Method and apparatus to configure, provision and control a set-top terminal

• US 20030143946A1
• Filed: 01/31/2002
• Published: 07/31/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: General Instrument Corporation (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Inventors: Grzeczkowski, Richard Stephen
• Granted Patent: US 6,687,486 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/3.05
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26291 for providing content or additional data updates, e.g. updating software modules, stored at the client deployment, distribution, installation, update of software G06F8/65; error detection or correction during software upgrading G06F11/1433; arrangements for updating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/25
• 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 21/658 Transmission by the client directed to the server
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/818 OS software
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17309 Transmission or handling of upstream communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/18 Negotiating wireless communication parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup

Abstract

A method and apparatus to configure, provision and control a set-top terminal using a wireless web appliance is provided where a wireless communications path is established between the wireless web appliance and the set-top terminal. The set-top terminal is arranged to communicate with a headend controller over a bi-directional communication link having both upstream and downstream communication paths. A configuration change is implemented in response to an unsolicited message that is generated by the set-top terminal and received by the headend controller over the upstream communications path. The configuration change is implemented at the headend, or at the set-top terminal by downloading configuration data from the headend controller over the downstream communication path. The set-top terminal transmits the unsolicited message in response to a control signal generated by the wireless web appliance that is received over the wireless communications path.

Claims

1. A method of configuring a set-top terminal with a wireless web appliance using configuration data received from a controller at a headend located remotely from the set-top terminal, the method comprising the steps of:

establishing a wireless communications path between the wireless web appliance and the set-top terminal;

establishing an upstream communications path and a downstream communications path between the set-top terminal and the controller;

receiving an unsolicited message at the controller over the upstream communications path in response to a control signal transmitted by the wireless web appliance over the wireless communications path; and

implementing a configuration change in response to the unsolicited message.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the configuration change include transmitting configuration data to the set-top terminal over the downstream communications path.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the configuration change comprises implementing a configuration record change at the headend.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the configuration record is stored on a business system coupled to the controller.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein set-top terminal configuration status is transmitted over the wireless link to the wireless web appliance.

6. A method of configuring a set-top terminal with a wireless web appliance using configuration data received from a controller at a headend located remotely from the set-top terminal, the method comprising the steps of:

establishing a wireless communications link between the wireless web appliance and the set-top terminal;

establishing an upstream communications path and a downstream communications path between the set-top terminal and the controller;

transmitting, from the set-top terminal, an unsolicited message to the controller over the upstream communications path in response to a control signal transmitted by the wireless web appliance over the wireless communications path; and

receiving at the set-top terminal, the configuration data over the downstream communications path from the controller, where the controller sends the configuration data in response to the unsolicited message.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the configuration data comprises data used to implement a set-up at the set-top terminal.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein the configuration data comprises data used to provision a service.

9. The method of claim 6 wherein the configuration data comprises data used to provision a feature.

10. The method of claim 6 wherein the configuration data comprises middleware.

11. The method of claim 6 wherein the configuration data comprises context-sensitive help.

12. The method of claim 6 further including a step of capturing an electronic signature on the wireless web appliance.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the captured electronic signature provides authorization of a service to be delivered via the set-top terminal.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein the authorized service comprises a pay-per-view event.

15. The method of claim 6 wherein the configuration data comprises data sued to configuration peripheral equipment coupled to the set-top terminal.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the peripheral equipment comprises consumer electronic equipment.

17. The method of claim 6 the configuration data further includes service call data.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the service call data includes service call scheduling information.

19. The method of claim 6 wherein the set-top terminal is included within a population of set-top terminals and the wireless web appliance operates in a broadcast mode.

20. A method of configuring a set-top terminal with a wireless web appliance using configuration data received from a controller at a headend located remotely from the set-top terminal, the method comprising the steps of:

establishing a wireless communications link between the wireless web appliance and a server;

establishing a downstream communications path between the set-top terminal and the controller;

transmitting, from server, an unsolicited message to the controller over the an upstream communications path in response to a control signal transmitted by the wireless web appliance over the wireless communications path; and

receiving at the set-top terminal, the configuration data over the downstream communications path from the controller, where the controller sends the configuration data in response to the unsolicited message.

21. A wireless web appliance device for configuring a set-top terminal using configuration data received from a controller at a headend located remotely from the set-top terminal, comprising:

a processor for generating an unsolicited message for transmission to a remote controller, the remote controller being arranged to download the configuration data to a remote set-top terminal in response to the unsolicited message;

a wireless transceiver coupled to the processor for transmitting the unsolicited message to the controller and for establishing a wireless communications link with the remote set-top terminal; and

a user interface for displaying a configuration status of the remote set-top terminal to a user, the configuration status set in response to the configuration data downloaded from the controller and received from the remote set-top terminal over the wireless communications path.

22. The wireless web appliance of claim 21 further including a peripheral port.

23. The wireless web appliance of claim 21 further including a user input device.

24. The wireless web appliance of claim 21 further including a display.

25. The wireless web appliance of claim 24 wherein the display comprises a touch-sensitive panel.

26. A wireless web appliance device for configuring a set-top terminal using configuration data received from a controller at a headend located remotely from the set-top terminal, comprising:

a processor for controlling transmission of an unsolicited message from the remote set-top terminal to a controller where, in response to the unsolicited message, the downloads the configuration data to the remote set-top terminal;

a wireless transceiver for transmitting an unsolicited message to an controller and for establishing a wireless communications link with the remote set-top terminal; and

a user interface for displaying a configuration status of the remote set-top terminal to a user, the configuration status set in response to the configuration data downloaded from the addressable controller and received from the remote set-top terminal over the wireless communications path.