Method and apparatus for controlling at least one set-top box

• US 7,484,234 B1
• Filed: 04/24/2000
• Issued: 01/27/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: TiVo Solutions Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: TiVo Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Kao, Jean, Heaton, Kurt, Waterman, Alan
• Primary Examiner(s): Lonsberry; Hunter B.
• Application Number:
  US09/558,410
• Time in Patent Office: 3,200 Days
• Field of Search: 725/80, 725/40, 725/48, 725/59, 348/734, 386/86
• US Class Current: 725/80
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41265 having a remote control device for bidirectional communication between the remote control device and client device unidirectional remote control device H04N21/42204
• 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 21/42206 characterized by hardware details
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/443 OS processes, e.g. booting an STB, implementing a Java virtual machine in an STB or power management in an STB
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4532 involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications

Abstract

A method and apparatus for providing control of a set-top box through IR blasting control by a system containing at least one computer is discussed. The system is coupled to a mass storage system. The system includes an IR control database that resides on the mass storage system. The IR control database contains at least one IR control entry and an IR control packet. The IR control packet is generated from a first IR control entry of the IR control database. The system controls a set-top box by serial transmission of the IR control packet.

Claims

1. A method for controlling of a set-top box, comprising the steps of:

generating an IR control packet from a first IR control entry of an IR control database residing on a local mass storage system in a set-top unit, wherein said IR control database contains a plurality of IR control entries;

controlling said set-top box with said IR control packet; and

wherein said set-top unit stores video and/or audio content received from said set-top box on said local mass storage system.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

generating said IR control packet containing an IR control waveform from an IR waveform specification of said first IR control entry; and

transmitting said IR control packet, based upon said IR control waveform, to said set-top box;

wherein said first IR control entry of said IR control database contains said IR waveform specification.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said transmitting step further comprises providing multiplexed serial transmission of said IR control packet based upon said IR control waveform to said set-top box.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein said transmitting step further comprises providing queued multiplexed serial transmission of said IR control packet based upon said IR control waveform to said set-top box.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

receiving an IR control entry to create a received IR control entry; and

inserting said received IR control entry into said IR control database to create said first IR control entry of said IR control database.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising the steps of:

providing a raw IR control library residing on said mass storage system, wherein said raw IR control library contains a first raw IR control entry;

parsing a first raw IR control entry of a raw IR control library to create a processed first IR control entry, said raw IR control library residing on said mass storage system, wherein said raw IR control library contains said first raw IR control entry; and

creating said first IR control entry of said IR control database from said processed first IR control entry.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising the step of:

generating a raw IR control packet, wherein said raw IR control packet is generated from said first raw IR control entry of said raw IR control library;

wherein said controlling step controls said set-top box by transmission of said raw IR control packet.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising the steps of:

performing a control code search to access a prototype IR control database to select a first prototype IR control entry, said prototype IR control database residing on said mass storage system, wherein said prototype IR control database contains a first prototype IR control entry; and

generating from said first IR control entry said first raw IR control entry of said raw IR control library.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of:

providing a timing interface wherein said first IR control packet is generated from said first prototype IR control entry of said prototype IR control database.

10. The method of claim 6, further comprising the steps of:

providing a corrections-additions database residing on said mass storage system, wherein said corrections-additions database contains a first correction data entry; and

parsing said first correction data entry and said first raw IR control entry to create said processed first IR control entry.

11. The method of claim 6, wherein said system contains a first computer and a second computer;

wherein said mass storage system contains a first mass storage system coupled to said first computer and a second mass storage system coupled to said second computer;

wherein said IR control database includes a first instance of said IR control database residing on said first mass storage system coupled to said first computer;

wherein said receiving step creates said received first IR control entry at said first computer;

wherein said insertion step inserts said received first IR control entry at said first computer to create said first IR control entry of said first instance of said IR control database residing on said first mass storage system;

wherein said raw IR control library resides on said second mass storage system containing said first raw IR control entry;

wherein said library parsing step creates said processed first IR control entry by said second computer; and

wherein said communication step communicates said processed first IR control entry by said second computer to create said first IR control entry of said IR control database.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said system further includes a server computer system;

wherein said receiving step creates a received first IR control entry by said server computer system; and

said creating step includes the steps of;

sending said processed first IR control entry by said second computer to create said first IR control entry by said server computer system; and

sending said processed first IR control entry by said server computer system to create said first IR control entry of said first instance of said IR control database by said first computer.

13. The method of claim 6, wherein said first IR control entry of said IR control database includes a first IR control syntax specification.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said first IR control syntax specification includes a number of digits in a channel specification.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein said first IR control syntax specification entry includes a delimiter specification ending an IR transmission.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein said first IR control syntax specification entry includes a delay specification between digits of an IR transmission.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein said first IR control syntax specification entry includes a prefix specification.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said prefix specification includes an A/B switch prefix selection.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein said prefix specification includes an A/B/C switch prefix selection.

