Distributed system architecture for control of a set top box

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9854296-B2
Application number	US-201113327539-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 15, 2011
Priority date	Dec 15, 2011
Publication date	Dec 26, 2017
Grant date	Dec 26, 2017

Abstract

A distributed system architecture is described for control of a Set Top Box (STB). The architecture employs server software implemented as JSON middleware, and provided on the STB 32 as a local server, as well as on a Tooling Device 34 and a Control Application 36 . The distributed system facilitates communication with the STB over a data network such as the internet. A remote client device running a browser 30 can interact with the STB 32 to access STB functionality 32.

First claim

We claim:

1. A system providing control of a Set Top Box (STB) over a data network, the system comprising:
an STB, having a processor on which JavaScript Object Notation (JSON) server software is installed, wherein the JSON server software is operable to connect to a data network, further having a plurality of modules in communication with the JSON server software via a plurality of XMLHttpRequest (XHR) application programming interfaces (APIs); and
a remote tooling device, separate from the STB, having a JSON client software installed, wherein the JSON client software is in communication with the JSON server software via a JSON middleware, wherein the JSON middleware is configured to use JSON as object serialization format to provide a service description between the STB and the remote tooling device which form complex services and applications discoverable by the remote tooling device for interfacing with the STB, and wherein the remote tooling device is configured to run debugging and routine maintenance operations on the STB across the JSON middleware;
wherein the JSON server software of the STB allows the remote tooling device to access the STB remotely and act as a client of the STB while running operations;
wherein the JSON server software is operable to:
maintain a service registry in which services are registered, where advanced data inserter (ADI) services are provided via the remote tooling device according to an ADI services specification; and
manage one or more sessions for communication between the STB and the remote tooling device where the remote tooling device carries out an ADI function according to the ADI services specification for configuring, starting and stopping maintenance and diagnostic streams transmitted to the STB at a specified bit rate, symbol rate, and PID remapping, and retrieving available streams from a memory.

2. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a client device having a web browser for connecting to a data network, wherein the web browser comprises a user interface and a HTTP request communication module.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the remote tooling device comprises:
a user interface.

4. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a control module for providing control signals to the STB and or the remote tooling device, wherein the control module comprises JSON server software operable to allow the tooling remote device to access and act as a client of the control module.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the control module is operable to install one or more of a new operating system, a user interface, or STB functional modules on the STB.

6. The system of claim 4 , wherein the control module is separate from both the remote tooling device and the STB.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the control module is operable to send control signals to the STB during maintenance or upgrade operations, and wherein the control signals comprise remote control of the STB to activate power switches of the STB, activate tuning operations of the STB, and activate user interface inputs of the STB.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the control module comprises back-end control modules comprising a functionality of the control signals for remotely controlling the STB.

9. The system of claim 6 , wherein the control module is operable to send control signals to the remote tooling device for synchronization.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the data network is an internet.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the remote tooling device is configured to transmit diagnostic video streams to the STB at a specified bit rate, symbol rate, and PID remapping.

12. A computer-implemented method for controlling a Set Top Box (STB) via a data network, the computer-implemented method comprising:
installing JavaScript Object Notation (JSON) server software on a processor of the STB, wherein the JSON server software is operable to connect to a data network;
implementing a plurality of modules in communication with the JSON server software via a plurality of XMLHttpRequest (XHR) application programming interfaces (APIs);
installing at a remote tooling device, separate from the STB, a JSON client software, wherein the JSON client software is in communication with the JSON server software via a JSON middleware, wherein the JSON middleware in configured to use JSON as object serialization format to provide a service description between the STB and the remote tooling device which form complex services and applications discoverable by the remote tooling device for interfacing with the STB, and wherein the remote tooling device is configured to run debugging and routine maintenance operations on the STB across the JSON middleware;
wherein the JSON server software of the STB allows the remote tooling device to access the STB remotely and act as a client of the STB while running operations;
wherein the JSON server software is operable to:
maintain a service registry in which services are registered, where advanced data inserter (ADI) services are provided via the remote tooling device according to an ADI services specification; and
manage one or more sessions for communication between the STB and the remote tooling device where the remote tooling device carries out an ADI function according to the ADI services specification for configuring, starting and stopping maintenance and diagnostic streams transmitted to the STB at a specified bit rate, symbol rate, and PID remapping, and retrieving available streams from a memory.

13. A non-transitory, computer-readable medium for controlling a Set Top Box (STB) via a data network having sets of instructions stored thereon which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to:
install JavaScript Object Notation (JSON) server software on a processor of the STB, wherein the JSON server software is operable to connect to a data network;
implement a plurality of modules in communication with the JSON server software via a plurality of XMLHttpRequest (XHR) application programming interfaces (APIs);
install at a remote tooling device, separate from the STB, a JSON client software, wherein the JSON client software is in communication with the JSON server software via a JSON middleware, wherein the JSON middleware in configured to use JSON as object serialization format which provides a service description between the STB and the remote tooling device which form complex services and applications discoverable by the remote tooling device for interfacing with the STB, and wherein the remote tooling device is configured to run debugging and routine maintenance operations on the STB across the JSON middleware;
wherein the JSON server software of the STB allows the remote tooling device to access the STB remotely and act as a client of the STB while running operations;
wherein the JSON server software is operable to:
maintain a service registry in which services are registered, where advanced data inserter (ADI) services are provided via the remote tooling device according to an ADI services specification; and
manage one or more sessions for communication between the STB and the remote tooling device where the remote tooling device carries out an ADI function according to the ADI services specification for configuring, starting and stopping maintenance and diagnostic streams transmitted to the STB at a specified bit rate, symbol rate, and PID remapping, and retrieving available streams from a memory.

Assignees

• Van Rozen Riemer Andries
• Bonfrer David
• Echostar Technologies Llc

Inventors

• Van Rozen Riemer Andries
• Bonfrer David

Classifications

• H04N21/4433

  Implementing client middleware, e.g. Multimedia Home Platform [MHP] · CPC title

• H04N21/43615 Primary

  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 title