Method and apparatus for controlling a set top box over a wireless adhoc connection

• US 8,495,686 B2
• Filed: 12/27/2010
• Issued: 07/23/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Maddali, Balamuralidhar, George, T. Sahaya, Lanka, Madan Kanth, Refaye, Thalha Yasir, Nimishakavi, Mahendra, Sarpasayanam, Vasanthakumar, Vekataramamoorthy, Sivasankari S., Patel, Naman
• Primary Examiner(s): SHANG, ANNAN Q
• Application Number:
  US12/978,883
• Publication Number:
  US 20120162537A1
• Time in Patent Office: 939 Days
• Field of Search: 725 87-118, 725 78- 85, 725131-134, 725139-142, 709217-232
• US Class Current: 725/81
• 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 21/43615 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 21/44227 Monitoring of local network, e.g. connection or bandwidth variations; Detecting new devices in the local network configuring of peripheral devices in general G06F9/4411; monitoring connectivity in data switched networks H04L43/0811

Abstract

An approach is provided for controlling a set top box on an ad hoc basis. A wireless device detects a mobile terminal that is configured to control one or more set top boxes via a wireless local area network. The wireless device controls, over an adhoc connection, the one or more set top boxes directly or via the mobile terminal based on the detection of the mobile terminal.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

detecting, by a wireless device, a mobile terminal that is configured to control one or more set top boxes via a wireless local area network; and

controlling, by the wireless device, over an adhoc connection the one or more set top boxes directly or via the mobile terminal based on the detection of the mobile terminal,

wherein each set top box is connected to a display, and

wherein said each set top box provides an indicator on or at the display regarding being controlled by the mobile terminal.

2. A method of claim 1, further comprising:

initiating a user datagram protocol broadcast within the wireless local area network to detect the one or more set top boxes or to perform the detection of the mobile terminal.

3. A method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, at the wireless device, a request from the mobile terminal or from the one or more set top boxes to authenticate the wireless device; and

receiving, at the wireless device, a response acknowledging the authentication from the mobile terminal or from the one or more set top boxes.

4. A method of claim 3, wherein the request is in compliance with a transmission control protocol.

5. A method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing, at the wireless device mapping information associated with mapping of commands of the one or more set top boxes to the mobile terminal and the wireless device.

6. A method of claim 5, further comprising:

generating, based on the mapping information, one or more control signals at the wireless device to control the one or more set top boxes over the adhoc connection.

7. A method of claim 5, further comprising:

receiving at the wireless device one or more notifications from the one or more set top boxes.

8. A method of claim 1, wherein the adhoc connection includes a short range wireless connection using either WiFi, Bluetooth, infrared, or a combination thereof.

9. A method comprising:

receiving a connection request from two or more mobile terminals or wireless devices by a set top box via a wireless local area network for an adhoc connection to the set-top box;

authenticating the two or more mobile terminals or wireless devices; and

generating a response acknowledging the authentication from the set top box for transmission to the two or more mobile terminals or wireless devices,

wherein the two or more mobile terminals or wireless devices are configured to control the set top box, and

wherein priority of controlling the set top box among the two or more mobile terminals or wireless devices is based upon a look-up table stored internally in the set top box.

10. A method of claim 9, further comprising:

receiving at the set top box a control signal from one wireless device via one mobile terminal or directly from the one wireless device; and

transmitting a notification from the set top box to the one mobile terminal or the one wireless device.

11. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including computer program code,

the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following,

detect a mobile terminal that is configured to control one or more set top boxes via a wireless local area network; and

control over an adhoc connection the one or more set top boxes directly or via the mobile terminal based on the detection of the mobile terminal,

wherein each set top box is connected to a display, and

wherein said each set top box provides an indicator on or at the display regarding being controlled by the mobile terminal.

12. An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

initiate a user datagram protocol broadcast within the wireless local area network to detect the one or more set top boxes or to perform the detection of the mobile terminal.

13. An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

receive a request from the mobile terminal or from the one or more set top boxes to authenticate the wireless device; and

receive a response acknowledging the authentication from the mobile terminal or from the one or more set top boxes.

14. An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the request is in compliance with a transmission control protocol.

15. An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

store, mapping information associated with mapping of commands of the one or more set top boxes to the mobile terminal and the wireless device.

16. An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

generate, based on the mapping information, one or more control signals to control the directly and indirectly controlled one or more set top boxes over the wireless local area network.

17. An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

receive one or more notifications from the one or more set top boxes.

18. An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the adhoc connection includes a short range wireless connection using either WiFi, Bluetooth, infrared, or a combination thereof.

19. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including computer program code,

the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following,

receive a connection request from two or more mobile terminals or wireless devices by a set top box via a wireless local area network for an adhoc connection to the set-top box;

authenticate the two or more mobile terminals or wireless devices; and

generating a response acknowledging the authentication from the set top box for transmission to the two or more mobile terminals or wireless devices,

wherein the two or more mobile terminals or wireless devices are configured to control the set top box, and

wherein priority of controlling the set top box among the two or more mobile terminals or wireless devices is based upon a look-up table stored internally in the set top box.

20. An apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

receive a control signal from one wireless device via one mobile terminal or directly from the one wireless device; and

transmit a notification from the set top box to the one mobile terminal or the one wireless device.