System and Method for Remote Device Pairing

• US 20120297440A1
• Filed: 05/20/2011
• Published: 11/22/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dish Technologies LLC (Dish Network Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Echostar Technologies LLC (Echostar Corporation)
• Inventors: Reams, William R., Bruhn, Christopher W.
• Granted Patent: US 8,544,054 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/131
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/28 Arrangements for simultaneous broadcast of plural pieces of information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/76 Wired systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4122 additional display device, e.g. video projector digital output for controlling a plurality of local displays G06F3/1423
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42221 Transmission circuitry, e.g. infrared [IR] or radio frequency [RF]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/426 Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43615 Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4367 Establishing a secure communication between the client and a peripheral device or smart card
• 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 21/478 Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4782 Web browsing , e.g. WebTV
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/10 Adaptations for transmission by electrical cable H04N7/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/173 with two-way working, e.g. subscriber sending a programme selection signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17309 Transmission or handling of upstream communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

A system and method for optimizing pairing between a remote device and a plurality of devices including establishing a list of pairing-capable devices, the list comprising a portion of the plurality of devices, measuring a plurality of link qualities between the remote device and the pairing-capable devices, comparing, with a processor, the plurality of link qualities with one another and determining a highest link quality, selecting, by a computing device, an available pairing-capable device having the highest link quality, pairing with the selected device, and controlling a presentation device, the controlling including checking if the selected device is the associated device and where the selected device is not the associated device, relaying commands via the network to the associated device.

Claims

1. A method for optimizing pairing between a remote device and a plurality of devices connected via a network, the remote device being associated with one of the plurality of devices defining an associated device, the method comprising:

establishing a list of pairing-capable devices, the list comprising a portion of the plurality of devices;

measuring a plurality of link qualities between the remote device and the pairing-capable devices;

comparing, by a computing device, the plurality of link qualities with one another to determine a highest link quality;

selecting, by a computing device, an available pairing-capable device having the highest link quality;

pairing with the selected device; and

controlling a presentation device, the controlling comprising;

checking if the selected device is the associated device; and

where the selected device is not the associated device, relaying commands via the network to the associated device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting an available pairing-capable device includes determining availability by offering to pair with a pairing-capable device with the highest link quality.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising receiving an acceptance of the offer.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising receiving a declining offer.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising determining availability by offering to pair with a pairing-capable device with the next highest link quality.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising automatically initializing the plurality of devices by communicating with the plurality of devices and providing instructions to enter configuration mode.

7. A system for optimizing pairing between a remote device and a plurality of devices connected via a network, the remote device being associated with one of the plurality of devices defining an associated device, the system comprising:

an optimization module having a computer readable storage medium with instructions stored thereon and a processor for executing the instructions, the instructions comprising operations for selecting a device having a highest link quality with the remote device; and

a control module for performing operations comprising;

receiving commands from the remote device;

checking if the selected device is the associated device; and

where the selected device is not the associated device, relaying the commands via the network to the associated device.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the optimization module is resident on the remote device.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the optimization module is resident on one or more of the plurality of devices.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the optimization module is resident on a combination of the remote device and one or more of the plurality of devices

11. A method for facilitating indirect communication with one of a plurality of set-top-boxes, comprising:

receiving, by a first of the plurality of set-top boxes, a request for a first reply;

replying, by the first of the plurality of set-top boxes, to the request;

in response to the reply, receiving, by a first of the plurality of set-top-boxes, an instruction signal carrying instructions for, and identifying information about, a second of the plurality of set-top-boxes;

relaying, by the first set-top box, the instruction signal via a network to the second set-top-box.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein receiving a signal includes receiving a signal from a remote control paired with the first set-top-box.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the second set-top-box is associated with the remote control.

14. A method for indirect control of a set-top-box, comprising:

receiving, at a first of a plurality of set-top boxes, a request for a link quality indicator from an external device;

in response, transmitting a link quality indicator to the external device;

receiving, across a network from a second of the plurality of set-top boxes, instructions for controlling operation of the first of the plurality of set-top boxes, the instructions initiated by the external device; and

implementing the instructions to control the audiovisual display.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the remote control is paired with the second set-top-box and associated with the first set-top-box.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising measuring, by the external device, a link quality with the first of the plurality of set-top boxes, as indicated by the link quality indicator.

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

receiving, by the external device, a second link quality indicator;

comparing, by the external device, the second link quality indicator to the first link quality indicator; and

associating with the first of the plurality of set-top boxes in response to comparing the second link quality indicator to the first link quality indicator.