Set-top box with enhanced behavioral controls and system and method for use of same
A set-top box with enhanced behavioral controls and system and method for use of the same are disclosed. In one embodiment of the set-top box, a wireless transceiver is located within a housing, which also interconnectedly includes a television input, a television output, a processor, and memory. The set-top box may pair with an electronic door locking apparatus coupled to a door that is room-collocated with the set-top box in a hospitality establishment. The set-top box may then receive a status signal from the electronic door locking apparatus relative to the open/closed status of the door and locked/unlocked status of the door.
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 display;
the memory accessible to the processor, the memory including first processor-executable instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to:
pair with an electronic door locking apparatus coupled to a door, the electronic door locking apparatus being room-collocated with the set-top box, and
receive a status signal from the electronic door locking apparatus, the status signal being relative to a locked/unlocked status of the door; and
the memory including second processor-executable instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to:
receive and process server control functionality input instructions from a remote server,
evaluate the functionality input instructions to assign a meaning,
generate a command signal, and
send the command signal to the electronic door locking apparatus.
2. The set-top box as recited in claim 1 , wherein the status signal is further relative to a do not disturb status of the door.
3. The set-top box as recited in claim 1 , wherein the status signal is further relative to a power state of the electronic door locking apparatus.
4. The set-top box as recited in claim 1 , wherein the processor-executable instructions further comprise instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to forward a fully tuned signal to the display including a status indicator based on the received status signal.
5. The set-top box as recited in claim 1 , wherein the processor-executable instructions further comprise instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to forward a status indicator based on the received status signal to a remote server.
6. The set-top box as recited in claim 1 , wherein the processor-executable instructions further comprise instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to:
specify a search operation to identify a proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device, wherein the search operation utilizes the wireless transceiver to wirelessly identify the proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device;
establish a pairing between the proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device and the set-top box;
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 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;
evaluate the functionality input instructions to assign a meaning;
generate a command signal; and
send the command signal to the electronic door locking apparatus.
7. The set-top box as recited in claim 6 , wherein the command signal relates to causing the electronic door locking apparatus to unlock the door.
8. The set-top box as recited in claim 6 , wherein the command signal relates to causing the electronic door locking apparatus to alternate the do not disturb status.
9. The set-top box as recited in claim 1 , wherein the command signal relates to re-programming the electronic door locking apparatus.
10. The set-top box as recited in claim 1 , wherein the processor-executable instructions further comprise instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to:
receive and process keycard data from the electronic door locking apparatus;
evaluate the keycard data to determine access rights;
generate a command signal relative to the access rights; and
send the command signal to the electronic door locking apparatus.
11. The set-top box as recited in claim 1 , wherein the display further comprises a device selected from the group consisting of electronic visual display devices and televisions.
12. 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, the memory, the storage, and the wireless transceiver therewith.
13. The set-top box as recited in claim 12 , wherein the processor and the memory are distributed through the housing-dongle combination.
14. The set-top box as recited in claim 1 , wherein the wireless transceiver is configured to communicate with the electronic door locking apparatus via a standard selected from the group consisting of infrared (IR), 802.11, 3G, 4G, Edge, Wi-Fi, ZigBee, near field communications (NFC), Bluetooth, and Bluetooth low energy.
15. The set-top box as recited in claim 1 , wherein the wireless transceiver is configured to communicate with the electronic door locking apparatus via a short distance data exchange standard.
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 display; and
the memory accessible to the processor, the memory including first processor-executable instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to:
pair with an electronic door locking apparatus coupled to a door, the electronic door locking apparatus being room-collocated with the set-top box,
receive a status signal from the electronic door locking apparatus, the status signal being relative to a locked/unlocked status of the door, and
send the status signal to a remote server;
the memory including second processor-executable instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to:
specify a search operation to identify the proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device, wherein the search operation utilizes the wireless transceiver to wirelessly identify the proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device,
establish a pairing between the proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device and the set-top box,
receive and process virtual remote control functionality input instructions from the proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device, and
evaluate the functionality input instructions to assign a meaning, generate a command signal, and send the command signal to the electronic door locking apparatus; and
the memory including third processor-executable instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to:
receive and process server control functionality input instructions from a remote server,
evaluate the functionality input instructions to assign a meaning,
generate a command signal, and
send the command signal to the electronic door locking apparatus.
17. The set-top box as recited in claim 16 , wherein the command signal relates to causing the electronic door locking apparatus to unlock the door.
18. The set-top box as recited in claim 16 , wherein the command signal relates to causing the electronic door locking apparatus to alternate a do not disturb status.
19. 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 display; and
the memory accessible to the processor, the memory including processor-executable instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to:
pair with an electronic door locking apparatus coupled to a door, the electronic door locking apparatus being room-collocated with the set-top box,
receive a status signal from the electronic door locking apparatus, the status signal being relative to a locked/unlocked status of the door, and
send the status signal to a remote server,
specify a search operation to identify the proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device, wherein the search operation utilizes the wireless transceiver to wirelessly identify the proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device;
the memory including second processor-executable instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to:
establish a pairing between the proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device and the set-top box,
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 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,
evaluate the virtual remote control functionality input instructions to assign a meaning,
generate a command signal, and
send the command signal to the electronic door locking apparatus; and
the memory including third processor-executable instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to:
receive and process server control functionality input instructions from a remote server,
evaluate the functionality input instructions to assign a meaning,
generate a command signal, and
send the command signal to the electronic door locking apparatus.