US4994908A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Interactive room status/time information system
Assignee: Tech 5 Sas
•
Filing: 1989-04-20
•
Granted: 1991-02-19
•
Expires: 2009-04-20
Abstract
Abstract An interactive room status/time information system is provided having a terminal associated with a television comprising a processor for processing data, an associated memory for storing operation data and control algorithms, a keypad with remote control for inputting information, a character generator responsive to the processor for generating a multiple character, multiple line display, a power supply input, and a cable transmission link for communication at television frequencies with a system manager. A maid or inspector can send status information from a hotel/hospital room terminal over a cable television system to a system manager location. The status of a room for occupancy is determined by a two-step procedure. Input from both a maid and an inspector must be received before a room has a ready-for-occupancy status. Screens of compiled room status and historical data can be displayed at the system manager. Also, certain screens of room status data may be displayed on an associated television at the room terminal. Functions can be performed at the system manager location including searching stored status information for historical data of a particular room or maid. In accordance with a further time control feature of the present system, a hotel guest may actuate a wake-up mode of operation of a room terminal through a terminal keyboard or remote control. The system manager subsequently polls the terminal to determine if the room terminal is properly operating or if the wake-up alarm has been responded to. If not, hotel personnel may be dispatched to the room.
Inventors
- 👤 Curt M. Kuban
- 👤 Jeffrey C. Ting
- 👤 Fitzroy E. Williams
- 👤 Lee R. Johnson
- 👤 Elizabeth A. Smith
- 👤 Howard L. Myers
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 18:42
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N21/00; H04N21/40; H04N21/47; G; G08; G08B; G08B5/00; G08B5/22; G08B5/221; H04N21/20; H04N21/21; H04N21/214; H04N21/2143; H04N21/482; H04N7/00; H04N7/08; H04N7/087; H04N7/088; H04N7/0888; H04N7/16; H04N7/162; H04N7/165; H04N7/167; H04N7/1675; H04N7/173; H04N7/17309; H04N7/17318; G06; G06Q; G06Q10/00; G06Q10/06; H04N21/478
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 48
Claim 1
Independent Claim
152 words
Two-way interactive room terminal for communicating room status information with a system manager of a cable television system, the terminal comprising: memory means for storing data for generating a plurality of predetermined character screens and for storing room status data, said character screen data comprising character screen commands and said room status data comprising room status information; character generator means for generating character screens from the stored character screen data; data entry means for entering room status information in response to at least one character screen; two-way cable television transceiver means, for communicating with the system manager; and control means for processing entered room status information, for controlling said memory means and said character generator means for composing at least one predetermined character screen related to room status information requiring a data entry response, and for further controlling said two-way transceiver means for communicating processed room status information with the system manager.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
152 words
Two-way interactive room terminal for communicating room status information with a system manager of a cable television system, the terminal comprising: memory means for storing data for generating a plurality of predetermined character screens and for storing room status data, said character screen data comprising character screen commands and said room status data comprising room status information; character generator means for generating character screens from the stored character screen data; data entry means for entering room status information in response to at least one character screen; two-way cable television transceiver means, for communicating with the system manager; and control means for processing entered room status information, for controlling said memory means and said character generator means for composing at least one predetermined character screen related to room status information requiring a data entry response, and for further controlling said two-way transceiver means for communicating processed room status information with the system manager.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The two-way interactive room terminal of claim 1, wherein the at least one screen of characters comprises an indication of the entered room status information.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
The two-way interactive room terminal of claim 2, wherein the at least one screen of characters further comprises an indication of rooms to be prepared for occupancy.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The two-way interactive room terminal of claim 2, wherein the at least one screen of characters further comprises an indication of rooms to be inspected.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
36 words
The two-way interactive room terminal of claim 2, wherein the at least one screen of characters further comprises an indication of one or more of the following status indications: occupied, vacant, clean, dirty, ready, or out-of-service.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
The two-way interactive room terminal of claim 1, wherein the at least one screen of characters indicates the location of at least one maid or inspector.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
50 words
The two-way interactive room terminal of claim 1, further comprising a tunable up/down video converter, responsive to the control means, for tuning cable television channels for reception at a television receiver, and being further coupled to the transceiver means, for transmitting data to and receiving data from the system manager.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
The two-way interactive room terminal of claim 1, wherein the data entry means comprises a remote control.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
The two-way interactive room terminal of claim 1, wherein the data entry means comprises a keyboard.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
The two-way interactive room terminal of claim 1, wherein at least one other display screen indicates functions assigned to said data input means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
42 words
The two-way interactive room terminal of claim 1, further comprising an on/off switch and an AC outlet controlled by the on/off switch, the terminal capable of data entry and communication with the system manager regardless of the state of the on/off switch.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
96 words
Two-way interactive room system comprising: at least one room terminal comprising an audible wake-up alarm, a keyboard having at least one key, and a two-way transceiver for communicating data comprising at least wake-up data at cable television frequencies, the wake-up data comprising the time the audible wake-up alarm is to be activated; a system manager comprising a two-way transceiver for communicating at least the wake-up data with at least one room terminal at cable television frequencies; and a television transmission link for connecting the transceivers of the system manager and the at least one room terminal.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
