SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SET-TOP-BOX MESSAGING DISPLAY

• US 20100162296A1
• Filed: 12/22/2008
• Published: 06/24/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Perftech Inc. (Perftech Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Perftech Inc. (Perftech Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Donzis, Lewis T., Schmidt, Jonathan E., Baron, Peter W., Donzis, Henry M., Murphy, John A.
• Granted Patent: US 9,668,027 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/32
• 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 21/44213 Monitoring of end-user related data arrangements for monitoring the users' behaviour or opinions in broadcast systems H04H60/33
• 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

Abstract

In a set-top-box system, messages from a service provider are stored and delayed until activity from a set-top-box remote is detected. Messages are then generated and provided to a television associated with the set-top-box. Delaying of the message display until set-top-box activity is detected allows short display times, thus preventing burn-in on some television screens, while providing a greater likelihood that messages will be viewed.

Claims

1. A method for providing display of set-top-box messages onto a display, the method comprising:

receiving at least one message to be displayed into a set-top-box;

detecting activity of a remote associated with the set-top-box; and

providing the at least one message to the display in response to said remote activity.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein detecting activity of the remote comprises receiving a signal from the remote in the set-top-box.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the signal comprises a control signal for at least one set-top-box function.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising storing the at least one message in the set-top-box until activity of the remote is detected.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one message is received from a service provider.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising controlling a display period for which the at least one message is displayed.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein controlling the display period comprises periodically providing the message to the display until an acknowledgement signal is received in the set-top-box.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the acknowledgement signal is received from the remote.

9. The method of claim 1 comprising receiving a plurality of messages into the set-top-box and storing the plurality of messages in the set-top-box.

10. The method of claim 9 comprising providing the plurality of messages to the display in response to the remote activity, wherein providing the plurality of messages to the display comprises providing the plurality of messages to the display sequentially.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein a sequence of the plurality of messages is determined by a message priority.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein a sequence of the plurality of messages is determined by an order in which the plurality of messages are received into the set-top-box.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein detecting activity of a remote comprises detecting initial remote activity, the method further comprising detecting a period of quiescence after the initial remote activity, wherein the at least one message is provided to the display after the period of quiescence.

14. A set-top-box comprising:

at least one memory that stores message content from a service provider;

a remote interface that receives control signals from at least one remote; and

at least one processor that;

generates a display message comprising the message content; and

provides the display message to a television.

wherein the display message is provided to the television in response to detection of remote activity at the remote interface.

15. The set-top-box of claim 14 configured to detect a period of quiescence from the remote after the remote activity, wherein the processor provides the display message to the television after the period of quiescence.

16. The set-top-box of claim 14 configured to periodically provide the display message to the television.

17. The set-top-box of claim 16 configured to receive an acknowledgement signal through the remote interface and to cease periodically providing the display message to the television in response to the acknowledgement signal.

18. A computer-readable medium comprising computer-executable instructions for execution by a processor, that, when executed, cause the processor to:

detect activity from a set-top-box remote;

generate a display message in response to the detected remote activity; and

provide the display message to a television.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 18 further comprising instructions for execution by a processor, that, when executed, cause the processor to retrieve message content from a memory and generate the display message from the message content.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 19 further comprising instructions for execution by a processor, that, when executed, cause the processor to receive the message content and store the message content in the memory.