Set-Top Box, System and Method for Providing Awareness in a Hospitality Environment

摘要

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 a wireless transceiver that periodically transmits an identification beacon that is received by a proximate wireless-enabled interactive device. The proximate wireless-enabled interactive device, in turn, broadcasts data packets including an indication of the strength of set-top box identification signals received. The broadcasts are received by a server via an array of wireless routers. The location of the proximate wireless-enabled interactive device is determined based on the signal strength information in the data packets.

主权项

1. A system for providing awareness in a hospitality environment, the system comprising:
a vertical and horizontal array of set-top boxes, each set-top box being associated with a room in the hospitality environment, each set-top box having an identification including a room identifier; each set-top box of the vertical and horizontal array including:
a housing;a wireless transceiver associated with the housing, the wireless transceiver configured to send a beacon to communicate with a proximate wireless-enabled interactive handheld 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 in the hospitality environment and forward content to a television;a processor coupled to the wireless transceiver and the television input and the television output;a memory accessible to the processor, the memory including processor-executable instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to:
periodically transmit an identification beacon signal including set-top box identification; a data packet associated with the proximate wireless-enabled interactive device, the data packet including at least one set-top box identification, a corresponding signal strength identification indicating the strength of the set-top box identification beacon signal, and a proximate wireless-enabled interactive device identification; a vertical and horizontal array of wireless routers disposed in the hospitality environment, each wireless router configured to receive the data packet from the proximate wireless-enabled interactive device and forward the data packet; a server located within the hospitality environment and in communication with the vertical and horizontal array of wireless routers, the server including:
a processor; anda memory accessible to the processor, the memory including processor-executable instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to:
receive the data packet from the proximate wireless-enabled interactive device;determine the location of the proximate wireless-enabled interactive device; and the location of the proximate wireless-enabled interactive device being determined following communication from the vertical and horizontal array of set-top boxes to the proximate wireless-enabled interactive device to the vertical and horizontal array of wireless routers to the server.