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 set-top box comprising:
a housing having a processor and memory secured therewith;
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 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; and
the memory accessible to the processor, the memory including processor-executable instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to:
receive the infrared signal from the proximate wireless-enabled programmable device, the infrared signal including a proximate wireless-enabled programmable device identification,
access a set-top box identification stored at the set-top box,
generate a data packet, the data packet including the set-top box identification and the proximate wireless-enabled programmable device identification, and
transmit the data packet to a server.
2 . The set-top box as recited in claim 1 , wherein the infrared receiver is configured to receive communications from an infrared blaster.
3 . The set-top box as recited in claim 1 , wherein the infrared receiver is located at least partially within the housing.
4 . The set-top box as recited in claim 1 , wherein the infrared receiver is located at least partially exterior to the housing.
5 . The set-top box as recited in claim 1 , wherein the proximate wireless-enabled programmable device further comprises a proximate wireless-enabled programmable handheld device.
6 . The set-top box as recited in claim 1 , wherein the proximate wireless-enabled programmable device further comprises a proximate wireless-enabled programmable interactive device.
7 . The set-top box as recited in claim 1 , wherein the proximate wireless-enabled programmable device further comprises a single button personal locator device.
8 . The set-top box 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 set-top box as recited in claim 1 , wherein the data packet determines the location of the proximate wireless-enabled programmable device as being proximate to the set-top box.
10 . The set-top box as recited claim 1 , wherein the data packet further comprises an operational mode selected from the group consisting of alerts-enabled, service request-enabled, tracking-enabled, and non-tracking-enabled.
11 . The set-top box as recited in claim 10 , wherein in the alerts-enabled mode, the data packet further comprises a distress signal from the proximate wireless-enabled programmable device.
12 . The set-top box as recited in claim 10 , wherein in the service-request-enabled mode, the data packet further comprises a service request from the proximate wireless-enabled programmable device.
13 . The set-top box as recited in claim 10 , wherein in the tracking-enabled mode, the data packet further comprises a timestamp for storage.
14 . The set-top box as recited in claim 10 , wherein in the non-tracking-enabled mode, the data packet further comprises a timestamp for storage for only last known location.
15 . A set-top box comprising:
a housing having a processor and memory secured therewith;
an infrared receiver associated with the housing, the infrared receiver configured to receive an infrared signal from a proximate wireless-enabled programmable device, the proximate wireless-enabled programmable device being a proximate wireless-enabled programmable interactive 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 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; and
the memory accessible to the processor, the memory including processor-executable instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to:
receive the infrared signal from the proximate wireless-enabled programmable device, the infrared signal including a proximate wireless-enabled programmable device identification,
access a set-top box identification stored at the set-top box,
generate a data packet, the data packet including the set-top box identification and the proximate wireless-enabled programmable device identification, and
transmit the data packet to a server, the data packet including an operational mode selected from the group consisting of alerts-enabled, service request-enabled, tracking-enabled, and non-tracking-enabled.
16 . The set-top box as recited in claim 15 , wherein the infrared receiver is configured to receive communications from an infrared blaster.
17 . The set-top box as recited in claim 15 , wherein the data packet determines the location of the proximate wireless-enabled programmable device as being proximate to the set-top box.
18 . A set-top box comprising:
a housing having a processor and memory secured therewith;
an infrared receiver associated with the housing, the infrared receiver configured to receive an infrared signal from a proximate wireless-enabled programmable device, the proximate wireless-enabled programmable device being a single button personal locator 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 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; and
the memory accessible to the processor, the memory including processor-executable instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to:
receive the infrared signal from the proximate wireless-enabled programmable device, the infrared signal including a proximate wireless-enabled programmable device identification,
access a set-top box identification stored at the set-top box,
generate a data packet, the data packet including the set-top box identification and the proximate wireless-enabled programmable device identification, and
transmit the data packet to a server, the data packet including an operational mode selected from the group consisting of alerts-enabled, service request-enabled, tracking-enabled, and non-tracking-enabled.
19 . The set-top box as recited in claim 18 , wherein the infrared receiver is configured to receive communications from an infrared blaster.
20 . The set-top box as recited in claim 18 , wherein the data packet determines the location of the proximate wireless-enabled programmable device as being proximate to the set-top box.