Electrical computers and digital processing systems: multicomput – Computer conferencing
Reexamination Certificate
1999-05-12
2002-01-29
Dinh, Dung C. (Department: 2153)
Electrical computers and digital processing systems: multicomput
Computer conferencing
C709S236000, C710S064000, C710S067000, C713S002000, C463S040000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06343315
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a network system and, in particular, to integrating interactive devices having different requirements into an entertainment and/or information system for use, e.g., in a building complex having a number of rooms.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Numerous and relatively large lodging complexes, such as hotels, have included certain entertainment and/or information accessing features in their rooms in order to attract customers. In addition to conventional TV programs that can be accessible from each room, other entertainment, shopping and/or business-related options are made available, through television screen displayed menus. These include video on demand, shopping networks, world wide web accessibility and video games that are played independently of the world wide web. The number and kind of interactive devices are expected to increase. Such devices may be marketed by one or more companies and could have different network requirements and/or operation-associated protocols. Current entertainment systems require that present and expected future interactive devices be adapted to their system. That is, in order to properly function with present entertainment systems, the interactive device and/or the entertainment system itself must be modified so that they are compatible with each other. No current entertainment system permits the plugging in or other interconnection of each and any interactive device without first incorporating compatibility changes.
Related to the physical connectivity requirements, it is also necessary to effectively gather input data from users of the system in order to respond within an acceptable time interval. Some interactive devices, such as web browsers and video cassette players, have less stringent requirements as applied to the time within which a response needs to be generated. On the other hand, some interactive devices have substantially greater Input rates and, in order to meet customer expectation, these devices require that relatively rapid responses be generated by the system and returned to the interactive devices. For example, players of video games do not want to experience delays that they are not responsible for when playing these games. Accommodations and balancing among these different interests associated with interactive devices must be made in order to achieve user acceptance without inefficient or wasteful use of system capability and system components.
It would be advantageous, therefore, to devise an entertainment/information system that facilitates the integration of present and future interactive devices into the system. In the ideal situation, essentially no adaptation of the system and/or interactive device is required. Rather, the version of the interactive device that is marketed to users through other distribution channels is the same version that is readily and effectively interconnected to the particular entertainment/information system.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention, a system is provided in which devices including interactive devices are integrated into the system while eliminating, or substantially reducing, system and/or interactive device modification to achieve the integration. The system includes a plurality of guest terminal subsystems. At least some of the guest terminal subsystems include one or more interactive input devices. These interactive input devices can include a keyboard, mouse, TV remote, video game stations or other input devices. Two or more of the interactive input devices require a different network communication/connection or interface, such as the following serial interfaces: asynchronous RS-485; asynchronous RS-232; and synchronous TTL.
Each of the guest terminal subsystems communicates with a head end system located remotely therefrom and electrically connected thereto using a distribution system. The head end system also includes a router apparatus that communicates with both the host and the guest terminal subsystems. The router apparatus communicates with an output device system that is comprised of a number of interactive output devices. The interactive output devices can include video games, web browsers and video cassette players, for example. The router apparatus is electrically disposed intermediate the host and the distribution system. Generally, inputs from the interactive input devices of the guest terminal subsystems are received by both the router apparatus and the host. The router apparatus includes a head end controller that has overall control of providing the inputs from the interactive input devices of the guest terminal subsystems to the proper interactive output device.
The head end controller communicates with a number of emulation assemblies. Each of the emulation assemblies is electrically connected to one of the output devices of the output device system. Each of such emulation assemblies is configured to properly communicate and function with the output device to which it is connected. In one embodiment, the emulation assemblies are only configured when they are manufactured and before shipment to their final destination. In another embodiment, each of the emulation assemblies is re-configurable at the user's site using host processing and software so that it can be made compatible with each interactive input device. By way of example, a first emulation assembly can be configured so that it is compatible with a first interactive input device and an associated first interactive output device. A second emulation assembly functions with a second interactive input device and a second interactive output device. The second emulation assembly can be re-configured so that it now is functionally compatible with the first interactive input and output devices, but is not compatible with the second interactive input and output devices. As can be appreciated, this flexibility or adaptability enables the router apparatus to be configured or customized for a particular lodging facility owner/operator, who might want different numbers and/or sets of output devices than another hotel or lodging complex.
Each emulation assembly has an input interface and an output interface. The input interface communicates with a router bus that includes a data line for carrying input information that is to be provided to interactive output devices of the output device system through the selected output interfaces of the appropriate emulation assemblies. In that regard, each emulation assembly input interface accepts only that data or other information that is specifically directed to it. The head end controller supplies an output device address unique to the particular output device that is to receive the designated information. Consequently, unless the input interface of the particular emulation assembly recognizes its address accompanying the current input data, it essentially ignores such data.
With regard to obtaining input information during the operations or workings of the input interactive devices, the head end system, particularly the host, initiates a series of interactive interrogations. Each interactive interrogation is directed to all active input devices in the system. Each interactive interrogation typically includes a number of slots and a number of subslots. Each slot has a predetermined time interval. In one embodiment, each slot has a time interval of {fraction (1/60)}
th
of a second. Each subslot has a predetermined time interval that relates to a division of the slot time interval. For example, each subslot is a division of {fraction (1/60)}
th
of a second (i.e., {fraction (1/30)}, {fraction (1/20)}, {fraction (1/15)}, etc.). Each activated input device is assigned to a slot or subslot in a slot, which make up the interactive interrogation. Input data or information from an interactive input device is assigned a particular slot or subslot in a slot primarily based on the response time to be given to the particular input device. Generally, when an input device requires a relatively fast
Bankers David M.
Cinco Christopher Alan
Stoel Leon P.
Dinh Dung C.
LodgeNet Entertainment Corporation
Ross P.C. Sheridan
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