U.S. patent application number 15/676812 was filed with the patent office on 2017-11-30 for set-top box with enhanced content and system and method for use of same.
The applicant listed for this patent is Enseo, Inc.. Invention is credited to Vanessa Ogle, Edward H. Wolfe.
Application Number | 20170347149 15/676812 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 55962912 |
Filed Date | 2017-11-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170347149 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ogle; Vanessa ; et
al. |
November 30, 2017 |
Set-Top Box with Enhanced Content and System and Method for Use of
Same
Abstract
A set-top box with enhanced content and system and method for
use of the same are disclosed. In one embodiment, a wireless
transceiver is located within a housing, which also
interconnectively includes a television input, television output, a
processor, and memory. The set-top box may establish a pairing with
a proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device having
a display. Content, such as the Internet, movies, music, or games,
for example, may be imported from the programmable device and
reformatted at the set-top box for display on a television via the
television output, thereby creating an experience on the television
parallel to the experience on the programmable device. Virtual
remote control functionality may then be provided by a spoken
sequence of words.
Inventors: |
Ogle; Vanessa; (Fairview,
TX) ; Wolfe; Edward H.; (Plano, TX) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Enseo, Inc. |
Richardson |
TX |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
55962912 |
Appl. No.: |
15/676812 |
Filed: |
August 14, 2017 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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15385282 |
Dec 20, 2016 |
9736532 |
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15676812 |
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15195318 |
Jun 28, 2016 |
9525909 |
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15385282 |
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15002223 |
Jan 20, 2016 |
9380336 |
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15195318 |
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14177876 |
Feb 11, 2014 |
8875195 |
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15002223 |
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13528663 |
Jun 20, 2012 |
8650600 |
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14177876 |
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62105246 |
Jan 20, 2015 |
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62105259 |
Jan 20, 2015 |
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61498734 |
Jun 20, 2011 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G08C 2201/20 20130101;
H04N 21/42222 20130101; H04N 21/42204 20130101; H04N 21/42221
20130101; H04N 21/42202 20130101; H04N 21/4221 20130101; H04N
21/42203 20130101; G08C 2201/93 20130101; H04N 21/4131 20130101;
H04N 21/42224 20130101; H04N 21/43637 20130101; H04N 21/41265
20200801; H04N 21/633 20130101; G08C 17/02 20130101; H04N 21/2143
20130101; H04N 21/4367 20130101; H04N 21/4222 20130101; G08C
2201/30 20130101; G08C 2201/92 20130101 |
International
Class: |
H04N 21/4363 20110101
H04N021/4363; H04N 21/214 20110101 H04N021/214; H04N 5/44 20110101
H04N005/44; H04N 21/41 20110101 H04N021/41; H04N 21/633 20110101
H04N021/633; H04N 21/422 20110101 H04N021/422 |
Claims
1. A set-top box comprising: a housing securing a television input,
a television output, a processor, memory, and storage therein; a
busing architecture communicatively interconnecting the television
input, the television output, the processor, the memory, and the
storage; a wireless transceiver associated with the housing and
coupled to the busing architecture, the wireless transceiver
operable to communicate with a proximate wireless-enabled
interactive programmable device; the television input configured to
receive a source signal from an external source; the television
output configured to forward a fully tuned signal to a television;
and the memory accessible to the processor, the memory including
processor-executable instructions that, when executed, cause the
processor to: establish a pairing between the proximate
wireless-enabled interactive programmable device and the set-top
box, receive and process virtual remote control functionality input
instructions from the proximate wireless-enabled interactive
programmable device, the virtual remote control functionality input
instructions being representations of a spoken sequence of words,
evaluating the spoken sequence of words to assign a meaning to the
spoken sequence of words, responsive to evaluating the spoken
sequence of words, generate a command signal, and send the command
signal to the television.
2. The set-top box as recited in claim 1, wherein the housing
further comprises a housing-dongle combination securing the
television input, the television output, the processor, memory,
storage, and wireless transceiver therewith.
3. The set-top box as recited in claim 2, wherein the processor and
the memory are distributed through the housing-dongle
combination.
4. The set-top box as recited in claim 1, wherein the wireless
transceiver is configured to communicate with the wireless-enabled
interactive programmable device via a standard selected from the
group consisting of infrared (IR), 802.11, 3G, 4G, Edge, WiFi,
ZigBee, near field communications (NFC), and Bluetooth.
5. The set-top box as recited in claim 1, wherein the wireless
transceiver is configured to communicate with the wireless-enabled
interactive programmable device via a short distance data exchange
standard.
6. The set-top box as recited in claim 5, wherein the short
distance data exchange standard comprises Bluetooth.
7. The set-top box as recited in claim 1, wherein the transceiver
is at least partially internal to the housing.
8. The set-top box as recited in claim 1, wherein the transceiver
is at least partially external to the housing.
9. The set-top box as recited in claim 1, wherein the transceiver
comprises an antenna.
