Patent Publication Number: US-2012047540-A1

Title: Lodging entertainment apparatus and method for use of same

Description:
PRIORITY STATEMENT 
     This application filed in the names of Vanessa Ogle of Richardson, Tex. and Bill Fang of Plano, Tex. claims the benefit of priority from co-pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/376,206, entitled “Lodging Entertainment Apparatus and Method for Use of Same” and filed on Aug. 23, 2010 in the names of Vanessa Ogle et al.; which is hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates, in general, to entertainment systems and, in particular, to lodging entertainment systems providing content and including welcome channels for communicating with guests. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Lodging entertainment systems typically include a headend broadcast system which is located within the lodging facility and which is linked to guest terminals in the individual guest rooms by a cable distribution system, for example. A hotel welcome channel is provided by the lodging establishment to welcome guests and to communicate the hotel messaging when the television is initially turned ON. Attractive graphics and video furnished by the headend broadcast system detail service information about the lodging establishment and local attractions. There is a continuing need for improved lodging entertainment systems that offer greater efficiencies. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It would be advantageous to achieve improved lodging entertainment systems that offer greater efficiencies. It would also be desirable to enable a electrical and computer-based solution that would be both efficient and cost effective. To better address one or more of these concerns, in one aspect of the invention, a lodging entertainment apparatus and method for use of the same are disclosed. In one implementation, a memory is located within a housing and configured to store hospitality content which includes events, channel guide, and amenities relative the lodging establishment. 
     An input is configured to receive an existing video signal that originates independently of the lodging entertainment apparatus and including content differing from hospitality content. An output is configured to independently transmit the hospitality content and the existing video signal. A user interface is configured to receive instructions from a user. A processor is located within the housing and communicatively coupled to the input, the output, the memory, and the user interface. The processor selectively provides the hospitality content in response to a power ON condition of the lodging entertainment apparatus. These and other aspects of the invention will be apparent from and elucidated with reference to the embodiment(s) described hereinafter. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For a more complete understanding of the features and advantages of the present invention, reference is now made to the detailed description of the invention along with the accompanying figures in which corresponding numerals in the different figures refer to corresponding parts and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is schematic diagram depicting one embodiment of a lodging entertainment system; 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram depicting another embodiment of a lodging entertainment system; 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic diagram of one embodiment of a lodging entertainment apparatus, which forms a component of the lodging entertainment system; 
         FIG. 4  is a data flow diagram of one embodiment of multiple lodging entertainment apparatuses interacting with the lodging entertainment system; and 
         FIG. 5  is a flow chart depicting one embodiment of a method for delivering lodging entertainment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     While the making and using of various embodiments of the present invention are discussed in detail below, it should be appreciated that the present invention provides many applicable inventive concepts which can be embodied in a wide variety of specific contexts. The specific embodiments discussed herein are merely illustrative of specific ways to make and use the invention, and do not delimit the scope of the present invention. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a lodging entertainment apparatus  10  for a lodging establishment is schematically illustrated within a broader lodging entertainment system  12  including a television  14  for a hotel, for example, or other lodging establishment (e.g., hospital, hostel, or dormitory) which delivers television programming, Internet access, channel guide, and other interactive video services to individual guest rooms of a hotel or other lodging establishment. 
     Audio/video RF signals for channels of the cable television system are provided from a headend  16 . The audio/video RF signals from the headend  16  may include off-air local television channels, direct broadcast satellite programming, interactive menus and interactive program guides, video-on-demand programming, interactive video games, channel guide, Internet services, and other interactive video and multi-media services. Based on the distribution depicted in  FIG. 1 , the headend  16  controls the operation of interactive menus and program guides, VOD movies, interactive games, Internet services, channel guide, and other interactive services. 
     The underlying distribution system may be a cable distribution system conventionally used in hotels and other lodging establishments. The transmission of both audio/video RF signals, as well as two-way data and digital communication signals between headend  16  and guest terminals  34   a  though  34   n  is provided. The headend  16  may include a host computer  18 , Internet server  20  and network interface  22 , game platform  24 , Internet ports  26 , digital content server providing content through multimedia ports  30 , switch  32 , cable/satellite receiver  36 , and the video display terminal or television  14 , for example. It should be appreciated that while a particular architecture for the headend  16  is depicted, other headend configurations are within the teachings presented herein. Each of the guest terminals  34   a  though  34   n  may include a television  14 , remote control, game controller, and keyboard, for example. Each of the lodging entertainment apparatuses  10  interconnects these guest terminal devices with the headend  16 . 
       FIG. 2  depicts another embodiment of the lodging entertainment system  12 , wherein the underlying distribution system and guest terminals are supported by no headend or a minimal headend  16  that includes a cable/satellite receiver  36  connected to guest terminals  34   a  through  34   n.  As previously discussed, it should be appreciated that the lodging entertainment apparatus  10  and accompanying system  12  may be deployed in a variety of lodging configurations. By way of further example, the lodging entertainment apparatus may be utilized in a hybrid system having characteristics of both the systems illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , in one embodiment, the lodging entertainment apparatus  10  includes a housing  50  having multiple walls  52 . Memory  62  is located within the housing  50  and configured to store hospitality content, which includes information relative to events, channel guide, and amenities. Multiple inputs traverse the walls of the housing to provide interfaces for the guest terminal devices. In particular, the input  54  is configured to receive an existing video signal which originates independently of the lodging entertainment apparatus and includes content differing from hospitality content. 
     Various outputs are similarly provided to furnish interfaces for the guest terminal devices. One of the outputs, output  56 , traverses one of the walls of the housing  50  to transmit one of the hospitality content and the existing video signal to the television  14 . A user interface  64 , which may be a button or series of buttons, is configured to receive instructions from a user. 
