Endurance testing of a content processing device

• US 8,677,433 B2
• Filed: 12/13/2007
• Issued: 03/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Sankaranarayanan, Parvathinathan, Muthumohan, Deepak
• Primary Examiner(s): SCHNURR, JOHN R
• Application Number:
  US11/956,149
• Publication Number:
  US 20090158381A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,287 Days
• Field of Search: 725/31, 725/54, 725/105, 725/107, 725/109, 725/110, 725/116, 725/131, 725/133, 348/180, 348/192, 714/755
• US Class Current: 725/107
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 17/004 for digital television systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 17/04 for receivers

Abstract

A content processing device is configured to selectively receive a media signal from a media signal provider. A distribution device is configured to selectively receive a media signal from the content processing device, and to selectively provide one or more command signals to the content processing device. A computer is configured to selectively receive the media signal from the distribution device, and to selectively provide commands to the distribution device. The distribution device is further configured to provide the received one or more commands to the content processing device via the one or more command signals.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a plurality of content processing devices, each configured to selectively receive a media signal from a media signal provider, wherein each of the content processing devices comprises customer premises equipment;

a distribution device that is configured to selectively receive a media signal from at least some of the plurality of content processing devices, and to selectively provide one or more command signals to the plurality of content processing devices; and

a computer that is configured to selectively receive the media signal from the distribution device, and to selectively provide test commands to the distribution device,

the distribution device being further configured to provide the received media signals to a computer via a network and to provide the received one or more test commands to at least one of the plurality of content processing devices via the one or more command signals,

the computer being further configured to send the one or more test commands to, and receive the media signal from, the distribution device, and to interpret instructions from a test script, wherein the computer is further configured to monitor the received media signal from the distribution device to determine if at least one of the plurality of content processing devices has experienced a failure event, and send a reboot command to the at least one of the plurality of content processing devices via the network without transmission through the distribution device if a failure event has occurred, the computer being further configured to continue the test of the at least one of the plurality of content processing devices subsequent to a reboot, wherein the test following the reboot continues from the point in the test script where the failure event occurred, and

the computer being further configured to create a log entry if a failure event has occurred, the log entry comprising;

a duration of the test, a sequence of previously submitted test commands, and the last command submitted to the at least one of the plurality of content processing devices before the failure event occurred.

2. A system, comprising:

a content processing device that is configured to selectively receive a media signal from a media signal provider, wherein the content processing device comprises customer premises equipment;

a distribution device that is configured to selectively receive a media signal from the content processing device, and to selectively provide one or more command signals to the content processing device;

a computer that is configured to selectively receive the media signal from the distribution device, and to selectively provide test commands to the distribution device, the distribution device being further configured to provide the received one or more test commands to the content processing device via the one or more command signals, wherein the computer is further configured to interpret instructions from a test script, wherein the computer is further configured to monitor the received media signal from the distribution device to determine if the content processing device has experienced a failure event, and send a reboot command to the content processing device via the network without transmission through the distribution device if a failure event has occurred, the computer being further configured to continue the test of the content processing device subsequent to a reboot, wherein the test following the reboot continues from the point in the test script where the failure event occurred, and

the computer being further configured to create a log entry if a failure event has occurred, the log entry comprising;

a duration of the test, a sequence of previously submitted test commands, and the last command submitted to the content processing device before the failure event occurred.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the content processing device is one of a set-top box, a video cassette recorder, a digital video disc player, a digital video recorder, a personal video recorder, a video game console, a cellular phone, a hand-held video player, and a television.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the computer is one of a personal computer, a workstation, a handheld computer, a personal digital assistant, a tablet computer, a server, and a cellular phone.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein the command signal is communicated through an infrared signal, a radio frequency signal, or a direct cable connection.

6. The system of claim 2, wherein the distribution device is configured to selectively receive a media signal from a plurality of content processing devices, to selectively provide one or more command signals to the plurality of content processing devices, and is further configured to provide the received media signals to the computer via a network.

7. The system of claim 2, wherein the failure event is one of a system crash, a system reboot, and a lost media signal.

8. The system of claim 2, wherein the computer determines if the failure event has occurred by monitoring the received media signal for a lost or a dropped signal.

9. The system of claim 2, wherein the failure event is detected by a video output providing a lost video indicator.

10. A method, comprising:

providing a media signal from a content processing device to a distribution device, wherein the content processing device comprises customer premises equipment;

receiving the media signal, in a computer, from the distribution device;

interpreting instructions from a test script;

providing a first test command from the computer to the distribution device;

providing a second test command, from the distribution device, based on the first command, to the content processing device;

monitoring the received media signal in the computer to determine if the content processing device has experienced a failure event;

detecting a failure event associated with the content processing device;

sending a reboot command to the content processing device via a network without transmission through the distribution device in response to the failure event;

creating a log entry in response to the failure event, the log entry comprising;

a duration of the test, a sequence of previously submitted test commands, and the last command submitted to the content processing device before the failure event occurred; and

continuing the test of the content processing device subsequent to a reboot, wherein the test following the reboot continues at the point in the test script where the failure event occurred.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the content processing device is one of a set-top box, a video cassette recorder, a digital video disc player, a digital video recorder, a personal video recorder, a video game console, a cellular phone, a hand-held video player, and a television.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the computer is one of a personal computer, a workstation, a handheld computer, a personal digital assistant, a tablet computer, a server, and a cellular phone.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the failure event is one of a system crash, a system reboot, and a lost media signal.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the computer determines if the failure event has occurred by monitoring the received media signal for a lost or a dropped signal.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the failure event is detected by a video output providing a lost video indicator.

16. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions tangibly embodied thereon, the instructions including instructions for:

receiving a media signal from a distribution device that is in communication with a content processing device, wherein the content processing device comprises customer premises equipment;

interpreting instructions from a test script;

providing a test command to the distribution device for the content processing device;

monitoring the received media signal;

determining if the content processing device has experienced a failure event;

sending a reboot command to the content processing device via a network without transmission through the distribution device if a failure event has occurred;

creating a log entry if a failure event has occurred, and providing a test command if no failure event has occurred,

recording in the log entry a duration of the test, a sequence of previously submitted test commands, and the last command submitted to the content processing device before the failure event occurred; and

continuing the test of the content processing device subsequent to a reboot, wherein the test following the reboot continues at the point in the test script where the failure event occurred.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 16, the instructions further including instructions for displaying a video portion of the received media signal.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 16, the instructions further including instructions for receiving a media signal, and providing a test command to a plurality of distribution devices based on the media signal.