Method and apparatus for performing real-time on-line video quality monitoring for digital cable and IPTV services

• US 20070283400A1
• Filed: 05/31/2006
• Published: 12/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Lucent Technologies, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lucent Technologies, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Lee, Minkyu, Lee, Wonsuck
• Application Number:
  US11/444,345
• Publication Number:
  US 20070283400A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/107
• 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 21/44224 Monitoring of user activity on external systems, e.g. Internet browsing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4758 for providing answers, e.g. voting
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8545 for generating interactive applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/10 Adaptations for transmission by electrical cable H04N7/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/161 Constructional details of the subscriber equipment H04N7/164 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

A method and apparatus for performing real-time on-line video quality monitoring for digital cable and IPTV (Internet Protocol Television) services, wherein a problem reporting button is advantageously provided on a (video service provider'"'"'s) customer'"'"'s set-top box and/or on a remote control unit therefor. Such a button may be advantageously used by the customer to report a video quality degradation problem to service providers. Illustratively, a single push of this button initiates the reporting process to report the existence of a problem regarding video quality which the customer is experiencing. The customer may indicate the severity of the problem with use of the button, and may also respond interactively to questions and or suggestions presented by the service provider on the video screen. Such an interactive troubleshooting procedure may be implemented as software on the set-top box.

Claims

1. A method for reporting video quality problems of video signals received at a customer premises of a customer of a video service provider, the customer premises having located thereat a video display control apparatus for receiving and displaying said video signals, the method comprising the steps of:

identifying that said video signals received from said video service provider and displayed at said customer premises are of insufficient quality as determined by said customer of said video service provider; and

reporting said insufficient quality of said video signal to said service provider, wherein said reporting of said insufficient quality of said video signal is initiated by said customer with use of a user interface associated with said video display control apparatus.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said video display control apparatus comprises a set-top box, wherein said user interface used to report said insufficient quality of said video signal to said service provider comprises a signaling device mounted on said set-top box, and wherein said step of reporting said insufficient quality of said video signal to said service provider comprises activating said signaling device.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said signaling device comprises a button and wherein said step of activating said signaling device comprises the step of pushing said button.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said video display control apparatus comprises a remote control unit, wherein said user interface used to report said insufficient quality of said video signal to said service provider comprises a signaling device mounted on said remote control unit, and wherein said step of reporting said insufficient quality of said video signal to said service provider comprises activating said signaling device.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein said signaling device comprises a button and wherein said step of activating said signaling device comprises the step of pushing said button.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein said remote control unit controls a set-top box.

7. The method of claim 4 wherein said remote control unit controls a television set with cable card capability and which has a cable card connected thereto.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of reporting said insufficient quality of said video signal to said service provider comprises reporting a severity level associated with said insufficient quality of said video signal.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of performing an interactive troubleshooting procedure, wherein said interactive troubleshooting procedure comprises said customer providing one or more responses to a corresponding one or more questions relating to said insufficient quality of said video signal.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein said interactive troubleshooting procedure is implemented within a set-top box.

11. An apparatus for reporting video quality problems of video signals received at a customer premises of a customer of a video service provider, the apparatus located at the customer premises and comprising a video display control apparatus for receiving and displaying said video signals, the video display control apparatus including a user interface for use by said customer of said video service provider to initiate a report of insufficient quality of said video signal to said service provider.

12. The apparatus for reporting video quality problems of claim 11 wherein said video display control apparatus comprises a set-top box, wherein said user interface used to report said insufficient quality of said video signal to said service provider comprises a signaling device mounted on said set-top box, and wherein said reporting of said insufficient quality of said video signal to said service provider is performed by activating said signaling device.

13. The apparatus for reporting video quality problems of claim 12 wherein said signaling device comprises a button and wherein said activating of said signaling device is performed by pushing said button.

14. The apparatus for reporting video quality problems of claim 11 wherein said video display control apparatus comprises a remote control unit, wherein said user interface used to report said insufficient quality of said video signal to said service provider comprises a signaling device mounted on said remote control unit, and wherein said reporting of said insufficient quality of said video signal to said service provider is performed by activating said signaling device.

15. The apparatus for reporting video quality problems of claim 14 wherein said signaling device comprises a button and wherein said activating of said signaling device is performed by pushing said button.

16. The apparatus for reporting video quality problems of claim 14 wherein said remote control unit controls a set-top box.

17. The apparatus for reporting video quality problems of claim 14 wherein said remote control unit controls a television set with cable card capability and which has a cable card connected thereto.

18. The apparatus for reporting video quality problems of claim 11 wherein said reporting of said insufficient quality of said video signal to said service provider includes reporting a severity level associated with said insufficient quality of said video signal.

19. The apparatus for reporting video quality problems of claim 11 further comprising means for performing an interactive troubleshooting procedure, wherein said interactive troubleshooting procedure comprises said customer providing one or more responses to a corresponding one or more questions relating to said insufficient quality of said video signal.

20. The apparatus for reporting video quality problems of claim 19 wherein said means for performing said interactive troubleshooting procedure is comprised within a set-top box.