THIS Interactive TV solution allows hospitality operators to deliver targeted advertisement, TV shopping and promotions to create more revenue opportunities.

THIS Interactive TV solution also provides easy integration interface with hotel billing system, so that hotel guests can be presented with a single bill when they check out.

THIS Interactive TV solution not only helps hoteliers provide desirable in-room entertainment for guests, but also results in providing better guest services, optimizing operational efficiencies and driving increased revenues.

An Integrated Cable Modem Based iTV System

Up till now, all high-speed laptop connection is being done with one of the following
infrastructures: CAT-5 wiring, DSL or DSL-like system, wireless system and cable modems. Each has its strengths and its drawbacks. Regardless the strengths or the weaknesses, there is bound to have two devices in the guest room to provide all the entertainment and information services.

One device is for the iTV system and one device is for the laptop connection. Let alone the fact that it does not look good in the guest room. It is also more difficult to install and more difficult to manage.

THIS Interactive TV is a cable modem based iTV system. It is an integrated system that provides both iTV services as well as laptop-connect services. In each room, there is only one device to provide guests with navigation, TV control and high-speed laptop connection.

Solution Architecture

THIS Interactive TV system relies on the hotel’s existing coaxial back bone to relay interactive contents and services to the screen via a set-top box (Communicator).

The diagram below illustrates how THIS Interactive TV System can be integrated to the hotel’s TV system without the need changing the distribution infrastructure thus having tremendous savings over other IPTV solutions relying on structured data cabling.

Notes:

1. Server rack sits in back office with interface to PMS.
2. Media server streams scheduled shows & VOD to users either via analog RF or digital (IPQAM) channels.
3. Internet signal, normal and premium TV broadcast combined to cable signal.
4. Cable Modem Termination System is used to distribute internet connectivity and convey signaling between server and Communicators
5. Front-desk PC enables hotel personnel to allow or disallow movies in certain guest rooms, review the movie billing etc.
6. Receipts can be printed on a printer attached to the PC.

THIS Interactive TV System comprises of 2 key technology components:

• Set Top Box (Tail End)
• THIS Head-end Technologies

Notes:
1. For Digital THiS (digital SD/HD), digital Communicator 5.0 is used. Plug and Play Internet is supported.
2. All Communicators come with remote Control.
3. Wireless keyboards required only with Internet-On-TV (Optional)
4. IR transceiver required for control relay for certain TV Models

  KEY FEATURES:

• Provides full digital video based true video-on-demand
• Instant response to customers’ movie orders
• Interface with customers through in room remote control interfaces
• Optional telephone based automated response unit
• On screen display for instant visual feedback
• Integrated ordering, billing and service software package
• Full interface support for property
• management systems
• Easy to tailor interactive menus for your special features and current events
• Flashy MPEG based menu system
• Installation is as easy as connecting power cords, telephone line and one coaxial cable
• Optional Interactive Server for Internet access and computer based gaming

     
SCREENSHOTS:

Case 1: Guest subscribes VOD service while check-in. Guest will bypass this screen and directly go to parental control or welcome page.
Case 2: Guest doesn’t subscribe VOD service, the warning message will appear automatically.
Parental Control

Listing all services, which contain: Movies, Music, Hotel Services, Information, and Help.
Movies will be categorized. Guests browse movies by selecting categories. Operators use management system to create categories.

Billing Information
Rooms Internet






Ease of Installation

The installation of such system is very simple.

For the headend installation, move the system rack into an air-conditioned room where cable distribution headend is and connects all the cables of the system rack. The cables to be connected include:

• Power
• Free To Guest video input
• Combined video output
• Internet connection
• Telephone line (for remote monitoring)
• PMS interface
• Front Desk terminal

Once this is done, power up the system and rebalance the RF network.


In each room, mount IRC 4.0 at a hidden place behind the furniture. Install the IRC 4.0 module between the TV set and the wall outlet. Connects the TV control smart communication cable.

The room number can be pre-programmed at the headend such that nothing is to be done in the room except for physical installation
.
Ease of Management / Service / Maintenance

One unique feature of cable modem based system is its ease of management. All communication traffic is embedded inside IP packets. Every IRC can be individually addressed with IP network protocols.

