Entertainment and information systems and related management networks for a remote video delivery system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for the controlled distribution of information and video signals wherein a remote central processing system may control the operations of multiple local installation systems, said method comprising the steps of:
- providing a plurality of video monitors at various locations in a hotel, each of said video monitors being coupled to a coaxial cable through converters which controllably demodulate video signals present at certain carrier frequencies;
providing a plurality of video sources located at a central location at said hotel, said video sources providing video signals;
providing a plurality of modulators tuned so that each modulates any video signal present at an input to a particular carrier frequency for transmission over said coaxial cable;
selectively coupling one of said video sources to one of said modulators so that said video signals are modulated at the particular carrier frequency of the respective modulator, said modulated signals being transmitted over said coaxial cable to said plurality of said monitors;
transmitting control commands over said coaxial cable for receipt by particular converters associated with particular monitors, said converters responding to said control commands to controllably tune signals present at a particular carrier frequency;
receiving remote communication signals from a remote central processing system at a telecommunications port, processing said remote communication signals and performing certain functions includingtransmitting certain control signals to said converters; and
transmitting signals to said remote central processing system based on said remote communication signal processing.
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Abstract
A remote video delivery system transmits video and text from a hotel office to hotel rooms. A series of video players generates the video signals to modulators. The modulators transmit the signals on various frequencies. A system controller directs the signals from the modulators to the appropriate converter boxes within the rooms. An outside vendor runs a billing system to charge the guests for the video delivery without the need for involvement by the hotel staff.
397 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method for the controlled distribution of information and video signals wherein a remote central processing system may control the operations of multiple local installation systems, said method comprising the steps of:
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providing a plurality of video monitors at various locations in a hotel, each of said video monitors being coupled to a coaxial cable through converters which controllably demodulate video signals present at certain carrier frequencies; providing a plurality of video sources located at a central location at said hotel, said video sources providing video signals; providing a plurality of modulators tuned so that each modulates any video signal present at an input to a particular carrier frequency for transmission over said coaxial cable; selectively coupling one of said video sources to one of said modulators so that said video signals are modulated at the particular carrier frequency of the respective modulator, said modulated signals being transmitted over said coaxial cable to said plurality of said monitors; transmitting control commands over said coaxial cable for receipt by particular converters associated with particular monitors, said converters responding to said control commands to controllably tune signals present at a particular carrier frequency; receiving remote communication signals from a remote central processing system at a telecommunications port, processing said remote communication signals and performing certain functions including transmitting certain control signals to said converters; and transmitting signals to said remote central processing system based on said remote communication signal processing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. An entertainment and information distribution system including a remote central processing system and a plurality of local installation systems, at least one of said local installation systems comprising:
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a plurality of monitors at various locations in a hotel; a plurality of video sources located at a central location at said hotel, said video sources providing video signals; a plurality of modulators selectively coupled to said video sources and coupled to said monitors, said modulators tuned so that each respective modulator modulates any video signal present at its input to a particular carrier frequency; a system controller coupled to said modulators and said video sources, said system controller selectively coupling one of said video sources to one of said modulators so that said video signals are modulated on the carrier frequency of the respective modulator and transmitted to said plurality of said monitors; and a plurality of converters, each associated with one of said monitors, said converters receiving control commands from said system controller over a particular carrier frequency and controllably tuning signals present on other carrier frequencies in response to said control commands received from said system controller, said tuned signals being displayed on the monitor associated with the particular converter, said system controller further including telecommunication ports which receive remote communication signals from said remote central processing system, said remote communication signals being processed by said system controller whereby said system controller performs certain functions including transmitting certain control signals to said converters at the direction of said remote central processing system, said remote central processing system thereafter receiving signals from said system controller in response. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for the controlled distribution of information and video signals wherein each of a number of local installation systems store billing information and periodically establish a remote telecommunication link with a remote vendor-operated billing system to transmit payment information for further processing, said method comprising the steps of:
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providing a plurality of video monitors at various locations in a hotel; providing a plurality of video sources at a central location at said hotel, said video sources providing video signals; providing a plurality of menu generators at a central location at said hotel, said menu generators providing information relating to said video sources; prompting a user associated with one of said video monitors to select a particular video source for viewing on said monitor; directing said user to enter payment information utilizing a telephone accessory which is coupled to a system controller at a central location at said hotel; receiving and storing said payment information in memory associated with said system controller; periodically establishing a telecommunication link between said system controller and said remote vendor-operated billing system and transmitting said payment information to said remote vendor-operated billing system on a periodic basis for further processing and posting against each user account. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. An entertainment and information distribution system including a remote vendor-operated billing system and a plurality of local installation systems, at least one of said local installation systems controllably providing information and video signals to users for a fee, at least one of said local installation systems comprising:
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a plurality of monitors at various locations in a hotel; a plurality of information and video sources at a central location at said hotel, said video sources providing video signals; a plurality of menu generators at a central location at said hotel, said menu generators providing information relating to said information and video sources; a system controller coupled to said menu generators, said information and video sources and said monitors, said system controller controlling said menu generators to prompt users associated with each respective monitor to select a particular video source to be displayed on their respective monitor, said system controller further directing said user to enter payment information utilizing a telephone accessory which is coupled to said system controller utilizing telephone lines; memory associated with said system controller wherein said system controller receives said payment information from said telephone accessory and stores said information in said memory; a telecommunications link established periodically between said system controller and said remote vendor-operated billing system, said system controller transmitting said payment information to said remote vendor-operated billing system on a periodic basis for further processing and posting against each user account. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification