Methods, Systems, and Products for Automated Control of Devices

• US 20110131606A1
• Filed: 01/28/2011
• Published: 06/02/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Durden, George A., Stefanik, John R.
• Granted Patent: US 8,607,298 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/40
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/235 Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4112 having fewer capabilities than the client, e.g. thin client having less processing power or no tuning capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4131 home appliance, e.g. lighting, air conditioning system, metering devices home automation data switching networks exchanging configuration information on appliance services H04L12/2807
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4222 Remote control device emulator integrated into a non-television apparatus, e.g. a PDA, media center or smart toy remote control device for a television receiver integrated into a mobile phone H04M1/72415
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4345 Extraction or processing of SI, e.g. extracting service information from an MPEG stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/435 Processing of additional data, e.g. decrypting of additional data, reconstructing software from modules extracted from the transport stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/436 Interfacing a local distribution network, e.g. communicating with another STB or one or more peripheral devices inside the home
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43632 involving a wired protocol, e.g. IEEE 1394 high-speed IEEE 1394 serial bus H04L12/40052
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4782 Web browsing , e.g. WebTV
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6543 for forcing some client operations, e.g. recording remote booting in general G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6547 comprising parameters, e.g. for client setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8126 involving additional data, e.g. news, sports, stocks, weather forecasts
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/84 Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors systems specially adapted for using meta-information in broadcast systems H04H60/73
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/765 Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/775 between a recording apparatus and a television receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/85 on discs or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

Methods, systems, and products are disclosed for automated control of devices. A tag is received with Electronic Programming Guide data, and the tag includes control data. The tag is stripped from the Electronic Programming Guide data and communicated to a device.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving electronic programming guide data comprising a tag that identifies a command for an external device;

stripping the command from the electronic programming guide data; and

sending the command to the external device.

2. The method according to claim 1, furthering comprising embedding the tag in the electronic programming guide data.

3. The method according to claim 1, furthering comprising inserting the tag in the electronic programming guide data.

4. The method according to claim 1, furthering comprising processing the tag.

5. The method according to claim 1, furthering comprising controlling home theater equipment.

6. The method according to claim 1, furthering comprising adjusting lighting.

7. The method according to claim 1, furthering comprising muting a commercial.

8. The method according to claim 1, furthering comprising adjusting volume.

9. The method according to claim 1, furthering comprising muting objectional content.

10. An apparatus, comprising:

a software application that causes a set top box to;

receive electronic programming guide data comprising a tag that identifies a command for an external device;

strip the command from the electronic programming guide data; and

send the command to the external device.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the software application further causes the set top box to process the tag.

12. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the software application further causes the set top box to controlling home theater equipment.

13. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the software application further causes the set top box to adjust lighting.

14. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the software application further causes the set top box to mute a commercial.

15. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the software application further causes the set top box to adjust volume.

16. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the software application further causes the set top box to mute objectionable content.

17. A storage medium comprising a software application that performs a method, the method comprising:

receiving electronic programming guide data comprising a tag that identifies a command for an external device;

stripping the command from the electronic programming guide data; and

sending the command to the external device.

18. The storage medium according to claim 17, wherein the software application processes the tag.

19. The storage medium according to claim 17, wherein the software application controls home theater equipment.

20. The storage medium according to claim 17, wherein the software application adjusts volume.