Systems and methods for integrating a set-top box with internet content

• US 10,015,555 B1
• Filed: 12/13/2016
• Issued: 07/03/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DIRECTV, LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Desmond, Randall Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): SHEPARD, JUSTIN E
• Application Number:
  US15/376,819
• Publication Number:
  US 20180167687A1
• Time in Patent Office: 567 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/957 Browsing optimisation, e.g. caching or content distillation
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/40 Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41 Structure of client; Structure of client peripherals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4108 characterised by an identification number or address, e.g. local network address protecting specific internal or external computer components using identification number G06F21/73; network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming H04L61/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41265 having a remote control device for bidirectional communication between the remote control device and client device unidirectional remote control device H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4147 PVR [Personal Video Recorder] H04N5/76 takes precedence ; arrangements for broadcast with accumulation-type receivers H04H20/40
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/422 Input-only peripherals , i.e. input devices connected to specially adapted client devices, e.g. global positioning system [GPS] input devices also receiving signals from specially adapted client devices H04N21/4104
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42204 User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor constructive details of casings for the remote control device H01H9/0235; user interfaces for controlling a tuning device of a television receiver through a remote control H03J9/00; remote control of peripheral devices connected to a television receiver through the remote control device of the television receiver H04B1/205
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42684 Client identification by a unique number or address, e.g. serial number, MAC address, socket ID network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming H04L61/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/435 Processing of additional data, e.g. decrypting of additional data, reconstructing software from modules extracted from the transport stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/472 End-user interface for requesting content, additional data or services; End-user interface for interacting with content, e.g. for content reservation or setting reminders, for requesting event notification, for manipulating displayed content end-user interfaces for retrieving video data from a database G06F16/739; network services for supporting unicast streaming H04L65/612
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4782 Web browsing , e.g. WebTV
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4826 using recommendation lists, e.g. of programs or channels sorted out according to their score
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/63 Control signaling related to video distribution between client, server and network components; Network processes for video distribution between server and clients or between remote clients, e.g. transmitting basic layer and enhancement layers over different transmission paths, setting up a peer-to-peer communication via Internet between remote STB's; Communication protocols; Addressing real-time session protocols H04L65/1101; distributed application using peer-to-peer [P2P] networks H04L67/104
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/632 using a connection between clients on a wide area network, e.g. setting up a peer-to-peer communication via Internet for retrieving video segments from the hard-disk of other client devices broadcast-related systems characterised by transmission among terminal devices H04H60/80; distributed application using peer-to-peer [P2P] networks H04L67/104
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/633 Control signals issued by server directed to the network components or client management of faults, events, alarms in data networks H04L41/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6332 directed to client
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6334 for authorisation, e.g. by transmitting a key wireless communications network key management H04W12/04; wireless communications network access security H04W12/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6377 : directed to server one-way streaming services wherein the source is controlled by the destination H04L65/613
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/64 : Addressing network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming H04L61/00; support for multicast or broadcast of one-way stream services H04L65/611
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/647 : Control signaling between network components and server or clients; Network processes for video distribution between server and clients, e.g. controlling the quality of the video stream, by dropping packets, protecting content from unauthorised alteration within the network, monitoring of network load, bridging between two different networks, e.g. between IP and wireless real-time session protocols H04L65/1101
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/64746 : Control signals issued by the network directed to the server or the client
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/64753 : directed to the client
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/64761 : directed to the server

Abstract

Methods, systems and computer readable media for controlling a set-top box includes receiving at processor a request from a user to access a web page. The content of the web page is scanned at the processor for items relating to content that may be available through the set-top box. The processor then provides a web page to the user with an embedded widget which the user can use to select commands to be executed by the set-top box. The processor receives the widget command and sends the widget command to the set-top box for implementation.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a set-top box comprising:

receiving at a registration server a request from a user equipment to register the set-top box as an internet controllable set-top box and specify a first URL and a second URL, wherein the first URL provides private data to a provider of set-top box content to the set-top box and affords access to the set-top box via a secure connection, and the second URL is a web surfing URL;

receiving at a processor a request from the user equipment to access a web page having a web page content using the second URL;

receiving at the processor instructions to scan the web page content for items relating to set-top box content that may be available through the set-top box;

scanning the web page to identify the items relating to the set-top box content;

embedding a widget on the webpage wherein the widget enables the user equipment to provide the user equipment with a list of options related to the items to instruct an action on the set-top box;

receiving at the processor from the user equipment a widget command in response to a selection from the list of options;

sending the widget command to the set-top box;

receiving at the processor an executed widget command; and

sending an executed widget command signal to the user.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the processor is the set-top box.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the processor is a proxy server.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein communications between the proxy server and the set-top box use a secure connection.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising encoding the items whereby the embedded widget displays a list of command options when a cursor hovers over the item.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the items comprise items selected from among a group comprising pictures, videos, and text.

7. A system for controlling a set-top box comprising:

a processor in communication with a storage device and a registration server, wherein the processor executes a method for controlling the set-top box comprising;

receiving at a registration server a request from a user equipment to register the set-top box as an internet controllable set-top box and specify a first URL and a second URL, wherein the first URL provides private data to a provider of set-top box content to the set-top box and affords access to the set-top box via a secure connection, and the second URL is a web surfing URL;

receiving at the processor a request from the user equipment to access a web page having web page content using the second URL;

receiving at the processor instructions to scan the web page content for items relating to set-top box content that may be available through the set-top box;

scanning the web page to identify the items relating to the set-top box content;

embedding a widget on the webpage wherein the widget enables the user equipment to provide the user equipment with a list of options related to the items to instruct an action on the set-top box;

receiving at the processor from the user equipment a widget command in response to a selection from the list of options;

sending the widget command to the set-top box;

receiving at the processor an executed widget command; and

sending an executed widget command signal to the user.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the processor is the set-top box.

9. The system of claim 7 wherein the processor is a proxy server.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein communications between the proxy server and the set-top box use a secure connection.

11. The system of claim 7 wherein the processor executes a method for controlling the set-top box further comprising encoding the items whereby the embedded widget displays a list of command options when a cursor hovers over the item.

12. The system of claim 7 wherein the items comprise items selected from among a group comprising pictures, videos, and text.

13. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions stored thereon which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform a method comprising:

receiving at a registration server a request from a user equipment to register a set-top box as an internet controllable set-top box and specify a first URL and a second URL, wherein the first URL provides private data to a provider of set-top box content to the set-top box and affords access to the set-top box via a secure connection, and the second URL is a web surfing URL;

receiving at a processor a request from the user equipment to access a web page having web page content using the second URL;

receiving at the processor instructions to scan the web page content for items relating to set-top box content that may be available through the set-top box;

scanning the web page to identify the items relating to the set-top box content;

embedding a widget on the webpage wherein the widget enables the user equipment to provide the user equipment with a list of options related to the items to instruct an action on the set-top box;

receiving at the processor from the user equipment a widget command in response to a selection from the list of options;

sending the widget command to the set-top box

receiving at the processor an executed widget command; and

sending an executed widget command signal to the user.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the processor is the set-top box.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the processor is a proxy server.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13 further comprising encoding the items whereby the embedded widget displays a list of command options when a cursor hovers over the item.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 wherein communications between the proxy server and the set-top box use a secure connection.