Connection interface for personal electronic devices with a television

• US 8,370,879 B2
• Filed: 02/22/2007
• Issued: 02/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sonifi Solutions, Inc.
• Original Assignee: LodgeNet Interactive Corporation
• Inventors: Zerr, Derin M., Buckstead, Jacob M., Stoel, Leon P., Bankers, David M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kumar, Pankaj
• Assistant Examiner(s): NEWLIN, TIMOTHY R
• Application Number:
  US11/709,581
• Publication Number:
  US 20080209479A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,175 Days
• Field of Search: 725/21, 725/142, 725/153, 725/74, 725/78, 725/80, 725/82
• US Class Current: 725/80
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2849 Audio/video appliances
• 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 21/4122 additional display device, e.g. video projector digital output for controlling a plurality of local displays G06F3/1423
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41265 having a remote control device for bidirectional communication between the remote control device and client device unidirectional remote control device H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43615 Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• 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 21/478 Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/775 between a recording apparatus and a television receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/106 for domestic distribution

Abstract

A connection interface allows individuals (such as guests at a lodging facility) to use portable personal electronic devices (such as laptop computers, digital audio players, and digital audio/video players) in conjunction with a television. The connection interface device includes inputs to receive signals from various portable devices, and includes selection keys by which a guest can select a particular type of input to the television. The connection interface senses presence of video and audio signals on its inputs, and the state of the selection keys, and provides data over an in-room network with a television interface terminal. The connection interface device also routes the signals received at its inputs to corresponding inputs of the television. The television interface terminal responds to inputs from a remote control, keyboard or game controller and provides commands to the television to tune to selected channels for free-to-guest programming pay-per-view movies, video games, Internet, and other interactive services. Based on data from the connection interface, the television interface terminal can command the television to receive and play selected inputs from the connection interface.

Claims

1. An entertainment system comprising:

a headend;

a television;

a remote control for transmitting remote control signals to the television;

a distribution system for distributing media content from the headend to the television; and

a network including;

a connection interface including a plurality of inputs for receiving outputs of personal electronic devices, a plurality of selection buttons, detection circuitry for detecting active signals at the plurality of inputs, and a plurality of outputs for delivering signals received at the plurality of outputs to inputs of the television; and

an interface terminal that communicates over a first digital bus with the connection interface to monitor status, that communicates with the headend over the distribution system, and that communicates with the television over a second digital bus to receive information relating to status of the television and remote control data based on remote control signals received by the television and to send information to the television to control operation of the television, the information sent to the television including commands to the television to cause the television to select signals from the connection interface based upon status of the selection buttons and detection of active signals by the detection circuitry, and commands to the television to control tuning of the television to media content from the headend.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the interface terminal causes the headend to provide an onscreen message to be displayed on the television in response to detection of an active signal at one of the inputs to the connection interface.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the interface terminal commands the television to select a signal from the connection interface based upon whether one of the selection buttons is actuated in response to the onscreen message.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the interface terminal provides data to the headend relating to usage of the connection interface.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the interface terminal commands the television to select an input in response to a change of state of one of the selection buttons.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the interface terminal commands the television to select an input in response to detection of an active signal by the detection circuitry.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the interface terminal commands the television to select an input if both a select button is actuated and an active signal is detected on an input to the connection interface that is related to the select button.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the interface terminal periodically polls the connection interface for data indicating status of the selection buttons and detection of active signals.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the interface terminal reports the status of the selection buttons and detection of active signals to the headend.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the interface terminal and the connection interface communicate over a digital communication bus.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the selection buttons include at least one of a TV Viewing button, a Component Input button, a Computer Input button, and a Video Input button.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the interface terminal monitors and reports usage of the connection interface to the headend.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the interface terminal communicates with the television through a multiple television interface.

14. A method of connecting personal electronic devices to a television, the method comprising:

mounting a connection interface in a room, the connection interface including a plurality of inputs, a plurality of outputs, a plurality of selection buttons, and detection circuitry for detecting presence of active signals at the plurality of inputs;

connecting the outputs of the connection interface to inputs of the television;

communicating status of the selection buttons and whether an active signal is present at one of the plurality of inputs from the connection interface to an interface terminal over a first digital bus; and

sending commands from the interface terminal to the television over a second digital bus commanding the television to select one of its inputs based upon status of the selection buttons and whether an active signal is present at one of the plurality of inputs to the connection interface.

15. The method of claim 14 and further comprising:

periodically polling the connection interface by the interface terminal for status of the selection buttons and presence of active signals.

16. The method of claim 14 and further comprising:

causing an onscreen message to be displayed on the television in response to detection of presence of an active signal.

17. The method of claim 16 and further comprising:

sending commands from the interface terminal to the television commanding the television to select an input corresponding to the active signal whose presence has been sensed.

18. The method of claim 16 and further comprising:

inhibiting selection of an input from the connection interface if a selection button is actuated in response to the onscreen message.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein a default selection of an input is made if no active signal is present.