Guest Tek Interactive Entertainment Ltd.

Other

Angie Hospitality, Inc.

David Andrew Hulse

Mark Howard Bryars

Jason Thomas

Thomas R Duke

David Nicol

Stuart Clark

Todd James Palmer

Edward Linn Helvey

John Joseph Brannelly

A network (e.g., LAN/WLAN) contains individual private networks, each with an access point assistant (APA) containing an access point, web server, and other components, such as support voice interaction therewith. APAs are separated by device isolation over the LAN, but devices on each individual private network are accessible to each other directly, including cell phones, laptop computers, tablets, iPods, or other network aware devices literally owned or controlled by a guest assigned the APA at a hospitality property. The access management system assigns to an APA a bandwidth limit, which it then administers and accounts for, avoiding the classic problem of 'bandwidth hogs' swamping the LAN with no accountability or control.

Remotely assigned, bandwidth-limiting internet access apparatus and method

A coax server acts as a proxy between a coax transmission infrastructure and an Internet Protocol (IP) transmission infrastructure. An incoming request is received from a particular one of a plurality of coax client devices on the coax infrastructure. A request for specific media content is transmitted to a media-on-demand server in response to receiving the incoming request. A media stream is received over the IP infrastructure from the media-on-demand server, the media stream corresponding to the specific media content, and the coax server allocates a coax channel of sufficient bandwidth on the coax infrastructure and transmits the media stream on the coax channel utilizing the RF modulation scheme. A pointer indicating the coax channel on which the media stream is being transmitted is sent to the particular coax client device. The coax channel is unknown to other of the coax client devices besides the particular coax client device.

Coax server acting as proxy between coax transmission infrastructure and internet protocol (IP) transmission infrastructure for media content

A server is deployed on a network and manages operation of a plurality of server instances each with a virtual frame buffer. A client establishes a connection with the server at a start of a user session. The server allocates a server instance to the client and a user interface application renders a corresponding graphical user interface to the virtual frame buffer of the allocated server instance. The server forwards updates of the graphical user interface from the virtual frame buffer to the client, where at least some of the updates include transparency information for blending the graphical user interface with additional visual information at the client. When the session is complete the server reclaims the server instance allocated to the client. In-room device requirements in guest rooms of a hospitality establishment are thereby minimized while providing enhanced user interface performance. Locations in other applications include private residences and businesses.

Virtual user interface including playback control provided over computer network for client device playing media from another source

Systems and methods are described for off-site user access control to communications services via a site-based communications network. Embodiments operate in context of sites, each having one or more site-based networks in communication with external networks via one or more on-site routers. User devices are provided with controlled access to those external networks via wired or wireless connections between those user devices and the site based networks. In some embodiments, on-site routers maintain route maps that indicate which user devices are authorized. Standard routing functions are used so that traffic from authorized devices is routed normally, while traffic from unauthorized devices is automatically forwarded to an off-site (e.g., cloud-based) authentication system. As devices become remotely authenticated, the off-site authentication system can remotely update route maps of the on-site routers to add those devices.

Off-site user access control

Coax server acting as proxy between coax transmission infrastructure and internet protocol (IP) transmission infrastructure for media on demand content

Methods and apparatus are described for providing access to arbitrary applications via an interactive television service using a pool of remote virtual desktops.

Virtual desktop services with available applications customized according to user type

Methods and apparatus are described for providing digital content to televisions or other devices having media playback capabilities over a network infrastructure using virtual set top boxes (VSTBs).

Virtualizing user interface and set top box functionality while providing media over network

A server is deployed on a network and manages operation of a plurality of server instances each with a virtual frame buffer. A client establishes a connection with the server at a start of a session. The server allocates a server instance to the client and a user interface application renders a corresponding graphical user interface to the virtual frame buffer of the allocated server instance. The server forwards updates of the graphical user interface from the virtual frame buffer to the client, where at least some of the updates include transparency information for blending the graphical user interface with additional visual information at the client. When the session is complete the server reclaims the server instance allocated to the client. In-room device requirements in guest rooms of a hospitality establishment are thereby minimized while providing enhanced user interface performance. Locations in other applications include private residences and businesses.

Hospitality media system employing virtual user interfaces

Methods and apparatus are described for providing digital information and/or data services over hybrid network infrastructures including both IP and coax transmission media.

Growing community of inventors

Athens, Greece

David Andrew Hulse