IP Library Granted Patent US 12,425,664
Granted Patent B2
US 12,425,664 · App. 18/408,148 · Granted Sep 23, 2025

Set-top box with enhanced features and system and method for use of same

Inventors: Thomas R. Miller (Plano, TX); Vanessa Ogle (Fairview, TX); Charles T. Hixon (Garland, TX); Craig D. Smith (Allen, TX)
Assignee: Enseo, LLC
H04N21/2143H04N21/25H04N21/4131H04N21/43615H04N21/478H04N21/8126H04N21/8146H04W4/80
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,425,664
App. No.
18/408,148
Granted
Sep 23, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A set-top box with enhanced features and system and method for use of the same are disclosed. In one embodiment of the set-top box, the set-top box is deployed to provide an interactive portal in a hospitality establishment having multiple rooms, such as a hotel. The set-top box generates a default interactive portal as well as a guest-specific interactive portal, which is generated from a guest configuration profile having information including guest identification, a guest channel preference presentation, and a guest service preference presentation with guest account information. The guest configuration profile may also enable the creation of a local area wireless network with substantially the same behavior as the guest's home wireless network. The guest configuration profile may further enable the control of in-room amenities, such as temperature control, lighting, shades, and availability, for example.

Claims (34)

1. A system for configuring an in-room amenity proximate to a set-top box, the system comprising:

a programming interface configured to communicate with the set-top box having a processor and non-transitory memory disposed in an interconnected busing architecture; and

the programming interface including non-transitory memory accessible to the processor, the non-transitory memory including processor-executable instructions that, when executed, cause the system to:

receive a guest configuration profile at the set-top box, and

in response to receiving the guest configuration profile, wirelessly control the in-room amenity based on the guest configuration profile;

the guest configuration profile controlling the in-room amenity based on a guest amenity profile derived from at least one of a home amenity belonging to a guest and a previous stay amenity relative to the guest;

the in-room amenity being selected from the group consisting of lighting, temperature control, window shades, and guest availability;

the home amenity belonging to the guest being selected from the group consisting of lighting, temperature control, window shades, and guest availability; and

the previous stay amenity being selected from the group consisting of lighting, temperature control, window shades, and guest availability.

2. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the in-room amenity comprises an identical functionality to the home amenity.

3. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the in-room amenity comprises an identical functionality to the previous stay amenity.

4. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the guest configuration profile further controls the in-room amenity based on one of a location of a hospitality establishment having the set-top box therein and a location of a room, having the set-top box therein, in the hospitality establishment.

5. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the guest configuration profile further controls the in-room amenity based on at least one of time of day and season.

6. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the guest configuration profile control of the in-room amenity further comprises providing a setting to the in-room amenity.

7. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the guest configuration profile control of the in-room amenity further comprises providing a lighting setting to a lighting control panel.

8. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the guest configuration profile control of the in-room amenity further comprises providing a temperature setting to a temperature control unit.

9. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the guest configuration profile control of the in-room amenity further comprises providing a shade setting to a shade control unit.

10. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the guest configuration profile control of the in-room amenity further comprises providing a do not disturb setting to a door control unit.

11. A system for configuring an in-room amenity proximate to a set-top box, the system comprising:

a programming interface configured to communicate with the set-top box having a processor and non-transitory memory disposed in an interconnected busing architecture; and

the programming interface including non-transitory memory accessible to the processor, the non-transitory memory including processor-executable instructions that, when executed, cause the system to:

receive a guest configuration profile at the set-top box

in response to receiving the guest configuration profile, wirelessly control the in-room amenity based on the guest configuration profile, and

monitor guest interaction with the in-room amenity;

the guest configuration profile controlling the in-room amenity based on a guest amenity profile derived from at least one of a home amenity belonging to a guest and a previous stay amenity relative to the guest;

the in-room amenity being selected from the group consisting of lighting, temperature control, window shades, and guest availability;

the home amenity belonging to the guest being selected from the group consisting of lighting, temperature control, window shades, and guest availability; and

the previous stay amenity being selected from the group consisting of lighting, temperature control, window shades, and guest availability.

12. The system as recited in claim 11 , wherein the non-transitory memory further comprises processor-executable instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to:

record the guest interaction data relative to guest interaction with the in-room amenity.

13. The system as recited in claim 11 , wherein the non-transitory memory further comprises processor-executable instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to transmit the guest interaction data to a server.

14. The system as recited in claim 11 , wherein the guest amenity profile of the guest configuration profile is refined based on the guest interaction data.

15. The system as recited in claim 11 , wherein a transceiver coupled to the interconnected busing architecture utilizes wireless signals selected from the group of wireless protocols consisting of 802.11, 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, 3G, 4G, Edge, WiFi, ZigBee, near field communications (NFC), Bluetooth, and infrared (IR).

16. The system as recited in claim 11 , wherein the non-transitory memory includes processor-executable instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to receive the guest configuration profile via signal input.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 10, 2024
From: MILLER, THOMAS R.; OGLE, VANESSA; HIXON, CHARLES T.; SMITH, CRAIG D.
To: ENSEO, INC.
Reel/Frame 066082/0764 →
CERTIFICATE OF CONVERSION Recorded Jan 10, 2024
From: ENSEO, INC.
To: ENSEO, LLC
Reel/Frame 066260/0063 →
Continuity (14)
Continuation 17586452 · Jan 27, 2022
Continuation 17141519 · Jan 5, 2021
Continuation 16524893 · Jul 29, 2019
Continuation In Part 16365444 · Mar 26, 2019
Continuation 15860509 · Jan 2, 2018
Continuation 15847247 · Dec 19, 2017
Continuation 15625416 · Jun 16, 2017
Continuation 15203515 · Jul 6, 2016
Continuation In Part 14803428 · Jul 20, 2015
Continuation 14294123 · Jun 2, 2014
Provisional Application 62711129 · Jul 27, 2018
Provisional Application 62188976 · Jul 6, 2015
Provisional Application 61829932 · May 31, 2013
Related Publication 20240146977A1 · May 2, 2024
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