulated information. Such a system provides for automatic accounting of the multiple installations  20 . This aspect of the invention is described in greater detail in the section entitled “Centralized Billing” below. 
     FIG. 2  depicts an individual entertainment and information system  60  as installed in a particular hotel establishment. As shown, the hotel includes a number of rooms  90  for occupancy by users or hotel guests. Each room  90  includes a television  100 , a telephone  101 , a telephone accessory  102  and a converter box  110  which is coupled to a cable  134 . The existing television distribution cable  134  connects each of the converter boxes  110  to the installation&#39;s entertainment and information system  60 . 
   RF (radio frequency) modulators  135  operate to provide carrier signals for the video signals that the headend controller  180  routes to the input of the respective modulator  135 . Since each modulator  135  is set to a preselected frequency or channel, connecting a particular video cassette player (“VCP”)  136  or one of the headend controller&#39;s  180  menu generators  189  (shown in  FIG. 4 ) to a particular modulator  135  results in the signal being transmitted over the cable  134  on the carrier frequency of the particular modulator  135 . In this manner, the system  60  is not a dedicated frequency system (i.e., a system where each remote television is assigned a particular channel for receiving transmissions) but a flexible system based on the availability of modulators  135  and the programmability of converters  110 . The channel modulators  135  are readily available cable television products which have been modified to alter the frequency positions of the RF carriers and to scramble the signals by switching the carrier frequencies of the specific video and audio signals. Alternatively, an active modulator  135  could be connected to each VCP  136  and could be operated in a manner similar to the approach (described below) which is used to operate the converters  110 . 
   The coaxial cable  134  provides a multitude of channels and programming to the converter boxes  110 . In addition to the regular channels that are generally provided in any geographic area called the “non-premium channels,” the system has a “preview channel,” a “control channel” and several “premium channels” which are used to transmit movies and other types of entertainment to the rooms  90 . Transmissions on the control channel are generated by the system controller  140  and are converted to RF signals carried at 74.4 MHz by a system driver of the headend controller  180 . Transmissions on the preview channel are generated by a preview player  150  and are modulated by a preview modulator  160  to the predetermined output channel ( 2 ,  3 , or  4 ). The preview system is described in greater detail in the “Preview System” section below. In order to mix all of the channels which are provided by the system  60 , two RF combiners are provided. The first combiner  170  combines the signals from the various modulators  135  with the signals from the preview modulator  160  and the RF control signal. After the modulated signals are combined by first combiner  170 , the signals are amplified by amplifier  172 . These modulated and amplified signals are then combined by second combiner  174  with the regularly provided cable or satellite delivered television signals  175 , excluding either Ch.  2 ,  3 , or  4 , which is filtered out at each location. These further combined signals are then received by in-room converters  110 , each of which selectively allows ssignals to be received by the television set  100  coupled thereto in a manner suitable for viewing. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 3 , the preferred embodiment of the converter  110  which is located in each room of the hotel establishment and connects the television  100  to the co-axial cable  134  is shown in greater detail. The converter  110  includes a converter input  111  which is connected to the co-axial cable  134 ; a converter output  112  which is connected to the televisions cable input; a program test port  113  for receiving commands and programming information directly from a portable computer; and, a LED status indicator  114  which indicates the current operating status of the converter by flashing in predetermined patterns. As noted above, the converter  110  receives a wide spectrum of signals at its input  111 . The signals may be broken down into three general categories: (1) normal or standard NTSC (National Television Systems Committee) television signals on Channels  2 - 59  currently (referred to as “non-premium” channels herein); (2) scrambled NTSC television signals where the sound and picture portions of the signals have been reversed by modulators  135  (referred to as “premium” channels herein); and (3) control signals transmitted in the FSK (frequency-shift keying) format centered at 74.4 MHz. 
   The control signals provided at the input  111  are generated by the system controller  140  and then modulated by a headend controller  180  system driver  184  (shown in FIG.  4 ). The control signals may include data for changing the identification code of the converter  110  and data for transforming a particular premium channel for delivery to the output  112 , among other things. Each control signal generally includes three portions. The first portion is essentially an addressing portion which comprises an identification code relating to one of the multiple converters  110 . The second portion includes a control code which is directs the particular converter  110  to perform a particular function. The third portion of the control signal includes data required to perform the particular function. It will be understood that many other transmission formats may be utilized within the scope of the invention. In keeping with the above described control signal format, the “change converter identification” and the “play premium channel program” control signal formats are described next. 
