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

Abstract

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 an infrared receiver that receives an infrared signal from a proximate wireless-enabled programmable device and responsive thereto, transmits a data packet including set-top box identification and a proximate wireless-enabled programmable device identification. A server determines the location of the proximate wireless-enabled programmable device based on the data packet.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A set-top box comprising:
 a housing having a processor and memory secured therewith;   an infrared receiver associated with the housing, the infrared receiver configured to receive an infrared signal from a proximate wireless-enabled programmable 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 and forward content to a television;   a busing architecture communicatively interconnecting the processor, the memory, the television input, the television output, and the infrared receiver; and   the memory accessible to the processor, the memory including processor-executable instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to:
 receive the infrared signal from the proximate wireless-enabled programmable device, the infrared signal including a proximate wireless-enabled programmable device identification, 
 access a set-top box identification stored at the set-top box, 
 generate a data packet, the data packet including the set-top box identification and the proximate wireless-enabled programmable device identification, and 
 transmit the data packet to a server. 
   
     
     
         2 . The set-top box as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the infrared receiver is configured to receive communications from an infrared blaster. 
     
     
         3 . The set-top box as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the infrared receiver is located at least partially within the housing. 
     
     
         4 . The set-top box as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the infrared receiver is located at least partially exterior to the housing. 
     
     
         5 . The set-top box as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the proximate wireless-enabled programmable device further comprises a proximate wireless-enabled programmable handheld device. 
     
     
         6 . The set-top box as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the proximate wireless-enabled programmable device further comprises a proximate wireless-enabled programmable interactive device. 
     
     
         7 . The set-top box as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the proximate wireless-enabled programmable device further comprises a single button personal locator device. 
     
     
         8 . The set-top box as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the proximate wireless-enabled programmable device further comprises a single button personal locator device including an infrared blaster. 
     
     
         9 . The set-top box as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the data packet determines the location of the proximate wireless-enabled programmable device as being proximate to the set-top box. 
     
     
         10 . The set-top box as recited  claim 1 , wherein the data packet further comprises an operational mode selected from the group consisting of alerts-enabled, service request-enabled, tracking-enabled, and non-tracking-enabled. 
     
     
         11 . The set-top box as recited in  claim 10 , wherein in the alerts-enabled mode, the data packet further comprises a distress signal from the proximate wireless-enabled programmable device. 
     
     
         12 . The set-top box as recited in  claim 10 , wherein in the service-request-enabled mode, the data packet further comprises a service request from the proximate wireless-enabled programmable device. 
     
     
         13 . The set-top box as recited in  claim 10 , wherein in the tracking-enabled mode, the data packet further comprises a timestamp for storage. 
     
     
         14 . The set-top box as recited in  claim 10 , wherein in the non-tracking-enabled mode, the data packet further comprises a timestamp for storage for only last known location. 
     
     
         15 . A set-top box comprising:
 a housing having a processor and memory secured therewith;   an infrared receiver associated with the housing, the infrared receiver configured to receive an infrared signal from a proximate wireless-enabled programmable device, the proximate wireless-enabled programmable device being a proximate wireless-enabled programmable interactive 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 and forward content to a television;   a busing architecture communicatively interconnecting the processor, the memory, the television input, the television output, and the infrared receiver; and   the memory accessible to the processor, the memory including processor-executable instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to:
 receive the infrared signal from the proximate wireless-enabled programmable device, the infrared signal including a proximate wireless-enabled programmable device identification, 
 access a set-top box identification stored at the set-top box, 
 generate a data packet, the data packet including the set-top box identification and the proximate wireless-enabled programmable device identification, and 
 transmit the data packet to a server, the data packet including an operational mode selected from the group consisting of alerts-enabled, service request-enabled, tracking-enabled, and non-tracking-enabled. 
   
     
     
         16 . The set-top box as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the infrared receiver is configured to receive communications from an infrared blaster. 
     
     
         17 . The set-top box as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the data packet determines the location of the proximate wireless-enabled programmable device as being proximate to the set-top box. 
     
     
         18 . A set-top box comprising:
 a housing having a processor and memory secured therewith;   an infrared receiver associated with the housing, the infrared receiver configured to receive an infrared signal from a proximate wireless-enabled programmable device, the proximate wireless-enabled programmable device being a single button personal locator 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 and forward content to a television;   a busing architecture communicatively interconnecting the processor, the memory, the television input, the television output, and the infrared receiver; and   the memory accessible to the processor, the memory including processor-executable instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to:
 receive the infrared signal from the proximate wireless-enabled programmable device, the infrared signal including a proximate wireless-enabled programmable device identification, 
 access a set-top box identification stored at the set-top box, 
 generate a data packet, the data packet including the set-top box identification and the proximate wireless-enabled programmable device identification, and 
 transmit the data packet to a server, the data packet including an operational mode selected from the group consisting of alerts-enabled, service request-enabled, tracking-enabled, and non-tracking-enabled. 
   
     
     
         19 . The set-top box as recited in  claim 18 , wherein the infrared receiver is configured to receive communications from an infrared blaster. 
     
     
         20 . The set-top box as recited in  claim 18 , wherein the data packet determines the location of the proximate wireless-enabled programmable device as being proximate to the set-top box.