96 words
Two-way interactive room system comprising: at least one room terminal comprising an audible wake-up alarm, a keyboard having at least one key, and a two-way transceiver for communicating data comprising at least wake-up data at cable television frequencies, the wake-up data comprising the time the audible wake-up alarm is to be activated; a system manager comprising a two-way transceiver for communicating at least the wake-up data with at least one room terminal at cable television frequencies; and a television transmission link for connecting the transceivers of the system manager and the at least one room terminal.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
61 words
The room system of claim 12, wherein the two-way transceiver of the at least one room terminal sends a wake-up alarm responded to signal at cable television frequencies over the television transmission link to the system manager two-way transceiver upon actuation of the at least one key of the keyboard of the room terminal to turn off the audible wake-up alarm.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
41 words
The room system of claim 13, wherein the system manager indicates a first warning condition if a predetermined warning time after the activation of the audible wake-up alarm has lapsed and said wake-up alarm responded to signal has not been received.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
42 words
The room system of claim 13, wherein the system manager indicates a second warning condition at a predetermined pre-warning time before a scheduled alarm time if a room terminal is incapable of activating the audible wake-up alarm at the scheduled alarm time.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
25 words
The room system of claim 13, wherein scheduled alarm times may be entered at the keyboard of the room terminal or at the system manager.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
18 words
The room system of claim 14, wherein the predetermined warning time may be entered at the system manager.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
21 words
The room system of claim 12, wherein the at least one room terminal responds to polling signals from the system manager.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
30 words
The room system of claim 12, wherein the at least one room terminal further comprises a character generator for generating at least one display of characters related to wake-up data.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
112 words
Two-way interactive room terminal for communication of wake-up information with a system manager of a cable system, the terminal comprising: a processor for processing data, the data comprising wake-up data, the wake-up data comprising wake-up time information; a memory associated with said processor for storing the wake-up data; a keyboard for inputting wake-up information to the terminal; an audible wake-up alarm, responsive to the processor and the processed wake-up data; a character generator, responsive to the processor, for generating at least one display screen of characters related to wake-up time information requiring keyboard response; and a two-way cable television transceiver, responsive to the processor, for communicating wake-up information with the system manager.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
112 words
Two-way interactive room terminal for communication of wake-up information with a system manager of a cable system, the terminal comprising: a processor for processing data, the data comprising wake-up data, the wake-up data comprising wake-up time information; a memory associated with said processor for storing the wake-up data; a keyboard for inputting wake-up information to the terminal; an audible wake-up alarm, responsive to the processor and the processed wake-up data; a character generator, responsive to the processor, for generating at least one display screen of characters related to wake-up time information requiring keyboard response; and a two-way cable television transceiver, responsive to the processor, for communicating wake-up information with the system manager.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
20 words
The two-way interactive room terminal of claim 20, wherein the at least one screen of characters indicates entered wake-up information.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
40 words
The two-way interactive room terminal of claim 20, wherein the room terminal sends a wake-up alarm responded to signal to the system manager upon activation of at least one key on the keyboard to turn off the audible wake-up alarm.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
43 words
The two-way interactive room terminal of claim 22, wherein the system manager indicates a first warning condition if a predermined warning time after the activation of the audible wake-up alarm has lapsed and said wake-up alarm responded to signal has not been received.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
43 words
The two-way interactive terminal of claim 20, wherein the system manager indicates a second warning condition at a predetermined pre-warning time before a scheduled alarm time if a room terminal is incapable of activating the audible wake-up alarm at the scheduled alarm time.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
24 words
The two-way interactive room terminal of claim 20, wherein scheduled alarm times may be entered at least at the keyboard of the room terminal.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
23 words
The two-way interactive room terminal of claim 20, wherein the two-way cable television transceiver communicates with the system manager at cable television frequencies.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
20 words
The two-way interactive room terminal of claim 20, wherein the room terminal responds to polling signals from the system manager.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
48 words
The two-way interactive room terminal of claim 20, further comprising a tunable up//down video converter, responsive to the processor, for tuning cable television for reception at a television receiver and, being further coupled to the transceiver means, for transmitting data to and receiving data from the system manager.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
25 words
The two-way interactive room terminal of claim 20, further comprising a real time clock, said audible alarm being further responsive to said real time clock.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
29 words
The two-way interactive room terminal of claim 29, wherein said system manager receives time calibration signals from a satellite and periodically sends time update signals to said room terminal.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
24 words
The two-way interactive room terminal of claim 20, wherein the character generator generates a display screen indicating functions assigned to keys on the keyboard.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
42 words
The two-way interactive room terminal of claim 20, further comprising an on/off switch and an AC outlet controlled by the on/off switch, the terminal capable of keyboard entry and communication with the system manager regardless of the state of the on/off switch.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
15 words
The two-way interactive room terminal of claim 20, wherein the keyboard comprises a remote control.
