Entertainment system for collecting user inputs by periodically interleaving game collection interrogations into series of system interrogations during interruption of system interrogations

• US 5,907,715 A
• Filed: 06/24/1997
• Issued: 05/25/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sonifi Solutions, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Lodgenet Entertainment (LodgeNet Interactive Corporation)
• Inventors: Plucker, Prentice J., Hills, Vernon E., Cinco, Christopher A., Stoel, Leon P., Bankers, David M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Luu, Le Hien
• Application Number:
  US08/881,213
• Time in Patent Office: 700 Days
• Field of Search: 348/13, 348/8, 348/3, 463/42, 463/25, 463/6, 379/91.02, 379/92.01, 395/866, 395/867
• US Class Current: 710/46
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/31 Communication aspects specific to video games, e.g. between several handheld game devices at close range
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/338 using television networks
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/352 involving special game server arrangements, e.g. regional servers connected to a national server or a plurality of servers managing partitions of the game world
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/533 for prompting the player, e.g. by displaying a game menu
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/308 Details of the user interface
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/402 Communication between platforms, i.e. physical link to protocol
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/409 Data transfer via television network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/106 for domestic distribution

Abstract

A hotel room entertainment system enables video games to be played in each room of a hotel without providing a video game generator in each room. The entertainment system includes at a head end system portion in which the video game audio and video signals are generated and a plurality of guest terminals. Game interrogations are provided to each guest terminal in an active game-playing mode, each game interrogation having a plurality of response positions for guest terminal responses to the interrogation. The game interrogations are interleaved with a series of system interrogations generated at the head end system, enabling the entertainment system to provide video game signals along with other entertainment and services to the guest terminals using a single distribution system.

Claims

1. A method for collecting user input information from a plurality of locations using an entertainment system, the entertainment system having a head end system containing a host computer, the entertainment system further having a plurality of terminals, input means coupled to each terminal for enabling a user to input information at each location, and a distribution system linking each terminal to the head end system, the method comprising:

initiating a series of system interrogations to the terminals via the distribution system to obtain information from one of the input means in each system interrogation;

providing collection interrogations to the terminals via the distribution system for obtaining information from the input means including identifying selected terminals of the plurality of terminals to be interrogated by the collection interrogations, wherein information from more than one of the input means can be obtained in each collection interrogation; and

interleaving the collection interrogations into the series of system interrogations, including periodically interrupting distribution of system interrogations and initiating collection interrogations via the distribution system during interruption of the distribution of system interrogations.

2. The method of claim 1, including

providing input information of a first type from a non-selected terminal to the head end in response to a system interrogation, and

providing input information of a second type from the selected terminals to the head end in response to a collection interrogation.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the head end contains a plurality of program sources and a plurality of interactive sources, the head end being responsive to the input information of the first type to control program source signals to the terminal and being responsive to input information of the second type to provide interactive source signals to the terminal.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the interactive sources includes a plurality of interactive game generators and the interactive source signals includes interactive game signals.

5. The method of claim 2, including assigning a string response position to each of the selected terminals, the collection interrogations being sent to all of the selected terminals, the input information of the second type being provided by each selected terminal in its respective string response position, the input information provided by the selected terminals forming a string of responses containing input information of the second type to the head end from all of the respective selected terminals.

6. The method of claim 5, including identifying when a terminal ceases to provide input information of the second type, and reassigning the string response position previously assigned to the terminal that ceases to provide input information to another selected terminal having a string response position later in the string than the reassigned string response position.

7. The method of claim 6, including for any selected terminal having more than one string response position, removing the assignment of a string response position that is latest in position in the string.

8. The method of claim 5, including for any selected terminal having more than one string response position, removing the assignment of a string response position that is latest in position in the string.

9. A method for collecting user information from a plurality of locations using an entertainment system, the entertainment system having a head end system containing a host computer, the entertainment system further having a terminal at each of the plurality of locations, each terminal having input means enabling a user to input information, the entertainment system further having a distribution system linking each terminal to the head end system, the method comprising:

initiating a series of system interrogations to the terminals via the distribution system, wherein the system interrogations are directed sequentially to individual terminals;

providing input information of a first type to the head end system for one of the terminals in response to a system interrogation;

identifying selected terminals of the plurality of terminals to provide input information of a second type;

providing input information of the second type to the head end system for the selected terminals of the plurality of the terminals in response to a collection interrogation; and

interleaving collection interrogations into the series of system interrogations including periodically interrupting distribution of system interrogations and initiating a collection interrogation to the selected terminals via the distribution system during each interruption of the distribution of system interrogations.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the head end contains a plurality of program sources and a plurality of interactive sources, the head end being responsive to the input information of the first type to provide program source signals to the terminal and being responsive to input information of the second type to provide interactive source signals to the terminal.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the interactive sources includes a plurality of interactive game generators and the interactive source signals includes interactive game signals.

