Lodging entertainment system with payment options for guest-selected time shifting

Abstract

A lodging entertainment system provides a variety of products and services, including free television, pay-per-view movies, video games, guest services, and guest-selected recording of television programs for time-shifted viewing. Through the use of an interactive program guide, the guest may select programs being aired during the guest's stay at the hotel for later viewing, or may elect to record a television program while watching the same or another program. A property management system tracks charges associated with the use of the lodging entertainment system by the guest.

1 . A method of providing for guest-selected recording of television programs in an entertainment system having a head end and a plurality of guest terminals connected by a distribution system, the method comprising: 
 transmitting, from the head end to a guest terminal, a schedule of television programs;    displaying the schedule of programs on the guest terminal,    transmitting, from the guest terminal to the head end, program recording selection data representing a program selected by a guest for recording;    creating a digital file representing the program selected;    storing the digital file;    transmitting, from the guest terminal to the head end, data requesting playback of the program selected for recording;    communicating to a property management system that a digital file has been requested;    billing charges to a guest account in the property management system based on the program recording selection data;    playing back the program selected based upon the digital file representing the program selected; and    transmitting the program being played back to the guest terminal.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein charges billed to the guest account are a set fee per day.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein charges billed to the guest account are a fee for each program recorded.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein charges billed to the guest account are a fee for a specified time of recording.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein charges billed to the guest account are a fee based on a number of programs recorded and a number of programs played back to the guest terminal.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein charges billed to the guest account are a fee based on the program recorded and played back to the guest terminal.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein charges billed to the guest account are paid using a credit card number previously given the hotel and stored in the property management system.  
     
     
         8 . A method providing to a guest and charging the guest for guest-selected recording of television programs for time shifted viewing in an entertainment system having a head end and a plurality of guest terminals connected by a distribution system, the method comprising: 
 transmitting, to a guest terminal, a program schedule for available scheduled television programming and previously recorded programs available for time-shifted viewing;    receiving, from the guest terminal, program selection data representing a scheduled program selected for recording;    digitally storing the program selected when it is broadcast;    updating the program schedule to include the program selected as one of the previously recorded programs;    receiving, from the guest terminal, playback request data based on the previously recorded programs contained in the program schedule;    transmitting, from the guest terminal, a notice of the playback request;    converting, in response to the playback request data, the digitally stored program to television signals;    transmitting the television signals to the guest terminal; and    adding a charge to a folio of charges associated with the guest terminal.    
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the charge added to the folio of charges associated with the guest terminal is a set fee per day.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the charge added to the folio of charges associated with the guest terminal is a fee for each program transmitted to the guest terminal.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the charge added to the folio of charges associated with the guest terminal is a fee for a specified time of playback.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the charge added to the folio of charges associated with the guest terminal is a fee based on the program selection data.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8  and further comprising: 
 providing an option on the entertainment system for the guest to review the folio of charges associated with the guest terminal and make payment for the folio of charges with a credit card number previously given to the hotel and stored in the property management system.  
 
     
     
         15 . An entertainment system comprising: 
 a plurality of guest terminals;    a distribution system connected to the guest terminals;    a digital content server for storing entertainment content in digital files and supplying to the distribution system television signals based upon the digital files;    a receiver for receiving television programs on a plurality of channels and supplying the programs to the distribution system;    an encoder for converting a selected television program on one of the channels to digital file representing the selected program and transferring the digital file to the digital content server for storage;    a computer which communicates with the guest terminals over the distribution system, the computer providing the guest terminals with information about the television programs, and controlling operation of the encoder based upon a selection by a guest of a program to be recorded; and    a property management system in communication with the computer for tracking charges associated with the entertainment system to a guest account.    
     
     
         16 . The entertainment system of  claim 15  wherein the property management system assesses a fee once a day for using the entertainment system.  
     
     
         17 . The entertainment system of  claim 15  wherein the property management system assesses a fee to the guest account based upon the selection by a guest of a program to be recorded.  
     
     
         18 . The entertainment system of  claim 15  wherein the property management system assesses a fee to the guest account upon storing entertainment content in digital files.  
     
     
         19 . The entertainment system of  claim 15  wherein the computer communicates with the digital content server and assess a fee to the guest account upon supplying television signals to a guest terminal.  
     
     
         20 . The entertainment system of  claim 15  wherein, in response to a request from a guest terminal, the computer causes the digital content server to supply television signals based upon the digital file representing the selected program, and communicates to the property management system to assess a fee to the guest account.  
     
     
         21 . A method of providing time-shifted television programs in an entertainment system having a receiver, a head end, and a plurality of guest terminals connected by a distribution system, the method comprising: 
 receiving a television program on the receiver;    encoding the television program into a digital file;    storing the digital file on a digital content server;    transmitting to the guest terminals a programming schedule which includes a listing representing the digital file;    receiving a request from a guest terminal for the playback of the digital file;    transmitting the digital file to the guest terminal;    communicating from the head end to a property management system, the request for playback of the digital file; and    adding a charge to a folio of charges associated with the guest terminal.    
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the charge added to the folio of charges associated with the guest terminal is a set fee per day.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the charge added to the folio of charges associated with the guest terminal is a fee for each program transmitted to the guest terminal.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the charge added to the folio of charges associated with the guest terminal is a fee for a specified time of playback.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the charge added to the folio of charges associated with the guest terminal is a fee based on the program selection data.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 21  and further comprising: 
 providing an option on the entertainment system for the guest to review the folio of charges associated with the guest terminal and make payment for the folio of charges with a credit card number previously given to the hotel and stored in the property management system.