Set top box resource allocation for executing a widget

• US 8,745,681 B2
• Filed: 10/19/2011
• Issued: 06/03/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Babu, Narendra B., Raman, Sampath X., Apte, Chinmay R.
• Primary Examiner(s): TAYLOR, JOSHUA D
• Application Number:
  US13/276,534
• Publication Number:
  US 20130104178A1
• Time in Patent Office: 958 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 725/107
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44204 Monitoring of content usage, e.g. the number of times a movie has been viewed, copied or the amount which has been watched monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; protecting generic digital content where the protection is independent of the precise nature of the content G06F21/10; arrangements for monitoring the use made of the broadcast services in broadcast systems H04H60/31
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4424 Monitoring of the internal components or processes of the client device, e.g. CPU or memory load, processing speed, timer, counter or percentage of the hard disk space used error monitoring in general G06F11/30; arrangements for monitoring conditions of receiving stations in broadcast systems H04H60/32; diagnosis, testing or measuring for television receivers H04N17/04
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4516 involving client characteristics, e.g. Set-Top-Box type, software version or amount of memory available
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6582 Data stored in the client, e.g. viewing habits, hardware capabilities, credit card number arrangements where receivers interact with the broadcast H04H20/38

Abstract

A system is configured to receive a request to establish a session with a set top box device executing an application; obtaining a profile that identifies usage patterns of resources associated with the device; obtain another profile that identifies a first quantity of the resources to be used by the application; identify a second quantity of the resources to be allocated for executing the application based on the profile and other profile; receive information that identifies a third quantity of the resources used, by the application, during the session; transmit a notification indicating that a condition is associated with the application when the third quantity of the resources is greater than the second quantity of the resources; and transmit another notification indicating that a condition is not associated with the application when the third quantity of the resources is not greater than the second quantity of the resources.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving, by a user device, a request to establish a session with a set top box that is executing an application;

obtaining, by the user device and in response to the request, a resource profile, associated with the set top box, that identifies usage patterns of resources associated with the set top box;

obtaining, from the set top box, a usage profile, associated with the application, that identifies a first quantity of the resources expected to be used, by the application, during the session;

creating, by the user device, a resource configuration, associated with the set top box, that identifies a second quantity of the resources to be allocated for executing the application based on the resource profile and the usage profile;

receiving, from the set top box, usage information that identifies a third quantity of the resources that have been used by the application during the session;

transmitting, by the user device, a first notification that a first condition is associated with the application when the third quantity of the resources is greater than the second quantity of the resources; and

transmitting, by the user device, a second notification that a second condition is associated with the application when the first quantity of the resources is greater than the second quantity of the resources.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the resources associated with the set top box correspond to at least two of:

graphics resources that identify a quantity of graphics windows that are permitted by the set top box,

network resources that identify a quantity of network activity that is permitted by the set top box,

bitmap resources that identify a quantity of bitmaps that are permitted to be downloaded to the set top box, or

timer resources that identify a quantity of available processing time associated with the set top box.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein creating the resource configuration, associated with the set top box, further includes at least two of:

identifying a first threshold, associated with the timer resources, that identifies a portion of the timer resources that are to be allocated, to the application, when the set top box executes the application;

identifying a second threshold, associated with the graphics resources, that identifies a portion of the graphics resources that is to be allocated, to the application, when the set top box executes the application;

identifying a third threshold, associated with the network resources, that identifies a portion of the network resources that is to be allocated, to the application, when the set top box executes the application;

or

identifying a fourth threshold, associated with the bitmap resources, that identifies a portion of the bitmap resources that is to be allocated, to the application, when the set top box executes the application.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the resources associated with the set top box correspond to memory resources that identify a quantity of available memory associated with the set top box, and creating the resource configuration further includes:

obtaining, from the usage profile, a first quantity of memory to be used by the application;

obtaining, from the resource profile, a second quantity of memory, associated with the set top box, that can be used, by the set top box, to execute one or more applications; and

