# US 9,332,304 B2 · Set-top box, system and method for providing awareness in a hospitality environment > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,332,304 B2 - Document ID: US9332304B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/461,484 - Filed: 2014-08-18 - Published: 2015-08-06 - Granted: 2016-05-03 - Earliest claimed: 2014-02-05 - Assignees: Enseo, LLC - Applicants: Enseo, Inc. - Inventors: Vanessa Ogle; Thomas R. Miller; William C. Fang - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9332304B2 ## CPC - H04N 21/2143: {located in a single building, e.g. hotel, hospital or museum (arrangements specially adapted for plural spots in a confined site in broadcast systems H04H20/63; adaptations for transmission by electric cable for domestic distribution in television systems H04N7/106)} - G06F 3/0482: Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus - G06F 3/0483: Interaction with page-structured environments, e.g. book metaphor - G06F 3/16: Sound input; Sound output (speech processing G10L) - G06F 3/167: {Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback} - G06F 9/542: {Event management; Broadcasting; Multicasting; Notifications} - G06F 40/134: Hyperlinking - G06F 40/35: Discourse or dialogue representation - G07C 1/00: Registering, indicating or recording the time of events or elapsed time, e.g. time-recorders for work people (registering or indicating the working of machines or vehicles G07C3/00, G07C5/00) - H04L 51/02: using automatic reactions or user delegation, e.g. automatic replies or chatbot-generated messages - H04L 63/0823: {using certificates (cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving certificates H04L9/3263)} - H04L 63/0884: {by delegation of authentication, e.g. a proxy authenticates an entity to be authenticated on behalf of this entity vis-à-vis an authentication entity} - H04L 63/123: {received data contents, e.g. message integrity} - H04L 63/20: {for managing network security; network security policies in general (filtering policies H04L63/0227)} - H04N 21/23605: {Creation or processing of packetized elementary streams [PES]} - H04N 21/25841: {involving the geographical location of the client (retrieval from the Internet by querying based on geographical locations G06F16/9537; arrangements for identifying locations of receiving stations in broadcast systems H04H60/51; location of the user terminal in data switching networks H04L67/52; services making use of the location of users or terminals in wireless networks H04W4/02; locating users or terminals in wireless networks H04W64/00)} - H04N 21/4108: {characterised by an identification number or address, e.g. local network address (protecting specific internal or external computer components using identification number G06F21/73; network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming H04L61/00)} - H04N 21/414: Specialised client platforms, e.g. receiver in car or embedded in a mobile appliance - H04N 21/42221: {Transmission circuitry, e.g. infrared [IR] or radio frequency [RF]} - H04N 21/4343: {Extraction or processing of packetized elementary streams [PES]} - H04N 21/43637: {involving a wireless protocol, e.g. Bluetooth®, RF or wireless LAN [IEEE 802.11] (arrangements for wireless networking or broadcasting of information in indoor or near-field type systems H04B10/114)} - H04N 21/4516: {involving client characteristics, e.g. Set-Top-Box type, software version or amount of memory available} - H04N 21/4524: {involving the geographical location of the client (retrieval from the Internet by querying based on geographical locations G06F16/9537; systems specially adapted for using geographical information in broadcast systems H04H60/70; protocols in which the network application is adapted for the location of the user terminal in communication control or processing H04L67/52; services making use of the location of users or terminals in wireless networks H04W4/02; locating users or terminals in wireless networks H04W64/00)} - H04L 2463/082: applying multi-factor authentication - H04W 84/12: WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks] - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - G07C: TIME OR ATTENDANCE REGISTERS; REGISTERING OR INDICATING THE WORKING OF MACHINES; GENERATING RANDOM NUMBERS; VOTING OR LOTTERY APPARATUS; ARRANGEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS FOR CHECKING NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) ## 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 a wireless transceiver that periodically transmits an identification beacon that is received by a proximate wireless-enabled interactive device. The proximate wireless-enabled interactive device, in turn, broadcasts data packets including an indication of the strength of set-top box identification signals received. The broadcasts are received by a server via an array of wireless routers. The location of the proximate wireless-enabled interactive device is determined based on the signal strength information in the data packets. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system for providing awareness in a hospitality environment, the system comprising: a vertical and horizontal array of set-top boxes, each set-top box being associated with a room in the hospitality environment, each set-top box having an identification including a room identifier; each set-top box of the vertical and horizontal array including: a housing; a wireless transceiver associated with the housing, the wireless transceiver configured to send a beacon to communicate with a proximate wireless-enabled interactive handheld 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 in the hospitality environment and forward content to a television; a processor coupled to the wireless transceiver and the television input and the television output; a memory accessible to the processor, the memory including processor-executable instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to: periodically transmit an identification beacon signal including set-top box identification; a data packet associated with the proximate wireless-enabled interactive