10. The set-top box as recited in claim 1, wherein the
wireless-enabled interactive programmable device comprises a device
selected from the group consisting of personal computers, laptops,
tablet computers, smart phones, and smart watches.
11. The set-top box as recited in claim 1, wherein the command
signal provides remote control of the television.
12. A set-top box comprising: a housing securing a television
input, a television output, a processor, memory, and storage
therein; a busing architecture communicatively interconnecting the
television input, the television output, the processor, the memory,
and the storage; a wireless transceiver associated with the housing
and coupled to the busing architecture, the wireless transceiver
operable to communicate with a proximate wireless-enabled
interactive programmable device; the television input configured to
receive a source signal from an external source; the television
output configured to forward a fully tuned signal to a television;
the memory accessible to the processor, the memory including
processor-executable instructions that, when executed, cause the
processor to: establish a pairing between the proximate
wireless-enabled interactive programmable device and the set-top
box, receive and process virtual remote control functionality input
instructions from the proximate wireless-enabled interactive
programmable device, the virtual remote control functionality input
instructions being representations of a spoken sequence of words,
evaluating the spoken sequence of words to assign a meaning to the
spoken sequence of words, and responsive to evaluating the spoken
sequence of words, generate a command signal, and send the command
signal to the television, the command signal providing remote
control functionality of the television.
13. The set-top box as recited in claim 12, wherein the housing
further comprises a housing-dongle combination securing the
television input, the television output, the processor, memory,
storage, and wireless transceiver therewith.
14. The set-top box as recited in claim 12, wherein the
wireless-enabled interactive programmable device comprises a device
selected from the group consisting of personal computers, laptops,
tablet computers, smart phones, and smart watches.
15. A set-top box comprising: a housing securing a television
input, a television output, a processor, memory, and storage
therein; a busing architecture communicatively interconnecting the
television input, the television output, the processor, the memory,
and the storage; a wireless transceiver associated with the housing
and coupled to the busing architecture, the wireless transceiver
operable to communicate with a proximate wireless-enabled
interactive programmable device; the television input configured to
receive a source signal from an external source; the television
output configured to forward a fully tuned signal to a television;
and the memory accessible to the processor, the memory including
processor-executable instructions that, when executed, cause the
processor to: establish a pairing between the proximate
wireless-enabled interactive programmable device and the set-top
box, provide instructions on a touch screen display associated with
the proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device, the
instructions triggering a spoken sequence of words as a response,
receive and process virtual remote control functionality input
instructions from the proximate wireless-enabled interactive
programmable device, the virtual remote control functionality input
instructions being representations of the spoken sequence of words,
evaluate the spoken sequence of words to assign a meaning to the
spoken sequence of words, responsive to evaluating the spoken
sequence of words, generate a command signal, and send the command
signal to the television.
16. The set-top box as recited in claim 15, wherein the housing
further comprises a housing-dongle combination securing the
television input, the television output, the processor, memory,
storage, and wireless transceiver therewith.
17. The set-top box as recited in claim 15, wherein the processor
and the memory are distributed through the housing-dongle
combination.
18. The set-top box as recited in claim 15, wherein the
wireless-enabled interactive programmable device comprises a device
selected from the group consisting of personal computers, laptops,
tablet computers, smart phones, and smart watches.
19. The set-top box as recited in claim 15, wherein the wireless
transceiver is configured to communicate with the wireless-enabled
interactive programmable device via a short distance data exchange
standard.
20. The set-top box as recited in claim 15, wherein the command
signal provides remote control functionality of the television.
Description
PRIORITY STATEMENT & CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED
APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of co-pending U.S.
application Ser. No. 15/385,282, entitled "Set-Top Box with
Enhanced Content and System and Method for Use of Same" and filed
on Dec. 20, 2016; which is a continuation of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 15/195,318, entitled "Set-Top Box with
Enhanced Content and System and Method for Use of Same" and filed
on Jun. 28, 2016, in the names of Vanessa Ogle et al, and issued on
Dec. 20, 2016, as U.S. Pat. No. 9,525,909; which is a continuation
of U.S. application Ser. No. 15/002,223, entitled "Set-Top Box with
Enhanced Content and System and Method for Use of Same" and filed
on Jan. 20, 2016, in the names of Vanessa Ogle et al, and issued on
Jun. 28, 2016, as U.S. Pat. No. 9,380,336; which claims priority
from (1) U.S. Application Ser. No. 62/105,246, entitled "Set-Top
Box with Enhanced Content and System and Method for Use of Same"
and filed on Jan. 20, 2015 in the names of Vanessa Ogle and Edward
H. Wolfe; and (2) U.S. Application Ser. No. 62/105,259, entitled
"Hospitality Adaptive Program Guide" and filed on Jan. 20, 2015 in
the names of Vanessa Ogle et al. U.S. application Ser. No.
15/002,223, entitled "Set-Top Box with Enhanced Content and System
and Method for Use of Same" and filed on Jan. 20, 2016, in the
names of Vanessa Ogle et al, and issued on Jun. 28, 2016, as U.S.
