IP Library Granted Patent US 11,039,220
Granted Patent B2
US 11,039,220 · App. 16/889,371 · Granted Jun 15, 2021

Methods and systems for remotely monitoring connectivity and network performance in hospitality environments

Inventors: Matthew Christopher Zerfas (Sioux Falls, SD); Joel Walter Zdepski (Mountain View, CA); Christopher Paul Wollmann (Sioux Falls, SD); Shaun Eugene Marko (Oak Park, IL); Derin Michael Zerr (Kahului, HI)
Assignee: SONIFI SOLUTIONS, INC.
H04N21/658H04N21/2143H04N21/2402H04N21/4424H04N21/44227
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,039,220
App. No.
16/889,371
Granted
Jun 15, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

Systems and methods for obtaining network diagnostic information within a hospitality environment are provided. More specifically, application identification information may be received at a diagnostic device, based on the application identification information, a diagnostic application may be received, site configuration may be obtained, the diagnostic application may be configured with the site configuration information, and network diagnostic information may be obtained. The network diagnostic information may then be provided to a remote monitoring server.

Claims (52)

1. A method for obtaining network diagnostic information within a hospitality environment, the method comprising:

sending, in response to a trigger, a message regarding a status of a diagnostic device, the status indicating an availability of the diagnostic device to run a diagnostic application;

determining to run the diagnostic application when the message indicates that the diagnostic device is available;

receiving, in response to the determination to run the diagnostic application, application identification information at the diagnostic device;

retrieving the diagnostic application based on the application identification information;

obtaining site configuration information including information that is specific to the hospitality environment or the diagnostic device;

configuring the diagnostic application with the site configuration information;

obtaining the network diagnostic information; and

providing the network diagnostic information to a remote monitoring server.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the diagnostic device is a local player device communicatively coupled to an output device, wherein the application identification information is received from a system network controller that is local to the hospitality environment and different from the remote monitoring server.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:

providing the network diagnostic information to the output device.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the trigger is the local player device being inactive for a specified period of time.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining whether the diagnostic device has communicated with the remote monitoring server within a specified period of time; and

providing a communication to an entity if the diagnostic device has not communicated with the remote monitoring server within the specified period of time.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein a frequency at which the diagnostic device provides the network diagnostic information to the remote monitoring server is based on the site configuration information, and wherein the application identification information includes a Uniform Resource Locator (URL).

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the diagnostic device is a local player device communicatively coupled to an output device, and wherein the trigger is a user of the output device exiting a location where the output device is located.

8. A communication system, comprising:

a first server;

a remote monitoring server;

a local player, wherein the local player is in communication with the first server; and

an output device coupled to the local player,

wherein,

the local player provides a status message to the first server in response to a trigger, the status message indicating an availability of the local player to run a diagnostic application,

the first server determines to launch the diagnostic application when the status message indicates that the local player is available,

the local player receives, in response to the determination to launch the diagnostic application, application identification information from the first server, the application identification information identifying the diagnostic application to launch,

the local player retrieves site configuration information including information that is specific to the local player,

the local player obtains network diagnostic information, and

the local player provides the network diagnostic information to the remote monitoring server.

9. The communication system of claim 8 , wherein the local player provides the network diagnostic information to the output device.

10. The communication system of claim 8 , wherein the status message indicates an amount of time that the local player has been inactive, and wherein the trigger is the local player being inactive for more than a threshold amount of time.

11. The communication system of claim 8 , wherein the trigger is a request from the first server, and wherein the status message indicates an amount of time that the local player has been inactive.

12. The communication system of claim 8 , wherein the remote monitoring server determines whether the local player has communicated with the remote monitoring server within a specified period of time, and if the local player has not communicated with the remote monitoring server within the specified period of time, the remote monitoring server provides a notification to a receiving entity.

13. The communication system of claim 8 , wherein a frequency at which the local player provides the network diagnostic information to the remote monitoring server is based on the site configuration information.

14. A non-transitory computer-readable storage media comprising executable instructions, which when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:

send, in response to a trigger, a message regarding a status of a diagnostic device, the status indicating an availability of the diagnostic device to run a diagnostic application;

receive, in response to a determination that the message indicates the diagnostic device is available to run the diagnostic application, application identification information at the diagnostic device;

retrieve the diagnostic application based on the application identification information;

obtain site configuration information including information that is specific to the diagnostic device;

configure the diagnostic application with the site configuration information;

obtain network diagnostic information; and

provide the network diagnostic information to a remote monitoring server.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 14 , wherein the diagnostic device is a local player device communicatively coupled to an output device.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 15 , wherein the executable instructions cause the one or more processors to:

provide the network diagnostic information to the output device.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 15 , wherein the trigger is the local player device being inactive for a specified period of time.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 14 , wherein the executable instructions cause the one or more processors to:

determine whether the diagnostic device has communicated with the remote monitoring server within a specified period of time; and

provide a communication to an entity if the diagnostic device has not communicated with the remote monitoring server within the specified period of time.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 14 , wherein a frequency at which the diagnostic device provides the network diagnostic information to the remote server is based on the site configuration information.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 14 , wherein the diagnostic device is a local player device communicatively coupled to an output device, and wherein the trigger is the output device being turned off.

Assignments (2)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 2, 2024
From: SONIFI SOLUTIONS, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 068773/0101 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 1, 2020
From: ZERFAS, MATTHEW CHRISTOPHER; ZDEPSKI, JOEL WALTER; WOLLMANN, CHRISTOPHER PAUL; MARKO, SHAUN EUGENE; ZERR, DERIN MICHAEL
To: SONIFI SOLUTIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 052803/0330 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation 15913702 · Mar 6, 2018
Provisional Application 62467676 · Mar 6, 2017
Related Publication 20200296476A1 · Sep 17, 2020
Cited By (1)
US 12,489,957