12. The method of claim 9, including assigning a string response position to each of the selected terminals, the collection interrogations being sent to all of the selected terminals, the input information of the second type being provided by each selected terminal in its respective string response position, the input information provided by the selected terminals forming a string of responses containing input information of the second type to the head end from all of the respective selected terminals.

13. The method of claim 12, including identifying when a terminal ceases to provide input information of the second type, and reassigning the string response position previously assigned to the terminal that ceases to provide input information to another selected terminal having a string response position later in the string than the reassigned string response position.

14. The method of claim 13, including for any selected terminal having more than one string response position, removing the assignment of a string response position that is latest in position in the string.

15. The method of claim 12, including for any selected terminal having more than one string response position, removing the assignment of a string response position that is latest in position in the string.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein the head end contains a plurality of program sources and a plurality of interactive sources, the head end being responsive to the input information of the first type to provide program source signals to the terminal and being responsive to input information of the second type to provide interactive source signals to the terminal.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the interactive sources includes a plurality of interactive game generators and the interactive source signals includes interactive game signals.

18. In an entertainment system having a head end system containing a host computer and a plurality of program sources, the entertainment system further having a plurality of terminals and a distribution system linking each terminal to the head end system, each of the terminals being operable to provide input information of a first type to the head end system, the head end system being responsive to the input information of the first type to control program signals to the respective terminal, the method of providing interactive signals to selected terminals of the plurality of terminals comprising:

designing a string response position to each of the selected terminals;

providing input information of a second type from selected terminals to its respective string response position to form a response string containing input information of the second type to the head end from all selected terminals providing input information;

responding at the head end to input information of the second type to provide interactive signals to the respective selected terminals;

identifying when a terminal ceases to provide input information of the second type; and

reassigning the string response position previously assigned to the terminal that ceases to provide input information to another selected terminal having a string response position later in the string than the reassigned string response position.

19. The method of claim 18, including for any selected terminal having more than one string response position, removing the assignment of a string response position that is latest in position in the string.

20. The method of claim 18, including for any selected terminal having more than one string response position, removing the assignment of a string response position that is latest in position in the string.

21. The method of claim 18, including providing a plurality of interactive sources at the head end, the interactive sources responding to the input information of the second type to provide the interactive signals to the respective terminal.

22. The method of claim 18, wherein the number of string response positions in the response string is as at least as great as a maximum number of selected terminals.

23. A method for providing interactive signals to a plurality of locations using an entertainment system, the entertainment system having a head end system containing a host computer, the entertainment system further having a plurality of terminals and a distribution system linking each terminal to the head end system, wherein the host computer initiates a series of system interrogations to the terminals via the distribution system, the method comprising:

providing a plurality of interactive signal source connections in the head end system of the entertainment system, for providing interactive signals to the terminals via the distribution system;

providing a controller at each location, the controller being coupled to one of the terminals;

providing collection interrogations to each of the terminals via the distribution system, for obtaining information from the controllers;

interleaving the collection interrogations into the series of system interrogations;

receiving at the head end, via the distribution system, responses to the collection interrogations;

providing responses to the collection interrogations to the interactive signal source connections without providing the responses to the host computer for processing;

operating the respective interactive signal source connection to provide interactive signals as a function of the responses; and

displaying information at the locations based upon interactive signals received via the distribution system from the head end system.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein each collection interrogation includes a plurality of response positions for the responses of the terminals to the collection interrogation.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein each of the terminals is assigned a response position in which to respond to each collection interrogation at a time prior to the time that an interactive signal for an information display is provided to the terminal.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein the response position is assigned to the terminal during a system interrogation.

27. The method of claim 25 wherein the number of response positions in a collection interrogation is equal to the number of terminals that are currently being provided with interactive signals from the head end system.

28. The method of claim 25 wherein each of the interactive signal source connections is assigned a response position corresponding to the response position assigned to the terminal to which it provides an interactive signal and wherein each interactive signal source connection processes the collection interrogation response information contained in its assigned response position.

29. The method of claim 28 wherein when a terminal occupying a first response position is taken out of the interactive mode so that its response position is no longer used and wherein another terminal remaining in the interactive mode has a second, later response position, the second terminal and a corresponding interactive signal source connection are reassigned to the first response position.

30. The method of claim 29 wherein the terminal to be reassigned is first assigned to the first response position so that it responds to collection interrogations in both the first and second response positions, and wherein the terminal ceases to respond to collection interrogations in the second response position at a later time.

31. The method of claim 23 wherein system interrogations are not initiated by the host computer while a collection interrogation is being provided to the terminals.

32. An entertainment system for providing interactive signals to a plurality of locations, the entertainment system comprising:

a plurality of terminals;

a host computer capable of initiating a series of system interrogations to the terminals;

a distribution system linking each of the terminals to the host computer;

a plurality of interactive signal source connections linked to the host computer for providing interactive signals to the terminals via the distribution system; and

a controller coupled to each of the terminals, wherein the host computer is capable of initiating a series of collection interrogations to each of the terminals via the distribution system for obtaining information from the controllers, the collection interrogations being interleaved into the series of system interrogations, and wherein the interactive signal source connections provide the interactive signals as a function of responses to the collection interrogations received from the terminals via the distribution system without the responses being provided to the host computer for processing.