Furthermore, the IRC’s, though cable modem based, is being managed by the THIS Interactive TV system as an In Room Communicator. It inherits all the ease of management of preceding IRC’s without the RF noise ingress problems. It alleviates the headache of managing all the cable modems. Managing and servicing one device is all is needed.

 		 

 

Set Top Box Front-end-Portal Function

• Check-in Protection:
Prevent invalid users to access VOD services.
• Parental Control:
Protect children from inappropriate contents or movies.
• Personalized Welcome Information:
Display personalized welcome messages on screen.
• Movie Categorization:
Display movie categories on screen and provide paging function.
• Movie Listing:
Display movie list on the screen and provide paging function.
• Movie Information Display:
Display movie detail information on screen, such as movie synopsis, primary actor and producers, etc.
• Video Preview/Playing:
Functions include normal play, fast forward, back forward, pause, stop,seek, etc.
• Information Page:
Display hotel information.
• Service Page:
Providing room service, taxi service, baggage service.
• Various Video Format Support:
MPEG-1, MPEG-2, H.264, HDTV supported.
• Value-add Services:
Advertisement Services, Scrolling Banner, TV shopping, and targeted promotions.


Central Management System

Feature Rich Server Management System (SMS)
• Access Control:
System account privilege control
• Intelligent Content Management:
Content/Poster Upload, Program Guide Management, Movie Auto online/offline.
• Robust Content Management:
Content Distribution, Content Modification/Deletion.
• Advertisement Management:
Advertisement Upload, Advertisement Distribution, Advertisement Modification / Deletion.
• Hotel & Hotel Room Management:
Hotel, Hotel room, Set Top Box Management.
• Scrolling Banner Management:
Scrolling banner text message Add/ Modification/Deletion.
• System Monitoring:
Content Distribution Monitoring, Streaming Server Monitoring.
• Billing, Statistics, and System Logs:
Analyze all contents’ playback statistics, including hit rate, price, and status, etc. Billing Record Search, Advertisement Statistics, and System Log Search.

Edge Management System

• Front Desk Management:
Manage all check-in process; Hotel guests won’t be able to use VOD services without check-in process.
• Billing Data Management:
Billing record search
• Content Statistics:
Detailed Content Statistic search
• Scrolling Banner Management:
Scrolling banner text message Add/ Modification/Deletion.

  

 

System Controller
The main responsibility of the system controller is to send control signals to and receive user commands from the analog set top boxes in hotel rooms. It then instructs the THIS digital media server to play the selected movie on the selected channel. It also communicates with the hotel property management system (PMS) for billing purpose. Optionally, it generates menu for users to select movies.

Channel Modulator
Channel modulators modulate base band audio and video signals into radio frequency signal for transmission purpose.

RF Signal Combiner
Combiner takes multiple RF signal inputs and combines them into one RF signal output for transmission.

Trunk Amplifier
Trunk amplifier amplifies the RF signal for long distance distribution. In a small hotel
environment, this may not be required.

Communicator Set Top Box
The set top box (STB) in the hotel room is in charge of selecting regular TV channels and premium movie channels under the system controller command. Optionally it also relays the movie selection commands from users to the system controller. Once the user selects a movie, it will be instructed to receive the premium movie channel by the system controller.

Return Path
The return path is where the user movie selection signal is transmitted back to the system controller. It can be analog set top box with RF return signal. It can be set top box with telephone return signal or it can simply be the standard telephone sets in the hotel rooms that the user makes a movie purchase by dialing into hotel front desk or a computer based attendant.

QAM
Stands for Quadrature Amplitude Modulatio n. It is a mechanism to modulate digital data
streams onto RF carrier for cable plant distribution. QAM modulation is specifically used in the digital cable and digital wireless cable environments (MMDS/LMDS/ITFS). The DVB standard for digital cable is DVB-C.

Media Server Software
Media server controlling software is an easy to use web browser interface application which anyone can easily pick up how to control the Media Servers. Supports both Administrative Scheduling mode and On-Demand mode.