   In order to change the identification of a particular converter  110 , the system controller  140  sends a control signal over the cable  134  which generally comprises: (1) the command code for initiating a change of identification code; (2) the current identification of the converter  110 ; and (3) the new identification code for the converter  110 . Of course, in such an operation, the new identification code is stored in the memory of the converter  110  and that converter will henceforth respond to command codes preceded by the new identification code. The reason for changing the identification code of a converter and the method for executing such a change are explained below. 
   When a user selects a premium program, the system controller  140  sends a control signal which generally comprises: (1) the identification of the selected converter  110  to receive the premium program; (2) the command code for switching of the converter  110 ; and (3) a divisor or tuning factor for selecting the input channel from among the premium channels. 
   All signals which are present at the input  111  of the converter  110  are boosted by amplifier  115  to improve signal quality at the output  112  of the converter. After being amplified, the signals pass to a directional coupler  116  which provides a coupled signal to FSK demodulator  117  while passing the actual signal to a low loss resistive power splitter  118 . The coupler  116  of the preferred embodiment is a surface mount ferrite transformer device although those skilled in the art will appreciate that many other equivalent devices could be utilized. 
   The FSK demodulator  117  includes a bandpass input filter and a demodulator circuit. In the preferred embodiment, the band pass filter is tuned to 74.4 MHz with a band width of 2 MHz. After being filtered, the signals are transferred to a demodulator circuit which initially translates the signals to an intermediate frequency (IF) of 10.7 MHz where they are further filtered to remove undesired noise and signals. Then, the signals are demodulated through a quadrature detector which provides a buffered and demodulated signal. The demodulated signal is then shaped through comparators to produce a CMOS compatible signal output. The output is coupled to the converter controller  119 . 
   In addition to coupling signals for demodulation in FSK demodulator  117 , the coupler  116  also allows signals to pass to the resistive power splitter  118 . The splitter  118  divides the passed signal into three separate signal paths. As will be explained in detail below, one signal path is utilized to perform overload detection, another signal path couples the non-premium signals to the output  112  of the converter  110 , and the final signal path is utilized to process the premium signals. As shown in  FIG. 3 , the signal overload detector  120  receives one branch of the signals separated by the splitter  118 . The detector monitors the signals to make sure that the signals and, thus, the output  112  of the converter  110  do not exceed the maximum power permitted by the Federal Communications Commission. 
   The low pass notch filter  121  receives another branch of signals from the resistive power splitter  118 . The purpose of the filter  121  is to attenuate the signals on frequencies relating to channels  60  and above (lower edge of band is 450 MHz) while passing those signals on frequencies relating to channel  59  and below. It will be understood that different sets of signals could be passed by the filter  121 . In the preferred embodiment, a three section elliptic low pass filter design is utilized, although those skilled in the art would recognize that many other low pass designs could be utilized. The signals passed by filter  121  are delivered to FET (field effect transistor) switch  122  which will be explained in greater detail below. The FET switch usually permits the signals from the filter  121  to pass to the output  112  of the converter  110 . 
   The third branch of signals from the splitter  118  generally comprises those signals on the premium channels  60  and above which are modulated by modulators  135 . The signals are delivered to an image and low reject filter  123  which is essentially a counterpart to the filter  121 . The filter  123  attenuates those signals at frequencies relating to channel  59  and below and permits those signals present at frequencies relating to channel  60  and above to pass without much, if any, attenuation. 
   After being filtered, the signals relating to channels  60  and above (the premium channels) are delivered to the first converter  124 . As noted above, the modulators  135  scramble the signals they receive by inverting the spectral sense of the video, audio and color carriers. The converter  124  un-scrambles the signals present on a selected input channel and translates them to an IF centered at 924 MHz. The first converter  124  has a first local oscillator which operates in the approximate frequency range of 1305 MHz to 1461 MHz and is phase locked by the synthesizer  125  so that it has the capability to tune to input channels which range from channels  60  to  86 . The exact operating frequency (i.e., the input channel) of the first converter&#39;s local oscillator is determined by divisor factors with which the converter controller  119  retrieves from memory. 