33. The entertainment system of claim 32 wherein each collection interrogation includes a plurality of response positions for the responses of the terminals to the collection interrogation.

34. The entertainment system of claim 33 wherein each of the terminals is assigned a response position in which to respond to each collection interrogation at a time prior to the time that an input signal for a video collection is provided to the terminal.

35. The entertainment system of claim 34 wherein each of the interactive signal source connections is assigned a response position corresponding to the response position assigned to the terminal to which it provides an interactive signal and wherein each interactive signal source connection processes the collection interrogation response information contained in its assigned response position.

36. The entertainment system of claim 35 wherein the entertainment system further comprises timing means linked to the interactive signal source connections for providing timing signals enabling each interactive signal source connection to determine when its assigned response position occurs.

37. The entertainment system of claim 36 wherein the timing means includes a first microcomputer for receiving the collection interrogations and generating a plurality of timing pulses corresponding with each response position and a second microcomputer.

38. The entertainment system of claim 32 wherein the entertainment system further comprises conversion means linked to the interactive signal source connections for altering the rate at which collection interrogation response information is provided to the interactive signal source connections.

39. The entertainment system of claim 36 wherein the conversion means comprises a microcomputer.

40. The entertainment system of claim 32 wherein the entertainment system further comprises routing means linked to the interactive signal source connections for routing each signal from the host computer to the interactive signal source connections to the specific interactive signal source connection to which it is intended to be received.

41. The entertainment system of claim 40 wherein the routing means comprises signal separation means and a plurality of switches.

42. The entertainment system of claim 40 wherein the signal separation means comprises a microcomputer.

43. An entertainment system for providing user-selected video information to users in a plurality of different rooms, the entertainment system comprising:

a head end which includes;

a host computer;

a modem;

a video player system having a plurality of outputs;

an interactive signal source connection system having a plurality of outputs;

an array of RF modulators having inputs for receiving outputs from the video player system and the interactive signal source connection system and having outputs;

a combiner having an output and having a plurality of inputs for connection to the outputs of the RF modulators and an output of the modem;

a two-way master antenna television (MATV) distribution system connected to the head end; and

an in-room system in each room which includes;

a television;

an interactive signal controller;

a remote control; and

a terminal connected to the MATV distribution system and to the television for controlling operation of the television based upon signals received via the MATV distribution system from the head end and for sending signals via the MATV distribution system to the head end based upon input signals received from the interactive signal controller and the remote control;

wherein the interactive signal source connection system includes an array of interactive signal source connections;

wherein the host computer assigns one of the interactive signal source connections to one of the rooms based upon a signal received from that room over the MATV distribution system; and

wherein the interactive signal source connection assigned to one of the rooms supplies interactive signals as a function of input signals received via the MATV distribution system from the interactive signal controller of that room, without having the interactive signals provided to the host computer for processing.

44. The entertainment system of claim 43 wherein each of the interactive signal source connections has an output connected to an input of a different one of the array of RF modulators.

45. The entertainment system of claim 43 wherein the head end further includes:

a diplexer having an input connected to the output of the combiner, an output connected to an input of the modem, and a two-way port connected to the MATV distribution system.

46. A method for providing interactive signals to a plurality of locations using an entertainment system, the entertainment system having a head end system containing a host computer, the entertainment system further having a terminal and associated video display at each of the locations and a distribution system linking each terminal to the head end system, the method comprising:

providing a plurality of interactive signal source connections in the head end system of the entertainment system for providing interactive signals via the distribution system to the terminals;

providing an interactive controller at each location, the interactive controller being coupled to the terminal at that location;

obtaining, via the distribution system, input signals from the interactive controllers;

providing a path for the input signals such that the information is provided to the interactive signal source connections without being provided to the host computer for processing;

providing the interactive signals by the interactive signal source connections as a function of the input signals; and

displaying interactive information on the video displays as a function of the interactive signals.

47. An entertainment system for providing display of interactive information to a plurality of rooms, the entertainment system comprising:

a distribution system;

a terminal, a television, and a controller located at each of the plurality of rooms, the television displaying interactive information as a function of interactive signals received by the terminal, the controller providing input information to the terminal, and the terminal connected to the distribution system for receiving the interactive signals and for transmitting signals representing the input information; and

a head end connected to the distribution system and including a host computer and a plurality of interactive signal source connections, the host computer controlling which terminal is connected to which interactive signal source connections, and each interactive signal source connection being capable of providing the interactive signals as a function of the input information received from the terminal connected to that interactive signal source connection, the input information is provided to the interactive signal source connection without being provided to the host computer for processing.