AUTOMATIC USER BAND ASSIGNMENT IN A SATELLITE SIGNAL DISTRIBUTION ENVIRONMENT
First Claim
1. A method of communication involving a set top box (STB) and a channel stacking switch (CSS), comprising:
- the STB issuing a request for a user band, the request identifying the STB;
the CSS receiving the request identifying the STB;
the CSS consulting a memory to identify a particular user band that is available for the STB;
the CSS assigning the particular user band to the STB;
the CSS issuing a message identifying the particular user band;
the STB receiving the message identifying the particular user band;
the STB tuning to the particular user band.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A communications system and method involving a set top box (STB) and a channel stacking switch (CSS). The STB comprises a communications interface configured to issue a request for a user band, the request identifying the STB and further configured to receive a message identifying an assigned user band; and a tuning element configured to tune to the assigned user band in response to receipt of the message. The CSS comprises a communications interface configured to receive the request for a user band identifying the STB; a memory; and a processing entity configured to access the memory to identify a particular user band that is available for the STB and to assign the particular user band to the STB; wherein the communications interface is further configured to issue to the STB a message identifying the particular user band assigned to the STB.
-
Citations
32 Claims
-
1. A method of communication involving a set top box (STB) and a channel stacking switch (CSS), comprising:
-
the STB issuing a request for a user band, the request identifying the STB; the CSS receiving the request identifying the STB; the CSS consulting a memory to identify a particular user band that is available for the STB; the CSS assigning the particular user band to the STB; the CSS issuing a message identifying the particular user band; the STB receiving the message identifying the particular user band; the STB tuning to the particular user band. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
-
-
26. A system comprising:
-
a set top box (STB) configured to issue a request for a user band, the request identifying the STB; and a channel stacking switch (CSS) configured to receive the request identifying the STB, consult a memory to identify a particular user band that is available for the STB, assign the particular user band to the STB and issue a message identifying the particular user band; wherein the STB is further configured to tune to the particular user band in response to receipt of the message.
-
-
27. A method implemented by a set top box (STB), comprising:
-
issuing a request for a user band, the request identifying the STB; receiving a message identifying an assigned user band; tuning to the assigned user band in response to receipt of the message.
-
-
28. A set top box (STB), comprising:
-
a communications interface configured to (i) issue a request for a user band, the request identifying the STB and (ii) receive a message identifying an assigned user band; a tuning element configured to tune to the assigned user band in response to receipt of the message.
-
-
29. A computer-readable storage medium storing instructions for execution by a set top box (STB), wherein execution of the instructions by the STB cause the STB to:
-
issue a request for a user band, the request identifying the STB; respond to receipt of a message identifying an assigned user band by tuning to the assigned user band.
-
-
30. A method implemented by a channel stacking switch, comprising:
-
receiving a request for a user band identifying a set top box (STB); consulting a memory to identify a particular user band that is available for the STB; assigning the particular user band to the STB; issuing a message identifying the particular user band.
-
-
31. A channel stacking switch, comprising:
-
a communications interface configured to receive a request for a user band identifying a set top box; a memory; a processing entity configured to access the memory to identify a particular user band that is available for the set top box and to assign the particular user band to the set top box; the communications interface being further configured to issue a message identifying the particular user band.
-
-
32. A computer-readable storage medium storing instructions for execution by a channel stacking switch (CSS), wherein execution of the instructions by the CSS cause the CSS to:
-
respond to receipt of a request for a user band identifying a set top box (STB) by accessing a memory to identify a particular user band that is available for the STB and to assign the particular user band to the STB; issue a message identifying the particular user band.
-
Specification