Set-top box with enhanced functionality and system and method for use of same

• US 10,148,998 B2
• Filed: 05/25/2018
• Issued: 12/04/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Enseo, LLC (Enseo, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Enseo, Inc.
• Inventors: Fang, William C., Miller, Thomas R., Ogle, Vanessa
• Primary Examiner(s): Montoya, Oschta I
• Application Number:
  US15/990,358
• Publication Number:
  US 20180278983A1
• Time in Patent Office: 193 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/20 Binding and programming of remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/30 User interface
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/92 Universal remote control
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/93 Remote control using other portable devices, e.g. mobile phone, PDA, laptop
• 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 21/4131 home appliance, e.g. lighting, air conditioning system, metering devices home automation data switching networks exchanging configuration information on appliance services H04L12/2807
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42202 environmental sensors, e.g. for detecting temperature, luminosity, pressure, earthquakes
• 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 21/42206 characterized by hardware details
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42208 Display device provided on the remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42209 for displaying non-command information, e.g. electronic program guide [EPG], e-mail, messages or a second television channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4222 Remote control device emulator integrated into a non-television apparatus, e.g. a PDA, media center or smart toy remote control device for a television receiver integrated into a mobile phone H04M1/72415
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42221 Transmission circuitry, e.g. infrared [IR] or radio frequency [RF]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42224 Touch pad or touch panel provided on the remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42226 Reprogrammable remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43615 Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43637 involving a wireless protocol, e.g. Bluetooth, RF or wireless LAN [IEEE 802.11] arrangements for wireless networking or broadcasting of information in indoor or near-field type systems H04B10/114
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4367 Establishing a secure communication between the client and a peripheral device or smart card
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4532 involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4751 : for defining user accounts, e.g. accounts for children
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/21 : for social networking applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 : Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication

Abstract

A set-top box with enhanced functionality and system and method for use of the same are disclosed. In one embodiment of the set-top box system, first and second set-top boxes each include a housing securing a television input, a television output, a processor, a wireless transceiver, memory, and storage communicatively interconnected by a busing architecture. Each of the set-top boxes is connected to a display, such as a television. A syndication profile associated with the set-top boxes enables a proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device to control both displays via each of the set-top boxes.

Claims

1. A set-top box system comprising:

a first set-top box including;

a housing securing a television input, a television output, a processor, memory, and storage therein,

a busing architecture communicatively interconnecting the television input, the television output, the processor, the memory, and the storage,

a wireless transceiver associated with the housing and coupled to the busing architecture, the wireless transceiver operable to communicate with a proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device,

the television input configured to receive a source signal from an external source,

the television output configured to forward a fully tuned signal to a first display, and

the memory accessible to the processor, the memory including processor-executable instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to;

specify a search operation to identify the proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device, wherein the search operation utilizes the wireless transceiver to wirelessly identify the proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device,

establish a pairing between the proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device and the first set-top box,

provide instructions for virtual buttons on a touch screen display associated with the proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device, the virtual buttons being associated with the proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device,

receive and process virtual remote control functionality input instructions tram the proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device,

evaluate the functionality input instructions to assign a meaning,

generate a command signal, and

send the command signal to the first display;

a syndication profile associated with the first set-top box and a second set-top box that enables the proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device to control the first display via the first set-top box and a second display associated via a second set-top box; and

the second set-top box including;

a housing securing a television input, a television output, a processor, memory, and storage therein,

a busing architecture communicatively interconnecting the television input, the television output, the processor, the memory, and the storage,

a wireless transceiver associated with the housing and coupled to the busing architecture, the wireless transceiver operable to communicate with a proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device,

the television input configured to receive, a source signal from an external source,

the television output configured to forward a fully tuned signal to the second display, and

the memory accessible to the processor, the memory including processor-executable instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to;

receive signalization associated with the syndication profile, and

send the command signal to the second display;

wherein, with respect to the second set-top box, the signalization further comprises signalization received from a server, and

wherein the server further comprises;

a housing securing inputs, outputs, a processor, memory, and storage therein;

a busing architecture communicatively interconnecting the inputs, outputs, the processor, the memory, and the storage;

a wireless transceiver associated with the housing and coupled to the busing architecture, the wireless transceiver operable to communicate with the first and second set-top boxes;

the memory accessible to the processor, the memory including processor-executable instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to;

receive the signalization from the first set-too box, and

forward the signalization to the second set-top box.

