Healthcare television system apparatus

Abstract

An apparatus interposed between a healthcare pillow speaker and an internally-unmodified commodity television where said apparatus powers the pillow speaker, enables the pillow speaker to control the television and drives the pillow speaker with said television audio content. The apparatus is designed to attain applicable healthcare safety approvals. The apparatus is designed to be compatible with standard healthcare equipment and to be placed within new and existing installations. The apparatus can selectively shut off the audio drivers to reduce noise. The apparatus generates its own audio content for the pillow speaker. The apparatus can enable, disable, set access timers, track and report on user access and equipment operational. The apparatus can internally configure limits and alternatives in how the television equipment will be controlled.

1 . A hospital grade entertainment interface device comprising:
 an interface unit;   a plurality of communications ports communicatively connected to said interface unit,   wherein one or more of said plurality of communications ports is a media communications port,   wherein one or more of said plurality of communications ports is a control communications port,   wherein one or more of said plurality of control communications port employs a control communication cable assembly to connect said interface unit to a television unit.   wherein one of said plurality of communications ports is a pillow speaker communications port,   wherein one or more of said plurality of said pillow speaker communications port employs a cable assembly to connect said interface unit to a pillow speaker   wherein said interface unit is capable of processing commands received from one or more of said plurality of communications ports,   wherein said interface unit is capable of communicating media information via said one or more of said plurality of communications ports,   wherein said interface unit is capable of communicating control information via said one or more of said plurality of communications ports,   wherein said interface unit is capable of communicating media information via said pillow speaker communications port; and   a power supply communicatively connected to said interface unit,
 wherein said interface unit is configured to: 
 remain in a non-operative mode until receipt of sequence code, 
 receive said sequence code from an external source, 
 process said sequence code, 
 switch to an operative mode. 
   
     
     
         2 . The interface unit of  claim 1  wherein receipt of said sequence code by an external source is provided by a television remote control. 
     
     
         3 . The operative mode of  claim 1  configured to permit a user access to said television for a predefined period a predetermined set of television viewing options based on a rental arrangement between a controller of said hospital grade entertainment interface device and said user. 
     
     
         4 . The predetermined set of television viewing options of  claim 3  comprised of selected television channels. 
     
     
         5 . The operative mode of  claim 3  further defined to provide television content selectively predetermined by controller of said hospital grade entertainment interface device. 
     
     
         6 . The television content of  claim 5  further defined to comprise of medical educational content. 
     
     
         7 . The television content of  claim 5  further defined to comprise of predetermined advertisement. 
     
     
         8 . The power supply of  claim 1  wherein said power supply is galvanically isolated form said pillow speaker communication port. 
     
     
         9 . The power supply of  claim 1  wherein said power supply is galvanically supplied from said television unit. 
     
     
         10 . The power supply of claim wherein said power supply is galvanically supplied from said television unit to said pillow speaker.