identifying a threshold based on a lesser of the first quantity of memory or the second quantity of memory, wherein the threshold identifies a portion of the memory resources that is to be allocated, to the application, when the set top box executes the application.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the resources associated with the set top box correspond to memory resources that identify a quantity of available memory associated with the set top box, the method further comprising:

obtaining, from the usage profile, a first quantity or amount of memory to be used by the application;

obtaining, from the resource profile, a second quantity or amount of memory, associated with the set top box, that can be used, by the set top box, to execute one or more applications; and

determining that the second condition is associated with the application when the first quantity or amount of memory is greater than the second quantity or amount of memory.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a request to set up the resource profile;

providing a user interface that allows a user, of the user device, to enter information associated with the resource profile,

where the information associated with the resource profile identifies the resources that the set top box is permitted to use to execute one or more applications;

receiving, via the user interface, the information associated with the resource profile; and

creating the resource profile based on the information associated with the resource profile.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

communicating, with the set top box, to establish a connection with the set top box as a result of receiving the request to establish the session.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a request to establish another session with another set top box that is emulated on a server device;

establishing a connection with the server device that allows the other session to be established with the other set top box,

where establishing the other session allows the server device to emulate the other set top box executing another application.

9. The method of claim 8, where emulating the other application, being executed by the other set top box, allows a developer, of the other application, to cause the other application to use a quantity of resources that is less than available resources identified by a resource configuration associated with the other set top box.

10. A user device comprising:

one or more memories storing instructions; and

one or more processors to execute the instructions to;

receive a request to establish a session with a set top box for executing an application;

obtain, in response to the request, a resource profile, associated with the set top box, that identifies usage patterns of resources associated with the set top box;

obtain, from the set top box, a usage profile associated with the application, identifying a first quantity of the resources expected to be used for executing the application during the session;

create, based on the resource profile and the usage profile a resource configuration, associated with the set top box, identifying a second quantity of the resources to be allocated for executing the application;

receive, from the set top box, usage information identifying a third quantity of the resources that have been used by the application during the session;

transmit, when the third quantity of the resources is greater than the second quantity of the resources, a first notification that a first condition is associated with the application; and

transmit, when the first quantity of the resources is greater than the second quantity of the resources, a second notification that a second condition is associated with the application.

11. The user device of claim 10, wherein the resources associated with the set top box correspond to at least one of:

graphics resources identifying a quantity of graphics windows that are permitted by the set top box,

bitmap resources identifying a quantity of bitmaps that are permitted to be downloaded to the set top box, or

timer resources identifying a quantity of available processing time associated with the set top box.

12. The user device of claim 11, wherein, when creating the resource configuration, associated with the set top box, the one or more processors further execute the instructions to:

identify a first threshold, associated with the timer resources, that identifies a portion of the timer resources that are to be allocated, to the application, when the set top box executes the application;

identify a second threshold, associated with the graphics resources, that identifies a portion of the graphics resources that is to be allocated, to the application, when the set top box executes the application;

or

identify a third threshold, associated with the bitmap resources, that identifies a portion of the bitmap resources that is to be allocated, to the application, when the set top box executes the application.

13. The user device of claim 10, wherein the resources associated with the set top box correspond to memory resources identifying a quantity of available memory associated with the set top box, and when creating the resource configuration, associated with the set top box, the one or more processors further execute the instructions to:

obtain, from the usage profile, a first quantity of memory to be used by the application;

obtain, from the resource profile, a second quantity of memory, associated with the set top box, that can be used, by the set top box, to execute one or more applications; and

identify a threshold based on a lesser of the first quantity of memory or the second quantity of memory, wherein the threshold identifies a portion of the memory resources that is to be allocated, to the application, when the set top box executes the application.

14. The user device of claim 10, wherein the resources associated with the set top box correspond to memory resources that identify a quantity of available memory associated with the set top box, and the one or more processors further execute the instructions to:

obtain, from the usage profile, a first quantity or amount of memory to be used by the application;

obtain, from the resource profile, a second quantity or amount of memory, associated with the set top box, that can be used, by the set top box, to execute one or more applications; and

determine that the second condition is associated with the application when the first quantity or amount of memory is greater than the second quantity or amount of memory.