Pat. No. 9,380,336 is also a continuation-in-part of U.S.
application Ser. No. 14/177,876, entitled "Set Top/Back Box, System
and Method for Providing a Remote Control Device" and filed on Feb.
11, 2014, in the names of Vanessa Ogle et al.; which is a
continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/528,663 entitled "Set
Top/Back Box, System And Method For Providing A Remote Control
Device" and filed on Jun. 20, 2012, in the names of Vanessa Ogle,
et al., and issued on Feb. 11, 2014, as U.S. Pat. No. 8,650,600;
which claims priority from U.S. Patent Application No. 61/498,734,
entitled "Set Top/Back Box, System and Method for Providing a
Remote Control Device" and filed on Jun. 20, 2011, in the names of
Vanessa Ogle et al.; all of which are hereby incorporated by
reference for all purposes.
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates, in general, to set-top boxes and, in
particular, to set-top boxes with enhanced content and systems and
methods for use of the same that address and enhance the content
typically received from an external signal source and provided to a
television.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Without limiting the scope of the present invention, the
background will be described in relation to televisions in the
hospitality lodging industry, as an example. To many individuals, a
television is more than just a display screen, rather it is a
doorway to the world, both real and imaginary, and a way to
experience new possibilities and discoveries. Consumers are
demanding enhanced content in an easy-to-use platform. As a result
of such consumer preferences, the quality of content and
ease-of-use are frequent differentiators in determining the
experience of guests staying in hospitality lodging establishments.
Accordingly, there is a need for improved systems and methods for
providing enhanced content in an easy-to-use platform in the
hospitality lodging industry.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] It would be advantageous to achieve a set-top box that would
improve upon existing limitations in functionality. It would also
be desirable to enable a computer-based electronics and software
solution that would provide enhanced content in an easy-to-use
platform in the hospitality lodging industry or in another
environment. To better address one or more of these concerns, a
set-top box with enhanced content and system and method for use of
the same are disclosed. In one embodiment of the set-top box, a
wireless transceiver is located within a housing, which also
interconnectively includes a television input, television output, a
processor, and memory.
[0005] The set-top box may establish a pairing with a proximate
wireless-enabled interactive programmable device having a display.
Content, such as the Internet, movies, music, or games, for
example, may be imported, e.g., streamed, from the programmable
device and reformatted at the set-top box for display on a
television via the television output, thereby creating an
experience on the television parallel to the experience on the
programmable device. Virtual remote control functionality may then
be provided by a spoken sequence of words to send a command signal
to a television, import content from the proximate wireless-enabled
interactive programmable device to the television, or control an
amenity associated with a user's stay in a lodging establishment,
for example. These and other aspects of the invention will be
apparent from and elucidated with reference to the embodiments
described hereinafter.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] 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:
[0007] FIG. 1 is schematic diagram depicting one embodiment of a
system for providing a set-top box having enhanced content thereon
according to the teachings presented herein;
[0008] FIG. 2A is a wall-facing exterior elevation view of one
embodiment of the set-top box depicted in FIG. 1 in further
detail;
[0009] FIG. 2B is a television-facing exterior elevation view of
the set-top box depicted in FIG. 2A;
[0010] FIG. 2C is a front perspective view of a dongle depicted in
FIG. 1 in further detail;
[0011] FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram depicting one
embodiment of the set-top box presented in FIGS. 2A and 2B;
[0012] FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram depicting one
operational embodiment of the set-top box and a programmable
device, both components of the system presented in FIG. 1;
[0013] FIG. 5 is a flow chart depicting one embodiment of a method
for providing a set-top box having enhanced content according to
the teachings presented herein; and
[0014] FIG. 6 is a flow chart depicting one embodiment of a process
flow diagram illustrating a portion of the methodology of FIG. 5 in
further detail.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0015] 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.
[0016] Referring initially to FIG. 1, therein is depicted one
embodiment of a system 10 utilizing set-top box 12 with enhanced
content capabilities being employed within a hospitality lodging
establishment. The hospitality lodging establishment or, more
generally, hospitality property, may be a furnished multi-family
residence, dormitory, lodging establishment, hotel, hospital, or
other multi-unit environment. As shown, by way of example and not
by way of limitation, the hospitality environment is depicted as
the hotel H having various rooms, including room R and back of the
house operations O. The set-top box 12 is communicatively disposed
with various amenities associated with the hospitality environment
or hotel H, including a television 14. Set-top boxes, like the
set-top box 12, may be deployed throughout the rooms R of the hotel
H and are in communication with a property server 16, which is
co-located at the hotel H.
