Interactive digital video services system with store and forward capabilities

Claim 2

An interactive video services system for enabling a user at a hospitality establishment to access and control presentation of digitized video programs on a television, the system comprising: a remote control unit associated with said television for generating user command signals; a room terminal electrically connected to said television for formatting and storing said user command signals; means connected to said room terminal for entering billing information; a systems control computer (SCS) electrically connected to said room terminal for processing said user command signals; a digital video server computer (DVSC) electrically connected to said SCS and to said television for storing a plurality of digitized video programs for presentation on said television; wherein said user command signals generated using said remote control unit comprise select command signals for selecting one of said stored digitized video programs and control command signals for controlling presentation of said selected video program on said television by said DVSC; wherein said SCS causes said DVSC to initiate presentation of said selected video program on said television in response to said select signals and controls said presentation of said selected video program on said television by said DVSC in response to said control signals and a plurality of integrated receiver decoders (IRDs) connected to receive video data from a video distribution center, said plurality of IRDs being for processing said received video data and for routing said received video data to said SCS, to said DVSC or directly to said television responsive to said processing.

Claim 3

The system of claim 1 wherein said IRDs are connected to said video distribution center via a satellite delivery network and wherein said system further comprises downlink facilities connected to receive said video data from said satellite delivery network and transmit said video data to said IRDs.

Claim 4

The system of claim 1 wherein said received video data comprises digitized video programs for presentation on said television.

Claim 5

The system of claim 1 wherein said received video data comprises advertisements for presentation on said television.

Claim 6

The system of claim 1 wherein said SCS further comprise means for displaying a graphics screen on said television for assisting said user in selecting one of said stored digitized video programs.

Claim 7

The system of claim 1 further comprising means connected to said SCS for storing a plurality of advertisements.

Claim 8

The system of claim 6 wherein said SCS comprises: means for selecting one of said plurality of advertisements; and means for initiating presentation of said selected one of said plurality of advertisements on said television on a predetermined channel at a predetermined time.

Claim 9

The system of claim 6 wherein said SCS comprises: means for monitoring broadcast programming on a predetermined channel for a queue tone; and means for initiating presentation on said television of a selected one of said plurality of advertisements on said predetermined channel in place of said broadcast programming responsive to detection of said queue tone.

Claim 10

The system of claim 1 wherein said entering means is a magnetic card reader.

Claim 11

The system of claim 1 further comprising an intelligent radio frequency (RF) modem connected between said SCS and said room terminal for converting signals generated by said SCS from digital to RF signal format.

Claim 12

The system of claim 9 further comprising a frequency modulator responsive to signals from said SCS for tuning the channel of said selected video program to a channel specified by said room terminal.

Claim 13

The system of claim 1 wherein said control command signals comprise a signal for initiating a fast forward operation.

Claim 14

The system of claim 1 wherein said control command signals comprise a signal for initiating a rewind operation.

Claim 15

The system of claim 1 wherein said control command signals comprise a signal for initiating a bookmark operation.

Claim 16

The system of claim 1 wherein said room terminal prevents unauthorized presentation of said digitized video programs on said television.

Claim 19

The method of claim 16 further comprising: receiving video data from a centralized video distribution center; processing said received video data; and routing said received video data to said DVSC, said television or a systems control computer (SCS) responsive to said processing.

Claim 20

The method of claim 16 further comprising: converting signals comprising said selected digitized video program from digital signal format to radio frequency (RF) signal format.

Claim 21

The method of claim 18 further comprising: tuning said selected digitized video program to a channel selected by a room terminal connected to said television.

Claim 22

The method of claim 16 wherein said control command signals comprise a fast forward command signal.

Claim 23

The method of claim 16 wherein said control command signals comprise a rewind command signal.

Claim 24

The method of claim 16 wherein said control command signals comprise a bookmark command signal.

Claim 25

The method of claim 16 further comprising preventing unauthorized presentation of said digitized video programs on said television.

Claim 28

The method of claim 24 further comprising: converting signals comprising said selected digitized video program from digital signal format to radio frequency (RF) signal format.

Claim 29

The method of claim 25 further comprising: tuning said selected digitized video program to a channel selected by a room terminal connected to said television.

Claim 30

The method of claim 24 wherein said control command signals comprise a fast forward command signal.

Claim 31

The method of claim 24 wherein said control command signals comprise a rewind command signal.

Claim 32

The method of claim 24 wherein said control command signals comprise a bookmark command signal.

Claim 33

The method of claim 24 further comprising preventing unauthorized presentation of said digitized video programs on said television.

Claim 34

An interactive video services system for enabling a user at a hospitality establishment to access and control presentation of digitized video programs on a television, the system comprising: a remote control unit associated with said television for generating user command signals; a room terminal electrically connected to said television for formatting and storing said user command signals; means connected to said room terminal for entering billing information; a systems control computer (SCS) electrically connected to said room terminal for processing said user command signals; and a digital video server computer (DVSC) electrically connected to said SCS and to said television for storing a plurality of digitized video programs for presentation on said television; wherein said user command signals generated using said remote control unit comprise select command signals for selecting one of said stored digitized video programs and control command signals for controlling presentation of said selected video program on said television by said DVSC; wherein said SCS causes said DVSC to initiate presentation of said selected video program on said television in response to said select signals and controls said presentation of said selected video program on said television by said DVSC in response to said control signals; means connected to said SCS for storing a plurality of advertisements; means for selecting one of said plurality of advertisements from a viewer profile selected using said SCS; and means for initiating presentation of said selected one of said plurality of advertisements on said television on a predetermined channel at a predetermined time.