15. The user device of claim 10, the one or more processors to further execute the instructions to:

receive a request to set up the resource profile;

provide a user interface that allows a user, of the user device, to enter information associated with the resource profile,

wherein the information associated with the resource profile identifies the resources that the set top box is permitted to use to execute one or more applications;

receive, via the user interface, the information associated with the resource profile; and

create the resource profile based on the information associated with the resource profile.

16. The user device of claim 10, the one or more processors further execute the instructions to:

communicate, with the set top box, to establish a connection with the set top box as a result of receiving the request to establish the session.

17. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, comprising computer-executable instructions for causing one or more processors executing the computer-executable instructions to:

receive a request to establish a session with a set top box for executing an application;

obtain, in response to the request, a resource profile, associated with the set top box, that identifies usage patterns of resources associated with the set top box;

obtain, from the set top box, a usage profile associated with the application, identifying a first quantity of the resources expected to be used for executing the application during the session;

create, based on the resource profile and the usage profile, a resource configuration, associated with the set top box, identifying a second quantity of the resources to be allocated for executing the application;

receive, from the set top box, usage information identifying a third quantity of the resources that have been used by the application during the session;

transmit, when the third quantity of the resources is greater than the second quantity of the resources, a first notification that a first condition is associated with the application; and

transmit, when the first quantity of the resources is greater than the second quantity of the resources, a second notification that a second condition is associated with the application.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the resources associated with the set top box correspond to at least one of:

graphics resources identifying a quantity of graphics windows that are permitted by the set top box,

bitmap resources identifying a quantity of bitmaps that are permitted to be downloaded to the set top box, or

timer resources identifying a quantity of available processing time associated with the set top box.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein, when creating the resource configuration, associated with the set top box, the one or more processors further execute the computer-executable instructions to:

identify a first threshold, associated with the timer resources, that identifies a portion of the timer resources that are to be allocated, to the application, when the set top box executes the application;

identify a second threshold, associated with the graphics resources, that identifies a portion of the graphics resources that is to be allocated, to the application, when the set top box executes the application;

or

identify a third threshold, associated with the bitmap resources, that identifies a portion of the bitmap resources that is to be allocated, to the application, when the set top box executes the application.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the resources associated with the set top box correspond to memory resources identifying a quantity of available memory associated with the set top box, and when creating the resource configuration, associated with the set top box, the one or more processors execute the computer-executable instructions further to:

obtain, from the usage profile, a first quantity of memory to be used by the application;

obtain, from the resource profile, a second quantity of memory, associated with the set top box, that can be used, by the set top box, to execute one or more applications; and

identify a threshold based on a lesser of the first quantity of memory or the second quantity of memory, wherein the threshold identifies a portion of the memory resources that is to be allocated, to the application, when the set top box executes the application.

21. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the resources associated with the set top box correspond to memory resources that identify a quantity of available memory associated with the set top box, and the one or more processors further execute the computer-executable instructions to:

obtain, from the usage profile, a first quantity or amount of memory to be used by the application;

obtain, from the resource profile, a second quantity or amount of memory, associated with the set top box, that can be used, by the set top box, to execute one or more applications; and

determine that the second condition is associated with the application when the first quantity or amount of memory is greater than the second quantity or amount of memory.

22. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, the one or more processors to further execute the computer-executable instructions to:

receive a request to set up the resource profile;

provide a user interface that allows a user, of the user device, to enter information associated with the resource profile,

wherein the information associated with the resource profile identifies the resources that the set top box is permitted to use to execute one or more applications;

receive, via the user interface, the information associated with the resource profile; and

create the resource profile based on the information associated with the resource profile.

23. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, the one or more processors further execute the computer-executable instructions to:

communicate, with the set top box, to establish a connection with the set top box as a result of receiving the request to establish the session.