   The ceramic filter  126  is a low cost, three section, ceramic bandpass filter with a center frequency at the IF, which is 924 MHz in the preferred embodiment. The demodulated IF signal is next passed through the ceramic filter  126 . Other mixing products, such as the opposite sideband signals are eliminated from the signal spectrum that appears as the input to the second converter  127  by this filter  126 , thus greatly minimizing the generation of unwanted spurious mixer products. 
   The second converter  127  translates the IF signal centered at the IF to the output channel frequency. To accomplish this, the second converter  127  has a second local oscillator which is phase locked using the same method which phase locks the first local oscillator. Unlike the first converter  124 , however, the second converter  127  does not invert the spectrum of the output signal, and thus the required signal orientation is maintained. The exact operating frequency of the second converter&#39;s local oscillator is determined by divisor factors that the converter controller  119  receives from the control signal. 
   The output from the second converter  127  is first filtered by lowpass filter  129  to eliminate high frequency energy and then routed to the output FET switch  122 . The converter controller  119  and the signal overload detector  120  control whether the FET switch  122  passes to its output port the signals received from the second signal path (carrying channels  2 - 59 ) and the third signal path (carrying the selection chosen by the viewer). In appropriate instances, the converter controller  119  of the overload detector  120  may activate the FET switch  122  to prevent signals from reaching output  112 . 
   The converter controller  119  additionally monitors the operating condition of a number of the most critical circuits and circuit functions (such as the lock status of the internal tuning oscillators, presence of the FSK control signal, presence of an abnormally high input signal level, etc.). The presence of abnormal conditions which may be displayed by a unique flashing pattern from a green LED indicator  116 . Under normal operating conditions the LED  116  will be “on” but not flashing. 
   The converter controller  119  further sends control signals to the PLL synthesizers  125  and  128  to set the up and down conversion frequencies for the processed signals. As shown, the converter controller  119  is coupled to the synthesizers  125  and  128  via bus  130 . The preferred manner of initially programming the converter controller  119  is by means of a computer utilizing a  7  pin mini-DIN connector (not shown) which is connected to the program test port  113 . When connected to a computer which is set to operate in terminal mode, the mini-DIN connector provides a means by which to independently control and monitor the operating parameters of the converter  110 . 
   Referring back to  FIG. 2 , the converter box  110  is positioned in the radio frequency path between a wall outlet and the television  100 . No other connection to the television  100  is required. The converter box  110  is not required to replace any of the functions of the television  100  such as standard channel access, power, or volume. In addition, it is not necessary to mount the converter  110  on the television  100  and in the user&#39;s view. 
   In order to display any of the channels filtered out by the converter  110 , the television  100  must be turned to channel  2 ,  3  or  4 , depending on whichever channel is appropriate for the given region. This channel is referred to as the “preview channel.” In its default mode, the converter  110  is configured to allow the previews from the preview generator  150 , along with regular TV, to be routed through the FET switch  122  to the television  100  prior to the converter box  110  being directed to convert any other channel. In this manner, once the user turns the television  100  to the preview channel for using the entertainment and information system  60 , the television channel does not have to be changed again. 
   Referring to  FIG. 4 , the preferred embodiment of the headend controller  180  is a one piece multiple function device comprising a driver  184 , an infra-red controller  186 , volatile memory  188 , a menu generator  189  and a matrix switch  190 . The headend controller  180  accomplishes the following tasks, under control of the system controller  140 : (1) function control of the VCP&#39;s  136  using simulated infra-red remote control commands, (2) the generation of menu screens and (3) the switching of menus, audio and video (“A/V”) signals and control signals to selected channel modulators  135 . An RS-232 serial cable  191  couples the headend controller  180  to the system controller  140 . 
   The system driver  184  converts the control data that it receives from the system controller  140  into an RF signal carried at 74.4 MHz. The resulting RF signal is coupled by the cable  134  to the in-room converters  110  after it is combined with the regular cable television signals. 
