Set-Top Box with Enhanced Behavioral Controls and System and Method for Use of Same

A set-top box comprising:

• a housing securing a television input, a television output, a processor, memory, and storage therein;
• a busing architecture communicatively interconnecting the television input, the television output, the processor, the memory, and the storage;
• a wireless transceiver associated with the housing and coupled to the busing architecture, the wireless transceiver operable to communicate with a proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device;
• the television input configured to receive a source signal from an external source;
• the television output configured to forward a fully tuned signal to a display;
• and
• the memory accessible to the processor, the memory including processor-executable instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to:
• pair with an electronic door locking apparatus coupled to a door, the door locking apparatus being room-colocated with the set-top box in a hospitality establishment,
• receive a status signal from the electronic door locking apparatus, the status signal being relative to the open/closed status of the door and locked/unlocked status of the door,
• send the status signal to a remote server,
• specify a search operation to identify a proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device, wherein the search operation utilizes the wireless transceiver to wirelessly identify the proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device,
• establish a pairing between the proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device and the set-top box,
• receive and process virtual remote control functionality input instructions from the proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device,
• evaluate the functionality input instructions to assign a meaning,
• generate a command signal, and
• send the command signal to the electronic door locking apparatus.

A set-top box comprising:

• a housing securing a television input, a television output, a processor, memory, and storage therein;
• a busing architecture communicatively interconnecting the television input, the television output, the processor, the memory, and the storage;
• a wireless transceiver associated with the housing and coupled to the busing architecture, the wireless transceiver operable to communicate with a proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device;
• the television input configured to receive a source signal from an external source;
• the television output configured to forward a fully tuned signal to a display;
• and
• the memory accessible to the processor, the memory including processor-executable instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to:
• pair with an electronic door locking apparatus coupled to a door, the door locking apparatus being room-colocated with the set-top box in a hospitality establishment,
• receive a status signal from the electronic door locking apparatus, the status signal being relative to the open/closed status of the door and locked/unlocked status of the door,
• send the status signal to a remote server,
• specify a search operation to identify a proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device, wherein the search operation utilizes the wireless transceiver to wirelessly identify the proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device,
• establish a pairing between the proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device and the set-top box,
• send formatted parallel audiovisual experience instructions to the proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device, wherein the formatted parallel audiovisual experience instructions are configured to provide a downstream parallel experience related to the content on the television,
• provide instructions for virtual buttons on a touch screen display associated with the proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device, the virtual buttons being associated with the proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device,
• receive and process virtual remote control functionality input instructions from the proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device,
• evaluate the functionality input instructions to assign a meaning,
• generate a command signal, and
• send the command signal to the electronic door locking apparatus.