device, the data packet including at least one set-top box identification, a corresponding signal strength identification indicating the strength of the set-top box identification beacon signal, and a proximate wireless-enabled interactive device identification; a vertical and horizontal array of wireless routers disposed in the hospitality environment, each wireless router configured to receive the data packet from the proximate wireless-enabled interactive device and forward the data packet; a server located within the hospitality environment and in communication with the vertical and horizontal array of wireless routers, the server including: a processor; and a memory accessible to the processor, the memory including processor-executable instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to: receive the data packet from the proximate wireless-enabled interactive device; process the data packet to determine the set-top box identification of strongest signal strength and the proximate wireless-enabled interactive device identification; and determine the location of the proximate wireless-enabled interactive device as being proximate to the set-to box of strongest signal strength; and the location of the proximate wireless-enabled interactive device being determined following communication from the vertical and horizontal array of set-top boxes to the proximate wireless-enabled interactive device to the vertical and horizontal array of wireless routers to the server. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the wireless transceiver is configured to communicate with a standard selected from the group consisting of infrared (IR), 802.11, 3G, 4G, Edge, WiFi, ZigBee, near field communications (NFC), Bluetooth and Bluetooth low energy. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the wireless routers are configured to communicate with a standard selected from the group consisting of infrared (IR), 802.11, 3G, 4G, Edge, WiFi, ZigBee, near field communications (NFC), Bluetooth and Bluetooth low energy. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the wireless routers are configured to communicate with a WiFi standard. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the proximate wireless-enabled programmable device further comprises a user-supplied wireless-enabled smart and interactive handheld device. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the proximate wireless-enabled programmable device further comprises a single button personal locator device. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system as recited claim 1, wherein the system further comprises an operational mode selected from the group consisting of alerts-enabled, service request-enabled, tracking-enabled, and non-tracking-enabled. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The system as recited in claim 7, wherein in the alerts-enabled mode, the server receives via the vertical and horizontal array of wireless routers a distress signal from the proximate wireless-enabled interactive device. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The system as recited in claim 7, wherein in the service-request-enabled mode, the server receives via the vertical and horizontal array of wireless routers a service request from the proximate wireless-enabled interactive device. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The system as recited in claim 7, wherein in the tracking-enabled mode, the server maintains in memory a plurality of locations with timestamps associated with the data packet of the proximate wireless-enabled interactive device. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The system as recited in claim 7, wherein in the non-tracking-enabled mode, the server maintains in memory only the last known locations with timestamps associated with the data packet of the proximate wireless-enabled interactive device. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the server further comprises a back-office hotel server in communication with the vertical and horizontal array of set-top boxes. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the vertical and horizontal array of set-top boxes further comprises a plurality of common space beacon devices, each common space beacon device having an identification including a common space. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The system as recited in claim 13, wherein each of the common space beacon devices further comprises: a processor coupled to a wireless transceiver; and a memory accessible to the processor, the memory including processor-executable instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to: periodically transmit an identification beacon signal including beacon device identification. ### Claim 15 A system for providing awareness in a hospitality environment, the system comprising: a vertical and horizontal array of set-top boxes, each set-top box being associated with a room in the hospitality environment, each set-top box having an identification including a room identifier; the vertical and horizontal array of set-top boxes including a plurality of common space beacon devices, each common space beacon device having an identification including a common space; the plurality of set-top boxes and beacon devices being beacons; each set-top box of the vertical and horizontal array including: a housing; a wireless transceiver associated with the housing, the wireless transceiver configured to send a beacon to communicate with a proximate wireless-enabled interactive handheld 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 in the hospitality environment and forward content to a television; a processor coupled to the wireless transceiver and the television input and the television output; a memory accessible to the processor, the memory including processor-executable instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to: periodically transmit an identification beacon signal including set-top box identification; each of the beacon devices including: a processor coupled to a wireless transceiver; and a memory accessible to the processor, the