Application for in-field discovery, diagnosis and repair of a set-top device
First Claim
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1. A method, comprising the steps of:
- determining that at least a first set-top device is non-responsive to a head-end via a communication channel established between the head-end and the first set-top device, when the first set-top device status is not received in the head-end when expected, wherein the first set-top device is capable of loading and executing an SAR module;
executing a search and rescue (SAR) module on the first set-top device upon determining that the first set-top device is non-responsive to the head-end;
attempting to re-establish communications between the first set-top device and the head-end by the SAR module executing on the first set-top device;
determining that said SAR module executing on the first set-top device is unsuccessful in re-establishing communications between the first set-top device and the head-end;
executing the same SAR module on at least a second set-top device operatively connected with the first set-top device via a local network upon determining that said SAR module executing on the first set-top device is unsuccessful in re-establishing communications between the first set-top device and the head-end, the second set-top device being responsive to the head-end;
collecting, by the SAR module executing on the first set-top device, information relating to an operational status of the first set-top device;
obtaining, by the same SAR module executing on the second set-top device, said information relating to the operational status of the first set-top device; and
sending, through the second set-top device, said information relating to the operational status of the first set-top device to the head-end.
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Abstract
A method for performing in-field discovery, diagnosis and/or repair of a set-top device includes the steps of: determining whether at least a first set-top device is non-responsive to a head-end via a communication channel established between the head-end and the first set-top device; executing a search and rescue (SAR) module on the first set-top device when it is determined that the first set-top device is non-responsive to the head-end; and re-establishing communications between the first set-top device and the head-end by the SAR module executing on the first set-top device.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method, comprising the steps of:
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determining that at least a first set-top device is non-responsive to a head-end via a communication channel established between the head-end and the first set-top device, when the first set-top device status is not received in the head-end when expected, wherein the first set-top device is capable of loading and executing an SAR module; executing a search and rescue (SAR) module on the first set-top device upon determining that the first set-top device is non-responsive to the head-end; attempting to re-establish communications between the first set-top device and the head-end by the SAR module executing on the first set-top device; determining that said SAR module executing on the first set-top device is unsuccessful in re-establishing communications between the first set-top device and the head-end; executing the same SAR module on at least a second set-top device operatively connected with the first set-top device via a local network upon determining that said SAR module executing on the first set-top device is unsuccessful in re-establishing communications between the first set-top device and the head-end, the second set-top device being responsive to the head-end; collecting, by the SAR module executing on the first set-top device, information relating to an operational status of the first set-top device; obtaining, by the same SAR module executing on the second set-top device, said information relating to the operational status of the first set-top device; and sending, through the second set-top device, said information relating to the operational status of the first set-top device to the head-end. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An apparatus for performing at least one of in-field discovery, diagnosis and repair of a set-top device that has become inaccessible to a head-end through a communication channel established between the head-end and said set-top device, the apparatus comprising:
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a memory; at least one processor coupled to said memory; and a non-transitory persistent storage medium that contains instructions which, when loaded into said memory, instruct said at least one processor; to determine that at least a first set-top device is non-responsive to a head-end via a communication channel established between the head-end and the first set-top device, when the first set-top device status is not received in the head-end when expected, wherein the first set-top device is capable of loading and executing an SAR module; to cause a search and rescue (SAR) module to execute on the first set-top device upon determining that the first set-top device is non-responsive to the head-end, said SAR module executing on the first set-top device for the purpose of re-establishing communications between the first set-top device and the head-end; to determine that said SAR module executing on the first set-top device is unsuccessful in re-establishing communications between the first set-top device and the head-end; to search for at least a second set-top device, connected with the first set-top device on a local network and responsive to the head-end, upon determining that said SAR module executing on the first set-top device is unsuccessful in re-establishing communications between the first set-top device and the head-end; and to cause the same SAR module to execute on the second set-top device, said SAR module executing on the second set-top device obtaining information regarding an operational status of the first set-top device from the first set-top device, whereby the head-end obtains said information relating to the operational status of the first set-top device via the second set-top device. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A first set-top device, comprising:
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a memory; at least one processor coupled to the memory; and a non-transitory persistent storage medium that contains instructions which, when loaded into said memory, instruct the at least one processor; to determine that the first set-top device is non-responsive to a head-end via a communication channel established between the head-end and the first set-top device, when the first set-top device status is not received in the head-end when expected, wherein the first set-top device is capable of loading and executing an SAR module; to execute a search and rescue (SAR) module on the first set-top device upon determining that the first set-top device is non-responsive to the head-end via the communication channel established between the head-end and the first set-top device, said SAR module executing on the first set-top device for the purpose of re-establishing communications between the first set-top device and the head-end; to determine that said SAR module is unsuccessful at re-establishing communications between the first set-top device and the head-end; upon determining that said SAR module is unsuccessful at re-establishing communications between the first set-top device and the head-end, to search for at least a second set-top device, connected with the first set-top device on a local network, said SAR module executing on the first set-top device providing information regarding an operational status of the first set-top device to said second set-top device, whereby the head-end obtains said information relating to the operational status of the first set-top device via the second set-top device.
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24. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising computer executable instructions which when executed by a computer cause the computer to perform the steps of:
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when the first set-top device status is not received in the head-end when expected, wherein the first set-top device is capable of loading and executing an SAR module; executing a search and rescue (SAR) module on the first set-top device upon determining that the first set-top device is non-responsive to the head-end; attempting to re-establish communications between the first set-top device and the head-end by the SAR module executing on the first set-top device; determining that said SAR module executing on the first set-top device is unsuccessful in re-establishing communications between the first set-top device and the head-end; upon determining that said SAR module executing on the first set-top device is unsuccessful in re-establishing communications between the first set-top device and the head-end, executing the same SAR module on at least a second set-top device operatively connected with the first set-top device via a local network, the second set-top device being responsive to the head-end; collecting, by the SAR module executing on the first set-top device, information relating to an operational status of the first set-top device; obtaining, by the same SAR module executing on the second set-top device, said information relating to the operational status of the first set-top device; and sending, through the second set-top device, said information relating to the operational status of the first set-top device to the head-end. - View Dependent Claims (25)
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Specification