Interactive Video Controls for Hotel Entertainment Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hotel entertainment systems face challenges in providing new and improved offerings that increase purchase rates without significant capital investments in hardware and software, as existing systems are often owned and maintained by vendors, limiting the justification for additional equipment or services.
Innovation Solution
A method and system using interactive video animation software that allows guests to control playback of content through interactive controls like play, pause, skip-forward, and skip-back, transmitted from a digital content server to guest terminals, enabling personalized entertainment experiences without requiring extensive hardware upgrades.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If new services are added to increase purchase rates, then guest satisfaction and revenue improve, but capital investment in hardware and software increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses on-screen display (OSD) technology to create virtual representations of physical controls. Instead of installing additional physical control devices in each guest room, the system creates software-based control interfaces that are displayed on the television screen and controlled through the existing remote control, thereby providing enhanced functionality without additional hardware investment
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces physical mechanical controls with software-based OSD controls. The interactive control interface is generated through software that responds to remote control inputs, eliminating the need for physical buttons or switches for functions like volume, channel, and playback control, thereby reducing hardware complexity while maintaining full control functionality
2Ease of operation
If interactive controls are added to enhance guest control, then user satisfaction improves, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the existing remote control universally functional by enabling it to control both traditional television functions and new interactive features through the OSD interface. The same remote control buttons serve multiple purposes: navigating OSD menus, controlling playback, adjusting audio/video settings, and accessing additional features, thereby enhancing ease of operation without adding new control devices or increasing system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides self-service capabilities through the OSD interface, allowing guests to independently control various aspects of their entertainment experience. The interactive controls enable guests to pause, rewind, fast-forward, adjust settings, and access additional features without requiring assistance from hotel staff or complex system configurations, thereby improving ease of operation while keeping the system architecture simple
Data Source
AI summary
A method and system for providing interactive controls using interactive video animation software for use in conjunction with content provided by a lodging entertainment system are disclosed. The lodging entertainment system includes a head end with a digital content server and a plurality of guest terminals connected by a distribution system. A display of interactive controls is transmitted with the content from the head end to a guest terminal. This preferably occurs in response to pressing a key on a remote control at the guest terminal. Then, interactive control selection data representing the interactive control selected by a guest is transmitted from the guest terminal to the head end. After processing the interactive control selection data at the head end, transmission of the content from the head end to the guest terminal is adjusted in accordance with the interactive control selected by the guest.