2. The set-top box system as recited in claim 1, wherein, with respect to the first set-top box, the memory further comprises processor-executable instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to send formatted parallel audiovisual experience instructions to the proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device, wherein the formatted parallel audiovisual experience instructions are configured to provide a downstream parallel experience related to the content on the first display.

3. The set-top box system as recited in claim 1, wherein, with respect to the second set-top box, the signalization further comprises signalization received from the proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device.

4. The set-top box system as recited in claim 3, wherein the signalization received from the proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device is coincident with the virtual remote control functionality input instructions received at the first set-top box.

5. The set-top box system as recited in claim 3, wherein the signalization received from the proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device further comprises the virtual remote control functionality input instructions.

6. The set-top box system as recited in claim 3, wherein the signalization received from the proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device follows the virtual remote control functionality input instructions received at the first set-top box.

7. The set-top box system as recited in claim 1, wherein, with respect to the second set-top box, the signalization further comprises signalization received from the first set-top box.

8. The set-top box system as recited in claim 1, wherein, with respect to the first set-top box, the memory further comprises processor-executable instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to send the signalization to the second set-top box.

9. The set-top box system as recited in claim 1, wherein the syndication profile provides that a single instance of the virtual remote control functionality input instructions controls the first set-top box and the second set-top box.

10. The set-top box system as recited in claim 1, wherein the syndication profile is at least partially saved in the respective memory of the first and second set-top boxes.

11. The set-top box system as recited in claim 1, wherein the syndication profile further comprises data on subscribers selected from the group consisting of set-top boxes, proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable devices, and servers.

12. The set-top box as recited in claim 1, wherein the proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device comprises a device selected from the group consisting of personal computers, laptops, tablet computers, smart phones, and smart watches.

13. The set-top box as recited in claim 1, wherein the wireless transceiver is configured to communicate with the proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device via a standard selected from the group consisting of infrared (IR), 802.11, 3G, 4G, Edge, Wi-Fi, ZigBee, near field communications (NFC), Bluetooth, and Bluetooth low energy.

14. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the housing further comprises a housing-dongle combination securing the television input, the television output, the processor, memory, storage, and the active sound control circuit portion therewith.

15. The system as recited in claim 14, wherein the processor and the memory are distributed through the housing-dongle combination.

16. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the display is selected from the group consisting of televisions and electronic visual display devices.

17. A set-top box system comprising:

a first set-top box including;

a housing securing a television input, a television output, a processor, memory, and storage therein,

a busing architecture communicatively interconnecting the television input, the television output, the processor, the memory, and the storage,

a wireless transceiver associated with the housing and coupled to the busing architecture, the wireless transceiver operable to communicate with a proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device,

the television input configured to receive a source signal from an external source,

the television output configured to forward a fully tuned signal to a first display, and

the memory accessible to the processor, the memory including processor-executable instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to;

specify a search operation to identify the proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device, wherein the search operation utilizes the wireless transceiver to wirelessly identify the proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device,

establish a pairing between the proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device and the first set-top box,

provide instructions for virtual buttons on a touch screen display associated with the proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device, the virtual buttons being associated with the proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device,

receive and process virtual remote control functionality input instructions from the proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device,

evaluate the functionality input instructions to assign a meaning,

generate a command signal, and

send the command signal to the first display;

a syndication profile associated with the first set-top box and a second set-top box that enables the proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device to control the first display via the first set-top box and a second display associated via a second set-top box;

and the second set-top box including;

a housing securing a television input, a television output, a processor, memory, and storage therein,

a busing architecture communicatively interconnecting the television input, the television output, the processor, the memory, and the storage,

a wireless transceiver associated with the housing and coupled to the busing architecture, the wireless transceiver operable to communicate with a proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device,

the television input configured to receive a source signal from an external source,

the television output configured to forward a fully tuned signal to the second display, and

the memory accessible to the processor, the memory including processor-executable instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to;

receive and process the virtual remote control functionality input instructions from the proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device,

evaluate the functionality input instructions to assign a meaning,

generate the command signal, and

send the command signal to the second display;

wherein, with respect to the second set-top box, the signalization further comprises signalization received from a server, and

wherein the server further comprises;

a housing securing inputs, outputs, a processor, memory, and storage therein;

a busing architecture communicatively interconnecting the inputs, outputs, the processor, the memory, and the storage;

a wireless transceiver associated with the housing and coupled to the busing architecture, the wireless transceiver operable to communicate with the first and second set-top boxes;

the memory accessible to the processor, the memory including processor-executable instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to;

receive the signalization from the first set-top box, and

forward the signalization to the second set-top box.

18. A set-top box system comprising:

a first set-top box including;

a housing securing a television input, a television output, a processor, memory, and storage therein,

a busing architecture communicatively interconnecting the television input, the television output, the processor, the memory, and the storage,

a wireless transceiver associated with the housing and coupled to the busing architecture, the wireless transceiver operable to communicate with a proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device,

the television input configured to receive a source signal from an external source,

the television output configured to forward a fully tuned signal to a first display, and

the memory accessible to the processor, the memory including processor-executable instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to;

specify a search operation to identify the proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device, wherein the search operation utilizes the wireless transceiver to wirelessly identify the proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device,

establish a pairing between the proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device and the first set-top box,

provide instructions for virtual buttons on a touch screen display associated with the proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device, the virtual buttons being associated with the proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device,

receive and process virtual remote control functionality input instructions from the proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device,

evaluate the functionality input instructions to assign a meaning,

generate a first syndication profile command signal, and

send the first syndication profile command signal to the first display;

a first syndication profile associated with the first set-top box and a second set-top box that enables the proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device to control the first display via the first set-top box and a second display associated via a second set-top box;

a second syndication profile associated with a third set-top box that enables the proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device to control a third display via the third box;

the second set-top box including;

a housing securing a television input, a television output, a processor, memory, and storage therein,

a busing architecture communicatively interconnecting the television input, the television output, the processor, the memory, and the storage,

a wireless transceiver associated with the housing and coupled to the busing architecture, the wireless transceiver operable to communicate with a proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device,

the television input configured to receive a source signal from an external source,

the television output configured to forward a fully tuned signal to the second display, and

the memory accessible to the processor, the memory including processor-executable instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to;

receive and process the virtual remote control functionality input instructions from the proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device,

evaluate the functionality input instructions to assign a meaning,

generate the command signal, and

send the command signal to the second display; and

the third set-top box including;

a housing securing a television input, a television output, a processor, memory, and storage therein,

a busing architecture communicatively interconnecting the television input, the television output, the processor, the memory, and the storage,

a wireless transceiver associated with the housing and coupled to the busing architecture, the wireless transceiver operable to communicate with a proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device,

the television input configured to receive a source signal from an external source,

the television output configured to forward a fully tuned signal to a first display, and

the memory accessible to the processor, the memory including processor-executable instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to;

specify a search operation to identify the proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device, wherein the search operation utilizes the wireless transceiver to wirelessly identify the proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device,

establish a pairing between the proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device and the third set-top box,

provide instructions for virtual buttons on a touch screen display associated with the proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device, the virtual buttons being associated with the proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device,

receive and process virtual remote control functionality input instructions from the proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device,

evaluate the functionality input instructions to assign a meaning,

generate a second syndication profile command signal, and

send the second syndication profile command signal to the third display.