Lodging entertainment system with payment options for guest-selected time shifting

• US 20040250282A1
• Filed: 07/06/2004
• Published: 12/09/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Lodgenet Entertainment (LodgeNet Interactive Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lodgenet Entertainment (LodgeNet Interactive Corporation)
• Inventors: Kolbeck, Gary L., Bankers, David M., Pelletier, Brian P., Califf, Randall J., Silverberg, Sanford L.
• Application Number:
  US10/885,328
• Publication Number:
  US 20040250282A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/58
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/12 involving interaction between a plurality of game devices, e.g. transmisison or distribution systems protocols for networked virtual reality, networked games H04L29/06034
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/30 Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/409 Data transfer via television network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2143 located in a single building, e.g. hotel, hospital or museum arrangements specially adapted for plural spots in a confined site in broadcast systems H04H20/63; adaptations for transmission by electric cable for domestic distribution in television systems H04N7/106
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2543 Billing , e.g. for subscription services payment schemes, architectures or protocols G06Q20/00; e-commerce G06Q30/00; arrangements for billing for the use of broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/21
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/274 Storing end-user multimedia data in response to end-user request , e.g. network recorder
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2747 Remote storage of video programs received via the downstream path, e.g. from the server
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4312 involving specific graphical features, e.g. screen layout, special fonts or colors, blinking icons, highlights or animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4314 for fitting data in a restricted space on the screen, e.g. EPG data in a rectangular grid
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/472 End-user interface for requesting content, additional data or services; End-user interface for interacting with content, e.g. for content reservation or setting reminders, for requesting event notification, for manipulating displayed content end-user interfaces for retrieving video data from a database G06F16/739; network services for supporting unicast streaming H04L65/612
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47211 for requesting pay-per-view content payment schemes payment architectures or payment protocols G06Q20/00, G07F
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47214 for content reservation or setting reminders; for requesting event notification, e.g. of sport results or stock market stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; notification of incoming messages in packet switching networks H04L51/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4781 Games
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

A lodging entertainment system provides a variety of products and services, including free television, pay-per-view movies, video games, guest services, and guest-selected recording of television programs for time-shifted viewing. Through the use of an interactive program guide, the guest may select programs being aired during the guest'"'"'s stay at the hotel for later viewing, or may elect to record a television program while watching the same or another program. A property management system tracks charges associated with the use of the lodging entertainment system by the guest.

Claims

1. A method of providing for guest-selected recording of television programs in an entertainment system having a head end and a plurality of guest terminals connected by a distribution system, the method comprising:

transmitting, from the head end to a guest terminal, a schedule of television programs;

displaying the schedule of programs on the guest terminal,

transmitting, from the guest terminal to the head end, program recording selection data representing a program selected by a guest for recording;

creating a digital file representing the program selected;

storing the digital file;

transmitting, from the guest terminal to the head end, data requesting playback of the program selected for recording;

communicating to a property management system that a digital file has been requested;

billing charges to a guest account in the property management system based on the program recording selection data;

playing back the program selected based upon the digital file representing the program selected; and

transmitting the program being played back to the guest terminal.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein charges billed to the guest account are a set fee per day.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein charges billed to the guest account are a fee for each program recorded.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein charges billed to the guest account are a fee for a specified time of recording.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein charges billed to the guest account are a fee based on a number of programs recorded and a number of programs played back to the guest terminal.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein charges billed to the guest account are a fee based on the program recorded and played back to the guest terminal.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein charges billed to the guest account are paid using a credit card number previously given the hotel and stored in the property management system.

8. A method providing to a guest and charging the guest for guest-selected recording of television programs for time shifted viewing in an entertainment system having a head end and a plurality of guest terminals connected by a distribution system, the method comprising:

transmitting, to a guest terminal, a program schedule for available scheduled television programming and previously recorded programs available for time-shifted viewing;

receiving, from the guest terminal, program selection data representing a scheduled program selected for recording;

digitally storing the program selected when it is broadcast;

updating the program schedule to include the program selected as one of the previously recorded programs;

receiving, from the guest terminal, playback request data based on the previously recorded programs contained in the program schedule;

transmitting, from the guest terminal, a notice of the playback request;

converting, in response to the playback request data, the digitally stored program to television signals;

transmitting the television signals to the guest terminal; and

adding a charge to a folio of charges associated with the guest terminal.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the charge added to the folio of charges associated with the guest terminal is a set fee per day.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein the charge added to the folio of charges associated with the guest terminal is a fee for each program transmitted to the guest terminal.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein the charge added to the folio of charges associated with the guest terminal is a fee for a specified time of playback.

12. The method of claim 8 wherein the charge added to the folio of charges associated with the guest terminal is a fee based on the program selection data.

13. The method of claim 8 and further comprising:

providing an option on the entertainment system for the guest to review the folio of charges associated with the guest terminal and make payment for the folio of charges with a credit card number previously given to the hotel and stored in the property management system.

15. An entertainment system comprising:

a plurality of guest terminals;

a distribution system connected to the guest terminals;

a digital content server for storing entertainment content in digital files and supplying to the distribution system television signals based upon the digital files;

a receiver for receiving television programs on a plurality of channels and supplying the programs to the distribution system;

an encoder for converting a selected television program on one of the channels to digital file representing the selected program and transferring the digital file to the digital content server for storage;

a computer which communicates with the guest terminals over the distribution system, the computer providing the guest terminals with information about the television programs, and controlling operation of the encoder based upon a selection by a guest of a program to be recorded; and

a property management system in communication with the computer for tracking charges associated with the entertainment system to a guest account.

16. The entertainment system of claim 15 wherein the property management system assesses a fee once a day for using the entertainment system.

17. The entertainment system of claim 15 wherein the property management system assesses a fee to the guest account based upon the selection by a guest of a program to be recorded.

18. The entertainment system of claim 15 wherein the property management system assesses a fee to the guest account upon storing entertainment content in digital files.

19. The entertainment system of claim 15 wherein the computer communicates with the digital content server and assess a fee to the guest account upon supplying television signals to a guest terminal.

20. The entertainment system of claim 15 wherein, in response to a request from a guest terminal, the computer causes the digital content server to supply television signals based upon the digital file representing the selected program, and communicates to the property management system to assess a fee to the guest account.

21. A method of providing time-shifted television programs in an entertainment system having a receiver, a head end, and a plurality of guest terminals connected by a distribution system, the method comprising:

receiving a television program on the receiver;

encoding the television program into a digital file;

storing the digital file on a digital content server;

transmitting to the guest terminals a programming schedule which includes a listing representing the digital file;

receiving a request from a guest terminal for the playback of the digital file;

transmitting the digital file to the guest terminal;

communicating from the head end to a property management system, the request for playback of the digital file; and

adding a charge to a folio of charges associated with the guest terminal.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein the charge added to the folio of charges associated with the guest terminal is a set fee per day.

23. The method of claim 21 wherein the charge added to the folio of charges associated with the guest terminal is a fee for each program transmitted to the guest terminal.

24. The method of claim 21 wherein the charge added to the folio of charges associated with the guest terminal is a fee for a specified time of playback.

25. The method of claim 21 wherein the charge added to the folio of charges associated with the guest terminal is a fee based on the program selection data.

26. The method of claim 21 and further comprising:

providing an option on the entertainment system for the guest to review the folio of charges associated with the guest terminal and make payment for the folio of charges with a credit card number previously given to the hotel and stored in the property management system.