Lodgenet Entertainment Corporation

Sonifi Solutions, Inc.

Lodgenet Interactive Corporation

Leon P Stoel

David M Bankers

Vernon E Hills

Christopher A Cinco

Joshua H Pulford

Eric Aasen

Prentice J Plucker

Derin Michael Zerr

James L Fenno

Steven D Truckenmiller

Jacob M Buckstead

Mark D Schulz

Douglas D Truckenmiller

Benjamin M Arnold

A system for real time audience measurement includes a display, an endpoint device coupled to the display, and a central controller configured to generate a first message that flags a channel of interest from among a plurality of channels that provide content for displaying on the display. The central controller is configured to send the first message to the endpoint device to flag the channel of interest at the endpoint device, determine that the display is tuned to the channel of interest, and generate and send viewership data for the channel of interest to a first entity.

Devices, systems, and methods for real time audience measurement in hospitality environments

A system includes a host device to provide a content signal, an end device to receive the content signal, and a branch of amplifiers connected between the host device and the end device to carry the content signal from the host device to the end device. The host device may receive a first signal from the branch of amplifiers connected to the end device, and extract, from the first signal, first characteristics of the content signal measured at one or more points in the branch of amplifiers. The host device may compare the first characteristics of the content signal to second characteristics. The host device may determine, based on the comparison, adjustments for one or more settings of a first amplifier of the amplifiers, and send a second signal to the branch of amplifiers to communicate the adjustments for the one or more settings to the first amplifier.

Systems and methods for controlling hospitality distribution networks

A connection interface allows individuals (such as guests at a lodging facility) to use portable personal electronic devices (such as laptop computers, digital audio players, and digital audio/video players) in conjunction with a television. The connection interface device includes inputs to receive signals from various portable devices, and includes selection keys by which a guest can select a particular type of input to the television. The connection interface senses presence of video and audio signals on its inputs, and the state of the selection keys, and provides data over an in-room network with a television interface terminal. The connection interface device also routes the signals received at its inputs to corresponding inputs of the television. The television interface terminal responds to inputs from a remote control, keyboard or game controller and provides commands to the television to tune to selected channels for free-to-guest programming pay-per-view movies, video games, Internet, and other interactive services. Based on data from the connection interface, the television interface terminal can command the television to receive and play selected inputs from the connection interface.

Connection interface for personal electronic devices with a television

A method and system for providing direct access to content available on an entertainment system. The entertainment system includes a head end and a plurality of user terminals connected by a distribution system. In operation of the entertainment system, a display promoting content available for direct access by a user is provided at a user terminal. A selection input made by the user on an input device is received at the user terminal. The content being promoted when the selection input was made by the user is then provided from the head end to the user terminal.

Direct access to content and services available on an entertainment system

An information/entertainment system having a number of interactive input and output devices is provided. Each interactive input device is electrically connected to a selected output device using a host that communicates with a router apparatus. The router apparatus includes a plurality of emulation assemblies. Each emulation assembly is configured to communicate input information to a particular interactive output device. Input information from a particular interactive input device is received and properly handled by a pre-configured emulation assembly which is electrically connected to the interactive output device associated with that particular interactive input device. This emulation assembly formats the information/data that it receives so that it is acceptable to the interactive output device to which it is connected. The host obtains input information using a slot/subslot arrangement associated with interactive interrogations or polling. The slots/subslots enable the system to obtain inputs at different transmission rates from different interactive input devices.

Entertainment/Information system having disparate interactive devices

A hotel room entertainment system enables video games to be played in each room of a hotel without providing a video game generator in each room. The entertainment system includes at a head end system portion in which the video game audio and video signals are generated and a plurality of guest terminals. Game interrogations are provided to each guest terminal in an active game-playing mode, each game interrogation having a plurality of response positions for guest terminal responses to the interrogation. The game interrogations are interleaved with a series of system interrogations generated at the head end system, enabling the entertainment system to provide video game signals along with other entertainment and services to the guest terminals using a single distribution system.

Entertainment system for collecting user inputs by periodically

An audio/video distribution system for a multiple dwelling unit such as an apartment building provides programming which is selectable by a subscriber through the interactive use of on-screen menus. Programming and services are supplied from a headend over a distribution network to individual apartments. The distribution network includes an interdiction field unit associated with each of a group of apartments. The interdiction field unit normally interdicts those channels capable of carrying video on demand movies, interactive video games, and interactive services. When a subscriber wishes to order a movie, video game, or other service through interactive on-screen menus provided from the headend to the apartment, the headend instructs the interdiction field unit associated with the subscriber's apartment to de-interdict a channel. Selections made through a remote control to a subscriber terminal in the apartment are supplied to the headend over the distribution system. The channel remains deinterdicted during the playing of a movie, video game, or interactive service selected by the subscriber, based upon the signals received from the subscriber terminal during the interactive on-screen menu session.

Multiple dwelling unit interactive audio/video distribution system

Entertainment system and method for controlling connections between

Entertainment system for providing interactive video game responses to

The present invention is an electronic room address tag which associates an address with a remote location in a video distribution system. The video distribution system includes a central distribution point, a plurality of remote locations having at least one video control terminal located at each remote location, and a communication link for carrying signals between the central distribution point and the video control terminals at each remote location. The electronic room address tag is connected to the communication link and located at each remote location separate from the video terminal. The address is stored in the video control terminal and is accessible from the central distribution point through the communication link for tracking guest video selection and video control terminal use.

Growing community of inventors

Sioux Falls, SD, United States of America

Leon P Stoel