Methods and apparatus for controlling display in a networked device
First Claim
1. Consumer premises equipment (CPE) for use in a content distribution network, said equipment comprising:
- at least one display element operative to display status or other information relating to the operation of said CPE;
an application programming interface (API) resident on said CPE, said API to provide access to said at least one display element; and
a trusted application for running at least in part on said CPE and having permission to utilize said API;
wherein said trusted application controls said at least one display element via said API; and
wherein said API further interfaces with a plurality of different configurations of said display element.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and apparatus for controlling display elements within a networked device. In one embodiment, the network comprises a cable television network, and the device a digital set-top box (DSTB) with front panel display(s). A downloadable software module is provided that is adapted to discover the front panel display capabilities of the device, and control the display accordingly. This approach allows, inter alia, the cable network operator or other entity to manage the user'"'"'s experience relating to the front panel display(s) on various types of client devices. The module is also optionally platform-agnostic (i.e., “universal”) so that the aforementioned capabilities are provided largely irrespective of the device hardware/software environment.
21 Citations
26 Claims
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1. Consumer premises equipment (CPE) for use in a content distribution network, said equipment comprising:
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at least one display element operative to display status or other information relating to the operation of said CPE; an application programming interface (API) resident on said CPE, said API to provide access to said at least one display element; and a trusted application for running at least in part on said CPE and having permission to utilize said API; wherein said trusted application controls said at least one display element via said API; and wherein said API further interfaces with a plurality of different configurations of said display element. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method of operating consumer premises equipment (CPE) in a network, said CPE comprising at least one display element, the method comprising:
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providing a software interface to communicate with said at least one display element; providing a software application to communicate with said at least one display element via said interface, and control at least a portion of the operation of said at least one display element; providing middleware in communication with said software application and said interface, said middleware to determine whether said application is entitled to access said interface; and operating said CPE and said at least one display element using at least said software application when said application has been determined to be entitled; wherein said act of providing a software interface comprises providing an interface which is independent of the particular configuration of said at least one display element. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. Consumer premises equipment (CPE) for use in a content delivery network, said CPE comprising:
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a processor; at least one display element operative to display status or other information relating to the operation of said CPE; a substantially platform-agnostic application programming interface (API) rendered in Java programming language to provide access to said at least one display element; an OCAP-compliant monitor application for running at least in part on said CPE, said monitor application utilizing a Java-based permission scheme to access said API and control said at least one display element; and Java-based middleware operative to run on said processor. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. Consumer premises equipment (CPE) for use in a content distribution network, said equipment comprising:
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display means operative to display status or other information relating to the operation of said CPE; software interface means resident on said CPE, said software interface means providing access to said display means; and a trusted application to run at least in part on said CPE and having permission to utilize said software interface means; wherein said trusted application controls said at least one display element via said software interface means; and wherein said software interface means further interfaces with a plurality of different configurations of said display means. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification