Method and apparatus for the remote retrieval and viewing of diagnostic information from a set-top box

• US 20040054771A1
• Filed: 08/12/2002
• Published: 03/18/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Pioneer Digital Technologies, Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Pioneer Digital Technologies, Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Carlberg, Marvin C., Roe, Glen E.
• Application Number:
  US10/064,742
• Publication Number:
  US 20040054771A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/00 Arrangements for maintenance, administration or management of data switching networks, e.g. of packet switching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/24 Monitoring of processes or resources, e.g. monitoring of server load, available bandwidth, upstream requests monitoring of server performance or load G06F11/34; arrangements for observation, testing or troubleshooting for broadcast or for distribution combined with broadcast H04H20/12
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6175 involving transmission via Internet broadcast-related systems characterised by the transmission system being the Internet H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17309 Transmission or handling of upstream communications

Abstract

The remote retrieval and viewing of information from a set-top box is described, wherein a network is used to facilitate the querying of the internal state of a set-top box. In response, the set-top box returns its internal state information across the network to the requesting user. In one embodiment, a GUI is used wherein a user inputs a unique identifier for the set-top box. The unique identifier is used to locate the set-top box on the network and to instruct it as to which internal state information is needed. In another embodiment, a web browser is used to implement the GUI as a web page. The GUI includes at least an area for the input of the set-top box'"'"'s unique identifier.

Claims

9-1. The method of claim 1 wherein said unique identifier comprises an IP address, a MAC address, or a serial number.

33. An apparatus comprising:

a graphical user interface (GUI) on a computer;

a unique identifier for a set-top box that is input into said GUI and establishes a connection across a network between said computer and said set-top box;

one or more internal states of said set-top box that are queried from said computer to said set-top box across said network and received at said computer, in response.

34. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein said internal states include a diagnostic state.

35. The apparatus of claim 33 wherein said network comprises a first and second network layer.

36. The apparatus of claim 35 wherein said first network layer is an intranet.

37. The apparatus of claim 36 wherein said intranet includes one or more set-top boxes connected to one or more cable outlets, which are in turn connected to one or more nodes, which are in turn connected to an application server.

38. The apparatus of claim 35 wherein said second network layer is an Internet.

39. The apparatus of claim 35 wherein said second network layer is an intranet.

40. The apparatus of claim 34 wherein said GUI comprises a web page.

41. The apparatus of claim 34 wherein said unique identifier comprises an IP address, a MAC address, or a serial number.

42. An apparatus comprising:

a graphical user interface (GUI) on a computer;

a unique identifier for a set-top box that is input into said GUI and establishes a connection across a network between said computer and said set-top box;

a script that is generated at said computer and sent to an application server that is interposed between said computer and said set-top box;

one or more internal states of said set-top box that are queried when said script is executed on said application server and received at said computer.

43. The apparatus of claim 42 further comprising:

a web page having said internal states that is formatted and sent to said application server; and

a web browser on said computer that receives said web page and displays said web page.

44. A system for obtaining information from a set-top box comprising:

means for using a graphical user interface (GUI) on a computer to input a unique identifier for said set-top box;

means for using said unique identifier to establish a connection across a network between said computer and said set-top box;

means for querying for one or more internal states of said set-top box; and

means for receiving said internal states at said computer, in response.

45. The system of claim 44, wherein said internal states include a diagnostic state.

46. The system of claim 44 wherein said network comprises a first and second network layer.

47. The system of claim 46 wherein said first network layer is an intranet.

48. The system of claim 47 wherein said intranet includes one or more set-top boxes connected to one or more cable outlets, which are in turn connected to one or more nodes, which are in turn connected to an application server.

49. The system of claim 46 wherein said second network layer is an Internet.

50. The system of claim 46 wherein said second network layer is an intranet.

51. The system of claim 44 wherein said GUI comprises a web page.

52. The system of claim 44 wherein said unique identifier comprises an IP address, a MAC address, or a serial number.

53. The system of claim 44 wherein said means for querying further comprises:

means for generating a script at said computer;

means for sending said script to an application server; and

means for executing said script on said application server.

54. The system of claim 44 wherein said means for receiving further comprises:

means for formatting said internal states into a web page at an application server;

means for sending said web page to a web browser on said computer; and

means for displaying said web page on said web browser.

55. The system of claim 44 further comprising means for determining if said set-top box can be maintained or repaired remotely using said internal states.

56. The system of claim 55 further comprising:

means for performing a maintenance or a repair activity remotely, if said set-top box can be maintained or repaired remotely; and

means for dispatching a service technician, if said set-top box cannot be maintained or repaired remotely.

57. The system of claim 44 wherein said means for querying is accomplished by means for accessing a diagnostic information selection area in said GUI.

58. A computer program product comprising a computer useable medium having computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to obtain information from a set-top box comprising:

computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to enable a graphical user interface (GUI) which receives a unique identifier for said set-top box;

computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to use said unique identifier to establish a connection across a network between said computer and said set-top box;

computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to query for one or more internal states of said set-top box; and

computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to receive said internal states at said computer, in response.

59. The computer program product of claim 58, wherein said internal states include a diagnostic state.

60. The computer program product of claim 58 wherein said computer network comprises a first and second network layer.

61. The computer program product of claim 60 wherein said first network layer is an intranet.

62. The computer program product of claim 61 wherein said intranet includes one or more set-top boxes connected to one or more cable outlets, which are in turn connected to one or more nodes, which are in turn connected to an application server.

63. The computer program product of claim 60 wherein said second network layer is an Internet.

64. The computer program product of claim 60 wherein said second network layer is an intranet.

65. The computer program product of claim 58 wherein said GUI comprises a web page.

66. The computer program product of claim 58 wherein said unique identifier comprises an IP address, a MAC address, or a serial number.

67. The computer program product of claim 58 wherein said computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to query further comprises:

computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to generate a script at said computer;

computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to send said script to an application server; and

computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to execute said script on said application server.

68. The computer program product of claim 58 wherein said computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to receive further comprises:

computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to format said internal states into a web page at an application server;

computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to send said web page to a web browser on said computer; and

computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to display said web page on said web browser.

69. The computer program product of claim 58 further comprising computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to determine if said set-top box can be maintained or repaired remotely using sa id internal states.