[0017] As shown, in one embodiment, within the room R, the system
10 includes the set-top box 12 and a display illustrated as the
television 14 having a screen 18. A connection, which is depicted
as an HDMI connection 20, connects the set-top box 12 to the
television 14. Other connections include a power cable 22 coupling
the set-top box 12 to a power source, a coaxial cable 24 coupling
the set-top box 12 to an external cable source, and a category five
(Cat 5) cable 26 coupling the set-top box 12 to an external
pay-per-view source at a hotel or other lodging establishment, for
example. As shown, the set-top box 12 may include a dongle 30
providing particular technology and functionality extensions
thereto. That is, the set-top box 12 may be set-top box-dongle
combination in one embodiment. More generally, it should be
appreciated that the cabling connected to the set-top box 12 will
depend on the environment and application and the cabling
connections presented in FIG. 1 are depicted for illustrative
purposes. Further, it should appreciated that the positioning of
the set-top box 12 will vary depending on environment and
application and, with certain functionality, the set-top box 12 may
be placed more discretely behind the television 14.
[0018] A proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device
32 may be a wireless-enabled interactive handheld device that may
be supplied or carried by the guest and may be selected from a
range of existing devices, such as, for example iPads.RTM.,
iPhones.RTM., iPod Touch.RTM., Android.RTM. devices,
Blackberry.RTM. devices, personal computers, laptops, tablet
computers, smart phones, and smart watches, for example. As will be
discussed in further detail below, in one implementation, an
application installed from a server enables the set-top box 12 and
the proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device 32
to be wirelessly paired. In another embodiment, a
challenge-response is utilized to wirelessly pair the set-top box
12 and the proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable
device 32. A room control device 34 represents control of various
amenities associated with a user's stay in a lodging establishment.
The various amenities may include lights 36, a thermostat, shades,
and a doorbell/do not disturb designation 38. The set-top box 12 is
communicatively disposed with these various amenities, which may
also include a CD/DVD player, a radio tuner, and a hospitality
suite 40, which represents a set of services such as check in/check
out, maid service 42, spa, room service, and front desk 44.
[0019] As shown, an interactive portal 48 is displayed on the
display 18, which is generic, unless a guest configuration profile
is loaded within the set-top box 12. The guest configuration
profile may be loaded from the operations, e.g., the front desk or
hotel headend, by use of a remote control, or by a proximate
device, such as the proximate wireless-enabled interactive
programmable device 32. In one implementation, as illustrated, the
set-top box 12 extends a physical authorization interface, shown as
area A, from the set-top box to an area easily accessible to
transitory guest's convenience such as in front or side of the
television 14. This physical authorization interface A may include
a short range wireless data connection that is enabled only when
very close physically to the proximate wireless-enabled interactive
programmable device 32, for example. Further, once the pairing is
established, as represented by bar 46, the set-top box 12 provides
a secure wireless interface to communicate transitory guest user
device authorization information to the set-top box 12 to
accomplish verification. Once authorization information is
communicated to the set-top box, the set-top box enables the guest
configuration profile.
[0020] Enabled, the guest configuration profile provides a
customized set-top box experience. More particularly, the guest
configuration profile includes guest identification, a guest
channel preference presentation, and a guest service preference
presentation with guest account information. The guest
configuration profile is a guest-specific, guest-customized set-top
box generated environment referencing an explicit digital
representation of a guest's identity. The set-top box generates the
interactive portal 48 including a guest indication acknowledgement
"Welcome Back John!", and various other menu options including a
program guide, a guest channel preference presentation, a guest
service preference presentation, a live television option, a
plug-and-play option, and a local device option, which includes
premium programming, game, and music content, for example. Further,
personal area network and local area network connectivity is
provided to the proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable
device 32, as shown by the Wifi indicator W.
[0021] In operation, virtual remote control functionality may be
provided by the proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable
device 32 by a spoken sequence of words to send a command signal to
the television, to import content from the proximate
wireless-enabled interactive programmable device to the television,
or control an amenity associated with a user's stay in a lodging
establishment, for example. As shown in FIG. 1, by way of example,
guest G speaks spoken words S which is received by the proximate
wireless-enabled interactive programmable device 32 and translated
into a command to change the channel from menu M to program P.
[0022] Referring to FIG. 2A, FIG. 2B, FIG. 2C, and FIG. 3, as used
herein, set-top boxes, back boxes and set-top/back boxes may be
discussed as set-top boxes. By way of example, the set-top box 12
may be a set-top unit that is an information appliance device that
generally contains set-top box functionality including having a
television-tuner input and displays output through a connection to
a display or television set and an external source of signal,
turning by way of tuning the source signal into content in a form
that can then be displayed on the television screen or other
display device. Such set-top boxes are used in cable television,
satellite television, and over-the-air television systems, for
example.
[0023] The set-top box 12 includes a housing 50 having a rear wall
52, front wall 54, top wall 56, bottom base 58, and two sidewalls
60, 62. It should be appreciated that front wall, rear wall, and
side wall are relative terms used for descriptive purposes and the
orientation and the nomenclature of the walls may vary depending on
application. The front wall includes various ports, ports 64, 66,
68, 70, 72, 74, 76, 78, and 80 that provide interfaces for various
interfaces, including inputs and outputs. In one implementation, as
illustrated, the ports 64 through 80 include inputs 82 and outputs
84 and, more particularly, an RF input 86, a RJ-45 input 88,
universal serial bus (USB) input/outputs 90, an Ethernet category 5
(Cat 5) coupling 92, an internal reset 94, an RS232 control 96, an
audio out 98, an audio in 100, and a debug/maintenance port 102.
