Channel tuning with synthesized key codes

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9729929-B2
Application number	US-201414455352-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 8, 2014
Priority date	Aug 8, 2014
Publication date	Aug 8, 2017
Grant date	Aug 8, 2017

Abstract

Methods, systems, and computer readable media can be operable to facilitate integrating and coordinating content requests received by a STB from multiple devices. The methods, systems, and apparatuses described in this disclosure enable the integration and coordination of content requests received from different devices by associating a content request with a key code and generating a synthesized key code. The synthesized key code can be customized according to a status of a corresponding STB.

First claim

We claim:

1. A method comprising:
receiving a first command at a customer premise equipment device, the first command being received from a first device, wherein the first command is associated with a first content source and is received at the customer premise equipment device as a uniform resource identifier;
identifying the first content source based upon an association between the uniform resource identifier and the first content source;
based upon the identification of the first content source, determining a key code associated with the first content source, wherein the key code comprises a content source identifier associated with the first content source and one or more commands instructing the customer premise equipment device to output content from the first content source to a requesting device, wherein the key code is formatted as an infrared signal that is expected to be received at the customer premise equipment device as a request for content from the first content source;
generating, at the customer premise equipment device, a synthesized key code comprising the key code associated with the first content source, wherein the synthesized key code is operable to control the customer premise equipment device;
outputting the synthesized key code to an interface module of the customer premise equipment device, wherein the interface module is configured to process infrared commands received at the customer premise equipment device from a remote control unit; and
retrieving, at the customer premise equipment device, content associated with the first content source.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving a second command at the customer premise equipment device, the second command being received from a second device, wherein the second command is associated with a second content source;
determining that a conflict exists between the first command and the second command;
determining a priority level for the first command;
determining a priority level for the second command; and
denying the command having the lower priority level.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the priority levels for the first and the second commands are based upon the types of devices from which the commands are received.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the second device comprises a remote control associated with the customer premise equipment device, the first device comprises a client device that is connected to the same network as the customer premise equipment device, and the priority level for the second command is determined to be higher than the priority level for the first command.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the synthesized key code further comprises an action to be undertaken by the customer premise equipment device.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the action to be undertaken by the customer premise equipment device is exiting a menu.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining that the customer premise equipment device is in a power-saving state; and
wherein the synthesized key code further comprises a command for removing the customer premise equipment device from the power-saving state.

8. An apparatus comprising:
an interface configured to be used to receive a first command, the first command being received from a first device, wherein the first command is associated with a first content source and is received as a uniform resource identifier; and
a synthesizing module configured to:
identify the first content source based upon an association between the uniform resource identifier and the first content source;
based upon the identification of the first content source, determine a key code associated with the first content source, wherein the key code comprises a content source identifier associated with the first content source and one or more commands instructing the apparatus to output content from the first content source to a requesting device, wherein the key code is formatted as an infrared signal that is expected to be received at the apparatus as a request for content from the first content source; and
generate a synthesized key code comprising the key code associated with the first content source, wherein the synthesized key code is operable to control the apparatus; and

one or more tuners configured to retrieve content associated with the first content source.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , further comprising:
an interface configured to be used to receive a second command, the second command being received from a second device; and
a conflict resolution module configured to:
determine that a conflict exists between the first command and the second command;
determine a priority level for the first command;
determine a priority level for the second command; and
deny the command having the lower priority level.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the priority levels for the first and the second commands are based upon the types of devices from which the commands are received.

11. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the second device comprises a remote control associated with the customer premise equipment device, the first device comprises a client device that is connected to the same network as the customer premise equipment device, and the priority level for the second command is determined to be higher than the priority level for the first command.

12. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the synthesized key code comprises a command causing the apparatus to exit a menu.

13. The apparatus of claim 8 , further comprising:
a status module configured to determine that the apparatus is in a power-saving state; and
wherein the synthesized key code further comprises a command causing the apparatus to exit the power-saving state.

14. One or more non-transitory computer readable media having instructions operable to cause one or more processors to perform the operations comprising:
receiving a first command at a customer premise equipment device, the first command being received from a first device, wherein the first command is associated with a first content source and is received at the customer premise equipment device as a uniform resource identifier;
identifying the first content source based upon an association between the uniform resource identifier and the first content source;
based upon the identification of the first content source, determining a key code associated with the first content source, wherein the key code comprises a content source identifier associated with the first content source and one or more commands instructing the customer premise equipment device to output content from the first content source to a requesting device, wherein the key code is formatted as an infrared signal that is expected to be received at the customer premise equipment device as a request for content from the first content source; and
generating, at the customer premise equipment device, a synthesized key code comprising the key code associated with the first content source, wherein the synthesized key code is operable to control the customer premise equipment device;
outputting the synthesized key code to an interface module of the customer premise equipment device, wherein the interface module is configured to process infrared commands received at the customer premise equipment device from a remote control unit; and
retrieving, at the customer premise equipment device, content associated with the first content source.

15. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 14 , wherein the instructions are further operable to

Assignees

• Arris Entpr Inc
• Arris Entpr Llc

Inventors

• Leary Patrick J
• Green Scott
• Panje Krishna Prasad

Classifications

• H04N21/42204

  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 title

• H04N21/4383

  Accessing a communication channel · CPC title

• H04N21/482

  End-user interface for programme selection · CPC title

• H04N21/4583

  Automatically resolving scheduling conflicts, e.g. when a recording by reservation has been programmed for two programmes in the same time slot · CPC title

• H04N21/4622 Primary

  Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet (web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859) · CPC title