Set-top box, system and method for providing awareness in a hospitality environment
A system and method for providing awareness in a hospitality environment are presented. In one embodiment, a vertical and horizontal array of set-top boxes is provided and each set-top box includes an identification corresponding to the room in which the set-top box is placed. Each set-top box includes an infrared receiver that receives an infrared signal from a proximate wireless-enabled programmable device and responsive thereto, transmits a data packet including set-top box identification and a proximate wireless-enabled programmable device identification. A server determines the location of the proximate wireless-enabled programmable device based on the data packet.
1. A system for providing awareness in a hospitality environment, the system comprising:
a vertical and horizontal array of set-top boxes, each set-top box being associated with a room in the hospitality environment, each set-top box having a set-top box identification including a room identifier;
each set-top box of the vertical and horizontal array including:
a housing,
a processor and memory within the housing,
an infrared receiver associated with the housing, the infrared receiver configured to receive an infrared signal from a proximate wireless-enabled programmable device,
a television input and a television output secured in the housing, the television input and the television output configured to respectively receive content from a source in the hospitality environment and forward content to a television,
a busing architecture communicatively interconnecting the processor, the memory, the television input, the television output, and the infrared receiver,
the memory accessible to the processor, the memory including processor-executable instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to:
responsive to receiving the infrared signal from the proximate wireless-enabled programmable device, transmit a data packet, the data packet including the receiving set-top box identification and a proximate wireless-enabled programmable device identification; and
a server located within the hospitality environment and in communication with the vertical and horizontal array of set-top boxes, the server including:
a processor, memory, inputs, and outputs,
a busing architecture communicatively interconnecting the processor, the memory, the inputs, and the outputs,
the inputs configured to receive the data packet from the set-top box, and
a memory accessible to the processor, the memory including processor-executable instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to:
upon receipt of the data packet from the set-top box, process the data packet to determine the set-top box identification, and
determine the location of the proximate wireless-enabled programmable device as being proximate to the set-top box, the location of the proximate wireless-enabled programmable device being determined following communication from the proximate wireless-enabled interactive device to the vertical and horizontal array of set-top boxes to the server.
2. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the infrared receiver is configured to receive communications from an infrared blaster.
3. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the infrared receiver is located at least partially within the housing.
4. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the infrared receiver is located at least partially exterior to the housing.
5. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the proximate wireless-enabled programmable device further comprises a proximate wireless-enabled programmable handheld device.
6. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the proximate wireless-enabled programmable device further comprises a proximate wireless-enabled programmable interactive device.
7. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the proximate wireless-enabled programmable device further comprises a single button personal locator device.
8. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the proximate wireless-enabled programmable device further comprises a single button personal locator device including an infrared blaster.
9. The system as recited claim 1 , wherein the system further comprises an operational mode selected from the group consisting of alerts-enabled, service request-enabled, tracking-enabled, and non-tracking-enabled.
10. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the server further comprises a back-office hotel server in communication with the vertical and horizontal array of set-top boxes.
11. The system as recited in claim 9 , wherein in the alerts-enabled mode, the server receives from the vertical and horizontal array of set-top boxes a distress signal from the proximate wireless-enabled programmable device.
12. The system as recited in claim 9 , wherein in the service-request-enabled mode, the server receives from the vertical and horizontal array of set-top boxes a service request from the proximate wireless-enabled programmable device.
13. The system as recited in claim 9 , wherein in the tracking-enabled mode, the server maintains in memory a plurality of locations with timestamps associated with the data packet of the proximate wireless-enabled programmable device.
14. The system as recited in claim 9 , wherein in the non-tracking-enabled mode, the server maintains in memory only the last known locations with timestamps associated with the data packet of the proximate wireless-enabled programmable device.
15. A system for providing awareness in a hospitality environment, the system comprising:
a horizontal array of set-top boxes, each set-top box being associated with a room in the hospitality environment, each set-top box having a set-top box identification including a room identifier;
each set-top box of the horizontal array including:
a housing,
a processor and memory within the housing,
an infrared receiver associated with the housing, the infrared receiver configured to receive an infrared signal from a proximate wireless-enabled handheld device,
a television input and a television output secured in the housing, the television input and the television output configured to respectively receive content from a source in the hospitality environment and forward content to a television,
a busing architecture communicatively interconnecting the processor, the memory, the television input, the television output, and the infrared receiver,
the memory accessible to the processor, the memory including processor-executable instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to:
responsive to receiving the infrared signal from the proximate wireless-enabled handheld device, transmit a data packet, the data packet including the receiving set-top box identification and a proximate wireless-enabled device identification; and
a server located within the hospitality environment and in communication with the vertical and horizontal array of set-top boxes, the server including:
a processor, memory, inputs, and outputs,
a busing architecture communicatively interconnecting the processor, the memory, the inputs, and the outputs,
the inputs configured to receive the data packet from the set-top box, and
a memory accessible to the processor, the memory including processor-executable instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to:
upon receipt of the data packet from the set-top box, process the data packet to determine the set-top box identification, and
determine the location of the proximate wireless-enabled device as being proximate to the set-top box, the location of the proximate wireless-enabled programmable device being determined following communication from the proximate wireless-enabled interactive device to the horizontal array of set-top boxes to the server.
16. The system as recited in claim 15 , wherein the infrared receiver is configured to receive communications from an infrared blaster.
17. The system as recited in claim 15 , wherein the infrared receiver is located at least partially within the housing.
18. The system as recited in claim 15 , wherein the infrared receiver is located at least partially exterior to the housing.
19. The system as recited in claim 15 , wherein the proximate wireless-enabled programmable device further comprises a proximate wireless-enabled programmable handheld device.
20. The system as recited in claim 15 , wherein the proximate wireless-enabled programmable device further comprises a proximate wireless-enabled programmable interactive device.
21. A system for providing awareness in a hospitality environment, the system comprising:
a vertical and horizontal array of set-top boxes, each set-top box being associated with a room in the hospitality environment, each set-top box having a set-top box identification including a room identifier;
each set-top box of the vertical and horizontal array including:
a housing,
a processor and memory within the housing,
an infrared receiver associated with the housing, the infrared receiver configured to receive an infrared blaster signal from a proximate wireless-enabled handheld device, the proximate wireless-enabled programmable device including a single button personal locator device having an infrared blaster,
a television input and a television output secured in the housing, the television input and the television output configured to respectively receive content from a source in the hospitality environment and forward content to a television,
a busing architecture communicatively interconnecting the processor, the memory, the television input, the television output, and the infrared receiver,
the memory accessible to the processor, the memory including processor-executable instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to:
responsive to receiving the infrared signal from the proximate wireless-enabled handheld device, transmit a data packet, the data packet including the receiving set-top box identification and a proximate wireless-enabled device identification; and
a server located within the hospitality environment and in communication with the vertical and horizontal array of set-top boxes, the server including:
a processor, memory, inputs, and outputs,
a busing architecture communicatively interconnecting the processor, the memory, the inputs, and the outputs,
the inputs configured to receive the data packet from the set-top box, and
a memory accessible to the processor, the memory including processor-executable instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to:
upon receipt of the data packet from the set-top box, process the data packet to determine the set-top box identification, and
determine the location of the proximate wireless-enabled device as being proximate to the set-top box, the location of the proximate wireless-enabled programmable device being determined following communication from the proximate wireless-enabled interactive device to the vertical and horizontal array of set-top boxes to the server.