   The infra-red controller  186  includes multiple infra-red transmitters that are coupled to the individual VCP&#39;s  136 . When a command is sent to the infra-red controller  186 , the controller  186  retrieves the appropriate infra-red (“IR”) codes that correspond to the command and then sends the codes to the selected VCP  136 . These codes are downloaded by the system controller  140  into volatile memory  188  at system startup via the RS-232 serial cable. 
   The matrix switch  190  is provided with dimensions depending on the system&#39;s intended peak usage. In the preferred embodiment, the matrix switch  190  is a 24×8 matrix switch. The system controller  140  can thus route any one of 24 inputs to one or all of the 8 outputs. These inputs are divided into three groups in the preferred embodiment: (1) eighteen of the inputs are coupled to the VCPs&#39;  136  audio and video outputs, (2) four of the inputs are hard wired to the text generators, and (3) two of the inputs are coupled to external video backdrop generators. 
   In the preferred embodiment, the menu generator  189  comprises text generators and video backdrop generators (both not shown). The text generators are piggy-back boards that plug into a main integrated circuit board of the integrated headend controller  180 . The text generators display text on a television screen  100 . To generate a menu on a particular television  100  screen, the system controller  140  commands one of the text generators to generate a message such as a movie list. The text is then combined with a video backdrop from one of the video backdrop generators, thus forming a menu to be displayed on the television  100 . To display the generated menu, the system controller  140  routes the signal generated by the menu generator  189  through the switch  190  to the appropriate modulator  135 . 
   The headend controller  180  operates as follows when a user selects a movie for viewing. The system controller  140  receives the user&#39;s designation via telephone  101  and accessory  102 , the PBX  250 , and the interactive board  260  as described below. The controller  140  then commands the headend controller  180  to start playing a particular VCP  136  carrying the selected movie. After retrieving the appropriate IR code from volatile memory  188 , the headed controller  180  transmits that code to the designated VCP  136 . If this command is not executed, an error message will be generated. The error may be corrected either locally, or by an operator  30  as described in more detail below. In response to the commands of the system controller  140 , the headend controller  180  also generates a control signal which is modulated by the system driver  184  and transmitted over the cable  134 . The command is utilized by the intended converter  110  as described above to down convert the appropriate signal. Thus, as the VCP  136  plays the requested movie, the generated video signal is routed to the appropriate television  100  for viewing. 
   The current preferred embodiment of the telephone accessory is shown in the schematic diagram of FIG.  5 . The telephone accessory  102  includes a magnetic card reader  103 , a microprocessor  104 , a microprocessor controlled telephone signalling generator  105  (also called a “DTMF generator”), an EEPROM memory device  106 , and pushbuttons (not shown). The accessory  102  utilizes the DTMF generator  105  to communicate through the telephone  101  in the particular user&#39;s room  90 . Although the card reader  103  is attached to the telephone  101  in the preferred embodiment, communication may be accomplished by a wireless means such as by a wireless handheld card reader  103  in another embodiment. An embodiment of the telephone accessory  102  and the telephone system is described in a copending application Ser. No. 08/429,954, filed Apr. 27, 1995, which is incorporated herein by reference. 
   Operations 
   Referring back to  FIG. 2 , the process of selecting a video is begun after the user is directed either by previews on the in-room television  100  or by cues at or near the in-room telephone  101  or television  100  to access the system  60  by pressing the appropriate button on the telephone accessory  102 . The telephone accessory  102  then dials a predefined extension. Codes for this extension are retrieved from memory  20 . These codes are then used to direct the signal generator  105  to produce tones that represent a telephone number to be dialed and connect the telephone line  72  through the in-house PBX 250 to one of the lines  66  of the system  60 . After connection is complete, the signal generator  105  transmits the room&#39;s  90  unique identification code to the system controller  140 , by way of interactive board  260 , which code determines which of the converters  110  connected to the room&#39;s  90  television set  100  corresponds to the particular telephone connection. No further identification signal is sent by the telephone accessory  102  during selection of a video. The user is then cued by the system controller  140  to depress appropriate buttons on the telephone  101 . These tones produced thereby represent user responses to the controller  140  cues. 
