Set-top box with enhanced content and system and method for use of same
A set-top box with enhanced content and system and method for use of the same are disclosed. In one embodiment, a wireless transceiver is located within a housing, which also interconnectively includes a television input, television output, a processor, and memory. The set-top box may establish a pairing with a proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device having a display. Content, such as the Internet, movies, music, or games, for example, may be imported from the programmable device and reformatted at the set-top box for display on a television via the television output, thereby creating an experience on the television parallel to the experience on the programmable device. Virtual remote control functionality may then be provided by a spoken sequence of words.
1. A set-top box comprising:
a housing securing a television input, a television output, a processor, memory, and storage therein;
a busing architecture communicatively interconnecting the television input, the television output, the processor, the memory, and the storage;
a wireless transceiver associated with the housing and coupled to the busing architecture, the wireless transceiver operable to communicate with a proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device;
the television input configured to receive a source signal from an external source;
the television output configured to forward a fully tuned signal to a television;
the memory accessible to the processor, the memory including processor-executable instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to:
receive and process virtual remote control functionality input instructions from the proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device, the virtual remote control functionality input instructions being representations of a spoken sequence of words,
evaluating the spoken sequence of words to assign a meaning to the spoken sequence of words,
generate a command; and
send a command to the particular amenity;
a configuration profile associated with the memory and processor-executable instructions that enables the set-top box to control a plurality of proximate amenities in a multi-room environment, the plurality of proximate amenities including the particular amenity, the plurality of proximate amenities being associated with a user's stay in a lodging environment;
the configuration profile, for each amenity of the plurality of amenities, including instructions for virtual buttons on a touch screen display, and instructions for associating virtual remote control functionality input instructions received as the spoken sequence of words from the proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device with commands;
responsive to evaluating the spoken sequence of words, import content from the proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device and reformat the imported content such that the television output forwards a fully tuned signal including the imported content to the television; and
wherein the fully tuned signal including the imported content provides an upstream parallel experience on the television related to the content on the proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device.
2. The set-top box as recited in claim 1 , wherein the housing further comprises a housing-dongle combination securing the television input, the television output, the processor, memory, storage, and wireless transceiver therewith.
3. The set-top box as recited in claim 2 , wherein the processor and the memory are distributed through the housing-dongle combination.
4. The set-top box as recited in claim 1 , wherein the wireless transceiver is configured to communicate with the wireless-enabled interactive programmable device via a standard selected from the group consisting of infrared (IR), 802.11, 3G, 4G, Edge, WiFi, ZigBee, near field communications (NFC), and Bluetooth.
5. The set-top box as recited in claim 1 , wherein the wireless transceiver is configured to communicate with the wireless-enabled interactive programmable device via a short distance data exchange standard.
6. The set-top box as recited in claim 5 , wherein the short distance data exchange standard comprises Bluetooth.
7. The set-top box as recited in claim 1 , wherein the transceiver is at least partially internal to the housing.
8. The set-top box as recited in claim 1 , wherein the transceiver is at least partially external to the housing.
9. The set-top box as recited in claim 1 , wherein the transceiver comprises an antenna.
10. The set-top box as recited in claim 1 , wherein the wireless-enabled interactive programmable device comprises a device selected from the group consisting of personal computers, laptops, tablet computers, smart phones, and smart watches.
11. The set-top box as recited in claim 1 , wherein the command signal provides remote control of the television.
12. The set-top box as recited in claim 1 , wherein the plurality of proximate amenities is selected from the group of amenities consisting of lights, thermostats, shades, and doorbell/do not disturb designations.
13. A set-top box comprising:
a housing securing a television input, a television output, a processor, memory, and storage therein;
a busing architecture communicatively interconnecting the television input, the television output, the processor, the memory, and the storage;
a wireless transceiver associated with the housing and coupled to the busing architecture, the wireless transceiver operable to communicate with a proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device;
the television input configured to receive a source signal from an external source;
the television output configured to forward a fully tuned signal to a television;
the memory accessible to the processor, the memory including processor-executable instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to:
send formatted parallel audiovisual experience instructions to the proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device, wherein the formatted parallel audiovisual experience instructions are configured to provide a downstream parallel experience related to the content on the television,
provide instructions for virtual buttons on a touch screen display associated with the proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device, the virtual buttons being associated with the proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device,
receive and process virtual remote control functionality input instructions from the proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device, the virtual remote control functionality input instructions being representations of a spoken sequence of words,
evaluating the spoken sequence of words to assign a meaning to the spoken sequence of words,
responsive to evaluating the spoken sequence of words, import content from the proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device and reformat the imported content such that the television output forwards a fully tuned signal including the imported content to the television;
wherein the fully tuned signal including the imported content provides an upstream parallel experience on the television related to the content on the proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device;
wherein the formatted parallel audiovisual experience instructions include instructions that prompt the spoken sequence of words as a response;
responsive to evaluating the spoken sequence of words, import content from the proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device and reformat the imported content such that the television output forwards a fully tuned signal including the imported content to the television; and
wherein the fully tuned signal including the imported content provides an upstream parallel experience on the television related to the content on the proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device.
14. The set-top box as recited in claim 13 , wherein the housing further comprises a housing-dongle combination securing the television input, the television output, the processor, memory, storage, and wireless transceiver therewith.
15. The set-top box as recited in claim 13 , wherein the wireless-enabled interactive programmable device comprises a device selected from the group consisting of personal computers, laptops, tablet computers, smart phones, and smart watches.
16. A set-top box comprising:
a housing securing a television input, a television output, a processor, memory, and storage therein;
a busing architecture communicatively interconnecting the television input, the television output, the processor, the memory, and the storage;
a wireless transceiver associated with the housing and coupled to the busing architecture, the wireless transceiver operable to communicate with a proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device;
the television input configured to receive a source signal from an external source;
the television output configured to forward a fully tuned signal to a television; and
the memory accessible to the processor, the memory including processor-executable instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to:
provide instructions for virtual buttons on a touch screen display associated with the proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device, the virtual buttons being associated with the proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device and providing a spoken sequence of words as a response,
receive and process virtual remote control functionality input instructions from the proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device, the virtual remote control functionality input instructions being representations of the spoken sequence of words,
evaluate the spoken sequence of words to assign a meaning to the spoken sequence of words,
response to evaluating the spoken sequence of words, send a command to the television,
responsive to evaluating the spoken sequence of words, import content from the proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device and reformat the imported content such that the television output forwards a fully tuned signal including the imported content to the television; and
wherein the fully tuned signal including the imported content provides an upstream parallel experience on the television related to the content on the proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device.
17. The set-top box as recited in claim 16 , wherein the housing further comprises a housing-dongle combination securing the television input, the television output, the processor, memory, storage, and wireless transceiver therewith.
18. The set-top box as recited in claim 16 , wherein the wireless-enabled interactive programmable device comprises a device selected from the group consisting of personal computers, laptops, tablet computers, smart phones, and smart watches.