Methods, systems and computer program products for providing internet protocol television set up

• US 20070162928A1
• Filed: 12/28/2005
• Published: 07/12/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Smith, Michael, Chilton, James, Mickle, Jacklyn
• Granted Patent: US 7,873,981 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/37
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25833 involving client hardware characteristics, e.g. manufacturer, processing or storage capabilities allocation of resources considering hardware capabilities in multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/5044; allocation of resources considering software capabilities in multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/5055
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25858 involving client software characteristics, e.g. OS identifier
• 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 21/4432 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 21/6336 directed to decoder
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6543 for forcing some client operations, e.g. recording remote booting in general G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

A method of providing set up services to customer premise equipment (CPE), the CPE coupled to an internet protocol television (IPTV) network. The method includes operating a network element as a set up terminal server, the network element being part of a communications network. A request to initiate a set up process is received from the CPE. A set up server coupled to the communications network is accessed to initiate a set up application. The set up server communicates with the CPE through the network element to perform installation of the CPE and provisioning of the CPE.

Claims

1. A method of providing set up services to customer premise equipment (CPE), the CPE coupled to an internet protocol television (IPTV) network, the method comprising:

operating a network element as a set up terminal server, the network element being part of a communications network;

receiving from the CPE a request to initiate a set up process;

accessing a set up server coupled to the communications network to initiate a set up application;

wherein the set up server communicates with the CPE through the network element to perform installation of the CPE and provisioning of the CPE.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the CPE has a GUID, the set up server determining that the GUID corresponds to a user account prior to installation of the CPE.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the set up server provisions a connection between the CPE and the IPTV network.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein:

the set up server provisions the connection by providing the CPE with an IP address of an IPTV server.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the set up server performs diagnostics on the CPE.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein:

the diagnostics include testing bandwidth at the CPE.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the set up server executes an interactive set up process with the CPE.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein:

the interactive set up process generates queries for a user of the CPE.

9. A computer program product for providing set up services to customer premise equipment (CPE) coupled to a television, the CPE coupled to an internet protocol television (IPTV) network, the computer program product comprising:

a storage medium readable by a processing circuit and storing instructions for execution by the processing circuit for facilitating a method comprising;

operating a network element as a set up terminal server, the network element being part of a communications network;

receiving from the CPE a request to initiate a set up process;

accessing a set up server coupled to the communications network to initiate a set up application;

wherein the set up server communicates with the CPE through the network element to perform installation of the CPE and provisioning of the CPE.

10. The computer program product of claim 9 wherein:

the CPE has a GUID, the set up server determining that the GUID corresponds to a user account prior to installation of the CPE.

11. The computer program product of claim 9 wherein:

the set up server provisions a connection between the CPE and the IPTV network.

12. The computer program product of claim 11 wherein:

the set up server provisions the connection by providing the CPE with an IP address of an IPTV server.

13. The computer program product of claim 9 wherein:

the set up server performs diagnostics on the CPE.

14. The computer program product of claim 13 wherein:

the diagnostics include testing bandwidth at the CPE.

15. The computer program product of claim 9 wherein:

the set up server executes an interactive set up process with the CPE.

16. The computer program product of claim 15 wherein:

the interactive set up process generates queries for a user of the CPE.

17. A customer premise equipment (CPE), the CPE coupled to an internet protocol television (IPTV) network, the CPE comprising:

a network interface establishing communications between the CPE and the IPTV network; and

a processor executing an IPTV client for receiving IPTV services;

the processor executing a diagnostic API for transmitting CPE status information indicating the status of the CPE to a network element in the IPTV network;

the processor generating a request for set up;

the processor receiving information to perform installation of the CPE and provisioning of the CPE.

18. The CPE of claim 17 wherein:

the CPE is a set top box (STB) coupled to a television.

19. The CPE of claim 17 wherein:

provisioning the CPE includes receiving an IP address of an IPTV server.