   To generate cues, the controller  140  activates one of the menu generators  189  and routes the generated menu through the headend controller  180  for modulation by the RF modulator  135  selected by the controller  140  from among those that are not currently in use. If a modulator  135  is available, then the menu is transmitted over cable  134  on the channel that the selected RF modulator  135  is set for. The controller  140  also provides a control signal on the control channel which directs the converter  110  in the user&#39;s room  90  to switch its output  112  from non-premium channels to a premium channel which is received by the converter  110  on the channel of the selected RF modulator  135 , as described above. If all modulators  135  are being used, then the user is presented a voice message explaining that the system is unavailable and that he or she should try again later. The number of system channels, or modulators  135  used is based on the peak usage and economic realities of each particular installation, thus providing a flexible system that can be scaled accordingly. 
   Once the user&#39;s in-room converter  100  is tuned to the RF channel that the system controller  140  has assigned and connected to the menu generator  189 , the controller then sends to the menu generator  189  a data file containing the available movies. This list is then displayed on the user&#39;s television  100 . During these operations, the television set  100  remains on the preselected channel  2 ,  3  or  4 , although the converter changes the channel actually seen on the television  100  to the channel of the RF modulator  135 , as noted. 
   Next, the controller  140  prompts the user to push a particular button of the telephone keypad to indicate the user&#39;s selection. For example, the initial menu screen may request the user to push “1” for adventures, “2” for dramas, “3” for comedies, etc. A tone is generated when a telephone keypad button is pushed which is received by the interactive board  260  and communicated to the controller  140 . The controller  140  then controls the menu generator  189  to generate a new screen which presents the user a menu of movies from which to choose a movie by utilizing the telephone  101 . A dialogue continues until either a movie is played or the dialogue is terminated. 
   After a selection has been entered, the interactive communication board  260  sends a voice prompt to the user with directions to initiate payment by sliding a credit card through the magnetic card reader  103 . The reader  103  sends the user&#39;s credit card number and expiration date to the interactive board  260 . The controller  140  receives this information and then determines if the card number is valid and not expired. If the user&#39;s credit card passes the initial standard verification criteria, then the controller  140  starts the movie and sends a voice prompt to the user explaining that the movie has started and that he or she should remain on the line to ensure that the movie is the same movie that was ordered. The user has sixty seconds to change or cancel the rental selection. If there is a problem with the movie or the user chooses to cancel the movie, the user presses a key on the telephone keypad as directed by a voice prompt. While the movie is started and the user is verifying that the movie is correct, the controller  140  contacts a credit card exchange system to verify that the user&#39;s credit card is valid and to reserve the movie rental charge on the user&#39;s credit card account. 
   The credit card exchange system will either approve or deny the movie rental charge. If the charge is approved, the movie rental selection process is completed and the movie is played to completion. The centralized approval process and detail settlement of such charges will be discussed in more detail below in the section entitled “Centralized Billing”. If the charge is initially denied by the credit card exchange system, the movie will be interrupted. If the user is still on the telephone with the interactive board  260 , the user will be sent a voice prompt explaining that the credit card was denied and that another credit card may be used or a cash payment can be made to the hotel&#39;s front desk attendant. If the user is no longer on the telephone with the interactive board  260 , the movie will be stopped and a message will be displayed on the user&#39;s television  100  explaining that there was a problem with the credit card. The user will then be given the option of pressing the movie button on the telephone accessory  102  again so that another credit card can be tried. This feature of the present invention is discussed in greater detail below in the section entitled “Communication system”. 
   To make a cash purchase, the user informs the front desk attendant who then collects payment and contacts the system controller  140  to apply a credit to the user&#39;s room  90  by dialing the interactive communication board  260 . When contacting the system controller  140 , the attendant enters an appropriate function code, a password, and information regarding the user&#39;s room  90 . 
   When payment is approved and the user chooses not to cancel the movie selection, the interactive board  260  directs the user to hang up the telephone  101  and the movie is played. At the end of the movie, the controller  140  directs the converter output  112  to switch back to non-premium channels, with previews being displayed on the preview channel. 
