Smart phone as remote control device
First Claim
1. A method for wireless communication to a client of a multimedia content distribution network from a hand-held communication device, comprising:
- receiving video data from a digital television server of the multimedia content distribution network, wherein the video data is indicative of multimedia content being provided to a client via the multimedia content distribution network;
displaying a remote control interface on a touch screen display of the hand-held communication device, wherein the remote control interface includes;
a content pane for displaying the video data;
a command virtual control corresponding to a remote control command; and
a device virtual control for selecting a set-top box associated with a client account for providing service to the client;
responsive to detecting a user input via the command virtual control, generating the remote control command; and
sending the remote control command to the digital television server for delivery, via the multimedia content distribution network, to the client.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A communication device such as a smart phone is enabled for remotely controlling set-top boxes (STBs) over Internet protocol networks using an applet running on the communication device. Authentication from within a multimedia content distribution network may be achieved by verifying that a network identifier associated with the communication device is associated with an account that has granted access to the smart phone and that is associated with the controlled STB. A viewing pane on the communication device permits a user to remotely view content received on or available to the controlled STB.
-
Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A method for wireless communication to a client of a multimedia content distribution network from a hand-held communication device, comprising:
-
receiving video data from a digital television server of the multimedia content distribution network, wherein the video data is indicative of multimedia content being provided to a client via the multimedia content distribution network; displaying a remote control interface on a touch screen display of the hand-held communication device, wherein the remote control interface includes; a content pane for displaying the video data; a command virtual control corresponding to a remote control command; and a device virtual control for selecting a set-top box associated with a client account for providing service to the client; responsive to detecting a user input via the command virtual control, generating the remote control command; and sending the remote control command to the digital television server for delivery, via the multimedia content distribution network, to the client. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
-
-
9. A digital television server for use in a multimedia content distribution network, comprising:
a processor configured to access memory media, wherein the memory media include instructions executable by the processor to; stream digital television content to a set-top box; stream video data to a hand-held communication device enabled to display the video data, wherein the video data is indicative of a portion of the digital television content being provided to the set-top box; receive a remote control command from the hand-held communication device; depending on the remote control command, send a control command to the set-top box corresponding to the remote control command, wherein the control command causes the set-top box to modify content being output from the set-top box; and send history data indicative of a viewing history of the set-top box to the hand-held communication device. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
-
15. Non-transitory computer-readable storage media, including instructions for managing content delivered by a multimedia content distribution network, the instructions executable by a processor to:
-
stream multimedia content to a client via the multimedia content distribution network; send video data to a wireless telephone device, wherein the video data is indicative of the multimedia content being streamed to the client; receive a signal indicative of user input at the wireless telephone device, the signal representing a remote control command associated with the client; send a control command to the client corresponding to the remote control command, wherein the control command specifies multimedia content for display at the client, wherein the client includes a first set-top box associated with a client user account for the multimedia content distribution network, and wherein the control command controls multimedia content output by the first set-top box. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
Specification