The front wall 54 also includes various inputs 82 and outputs 84.
More particularly, ports 110, 112, 114, and 116 include a 5V dc
power connection 120, USB inputs/outputs 122, an RJ-coupling 124,
and an HDMI port 126. It should be appreciated that the
configuration of ports may vary with the set-top box depending on
application and context. As previously alluded to, the housing 50
may include a housing-dongle combination including, with respect to
the dongle 30, a unit 130 having a cable 134 with a set-top box
connector 132 for selectively coupling with the set-top box 12.
[0024] Within the housing 50, a processor 140, memory 142, storage
144, the inputs 82, and the outputs 84 are interconnected by a bus
architecture 146 within a mounting architecture. It should be
understood that the processor 140, memory 142, storage 144, the
inputs 82, and the outputs 84 may be entirely contained within the
housing 50 or the housing-dongle combination. The processor 140 may
process instructions for execution within the computing device,
including instructions stored in the memory 142 or in storage 144.
The memory 132 stores information within the computing device. In
one implementation, the memory 132 is a volatile memory unit or
units. In another implementation, the memory 142 is a non-volatile
memory unit or units. Storage 144 provides capacity that is capable
of providing mass storage for the set-top box 12. Various inputs 82
and outputs 84 provide connections to and from the computing
device, wherein the inputs 82 are the signals or data received by
the set-top box 12, and the outputs 84 are the signals or data sent
from the set-top box 12.
[0025] A television content signal input 148 and a television
output 150 are also secured in the housing 50 in order to receive
content from a source in the hospitality property and forward the
content, including external content such as cable and satellite and
pay-per-view (PPV) programming, to the television located within
the hotel room.
[0026] A transceiver 152 is associated with the set-top box 12 and
communicatively disposed with the bus 146. As shown the transceiver
152 may be internal, external, or a combination thereof to the
housing. Further, the transceiver 152 may be a
transmitter/receiver, receiver, or an antenna for example.
Communication between various amenities in the hotel room and the
set-top box 12 may be enabled by a variety of wireless
methodologies employed by the transceiver 152, including 802.11,
3G, 4G, Edge, WiFi, ZigBee, near field communications (NFC),
Bluetooth low energy and Bluetooth, for example. Also, infrared
(IR) may be utilized.
[0027] The memory 142 and storage 144 are accessible to the
processor 140 and include processor-executable instructions that,
when executed, cause the processor 140 to execute a series of
operations. The processor-executable instructions specify a search
operation to identify the proximate wireless-enabled interactive
programmable device, wherein the search operation utilizes the
wireless transceiver to wirelessly identify the proximate
wireless-enabled interactive programmable device 32. The
processor-executable instructions then establish a pairing between
the proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device 32
and the set-top box 12. Following the establishment of a pairing,
formatted parallel audiovisual experience instructions are sent to
the proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device 32.
The formatted parallel audiovisual experience instructions are
configured to provide a downstream parallel experience related to
the content on the television 14. The memory 142 also provides
instructions to the processor for virtual buttons on a touch screen
display associated with the proximate wireless-enabled interactive
programmable device 32. The virtual buttons are associated with the
proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device 32.
[0028] With respect to controlling the television 14, the
processor-executable instructions cause the processor to receive
and process virtual remote control functionality input instructions
from the proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device
32. The virtual remote control functionality input instructions
being representations of a spoken sequence of words. The processor
140 is then caused to evaluate the spoken sequence of words to
assign a meaning to the spoken sequence of words and then generate
a command signal, which is sent to the television. The formatted
parallel audiovisual experience instructions include instructions
that prompt the spoken sequence of words as a response.
[0029] With respect to importing content from the proximate
wireless-enabled interactive programmable device 32, the memory 142
includes processor-executable instructions that, when executed
cause the processor 140 to responsive to evaluating the spoken
sequence of words, import content from the proximate
wireless-enabled interactive programmable device 32 and reformat
the imported content such that the television output forwards a
fully tuned signal including the imported content to the television
14. The fully tuned signal includes the imported content provides
an upstream parallel experience on the television 14 related to the
content on the proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable
device 32.
[0030] With respect to amenity control, the memory 142 includes
processor-executable instructions that, when executed cause the
processor to be responsive to evaluating the spoken sequence of
words, send a command to the particular amenity. A configuration
profile is associated with the memory 142 and processor-executable
instructions that enables the set-top box 12 to control multiple
proximate amenities related to a user's stay in a lodging
establishment in a multi-room environment, including the particular
amenity to be controlled. The configuration profile, for each
amenity of the plurality of amenities, includes instructions for
virtual buttons on a touch screen display, and instructions for
associating virtual remote control functionality input instructions
from the touch screen display with commands. The configuration
profile, for each amenity of the plurality of amenities, includes
instructions for virtual buttons on a touch screen display, and
instructions for associating virtual remote control functionality
input instructions received as the spoken sequence of words from
the proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device with
commands.
[0031] Referring now to FIG. 4, the pairing between the set top box
12 and the proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable
device 32 having a touch screen display 160 is illustrated in
further detail, wherein the alphabetical designations A-F used with
proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device 32
indicate particular selectable configurations of the proximate
wireless-enabled interactive programmable device 32, which are
labeled proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device
32-A through 32-F. As shown, the set top box 12 receives content
162 from a source and outputs to the television either the content
162 or a modified version of the content 162, which is designated
content 164. The modified designation of the content 164 may prompt
the user to select between particular services and features
offered, which may relate to the previously discussed amenities or
hospitality suite services, for example.
[0032] The programmable device 32-A includes content 166 on a touch
screen display 160, which corresponds to content 162 on the
television 14. As will be discussed in further detail below, the
content 166 is formatted and/or scaled for the touch screen display
160. The programmable device 32-B includes content 168, which is a
formatted and/or scaled version of content 164, on the touch screen
display 160. The content 168 includes a virtual button 170 that if
pressed by a user or spoken by the user causes the corresponding
functionality to the virtual button 170 to occur. More
specifically, the set-top box 12 receives a virtual remote control
functionality instruction from the programmable device 32-B, which
indicates that on touch screen 160 coordinates (X.sub.PD, Y.sub.PD)
a touch-and-click operation occurred. The set-top box 12 translates
or de-scales the coordinates (X.sub.PD, Y.sub.PD) to coordinates
(X.sub.STB, Y.sub.STB), which the set-top box 12 compares against a
configuration profile 158 in order to determine that the actuation
of the virtual button 170 presents a pay-per-view terminal guide
listing. Alternatively, the set-top box 12 responds to a spoken
command to accomplish the functionality. The set-top box 12 then
sends a command signal to a PPV terminal, for example, and the
requested guide is then displayed.
[0033] The programmable device 32-C includes content 172 on the
touch screen display 160. The content 172 corresponds to the
content 162, however, the content 172 is formatted and/or scaled
for viewing on only an upper portion of the touch screen display
160. A virtual remote control 174 is displayed on the lower portion
of the touch screen display 160. The virtual remote control 174
controls the CD/DVD player via virtual buttons, including virtual
buttons 176, 178 or by the receiving of spoken words. Similar to
the actuation of the virtual button 170 with programmable device
32-B, the set-top box 12 receives a virtual remote control
functionality instruction, tactilely inputted or spoken, from the
programmable device 32-C, which indicates that on touch screen
display 160 coordinates (X.sub.PD, Y.sub.PD) a touch-and-click
operation occurred. The set-top box 12 translates or de-scales the
coordinates (X.sub.PD, Y.sub.PD) to coordinates (X.sub.STB,
Y.sub.STB), which the set-top box 12 compares against the
configuration profile 158 in order to determine that the actuation
of the button 176 initiates playing music on a CD/DVD player.
Alternatively, language model information is used to recognize
words to facilitate the same command. The set-top box 12 then sends
a command signal to the CD/DVD player and music is played. The
programmable device 32-D having virtual remote control 180 for
television 14 control with buttons 182, 184 and the programmable
device 32-E for set-top box 12 control having virtual remote
control 186 with buttons 188, 190 have similar functionality to the
programmable device 32-B and 32-C.
[0034] With respect to providing a programmable device experience
200 on the television with the modified content 164, the
programmable device 32-F includes a programmable device experience
202 that may provide the importation of content from the
programmable device 32-F to the television. The programmable device
32-F includes buttons 206, 208, and 210 for the importation of
audio, music or application content that have similar functionality
to the programmable device 32-B and 32-D.
[0035] In one implementation, a user may toggle between the full
screen television presentation of the programmable device 32-A and
the split screen television/remote presentation of the proximate
wireless-enabled interactive programmable devices 32-B through 32-F
by selectively swiping or clicking a predetermined portion of the
touch screen display 160. Once in the split screen
television/remote presentation, the user may selectively switch
between an array of virtual remote controls corresponding to the
configuration profile in the set-top box 12, which correspond to
the various amenities in the multi-unit environment such that a
verbal command may be given to command the amenity.
[0036] With respect to the set-top box 12, data is collected about
use, including interactive data 212, program data 214, and physical
data 216. The interactive data 212 includes information about the
non-television interactions of a guest with the set-top box 12. The
program data 214 includes information about the television and
content-based interactions of the guest with the set-top box 12.
The physical data 216 includes information about the state data of
the set-top box 12. This data provides for property adaptions 218,
guest adaptions 220, and self-diagnosis 222, for example.