20. An apparatus for controlling of a set-top box, comprising:

a local mass storage system in a set-top unit;

an IR control database residing on said mass storage system wherein said IR control database contains a plurality of IR control entries;

an IR control packet, wherein said IR control packet is generated from a first IR control entry of said IR control database;

a transmitter that controls said set-top box by transmitting said IR control packet thereto; and

wherein said set-top unit stores video and/or audio content received from said set-top box on said local mass storage system.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, said IR control packet further comprising:

an IR control waveform based upon an IR waveform specification of said first IR control entry;

wherein said IR control packet is transmitted to said set-top box based upon said IR control waveform.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein said transmitter provides multiplexed serial transmission of said IR control packet to said set-top box based upon said IR control waveform.

23. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein said transmitter provides queued multiplexed serial transmission of said IR control packet to said set-top box based upon said IR control waveform.

24. The apparatus of claim 20, further comprising:

means for creating a received IR control entry based upon reception of an IR control entry; and

means for creating said first IR control entry of said IR control database based upon insertion of said received IR control entry into said IR control database.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, further comprising:

a raw IR control library residing on said mass storage system, wherein said raw IR control library contains a first raw IR control entry;

means for parsing said first raw IR control entry of said raw IR control library to create a processed first IR control entry; and

means for communicating said processed first IR control entry to create said first IR control entry of said IR control database.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, further comprising:

a raw IR control packet, wherein said IR control packet is generated from said first raw IR control entry of said raw IR control library; and

wherein said transmitter provides control to said set-top box by transmission of said raw IR control packet.

27. The apparatus of claim 25, further comprising:

a prototype IR control database residing on said mass storage system containing a first prototype IR control entry;

means for performing a control code search access on said prototype IR control database to select a first prototype IR control entry; and

means for generating from said first IR control entry said first raw IR control entry of said raw IR control library.

28. The apparatus of claim 27, further comprising:

a timing interface, wherein said first IR control packet is generated from said first prototype IR control entry of said prototype IR control database.

29. The apparatus of claim 25, further comprising:

a corrections-additions database residing on said mass storage system, said corrections-additions database containing a first correction data entry; and

means for parsing said first correction data entry and of said first raw IR control entry to create said processed first IR control entry.

30. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein said system further comprises a first computer and a second computer;

wherein said mass storage system further comprises a first mass storage system coupled to said first computer and a second mass storage system coupled to said second computer;

wherein said IR control database comprises a first instance of said IR control database residing on said first mass storage system coupled to said first computer;

wherein said creating a received IR control entry module creates said received first IR control entry at said first computer;

wherein said creating said first IR control entry module inserts said received first IR control entry at said first computer to create said first IR control entry of said first instance of said IR control database residing on said first mass storage system;

wherein said raw IR control library resides on said second mass storage system containing said first raw IR control entry;

wherein said library parsing creates said processed first IR control entry by said second computer; and

wherein said communicating module communicates said processed first IR control entry by said second computer to create said first IR control entry of said IR control database.

31. The apparatus of claim 30,

wherein said system further comprises a server computer system;

wherein said creating a received IR control entry module creates a received first IR control entry by said server computer system; and

wherein said communicating module comprises;

a module for sending said processed first IR control entry by said second computer to create said first IR control entry by said server computer system; and

a module for sending said processed first IR control entry by said server computer system to create said first IR control entry of said first instance of said IR control database by said first computer.

32. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein said first IR control entry of said IR control database comprises a first IR control syntax specification.

33. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein said first IR control syntax specification comprises a number of digits in a channel specification.

34. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein said first IR control syntax specification entry comprises a delimiter specification ending an IR transmitter.

35. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein said first IR control syntax specification entry comprises a delay specification between digits of an IR transmitter.

36. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein said first IR control syntax specification entry comprises a prefix specification.

37. The apparatus of claim 36, wherein said prefix specification includes an A/B switch prefix selection.

38. The apparatus of claim 36, wherein said prefix specification includes an A/B/C switch prefix selection.

39. A system for controlling a set-top box, comprising:

an IR control database residing on a local mass storage system in a set-top unit;

wherein said set-top unit stores video and/or audio content received from said set-top box on said local mass storage system;

a module for receiving an IR control entry to create a received IR control entry;

a module for inserting said received IR control entry into said IR control database to create a first IR control entry of said IR control database;

a module for generating an IR control packet from a first IR control entry of said IR control database;

a module for controlling said set-top box by serial transmission of said IR control packet;

a raw IR control library residing on said mass storage system, which said raw IR control library contains a first raw IR control entry;

a module for parsing said first raw IR control entry of said raw IR control library to create a processed first IR control entry;

a module for communicating said processed first IR control entry to create said first IR control entry of said IR control database;

a corrections-additions database residing on said mass storage system, wherein said corrections-additions database contains a first correction data entry; and

a module for parsing said first correction data entry and said first raw IR control entry to create said processed first IR control entry, wherein said IR control database contains at least one IR control entry.