Apparatus for remotely controlling set-top boxes and an associated method and computer program product
First Claim
1. An apparatus comprising:
- a memory device configured to store an image file that at least partially defines an image of a set-top box remote controller that includes a plurality of remote controller buttons, and to store a plurality of signal files representing commands that are each configured to control an operation of a respective set-top box and are associated with respective buttons in the image of the set-top box remote controller; and
a processor configured to generate an image of a set-top box remote controller upon a display according to the image file and to respond to a selection of a respective remote controller button in the image of the set-top box remote controller so as to cause an associated signal to be transmitted to the respective set-top box;
wherein the processor is further configured toreceive a plurality of inputs selecting one or more of the buttons in a sequence, the selections made by a user interacting with the one or more of the buttons in the displayed image of the set-top box remote controller,transmit, at a time the selections are made by the user, signals representing a sequence of commands associated with the one or more of the buttons selected in the sequence to the set-top box,store, at the time the selections are made by the user, the plurality of inputs selecting the one or more of the buttons in the sequence for use in at least one future transmission of the sequence of commands associated with the one or more of the buttons selected in the sequence,set a time delay between transmission of two or more commands in the sequence of commands for use in the at least one future transmission of the sequence of commands associated with the one or more of the buttons selected in the sequence,automatically vary the time delay based on the set-top box type,capture a plurality of still-images of video feedback of content received at the respective set-top box during execution, by the respective set-top box, of the sequence of commands associated with the signals transmitted to the respective set-top box, the content received at the set-top box comprising a movie, andcompare the plurality of still-images of the video feedback to at least a portion of a reference video.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus is provided for remotely controlling set-top boxes. In general, a virtual remote controller is described including a memory device and a processor. The memory device is configured to store an image file and more than one signal file. The image file defines an image of a set-top box remote controller, and each signal file defines a command to control an operation of the set-top box. The processor is configured to generate the image of the remote controller according to the image file. The image of the remote controller includes buttons, and a signal file is associated with each button. Selecting a button causes a signal defined by the signal file associated with the selected button to be transmitted from the apparatus to the respective set-top box to command the set-top box to perform an operation. A method and a computer program product are also provided for remotely controlling set-top boxes.
92 Citations
26 Claims
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1. An apparatus comprising:
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a memory device configured to store an image file that at least partially defines an image of a set-top box remote controller that includes a plurality of remote controller buttons, and to store a plurality of signal files representing commands that are each configured to control an operation of a respective set-top box and are associated with respective buttons in the image of the set-top box remote controller; and a processor configured to generate an image of a set-top box remote controller upon a display according to the image file and to respond to a selection of a respective remote controller button in the image of the set-top box remote controller so as to cause an associated signal to be transmitted to the respective set-top box; wherein the processor is further configured to receive a plurality of inputs selecting one or more of the buttons in a sequence, the selections made by a user interacting with the one or more of the buttons in the displayed image of the set-top box remote controller, transmit, at a time the selections are made by the user, signals representing a sequence of commands associated with the one or more of the buttons selected in the sequence to the set-top box, store, at the time the selections are made by the user, the plurality of inputs selecting the one or more of the buttons in the sequence for use in at least one future transmission of the sequence of commands associated with the one or more of the buttons selected in the sequence, set a time delay between transmission of two or more commands in the sequence of commands for use in the at least one future transmission of the sequence of commands associated with the one or more of the buttons selected in the sequence, automatically vary the time delay based on the set-top box type, capture a plurality of still-images of video feedback of content received at the respective set-top box during execution, by the respective set-top box, of the sequence of commands associated with the signals transmitted to the respective set-top box, the content received at the set-top box comprising a movie, and compare the plurality of still-images of the video feedback to at least a portion of a reference video. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method comprising:
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displaying, by a virtual remote controller apparatus on a display, an image of a physical remote controller configured to control a set-top box, the image including a plurality of buttons; receiving, by the virtual remote controller apparatus, a plurality of inputs selecting one or more of the buttons in a sequence, the selections made by a user interacting with the one or more of the buttons in the displayed image of the physical remote controller; transmitting, by the virtual remote controller apparatus and at a time the selections are made by the user, signals representing a sequence of commands associated with the one or more of the buttons selected in the sequence to the set-top box; storing, by the virtual remote controller apparatus and at the time the selections are made by the user, the plurality of inputs selecting the one or more of the buttons in the sequence for use in at least one future transmission of the sequence of commands associated with the one or more of the buttons selected in the sequence; setting, by the virtual remote controller apparatus, a time delay between transmission of two or more commands in the sequence of commands for use in the at least one future transmission of the sequence of commands associated with the one or more of the buttons selected in the sequence; automatically varying, by the virtual remote controller apparatus, the time delay based on at least one of the set-top box type and capabilities of the set-top box to receive and implement a series of commands; capturing, by the virtual remote controller apparatus, a plurality of still-images of video feedback of content received at the set-top box during execution, by the set-top box, of the sequence of commands associated with the signals transmitted to the set-top box, the content received at the set-top box comprising a movie; and comparing the plurality of still-images of the video feedback to at least a portion of a reference video. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code portions stored therein, the computer-readable program code portions comprising:
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a first executable portion for displaying an image of a remote controller configured to control a set-top box, the image including a plurality of buttons; a second executable portion for receiving a plurality of inputs selecting one or more of the buttons in a sequence, the selections made by a user interacting with the one or more of the buttons in the displayed image of the remote controller; a third executable portion for transmitting, at a time the selections are made by the user, signals representing a sequence of commands associated with the one or more of the buttons selected in the sequence to the set-top box; a fourth executable portion for storing, at the time the selections are made by the user, the plurality of inputs selecting the one or more of the buttons in the sequence for use in at least one future transmission of the sequence of commands associated with the one or more of the buttons selected in the sequence; a fifth executable portion for setting, by the virtual remote controller apparatus, a time delay between transmission of two or more commands in the sequence of commands for use in the at least one future transmission of the sequence of commands associated with the one or more of the buttons selected in the sequence; a sixth executable portion for automatically varying, by the virtual remote controller apparatus, the time delay based on at least one of the set-top box type and capabilities of the set-top box to receive and implement a series of commands; a seventh executable portion for capturing a plurality of still-images of video feedback of content received at the set-top box during execution, by the set-top box, of the sequence of commands associated with the signals transmitted to the set-top box, the content received at the set-top box comprising a movie; and an eighth executable portion for comparing the plurality of still-images of the video feedback to at least a portion of a reference video. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification