METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR COMMUNICATION WITH A SET-TOP BOX

• US 20100058415A1
• Filed: 08/29/2008
• Published: 03/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Embarq Holdings Company LLC (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Emerson, David, LaFreniere, Gary W., Goergen, Michael, Rondeau, David
• Granted Patent: US 9,167,206 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/110
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72415 for remote control of appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72436 for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4147 PVR [Personal Video Recorder] H04N5/76 takes precedence ; arrangements for broadcast with accumulation-type receivers H04H20/40
• 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 21/47214 for content reservation or setting reminders; for requesting event notification, e.g. of sport results or stock market stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; notification of incoming messages in packet switching networks H04L51/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4751 for defining user accounts, e.g. accounts for children
• 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 21/4882 for displaying messages, e.g. warnings, reminders arrangements for providing short real-time information to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1895
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 by receiver means only

Abstract

A method and system for communication with a set-top box is disclosed. An embodiment is disclosed that receives security information and the security information has identification information for a user assigned to a set-top box, services a request to create a notification preference for the set-top box in response to successful entry of security information, establishes the notification preference for the set-top box and the notification preference has a rule for providing information in a notification on media content available to be received by the set-top box, sends the notification to the recipient in accordance with a notification preference, receives a communication for the set-top box from a user device and the communication comprises a partial command for a set-top box, interprets the partial command in view of the notification, and sends a command to the set-top box based on the partial command and the notification.

Claims

1. A method for communicating with a set-top box, comprising:

receiving security information, the security information comprises identification information for a user assigned to a set-top box;

servicing a request to create a notification preference for the set-top box in response to successful entry of security information;

establishing the notification preference for the set-top box, the notification preference comprising a rule for providing information in a notification on media content available to be received by the set-top box;

sending the notification to the recipient in accordance with a notification preference;

receiving a communication for the set-top box from a user device, the communication comprises a partial command for a set-top box;

interpreting the partial command in view of the notification; and

sending a command to the set-top box based on the partial command and the notification.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication comprises a text message from a mobile device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the notification comprises a text message sent to a mobile device.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

retrieving the notification preference from a database.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the notification comprises usage information for the set-top box.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the command comprises instructions for recording media content.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication has an identifier to indicate the communication contains a partial command.

8. A method for communication with a set-top box, comprising:

receiving a notification in accordance with a notification preference for a set-top box, the notification comprises information on media content broadcast to a set-top box; and

sending a communication with a partial command for the set-top box, the partial command for a set-top box for interpreted in view of the notification.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the communication comprises a text message from a mobile device.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the notification comprises a text message sent to a mobile device.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

retrieving the notification preference from a database.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the notification comprises usage information for the set-top box.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the command comprises instructions for recording media content at the set-top box.

14. A system for communicating with a set-top box, comprising:

a processor operable to execute a set of instructions; and

a computer readable medium in communication with the processor, the computer readable medium operable to store a set of instructions, wherein the set of instructions are configured to;

send a notification in accordance with a notification preference for a set-top box, the

notification comprises information on media content available to be received by the set-top box in accordance with the notification preference,

receive a communication for the set-top box from a user device, the communication comprises a partial command for a set-top box;

interpret the partial command in view of the notification; and

send a command to the set-top box based on the partial command and the notification.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the communication comprises a text message from a mobile device.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the notification comprises a text message sent to a mobile device.

17. The system of claim 14, further comprising:

retrieving the notification preference from a database.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein the notification comprises usage information for the set-top box.

19. The system of claim 14, wherein the command comprises instructions for recording media content.

20. The system of claim 14, wherein the communication has an identifier to indicate the communication contains a partial command.