Claim 35

An interactive video services system for enabling a user at a hospitality establishment to access and control presentation of digitized video programs on a television, the system comprising: a remote control unit associated with said television for generating user command signals; a room terminal electrically connected to said television for formatting and storing said user command signals; means connected to said room terminal for entering billing information; a systems control computer (SCS) electrically connected to said room terminal for processing said user command signals; and a digital video server computer (DVSC) electrically connected to said SCS and to said television for storing a plurality of digitized video programs for presentation on said television; wherein said user command signals generated using said remote control unit comprise select command signals for selecting one of said stored digitized video programs and control command signals for controlling presentation of said selected video program on said television by said DVSC; wherein said SCS causes said DVSC to initiate presentation of said selected video program on said television in response to said select signals and controls said presentation of said selected video program on said television by said DVSC in response to said control signals; means connected to said SCS for storing a plurality of advertisements; means for selecting one of said plurality of advertisements from a viewer profile selected using said SCS; and means for initiating presentation of said selected one of said plurality of advertisements on said television on a predetermined channel at a predetermined time.

Claim 36

An interactive video services system for enabling a user at a hospitality establishment to access and control presentation of digitized video programs on a television, the system comprising: a remote control unit associated with said television for generating user command signals; a room terminal electrically connected to said television for formatting and storing said user command signals; means connected to said room terminal for entering billing information; a systems control computer (SCS) electrically connected to said room terminal for processing said user command signals; and a digital video server computer (DVSC) electrically connected to said SCS and to said television for storing a plurality of digitized video programs for presentation on said television; wherein said user command signals generated using said remote control unit comprise select command signals for selecting one of said stored digitized video programs and control command signals for controlling presentation of said selected video program on said television by said DVSC; wherein said SCS causes said DVSC to initiate presentation of said selected video program on said television in response to said select signals and controls said presentation of said selected video program on said television by said DVSC in response to said control signals; means connected to said SCS for storing a plurality of advertisements; means for selecting one of said plurality of advertisements; and means for initiating presentation of said selected one of said plurality of advertisements on said television on a predetermined channel at a predetermined time; said SCS comprising means for monitoring broadcast programming on a predetermined channel for a queue tone; and means for initiating presentation on said television of a selected one of said plurality of advertisements on said predetermined channel in place of said broadcast programming responsive to detection of said queue tone.

Claim 37

An interactive video services system for enabling a user at a hospitality establishment to access and control presentation of digitized video programs on a television, the system comprising: a remote control unit associated with said television for generating user command signals; a room terminal electrically connected to said television for formatting and storing said user command signals; means connected to said room terminal for entering billing information; a systems control computer (SCS) electrically connected to said room terminal for processing said user command signals; and a digital video server computer (DVSC) electrically connected to said SCS and to said television for storing a plurality of digitized video programs for presentation on said television; wherein said user command signals generated using said remote control unit comprise select command signals for selecting one of said stored digitized video programs and control command signals for controlling presentation of said selected video program on said television by said DVSC; wherein said SCS causes said DVSC to initiate presentation of said selected video program on said television in response to said select signals and controls said presentation of said selected video program on said television by said DVSC in response to said control signals; means connected to said SCS for storing a plurality of advertisements; means for selecting one of said plurality of advertisements; and means for initiating presentation of said selected one of said plurality of advertisements on said television on a predetermined channel at a predetermined time; said SCS comprising means for monitoring broadcast programming on a predetermined channel for a queue tone; and means for initiating presentation on said television of a selected one of said plurality of advertisements on said predetermined channel in place of said broadcast programming responsive to detection of said queue tone.

Claim 38

An interactive video services system for enabling a user at a hospitality establishment to access and control presentation of digitized video programs on a television, the system comprising: a remote control unit associated with said television for generating user command signals; a room terminal electrically connected to said television for formatting and storing said user command signals; means connected to said room terminal for entering billing information; a systems control computer (SCS) electrically connected to said room terminal for processing said user command signals; and a digital video server computer (DVSC) electrically connected to said SCS and to said television for storing a plurality of digitized video programs for presentation on said television; wherein said user command signals generated using said remote control unit comprise select command signals for selecting one of said stored digitized video programs and control command signals for controlling presentation of said selected video program on said television by said DVSC; wherein said SCS causes said DVSC to initiate presentation of said selected video program on said television in response to said select signals and controls said presentation of said selected video program on said television by said DVSC in response to said control signals; and an intelligent radio frequency (RF) modem connected between said SCS and said room terminal for converting signals generated by said SCS from digital to RF signal format.

Claim 39

An interactive video services system for enabling a user at a hospitality establishment to access and control presentation of digitized video programs on a television, the system comprising: a remote control unit associated with said television for generating user command signals; a room terminal electrically connected to said television for formatting and storing said user command signals; means connected to said room terminal for entering billing information; a systems control computer (SCS) electrically connected to said room terminal for processing said user command signals; and a digital video server computer (DVSC) electrically connected to said SCS and to said television for storing a plurality of digitized video programs for presentation on said television; wherein said user command signals generated using said remote control unit comprise select command signals for selecting one of said stored digitized video programs and control command signals for controlling presentation of said selected video program on said television by said DVSC; wherein said SCS causes said DVSC to initiate presentation of said selected video program on said television in response to said select signals and controls said presentation of said selected video program on said television by said DVSC in response to said control signals; and an intelligent radio frequency (RF) modem connected between said SCS and said room terminal for converting signals generated by said SCS from digital to RF signal format.

Claim 40

The system of claim 33 further comprising a frequency modulator responsive to signals from said SCS for tuning the channel of said selected video program to a channel specified by said room terminal.