   It is noted that during the selection process, the user may be given the opportunity to join a movie already in progress if every copy of the movie is already being played. If the user elects to join a movie that is already in progress, then the user&#39;s in-room converter  110  must be tuned to the RF channel which the VCP  136  playing the movie is assigned to. To do this, the controller  140  issues a command to the user&#39;s in-room converter  110  via the RF control data channel to tune to the same channel that the selected movie is tuned to. The controller  140  accomplishes this by retrieving the room&#39;s  90  identification which it received as a result of the user&#39;s initial contact with the system  60  as described above. The controller  140  also retrieves the address of the appropriate video cassette player  136  from a system status file. Once the user&#39;s in-room converter  110  is tuned, the movie is routed through the headend controller  180  and eventually to the user&#39;s television  100 . As demonstrated, only one channel is utilized to transmit the signals of any particular video cassette player  136  at any particular time. Accordingly, more users may be accommodated over a given number of channels. 
   When the rented movie ends, the controller  140  must reset all appropriate hardware components to their normal non-playing states. This includes switching the user&#39;s in-room converter  110  back to outputting non-premium channels, issuing commands to the video cassette player  136  to stop playing and to rewind the movie, and updating RF channel status in the system status file. 
   Although the current application employs VCP&#39;s  136 , digital text and video backdrop generators as a menu generator  189 , and a PC board digital video player as a preview player  152 , other input devices could be employed. The following list of input devices provides an example of just a few of the input devices that may be used by this system. These devices include digital or analogue devices, CD-ROM, laser discs, large capacity file servers, DVD, disc drives, any devices capable of rapid storage and retrieval of information or images (still or continuous, with sound or without), other on-site computers, and other external networks or satellite networks which provide the same services remotely. 
   Similarly, although the present embodiment employs a television  100  as the preferred output device, any device capable of transmitting audio, visual, sensory or multimedia data may be used. (The term data herein refers to any audio, visual or sensory data, information, or signals.) Smart TV&#39;s (or microprocessor controlled TV&#39;s), may also be employed as an output device. In the preferred embodiment, the system  60  is operated under the control of a microprocessor based computer  140 , which computer is selected based on the capacity and speed required to serve the intended volume of users. However, to enhance system  60  performance, multiple computers may be used. For example, one computer may be dedicated to handling remote communications while the other computer controls the rest of the entertainment and information system  60 . Furthermore, while the accessory  102  and converter  110  utilize PIC 16C84 microprocessors in their preferred embodiments, other more powerful and flexible microprocessors may be utilized if economics so warranted. 
   In addition, the system  60  has the ability to offer a listing of information relating to local merchants and to display this information on hotel television screens  100 . The system  60  can be configured to display a listing of all local food vendors, or categorical information such as a listing of all Italian restaurants. The system  60  allows for selection of detailed information such as a display of menu items, prices, ordering information, etc. Based on the selections made by the user, the system controller  140  may utilize PBX 250 to communicate with the selected merchant to order goods or services for the user. Such services and goods would include such things as the delivery of food stuffs, etc. Side features may be implemented in accordance with the following disclosure concerning the communication features of the present invention. 
   The following is a detailed description of the preview communication features of the present invention. 
   Preview System 
   As explained in connection with  FIG. 2 , the preview generator  150  provides previews comprising small clips of the feature films that are available for rent. A typical preview will be ten to twelve minutes in length and will have seven or eight movie clips intermixed with a variety of miscellaneous advertisements, instructions, special promotions, etc. 
     FIG. 6  shows the configuration of the preferred embodiment of the preview system in greater detail. The microprocessor controller  151  is coupled to a CD-ROM player  152  and a hard drive  153 . A decoder  154  is coupled to an interface  155  which is coupled to modulator  160  for modulating the signals provided by the preview generator  150 . 
   Previews are stored as individual files in the memory  153  of the preview generator  150  in a compressed format. Compressing the A/V (audio/visual) data permits the data to be stored in segments small enough to fit on a standard computer storage medium. The preferred format is the Motion Picture Expert Group (“MPEG”) format which is an industry standard for digital video sequences. The preferred memory device  153  is a hard disc drive, although the memory  153  may be an electronic, magnetic or optical memory device. 