[0037] More specifically, collection of this data permits hotel
guests to tailor their specific program guide and to store those
preferences for future hotel stays by providing a means to learn a
guest's preferences in a central database then store those
preferences for future stays thus allowing the guest to reuse the
preferences in future stays regardless of the television make and
model in the hotel room. Stored television preferences can be
stored and retrieved using two methods. First, in a hotel brand
database and installed in a specific guest room based on loyalty
program membership identifier. These preferences would be
automatically provided to the set-top box 12 as the guest checks
into the hotel or self-applied by the guest through registration in
an internet based system accessible to guests during their hotel
stay at any property so equipped.
[0038] Data is collected for an adaption program guide that allows
guests to customize the interactive program guide at his or her
set-top box 12 they are shown in a variety of ways including but
not limited to: [0039] Presentation of a sub-set of the items
available in the interactive program guide such as only sports
channels, a specific list of channels of interest to the specific
guest, only over-the-top programming or any combination of these
items. Items for display would be selectable either as discrete
items available for yes/no election by the guest or through groups
of like items or services that can be selected as a group for
inclusion or elimination from the interactive program guide. [0040]
Presentation of the items in the interactive program guide in a
specific order such as sports channels first followed by
Over-The-Top Applications or any combination of items and services
available in the system. [0041] Changes in font size, background
color or other graphical features as necessary to improve the
system usability for individuals with accessibility challenges.
[0042] Individual guest settings are stored in a database of guest
settings indexed by a master index record that could be either the
guest's loyalty program membership identifier or a separate
identifier such as the guests email address. In some situations, a
hotelier may choose to use their own system to maintain these
records while other hoteliers may choose to use a database system
provided by an external service.
[0043] Guest specific adaptations to their specific room's
interactive program guide can be applied through an automated means
utilizing the hotel's property management system and its ability to
store hotel loyalty membership information for a specific guest.
The invention provides a means to retrieve a guest's interactive
program guide adaptations they created at a previous hotel stay and
automatically apply those settings to a current hotel stay by
retrieving the guest's hotel loyalty membership number from the
hotel property management system. Once the loyalty number is
retrieved, the invention would use that number to look up, retrieve
and then apply the guest's interactive program guide adaptations
stored in the system from a previous stay.
[0044] Alternatively, some hoteliers may choose to use a completely
separate and non-hotel brand specific database to manage guest
specific adaptations to the interactive program guide. In this
implementation, guests would log into the system in their room
using the television system in any equipped hotel whereupon the
system would download their specific customizations, which would
immediately take effect on the television(s) in their rooms. Any
customizations made while the guest was logged into the system are
then recorded in the system database and available for future guest
stays at any equipped hotel.
[0045] Guests personal adaptations would be recorded by either of
two methods. These methods can be used independently or together to
create and store a guest's personal adaptations.
[0046] Using the first method, guests would select from an
on-screen presentation on the guest's television in their room, the
channels and services they want to include in their customized
interactive program guide. This presentation is constructed using a
variety of graphical presentations that could include checkboxes,
radio buttons, and check lists or other presentations. Guests would
then accept the selected items for display on their television. If
the guest was a hotel loyalty program member and the hotel has
elected to use this feature, the guest's settings would be saved in
a database associated with the guest's loyalty membership number.
This is in addition to preserving the newly customized settings for
the duration of the guest's current stay. If the hotel brand elects
to use a brand independent database the guest's customizations
would then be stored in that database using the guests login
information as the record key.
[0047] Using the second method, the system would automatically
prioritize channels and services based on guest channel usage.
Prioritization would be based on multiple factors such as but not
limited to: [0048] Channels or services elected for viewing by the
guest [0049] Duration of viewing by the guest of particular
channels or services [0050] Associated channels and services
similar to channels or services viewed by the guest based on
selection or duration by the guest.
[0051] The system and method may provide a menu-driven environment
which may duplicate content on the television, provide related
content, furnish a parallel experience, or provide controls for the
environment in the room. For example, with respect to the parallel
experience, a channel guide may be provided. By way of another
example, providing controls for the environment may include
enabling the thermostat and lighting controls from the interactive
device by way of the set-top box.
[0052] Thus, the systems and methods disclosed herein may enable
users to use existing electronic devices as a temporary remote
control device to control a television via a set-top box. Therefore
the systems and methods presented herein avoid the need for
additional or expensive high functionality remote controls. In this
respect, the teachings presented herein also include providing the
software and/or application for the electronic device or
interactive handheld device. The application, to the extent needed,
may be downloaded from the Internet or alternatively made available
by download from the set-top box.
[0053] FIG. 5 depicts one embodiment of a method for providing a
remote control device, according to the teachings presented herein.
At block 230, the programmable device is configured to provide a
parallel audiovisual experience. In one implementation, this may
involve using an existing application on the programmable device,
such as a browser, or downloading a new application. At block 232,
a search, which may be active or passive, is performed by the
set-top box to identify a physically proximate programmable device
in the multi-room environment. At block 234, a pairing is
established prior to a scalable parallel audiovisual experience
being provided at block 236 on the touch screen display of the
programmable device. The audiovisual experience is parallel to the
television experience being provided by the set-top box. As noted
by block 236, this experience may include providing virtual buttons
integrated within the audiovisual experience or two or more panels
within the touch screen display showing the television experience
and one or more virtual remote controls.
