METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR IMPLEMENTING APPLICATION CHAINING AND FOR DISPLAYING CUSTOMIZED CONTENT IN A WELCOME SCREEN

1 . A communication system in a hospitality environment, the communication system comprising:

a server;

an output device, and

a local player in communication with the server and configured to provide display information to the output device, wherein the local player is configured to provide a status message to the server, receive application identification information from the server identifying one or more applications to execute, retrieve additional content from a content source, and execute the one or more applications thereby providing the display information including the additional content to the output device for display at the output device.

2 . The communication system of claim 1 , wherein the status message indicates that the local player is in an inactive state.

3 . The communication system of claim 1 , wherein the status message indicates an amount of time that the local player has been inactive.

4 . The communication system of claim 3 , wherein the additional content is guest-related information including at least one guest name.

5 . The communication system of claim 4 , further comprising:

a first network connecting the server to the local player; and

a second network connecting the local player to the content source.

6 . The communication system of claim 5 , wherein the content source is physically located at a site other than a site at which the local player is physically located.

7 . The communication system of claim 4 , wherein the additional content includes location information related to a location in which the local player is located.

8 . A method for displaying content at an output device, the method comprising:

providing, by a local player connected to the output device, a status message to a system network controller indicating that the local player is inactive;

receiving, at the local player, application identification information, the application identification information identifying one or more applications to launch;

retrieving additional content from a content source;

assembling display information that includes the additional content received from the content source; and

providing the assembled display information to the output device.

9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the status message indicates that the local player is in an inactive state.

10 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the status message indicates an amount of time that the local player has been inactive.

11 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the additional content is guest-related information including at least one guest name.

12 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising retrieving location information related to a location in which the local player is located, wherein the assembled display information includes the guest-related information and the location information.

13 . A method for chaining two or more applications together, the method comprising:

receiving, at a local player, first application identification information, the first application identification information identifying a first application to launch;

launching the first application;

after launching the first application, determining that a second application is to be launched;

receiving, at the local player, second application identification information, the second application identification information identifying the second application to launch; and

launching the second application.

14 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising adding the second application identification information to an application list.

15 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising removing third application identification information identifying a third application from the application list.

16 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the application list includes application identification information for a plurality of applications.

17 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the application list is received from a system network controller.

18 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the second application identification information is added to the application list at a device other than the local player.

19 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising determining that the second application is to be launched prior to the first application completing execution.

20 . The method of claim 19 , further comprising providing a notification to a device other than the local player that first application has completed execution.