     As shown, a processor  60  is located within the housing  50  and communicatively coupled to the input  54 , the output  56 , the memory  62 , the user interface  64 , flash memory  66 , and RF turner and frontend demodulator  68 . The processor  60  selectively provides the hospitality content residing in the memory  62  in response to a power ON condition of the lodging entertainment apparatus  10  or alternatively at the prompting of the user. For example, the user may request the hospitality content residing in the memory  62  by pressing a MENU button on the remote control. It should be appreciated that although a processor  60  is depicted, various combinations of micro-processors, graphics engines, MPEG decoders, and flash memory may be employed. 
     In operation, a hotel welcome channel or channels are used by the hotel to welcome guests and to communicate the hotel messaging when the guest room television is turned ON. The welcome channel may provide a screen that has visually attractive graphics and video, detailing service information about the hotel to the guest. As previously discussed, the traditional welcome channel architecture involves a broadcast TV channel that can deliver the programming to all rooms in the hotel. This requires broadcasting headend equipment at the hotel or an offsite location that is dedicated to feed the welcome channel signal to the hotel rooms. 
     With the teachings presented herein, the lodging entertainment apparatus  10  locally generates the welcome page having the hospitality content and channel guide. The lodging entertainment apparatus  10  therefore eliminates the need for a portion of the dedicated hotel headend equipment and, therefore, frees up cable TV channels for normal TV programs, as well as providing the flexibility to have customized welcome information for a particular guest or a particular room. 
     In one implementation, the information and content data required to create the welcome channel, channel guide, and hospitality content is downloaded to the lodging entertainment apparatuses throughout the lodging establishment prior to use. The data required to be downloaded includes video files, graphics, and screen layout parameters. The download can be done using available digital RF data channels, such as DOCSIS or COB, or a specially generated data broadcast channel using a QAM modulated data link. Alternatively, the data may be transmitted over an IP network or through a local media exchange such as a USB flash memory stick. 
     Once downloaded, the data that creates the hospitality content resides in the memory, which may include the memory  62  and/or flash memory  66 , which may also be referred to as memory. Based on the hotel requirements, the lodging entertainment apparatus can then dynamically generate the hospitality content at any time, without requiring additional headend overhead, and will be available even when outages may occur with the local hotel TV service. 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , one embodiment of multiple lodging entertainment apparatuses  10   a  and  10   b  interacting with the lodging entertainment system is depicted. Each of the lodging entertainment apparatuses  10   a  and  10   b  is associated with a respective television  14   a  and  14   b.  An existing video signal furnished by common headend components  80  is provided to each of the lodging entertainment apparatuses  10   a  and  10   b  as shown by video signal  82 . A power ON signal is received from a user at television  14   b  and the ON signal  84  causes the lodging entertainment apparatus  10   b  to provide hospitality content signal  86  to the television  14   b.  As previously discussed, the hospitality content signal  86  is not generated from the existing video signal  82 , rather the hospitality content signal is locally generated at the lodging entertainment apparatus  10   b.  Moreover, the generation and overhead of the hospitality content is not dependent nor does it interfere with the video signal  82 . A command signal  88  received from the user indicates that the user desires to view content associated with the video signal  82 . The apparatus  10   b  then selectively provides this content. 
     As shown by power on signal  90  and command signals  92 ,  94 ,  96 , and power off signal  98 , the provisioning of the hospitality content is locally associated with each lodging entertainment apparatus  10   a  and  10   b,  while the video signal  82  is provided from a common headend. That is, the lodging entertainment apparatuses provide hospitality content locally without taxing the common headend and without utilization of the existing video signal. In fact, the hospitality content may be provided regardless of the status or availability of the existing video signal. Moreover, the hospitality content at one lodging entertainment apparatus is provided independent of the provisioning of the hospitality content at another lodging entertainment apparatus. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , in one embodiment, the methodology includes providing multiple lodging entertainment apparatuses in units in the multi-unit environment, which, as previously discussed may be a hotel, hospital, hostel, multi-family residence or dormitory, for example. Each of the lodging entertainment apparatuses are configured to receive the existing video feed from the common headend and the hospitality content, which may include events and amenities relative the lodging establishment, is loaded in the local memory of each apparatus. the processor further comprises set-top box functionality. As previously discussed, the hospitality content may include a channel, multiple channels, a channel guide, or tourist-relevant information about the lodging establishment, for example. 
     With respect to the operation of a single lodging entertainment apparatus, at block  110 , the user interface detects a power ON condition at the lodging entertainment apparatus and hospitality content, locally stored, is provided to the television at block  112 . At decision block  114 , the user may decide to continue to navigate the hospitality content, to view entertainment content provided by the existing video signal or turn the power OFF. Depending on the decision made, the methodology returns to block  112  for additional hospitality content, advances to block  116  to view entertainment content provided by the existing video signal, or advances to block  120 , where the methodology concludes. 
     Returning to block  116 , the existing video signal from the common headend is provided through the lodging entertainment apparatus to the television. The entertainment content may include television programming, Internet access, movies and other content discussed in  FIGS. 1 and 2  provided by the headend. At decision block  118 , the user may further navigate the options by selecting a command (e.g., change channel) to stay within the entertainment content provided by the headend by returning to block  116 , return to the hospitality content (e.g., pressing the MENU button) at block  112 , or advance to block  120  by pressing power OFF to end the user&#39;s interaction with the television. 
     While this invention has been described with reference to illustrative embodiments, this description is not intended to be construed in a limiting sense. Various modifications and combinations of the illustrative embodiments as well as other embodiments of the invention, will be apparent to persons skilled in the art upon reference to the description. It is, therefore, intended that the appended claims encompass any such modifications or embodiments.