memory including processor-executable instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to: periodically transmit an identification beacon signal including beacon device identification; a data packet associated with the proximate wireless-enabled interactive device, the data packet including at least one beacon identification, a corresponding signal strength identification indicating the strength of the beacon identification beacon signal, and a proximate wireless-enabled interactive device identification; a vertical and horizontal array of wireless routers disposed in the hospitality environment, each wireless router configured to receive the data packet from the proximate wireless-enabled interactive device and forward the data packet; a server located within the hospitality environment and in communication with the vertical and horizontal array of wireless routers, the server including: a processor; and a memory accessible to the processor, the memory including processor-executable instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to: receive the data packet from the proximate wireless-enabled interactive device; process the data packet to determine the beacon identification of strongest signal strength and the proximate wireless-enabled interactive device identification; and determine the location of the proximate wireless-enabled interactive device as being proximate to the beacon of strongest signal strength; and the location of the proximate wireless-enabled interactive device being determined following communication from the vertical and horizontal array of set-top boxes to the proximate wireless-enabled interactive device to the vertical and horizontal array of wireless routers to the server. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The system as recited in claim 15, wherein the wireless transceiver is configured to communicate with a standard selected from the group consisting of infrared (IR), 802.11, 3G, 4G, Edge, WiFi, ZigBee, near field communications (NFC), Bluetooth and Bluetooth low energy. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The system as recited in claim 15, wherein the wireless routers are configured to communicate with a WiFi standard. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The system as recited claim 15, wherein the system further comprises an operational mode selected from the group consisting of alerts-enabled, service request-enabled, tracking-enabled, and non-tracking-enabled. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The system as recited in claim 15, wherein the server further comprises a back-office hotel server in communication with the vertical and horizontal array of set-top boxes. ### Claim 20 A system for providing awareness in a hospitality environment, the system comprising: a vertical and horizontal array of set-top boxes, each set-top box being associated with a room in the hospitality environment, each set-top box having an identification including a room identifier; the vertical and horizontal array of set-top boxes including a plurality of common space beacon devices, each common space beacon device having an identification including a common space; the plurality of set-top boxes and beacon devices being beacons; each set-top box of the vertical and horizontal array including: a housing; a wireless transceiver associated with the housing, the wireless transceiver configured to send a beacon to communicate with a proximate wireless-enabled interactive handheld device; the wireless transceiver being configured to communicate with a standard selected from the group consisting of infrared (IR), 802.11, 3G, 4G, Edge, WiFi, ZigBee, near field communications (NFC), Bluetooth and Bluetooth low energy; 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 in the hospitality environment and forward content to a television; a processor coupled to the wireless transceiver and the television input and the television output; a memory accessible to the processor, the memory including processor-executable instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to: periodically transmit an identification beacon signal including set-top box identification; each of the beacon devices including: a processor coupled to a wireless transceiver; and a memory accessible to the processor, the memory including processor-executable instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to: periodically transmit an identification beacon signal including beacon device identification; a data packet associated with the proximate wireless-enabled interactive device, the data packet including at least one beacon identification, a corresponding signal strength identification indicating the strength of the beacon identification beacon signal, and a proximate wireless-enabled interactive device identification; a vertical and horizontal array of wireless routers disposed in the hospitality environment, each wireless router configured to receive the data packet from the proximate wireless-enabled interactive device and forward the data packet; the wireless routers being configured to communicate with a WiFi standard; a server located within the hospitality environment and in communication with the vertical and horizontal array of wireless routers, the server including: a processor; and a memory accessible to the processor, the memory including processor-executable instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to: receive the data packet from the proximate wireless-enabled interactive device; process the data packet to determine the beacon identification of strongest signal strength and the proximate wireless-enabled interactive device identification; and determine the location of the proximate wireless-enabled interactive device as being proximate to the beacon of strongest signal strength; and the location of the proximate wireless-enabled interactive device being determined following communication from the vertical and horizontal array of set-top boxes to the proximate wireless-enabled interactive device to the vertical and horizontal array of wireless routers to the server.