   At the direction of the CPU  151 , the compressed audio/visual (“A/V”) data files are retrieved from the memory  153  and decompressed. In the preferred embodiment, the decoder  154  utilizes a hardware board driven by software sold by Optibase called PC Motion to perform the decompression of the digital data. After the A/V data file is decompressed, the data is transmitted to the modulator  160  through interface  155 . Once a particular preview file is accessed from the memory  153  and played, the CPU  151  controls decompression and transmission of the next data file in a predetermined sequence. 
   The master CD is initially encoded at a professional production facility with a variety of segments or clips which may be used at a particular installation  20 . Then, during the monthly tape exchange process, the master CD-ROM disks may be provided to the CD-ROM players  152 . Of course, any particular installation does not utilize each of the files on the master CD-ROM. Instead, the remote servicing terminals  40  (see  FIG. 1 ) are utilized by the operators  30  to direct the system controller  140  as to which of the previews on the master CD-ROM disk should be read and stored in the hard drive  153 . The servicing terminal  40  further directs the system controller  140  as to the order in which the files are to be played by the preview generator  150 . The information regarding the appropriate files for each system  60  and the order that the files are to be played (the “programming information”) is stored as profile data in the hard drive  153 . It is noted that the programming of the system controller  140  in this regard may be performed by a human operator  30  or it may be done automatically. 
   In operation, the CPU  151  of the preview generator  150  retrieves the compressed audio-video file stored in memory  153  and sends it to the decoder  154 . The decoder  154  expands the compressed data and sends the A/V signals via interface  155  to RF modulator  160 . The modulator  160  transmits the RF signals through the hotel CATV cable  134  on the designated movie preview channel (channel  2 ,  3  or  4 ). Any television  100  tuned to the preview channel will see the preview clips as they are decoded and transmitted. As soon as one preview clip has ended, the software opens the next file and plays it. When the last MPEG file in the sequence has been played, the process is repeated, thus creating continuous preview playback. 
   In keeping with the invention, the preview generator  150  includes the ability to advertise for local merchants, such as food vendors. The system can provide audio visual advertisements on television  100  either on request or as part of the movie preview process. In either event, the invention allows efficient customization of preview presentation at individual installations  20  by storing A/V information in digital compressed format. In particular, the system controller  140  at each particular installation  20  selectively controls which information is to be read from a master CD having a large variety of preview clips and then stores the information in the hard drive  153  for playback. 
   Communications 
   The central operations  10  is capable of communicating with each installation  20 , and each installation  20  is capable of communicating with the central operations. By way of example and not limitation, the central operations may communicate with each installation via a bi-directional communication network including a public communication network, a private high-speed network, a satellite network, or any other suitable communication network. 
   If a satellite network is used as the communication link  80 , for example, a central hub would communicate with the central operations  10  and would uplink data streams, converted (i.e., modulated) by the hub, to one or more communication satellites. The communication satellite would relay the data streams to a receiving terminal at each installation  20 . The receiving terminal, which has an antenna, would downlink, or receive the satellite signals containing the data streams, reconvert the data streams (i.e., demodulate), and transmit the reconverted data streams to the system controller  140 . Note that the system controller  140  is capable of communicating back with the central operations  10  via the satellite network. Likewise, if a public communication network or a private high-speed network is used as the communications link  80 , a similar bi-directional communication link is achieved between the central operations  10  and each installation  20 . 
   In an exemplary operation, an incoming call to the entertainment and information system  60  is automatically answered by a modem, which is provided on line  62 . When a call is received, a hardware interrupt is set indicating to the system controller  140  that an operator  30  is trying to connect. Once the modem connection is established between the remote system and the system controller  140 , the responsibility for managing the communications between the two systems is transferred to a communication software module, which coexists with the system application software and enables the system controller  140  to perform multitasking functions without interrupting the running processes. The module is a terminate-and-stay-resident (“TSR”) program, which remains idle until an incoming call is received by the modem of the entertainment and information system  60 . When the controller  140  receives an incoming call, the communication module requests that the calling system  10  provide a password. If the calling system  10  does not send the expected password within a predetermined time, the communication module terminates the connection. 
   If the calling system  10  does supply the expected password in time, the communication module permits the calling computer to perform a number of functions including remote servicing and maintenance. In addition to providing for response to incoming calls, the communication system may initiate calls to remote operations such as in connection with billing  50  described in the section entitled “Centralized Billing” below. 
   Remote Servicing and Maintenance 
   In the remote servicing and maintenance mode, a service representative  30  may use the communication module to perform diagnostic and remote service on the entertainment and information system  60 . In addition, the remote control mode may be utilized by any technical support personnel  30  who needs to monitor the activity of a particular entertainment and information system  60 , or generally by any type of operator  30  for any reason. 
   Periodically, a user may have difficulty renting a movie and may wish to speak to a service representative  30  for guidance. In other situations, the user may notice a problem with the entertainment and information system  60  which he or she wishes to report. In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the user may press a button on the telephone accessory  102  which automatically dials a toll-free number and connects the user to a service representative  30 . The service representative  30  may be able to assist the user over the telephone  101  or may decide that the particular entertainment and information system  60  must be contacted utilizing the remote servicing terminals  40 . 
   As indicated above, once connected to the system  60 , the service representative  30  can remotely probe the system controller  140  to perform diagnostic operations. For example, in certain instances the hotel management may move a particular telephone  101  and accessory  102  from one room to another without informing the vendor. Because the system  60  relies on the identification code stored by the telephone accessory  102  to locate the particular room in which to send information or entertainment, the system  60  will send the entertainment and information to the wrong room  90  if the telephone accessory  102  is moved. 
   There are two methods of performing maintenance operations remotely. The first method utilizes the communications software module which allows central service terminals to connect to and take control of the entertainment and information systems  60  at remote locations. The second method allows central service representatives to contact the hotel front desk and request to be transferred to the interactive (Dialogic PCB) board  260 . Using voice prompts and the telephone keypad, the central service representatives are able to perform system queries and maintenance. The second method is an alternative to the first method. In the event that the modem is not functioning or the modem telephone line is not functioning, the system  60  can still be controlled remotely using the interactive board  260 . 
   In diagnosing a problem, the service representative  30  may use the remote servicing terminals to control the system controller  140  to sequentially direct the converter boxes  110  to display a menu image generated by a particular menu generator  189 . Procedurally, the operator  30  commands the system controller  140  to set a menu generator  189  to an available frequency. Then, the operator  30  directs the system controller  140  to send control commands to each of the converter boxes  110  sequentially until the menu appears on the users television  100 . At that point, the operator  30  is able to reprogram the system status file stored by the system controller  140  to associate the user&#39;s room  90  with the correct converter  110  and the correct accessory  102 . 
   Centralized Billing 
   As explained in connection with  FIGS. 2 and 3 , before a movie or other service is provided to a particular user, the system controller  140  obtains authorization from the credit bureau. However, the entertainment and information system  60  does not actually bill the user&#39;s credit card company at the time of authorization. To complete the transaction and cause the authorization system to bill the user&#39;s credit card company, a separate settlement transaction must be sent to the authorization company which confirms the sale and posts the charge to the user&#39;s credit card account. 
   As each authorization is obtained for each credit transaction, the system controller  140  stores the relevant information in memory. The stored information includes the credit card number, the amount, the authorization code and other information such as the date of sale. On a periodic basis, the system controller  140  will utilize its communication line  64  to establish a communication link  80  with central billing  50  of the remote central operations  10 . In the preferred embodiment of this invention, the controller  140  communicates with central billing  50  to transmit the billing data files. After processing the data, central billing  50  automatically posts the charges to the individual credit accounts. In an alternative arrangement, a service representative could visit the location of the system and download the billing information on site. 
   The foregoing description of various preferred embodiments of the invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Obvious modifications or variations are possible in light of the above teachings. For example, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that orders may be placed at local merchants utilizing the operations described for central billing and a fax modem. 
   The embodiments discussed were chosen and described to provide the best illustration of the principles of the invention and its practical application to thereby enable one of ordinary skill in the art to utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. All such modifications and variations are within the scope of the invention as determined by the appended claims when interpreted in accordance with the breadth to which they are fairly, legally, and equitably entitled.