Interactive intelligent video information system
US5661517A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 8, 1996 |
| Grant date | Aug 26, 1997 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 8, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04N7/17345
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Method and apparatus for providing customers of hospitality facilities with the ability to access a variety of amenities and to interact with a video system in order to enable point-of-sale purchase of and payment for goods and services with a credit or debit card. In a preferred embodiment, the video services system comprises a plurality of card readers arranged in a distributed configuration, each of which are associated with a room terminal of a video services system. In a preferred embodiment, each the card readers may be powered using power provided by an associated TV and room terminal. Each room terminal functions as an interface between the systems control computer and the card reader associated with the room terminal. When the room terminal is in communication with the systems control computer, by having been polled or by initiating a transmission, billing data previously entered by a customer using the card reader is transmitted to the systems control computer, which processes the billing data, and, based on the content and format thereof, accesses one or more data bases or card validation bureaus to which it is connected. Based on preprogrammed parameters and on informat…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.