Multi-room entertainment system with in-room media player/dispenser
First Claim
1. A method of providing media to a plurality of in-room systems from a head-end system remote from the plurality of in-room systems, said method comprising the steps of:
- storing a plurality of acquisition media at each of the in-room systems each of the acquisition media having stored thereon, at least one of audio and video data;
storing a plurality of access-only media at the head-end system, the access-only media comprising at least one of audio and video data identical to that stored on the acquisition media;
at each in-room system, providing access to each of the access-only media, such that the access-only media is played by the head-end system and is at least one of audibly and visually presented at the in-room system to assist an in-room system user in media acquisition choices;
at the in-room system, sensing the removal of one of the acquisition media;
upon sensing the removal of one of the acquisition media, activating a check-out timer and storing an acquisition signal encoded with a room identifier and a media acquisition identifier at the in-room system;
monitoring the in-room system for the return of the removed acquisition media; and
if the media is not returned within the check-out time allotted, transmitting the acquisition signal to the head-end system and processing the acquisition signal to determine any charge associated with the acquisition.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A plurality of acquisition media is stored at each of a plurality of in-room systems. A plurality of access-only media is stored at a single head-end system. Each in-room system has access to each of the access-only media. Access to and acquisition of media are recorded at the head-end system and any associated charges for the access and/or acquisition are determined at the head-end system. A free check-out time prior to being charged for an acquisition of media and a free sample time prior to being charged for access to a media are provided. The acquisition media includes devices for storing audio data, such as CDs, DATs, mini discs and cassettes. The access-only media comprises audio data stored on a CD and/or an audio card have memory. The acquisition media may also include devices for storing audio/video data while the access-only media comprises audio/video data.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method of providing media to a plurality of in-room systems from a head-end system remote from the plurality of in-room systems, said method comprising the steps of:
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storing a plurality of acquisition media at each of the in-room systems each of the acquisition media having stored thereon, at least one of audio and video data;
storing a plurality of access-only media at the head-end system, the access-only media comprising at least one of audio and video data identical to that stored on the acquisition media;
at each in-room system, providing access to each of the access-only media, such that the access-only media is played by the head-end system and is at least one of audibly and visually presented at the in-room system to assist an in-room system user in media acquisition choices;
at the in-room system, sensing the removal of one of the acquisition media;
upon sensing the removal of one of the acquisition media, activating a check-out timer and storing an acquisition signal encoded with a room identifier and a media acquisition identifier at the in-room system;
monitoring the in-room system for the return of the removed acquisition media; and
if the media is not returned within the check-out time allotted, transmitting the acquisition signal to the head-end system and processing the acquisition signal to determine any charge associated with the acquisition. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
storing an acquisition price look-up table at the head-end system; and
charging the user the price associated with the acquisition.
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4. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of tracking the number of times an access-only media is accessed.
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5. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of tracking the number of times an acquisition media is acquired.
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6. The method of claim 1 wherein the acquisition media comprises devices for storing audio/video data.
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7. The method of claim 1 wherein the acquisition media comprises devices for storing audio/video data and the access-only media comprises audio/video data.
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8. The method of claim 7 wherein the acquisition media comprises any one of a CD, DVD and a video cassette.
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9. The method of claim 7 wherein the access-only media is stored on a DVD.
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10. The method of claim 7 wherein the access-only media is stored in an audio/video card having memory.
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11. The method of claim 1 wherein the acquisition media comprises devices for storing audio data.
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12. The method of claim 11 wherein the access-only media is stored on a CD.
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13. The method of claim 11 wherein the access-only media is stored in an audio card having memory.
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14. A method of providing media to a plurality of in-room systems from a head-end system remote from the plurality of in-room systems, said method comprising the steps of:
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storing a plurality of acquisition media at each of the in-room systems;
storing a plurality of access-only media at the head-end system;
at each in-room system, providing access to each of the access-only media to assist the user in media acquisition choices;
at the in-room system, sensing the access to one of the access-only media;
upon sensing the access of one of the access-only media, activating a free-sample timer and storing an access signal encoded with a room identifier and a media access identifier at the in-room system;
monitoring the in-room system for continued access to the accessed media;
if the accessed media is accessed throughout the free-sample time allotted, transmitting the access signal to the head-end system and processing the access signal to determine any charge associated with the access. - View Dependent Claims (15)
storing an access price look-up table at the head-end system; and
charging the user the price associated with the access.
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16. A method of providing access-only media to a plurality of in-room systems from a head-end system remote from the plurality of in-room systems and tracking the access to the access-only media, said method comprising the steps of:
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storing a plurality of access-only media at the head-end system;
transmitting each of the access-only media over a communications line, each access-only media transmitted at a unique frequency;
at each in-room system, providing access to the communication line through a frequency tuner for adjustably tuning to one of the unique frequencies;
at the in-room system, sensing the access to one of the access-only media;
upon sensing the access of one of the access-only media, activating a free-sample timer and storing an access signal encoded with a room identifier and a media acquisition identifier and monitoring the in-room system for continued access to the accessed media; and
if the accessed media is accessed throughout the free-sample time allotted, transmitting the access signal to the head-end system and processing the access signal to determine any charge associated with the acquisition. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
storing an access price look-up table at the head-end system; and
charging the user the price associated with the access.
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18. The method of claim 16 wherein the access-only media comprises audio data.
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19. The method of claims 16 wherein the access-only media comprises audio/video data.
Specification