Universal TV Interface Terminal for Guest Device Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Guests in lodging facilities cannot easily connect their personal electronic devices, such as laptops and digital audio players, to the in-room television systems, limiting the use of the larger screen and enhanced audio, and existing solutions like 'jack packs' are vendor-specific and do not integrate with the lodging entertainment system.
Innovation Solution
A connection interface device that communicates with the television interface terminal over an in-room network, allowing guests to connect personal devices and route signals to the TV, with selection buttons and signal detectors to manage input sources, enabling seamless integration with the lodging entertainment system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a jack pack is used to allow guests to connect personal electronic devices to the television, then guests can connect their devices to the TV, but the system becomes vendor-specific and does not integrate with the lodging entertainment system
Solution Approach 1:
The interface terminal is designed to perform multiple functions: it serves as both the control interface for the lodging entertainment system and the connection point for personal electronic devices. The terminal includes multiple input ports (HDMI, VGA, component, composite) that can accept various device types, making it universally compatible while maintaining integration with the headend system through the same terminal unit.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the jack pack functionality with the existing interface terminal of the lodging entertainment system. Instead of using a separate jack pack that operates independently, the personal device connection features are merged into the terminal that already controls the TV and interfaces with the headend, creating a unified system that provides both lodging entertainment and personal device connectivity.
2Reliability
If the entertainment system is configured to prevent guests from tampering with the television, then system security is maintained, but guests cannot connect their personal devices to the TV
Solution Approach 1:
The interface terminal acts as an intermediary between the secured television system and guest personal devices. The terminal provides controlled access points where guests can connect their devices through standardized ports, while the terminal itself remains part of the secured entertainment system architecture, allowing connectivity without compromising system security.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides self-service connectivity for guests through the interface terminal. Guests can independently connect their personal devices to the TV using the available input ports and select the appropriate input source, without requiring system administrator intervention or compromising the secured entertainment system configuration.
3Adaptability or versatility
If special connections and control inputs are added to the television for jack pack integration, then personal devices can be connected, but the television becomes vendor-specific and requires special inputs
Solution Approach 1:
The interface terminal is designed with multiple universal input ports (HDMI, VGA, component, composite) that can accommodate various personal electronic devices. These are standard industry connectors that do not require proprietary adaptations, allowing the terminal to serve multiple functions: controlling lodging entertainment and accepting personal device inputs simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The interface terminal separates the personal device connection functionality from the television itself by providing dedicated input ports and control interfaces on the terminal unit. This segmentation allows the TV to remain a standard unit while the terminal provides the adaptability for various device connections, reducing the need for special modifications to the television.
Data Source
AI summary
A connection interface allows individuals (such as guests at a lodging facility) to use portable personal electronic devices (such as laptop computers, digital audio players, and digital audio/video players) in conjunction with a television. The connection interface device includes inputs to receive signals from various portable devices, and includes selection keys by which a guest can select a particular type of input to the television. The connection interface senses presence of video and audio signals on its inputs, and the state of the selection keys, and provides data over an in-room network with a television interface terminal. The connection interface device also routes the signals received at its inputs to corresponding inputs of the television. The television interface terminal responds to inputs from a remote control, keyboard or game controller and provides commands to the television to tune to selected channels for free-to-guest programming pay-per-view movies, video games, Internet, and other interactive services. Based on data from the connection interface, the television interface terminal can command the television to receive and play selected inputs from the connection interface.