Lodging entertainment system with guest-selected time shifting

• US 7,272,844 B1
• Filed: 11/28/2000
• Issued: 09/18/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sonifi Solutions, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Lodgenet Entertainment (LodgeNet Interactive Corporation)
• Inventors: Bankers, David M., Kolbeck, Gary L., Pelletier, Brian P., Califf, Randall J., Silverberg, Sanford L.
• Primary Examiner(s): VU, NGOC K
• Application Number:
  US09/724,289
• Time in Patent Office: 2,485 Days
• Field of Search: 725/39, 725/47, 725/78, 725/83, 725 86- 87, 725/91, 725 92- 95, 725114-115, 725144-145, 725/74, 386/45, 386125-126
• US Class Current: 725/78
• 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.

Claims

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

creating, at the head end in the lodging facility, a schedule containing both (a) television programs available for viewing and recording and (b) previously recorded television programs available for time-shifted viewing;

transmitting, from the head end in the lodging facility to a guest terminal in a guest room in a lodging facility, television signals representing the schedule created;

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

creating, at the head end, a digital file representing the program selected;

storing, at the head end, the digital file;

updating, at the head end, the schedule of television programs to include the program corresponding to the digital file;

transmitting the schedule as updated in the form of television signals, from the head end to the guest terminal in a guest room;

transmitting, from the guest terminal to the head end, data requesting playback of the program selected for recording based upon a selection of that program from the schedule as updated;

playing back, at the head end, the program selected based upon the digital file representing the program selected;

transmitting the program being played back to the guest terminal; and

displaying the program at the guest terminal.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein creating a digital file comprises:

tuning to a channel on which the program selected is carried; and

encoding the program into a digital format to create the digital file.

3. The method of claim 1 and further comprising:

creating a recording schedule based upon program recording selection data received.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein creating a digital file is based upon the recording schedule.

5. The method of claim 1 and further comprising:

associating with the digital file an identification of the guest terminal that provided the program recording selection data.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the schedule of television programs is an interactive program guide.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the program recording selection data is produced based upon a selection made on the interactive program guide.

8. A method of 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 a head end in a lodging facility to a guest terminal in the guest room in the lodging facility, television signals representing a program schedule containing both (a) available scheduled television programming and (b) 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, at the head end, when it is broadcast;

updating the program schedule, at the head end, to include the program selected for recording as one of the previously recorded programs;

receiving at the head end, from the guest terminal, playback request data based on the previously recorded programs contained in the program schedule being updated;

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

transmitting the television signals from the head end to the guest terminal; and

displaying the program at the guest terminal.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein digitally storing the program file comprises:

tuning to a channel on which the program selected is carried; and

encoding the program into a digital format to create a digital file.

10. The method of claim 9 and further comprising:

associating with the digital file an identification of the guest terminal that provided the program recording selection data.

11. The method of claim 8 and further comprising:

creating a recording schedule based upon program recording selection data received.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein digitally storing the program is based upon the recording schedule.

13. The method of claim 8 wherein the program schedule is an interactive program guide.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the program selection data is produced based upon a selection made on the interactive program guide.