Replication of configuration information for set-top boxes

• US 20020184652A1
• Filed: 05/29/2002
• Published: 12/05/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Myrio Corporation (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Myrio Corporation (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Cezeaux, Thomas Edward
• Application Number:
  US10/158,575
• Publication Number:
  US 20020184652A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/132
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25866 Management of end-user data customer care in data networks H04L41/5077
• 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 21/44224 Monitoring of user activity on external systems, e.g. Internet browsing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4432 Powering on the client, e.g. bootstrap loading using setup parameters being stored locally or received from the server resetting in general G06F1/14; program loading or initiating in general G06F9/445; bootstrapping in general G06F9/4401; secure boots of computer platforms G06F21/57
• 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 21/4542 Blocking scenes or portions of the received content, e.g. censoring scenes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4751 for defining user accounts, e.g. accounts for children
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4753 for user identification, e.g. by entering a PIN or password cryptographic authentication protocols H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08
• 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 21/4821 using a grid, e.g. sorted out by channel and broadcast time
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/488 Data services, e.g. news ticker systems specially adapted for using meteorological information in broadcast systems H04H60/71
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6547 comprising parameters, e.g. for client setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 by receiver means only
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

Methods and systems for improving a user'"'"'s experience with a set-top box. A system for allowing a user to subscribe to a subscription service when the user selects to view the content of the subscription service is provided. A system for replication of configuration information for set-top boxes is provided. A system for monitoring and blocking content being viewed by another is provided. A system that allows nontelevision programming content to be represented as a channel of an electronic program guide is provided.

Claims

1. A method for replicating configuration information for a set-top box, the method comprising:

providing an identification of set-top boxes that are to share common configuration information;

receiving from a user at one of the identified set-top boxes updated configuration information to be shared by the identified set-top boxes; and

sending the received updated configuration information to another identified set-top box

so that updates to the configuration information made at one of the identified set-top boxes effect a change in the configuration information for the other identified set-top box.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the set-top box that receives the updated configuration information sends the updated configuration information to each of the other identified set-top boxes through a local connection.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein each of the identified set-top boxes stores its own copy of the common configuration information.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the set-top box that receives the updated configuration information sends the updated configuration information to a server.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein upon receiving the updated configuration information the server sends the updated configuration information to each of the other identified set-top boxes.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein each of the identified set-top boxes stores its own copy of the common configuration information.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the other set-top box retrieves the updated configuration data from the server as needed.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the identified set-top boxes do not persistently store the common configuration information.

9. A computer-readable medium containing instructions for controlling a computer system to replicate configuration information for a set-top box, by a method comprising:

receiving from a user at a set-top box updated configuration information; and

automatically sending the received updated configuration information to another set-top box.

10. The computer-readable medium of claim 9 wherein the set-top box that receives the updated configuration information sends the updated configuration information to the other set-top boxes via a local connection.

11. The computer-readable medium of claim 10 wherein the other set-top boxes stores its own copy of the updated configuration information.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 9 wherein the set-top box that receives the updated configuration information sends the updated configuration information to a server.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 12 wherein upon receiving the updated configuration information the server sends the updated configuration information to the other set-top box.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 13 wherein the other set-top box stores its own copy of the updated configuration information.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 13 wherein the other set-top box retrieves the updated configuration information from the server as needed.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 15 wherein the other set-top box does not persistently store the updated configuration information.

18. The computer system of claim 17 including means for connecting the set-top box that receives the updated configuration information to the other set-top boxes via a local connection.

19. The computer system of claim 17 wherein the other set-top boxes stores its own copy of the updated configuration information.

20. The computer system of claim 17 including means for sending the updated configuration information to a server.

21. The computer system of claim 20 wherein upon receiving the updated configuration information the server sends the updated configuration information to the other set-top box.

22. The computer system of claim 21 wherein the other set-top box stores its own copy of the updated configuration information.

23. The computer system of claim 21 wherein the other set-top box retrieves the updated configuration information from the server as needed.

24. The computer system of claim 23 wherein the other set-top box does not persistently store the updated configuration information.

17. A computer system for replicating configuration information for a set-top box, comprising:

means for receiving from a user at a set-top box updated configuration information; and

means for sending the received updated configuration information to another set-top box.