Claim 37
Independent Claim
150 words
A method of communicating room status information between a room terminal at a particular room location and a system manager of a cable television system, the method comprising the steps of: a. receiving data at the system manager transmitted from the room terminal indicating a particular employee has begun work at said particular room location at a first point in time when the work begins; b. storing at the system manager a label for the particular room location and a label for the particular employee with data indicating said first point in time; c. receiving data at the system manager transmitted from the room terminal indicating work completion at said particular room location at a second point in time when the work is completed, said second point in time occurring after said first point in time; and d. storing at the system manager data indicating said second point in time.
Claim 38
Independent Claim
150 words
A method of communicating room status information between a room terminal at a particular room location and a system manager of a cable television system, the method comprising the steps of: a. receiving data at the system manager transmitted from the room terminal indicating a particular employee has begun work at said particular room location at a first point in time when the work begins; b. storing at the system manager a label for the particular room location and a label for the particular employee with data indicating said first point in time; c. receiving data at the system manager transmitted from the room terminal indicating work completion at said particular room location at a second point in time when the work is completed, said second point in time occurring after said first point in time; and d. storing at the system manager data indicating said second point in time.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 34, wherein step b. further comprises the step of storing a status of dirty with said labels and step d. further comprises the step of changing said status of a particular room location from dirty to clean.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 35, further comprising the steps of: e. receiving at the system manager inspection data transmitted from a room terminal indicating inspection of a particular room location; and f. storing at the system manager said inspection data for a particular room location.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method of claim 36, wherein said inspection data indicates whether said particular room location has a ready or a dirty status, and wherein step f. further comprises the step of changing said status for said particular room location to the ready or the dirty status indicated by said inspection data.
Claim 42
Independent Claim
62 words
A method of communicating accurate time information between a room terminal and a system manager of a cable television system, said system manager having an internal clock, the method comprising the steps of: a. periodically receiving at the system manager accurate time data sent from a satellite; and b. transmitting a time update signal from said system manager to said room terminal.
Claim 43
Independent Claim
62 words
A method of communicating accurate time information between a room terminal and a system manager of a cable television system, said system manager having an internal clock, the method comprising the steps of: a. periodically receiving at the system manager accurate time data sent from a satellite; and b. transmitting a time update signal from said system manager to said room terminal.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 38 further comprising step of the calibrating said system manager internal clock from the periodically received accurate time data.
Claim 45
Independent Claim
64 words
A method of communicating accurate time information between a terminal and a system manager of a cable television system, both said room terminal and system manager having internal clocks, the method comprising the steps of: a. periodically receiving at the system manager accurate time data sent from a satellite; and b. transmitting a time update signal from said system manager to said room terminal.
Claim 46
Independent Claim
64 words
A method of communicating accurate time information between a terminal and a system manager of a cable television system, both said room terminal and system manager having internal clocks, the method comprising the steps of: a. periodically receiving at the system manager accurate time data sent from a satellite; and b. transmitting a time update signal from said system manager to said room terminal.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 40 further comprising the calibration of said system manager internal clock after periodically receiving accurate time data.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 41 further comprising step of the calibrating said room terminal internal clock after receiving the time update signal.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-02-18 | 1994-08-20 | 1995-02-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-02-18 | 1998-08-20 | 1999-02-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-02-18 | 2002-08-20 | 2003-02-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |