Remotely accessing a set-top terminal

• US 20060190978A1
• Filed: 02/18/2005
• Published: 08/24/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Turner, Earl E. Sr., Russ, Samuel H.
• Application Number:
  US11/061,004
• Publication Number:
  US 20060190978A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/110
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0253 using browsers or web-pages for accessing management information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0879 Manual configuration through operator
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/025 for remote control or remote monitoring of applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4227 Providing Remote input by a user located remotely from the client device, e.g. at work
• 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 21/485 End-user interface for client configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

An Internet server is operatively coupled to a configurable set-top terminal (STT), thereby providing remote access to the configurable STT through the Internet server. The Internet server is configured to provide web-pages that preferably emulate the user interface for the configurable STT. In that regard, a subscriber can log into the Internet server and configure the configurable STT from various devices that are Internet-compatible. The Internet server is configured to translate input by the subscriber into configuration information for the configurable STT that is pushed out to the configurable STT directly after being received from the subscriber.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

logic configured to receive a request from a remote client through a web interface;

logic configured to convert the request into instructions for a set-top terminal; and

logic configured to convey the instructions to the set-top terminal directly after converting the request into the instructions.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the set-top terminal is a broadcast television subscriber terminal with storage for recording broadcast television programs.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the logic to receive the request from a remote client through a web interface is included within a web server locately remotely from the remote client and remotely from the set-top terminal.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the web server is located in a cable headend.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the web server is located in a satellite headend.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the web interface includes a list of programs previously identified by the subscriber while located at the set-top terminal.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the web interface includes a list of programs to be recorded and a list of programs already recorded.

8. The system of claim 7, further comprising logic to obtain the lists from the set-top terminal before the web interface includes the lists.

9. A method comprising the steps of:

coupling an Internet server to a set-top terminal; and

providing push configuration capabilities for the configurable set-top terminal through the Internet server.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the set-top terminal is a broadcast television subscriber terminal with storage for recording broadcast television programs.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the Internet server is a web server located in a cable headend.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the Internet server is a web server located in a satellite headend.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the step of providing push configuration capabilities comprises the steps of:

assigning an Internet Protocol (IP) address to the configurable set-top terminal;

establishing a Uniform resource locator (URL) that corresponds to the IP address; and

storing the URL for access by a subscriber.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the step of providing push configuration capabilities includes the steps of:

storing contents that are accessible by a remote client, the contents being associated with a user interface for configuring the configurable set-top terminal;

receiving a request for the stored contents; and

conveying the stored contents in response to receiving the request.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein the step of providing push configuration capabilities comprises the steps of:

receiving a request from a remote client;

converting the request into a configuration instruction for the configurable set-top terminal; and

conveying the configuration instruction to the configurable set-top terminal directly after receiving the request.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the step of receiving the request comprises a step selected from the group consisting of:

receiving a request to modify a list of programs to be recorded;

receiving a request to modify a list of recorded programs;

receiving a request to play a program at the configurable set-top terminal; and

receiving a request to record a program at the configurable set-top terminal.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the step of receiving the request to modify a list of programs to be recorded comprises a step selected from the group consisting of:

receiving a request to schedule a program to be recorded; and

receiving a request to delete a program from the list of programs to be recorded.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the step of receiving the request to modify a list of recorded programs comprises the step of receiving a request to delete a program that has already been recorded.

19. The method of claim 9, wherein the step of providing push configuration capabilities comprises the steps of:

receiving a confirmation from the configurable set-top terminal, the confirmation being indicative of a configuration change at the configurable set-top terminal;

converting the confirmation to an Internet-compatible message; and

conveying the Internet-compatible message to a remote client.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the step of receiving the confirmation comprises a step selected from the group consisting of:

receiving an indication that a list of programs to be recorded has been modified;

receiving an indication that a list of recorded programs has been modified;

receiving an indication that a program is being played at the configurable set-top terminal; and

receiving an indication that a program is being recorded at the configurable set-top terminal.