[0054] Referring to decision block 238, as previously discussed,
the virtual remote controls and buttons each correspond to
amenities under the control of the set-top box, remote control of
the television, or importing content from the proximate
wireless-enabled interactive programmable device to the television.
With respect to control of amenities, at block 240, instructions
are provided from the set-top box for virtual buttons on a touch
screen display associated with the proximate wireless-enabled
interactive programmable device. The virtual buttons are associated
with the proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device
and relate to obtaining user input for the amenity control
functionality provided by the set-top box. At block 242, the
set-top box receives and processes amenity control functionality
input instructions from the proximate wireless-enabled interactive
programmable device. The amenity control functionality input
instructions are representations of a spoken sequence of words. At
block 244, the command words are translated into a command signal.
More specifically, the spoken sequence of words is evaluated to
assign a meaning to the spoken sequence of words and a command
signal generated. At block 246, responsive to evaluating the spoken
sequence of words, a command signal is sent to the particular
amenity.
[0055] Returning to decision block 238, with respect to remote
control of the television, at block 248, instructions are provided
from the set-top box for virtual buttons on a touch screen display
associated with the proximate wireless-enabled interactive
programmable device. The virtual buttons are associated with the
proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device and
relate to obtaining user input for the virtual TV remote control
functionality provided by the set-top box. At block 250, the
set-top box receives and processes virtual remote control
functionality input instructions from the proximate
wireless-enabled interactive programmable device. The virtual
remote control functionality input instructions are representations
of a spoken sequence of words. At block 252, the command words are
translated into a command signal. More specifically, the spoken
sequence of words is evaluated to assign a meaning to the spoken
sequence of words and a command signal generated. At block 254, the
command signal is sent to the television.
[0056] Returning now to decision block 238 and the importation of
content from the proximate wireless-enabled interactive
programmable device, at block 256, instructions are provided from
the set-top box for virtual buttons on a touch screen display
associated with the proximate wireless-enabled interactive
programmable device. The virtual buttons are associated with the
proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device and
relate to obtaining user input for the programmable device
experience functionality provided by the set-top box. At block 258,
the set-top box receives and processes virtual remote control
functionality input instructions from the proximate
wireless-enabled interactive programmable device. The virtual
remote control functionality input instructions are representations
of a spoken sequence of words. At block 260, the command words are
translated into a command signal. More specifically, the spoken
sequence of words is evaluated to assign a meaning to the spoken
sequence of words and a command signal generated. At block 262,
responsive to evaluating the spoken sequence of words, content is
imported from the proximate wireless-enabled interactive
programmable device. At block 264, imported content is reformatted
such that the television output forwards a fully tuned signal
including the imported content to the television at block 266. As
discussed, the fully tuned signal including the imported content
provides an upstream parallel experience on the television related
to the content on the proximate wireless-enabled interactive
programmable device.
[0057] Referring now to FIG. 6, one embodiment of a process flow
diagram illustrating a portion of the methodology in further detail
is depicted. More specifically, the methodology presented in FIG. 6
may relate to blocks 242, 244; 250, 252; and 258, 260 presented in
FIG. 5. Continuing to refer to FIG. 6, at block 280, operating
context is determined prior to language model information being
computed at block 282. More specifically, with reference to blocks
280 and 282, a current operating context is determined by examining
the instructions provided to the proximate wireless-enabled
interactive programmable device. With this context, language model
information is determined so that the scope of vocabulary search is
defined such that in subsequent steps a determination may be made
if any uttered speech matches. At block 284, the language
recognition processing is in an idle state prior to obtaining
words. As shown at decision block 286, the language recognition
processing remains in an idle state (i.e., no "words") until words
are detected.
[0058] At block 288, words are received and at block 290, speech
rules which match the recognized utterance are determined. The
process of matching a speech rule to an utterance also produces a
set of variable bindings, which represents the meaning of various
phrases in the recognized utterance. At decision block 292, the
speech rules in the system are compared to the guest's utterance to
determine if a match is present. If a match is not present, then
the process returns to the idle state at block 284. On the other
hand, if a match exists, then the process advances to block 294,
where a script associated with the speech rules and the variable
bindings from the previous steps is executed. The script may mimic
the execution of a virtual button on the proximate wireless-enabled
interactive programmable device, in one embodiment. The methodology
then advances to block 296 where the corresponding command signal
is generated.
[0059] The order of execution or performance of the methods and
data flows illustrated and described herein is not essential,
unless otherwise specified. That is, elements of the methods and
data flows may be performed in any order, unless otherwise
specified, and that the methods may include more or less elements
than those disclosed herein. For example, it is contemplated that
executing or performing a particular element before,
contemporaneously with, or after another element are all possible
sequences of execution.
[0060] 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.
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