# US 2013/0160064 A1 · Distributed System Architecture for Control of a Set Top Box

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- Number: US 2013/0160064 A1
- Document ID: US20130160064A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 13/327,539
- Filed: 2011-12-15
- Published: 2013-06-20
- Earliest claimed: 2011-12-15
- Assignees: EchoStar Global B.V.
- Inventors: Riemer Andries van Rozen; David Bonfrer
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130160064A1

## CPC

- H04N 21/43615: {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)}
- H04N 21/4433: {Implementing client middleware, e.g. Multimedia Home Platform [MHP]}
- H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION

## 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.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A system providing control of a Set Top Box (STB) over a data network, comprising:
an STB, having a processor on which server software is installed, wherein the server is operable to connect to a data network;
a remote client device having a web browser for connecting to a data network;
wherein the server software is operable to maintain a service registry in which services are registered, and to manage one or more sessions for communication between the server and the remote client device.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the server software is compatible with the JSON data interchange format.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The system of claim 2, wherein the server software is implemented as JSON middleware.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The system of claim 3, wherein the middleware is implemented as a Software Development Tool Kit or SDK for embedded devices.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the browser comprises a user interface and a HTTP request communication module.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The system of claim 5, wherein the user interface is a Web 2.0 compatible interface and the HTTP request communication module is implemented as an XHR (XMLHttpRequest) API module.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, comprising a tooling module providing maintenance and diagnostic functions for the STB, the tooling module comprising:
a user interface; and
server software for connecting to a data network.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The system of claim 7, wherein the server software is compatible with the JSON data interchange format.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The system of claim 8, wherein the server software is implemented as JSON middleware.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, comprising a control module for providing control signals to the STB and or Tooling module.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The system of claim 10, wherein the server software is compatible with the JSON data interchange format.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The system of claim 11, wherein the server software is implemented as JSON middleware.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

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

### Claim 14 (depends on 10)

The system of claim 10, 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.

### Claim 15

A computer implemented method for controlling a Set Top Box (STB) via a data network, comprising:
installing server software on the processor of the STB, wherein the server is operable to connect to a data network;
installing at a remote client device a web browser for connecting to the data network;
wherein the server software is operable to maintain a service registry in which services are registered, and to manage one or more sessions for communication between the server and the remote client device.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15, comprising providing a tooling module by which maintenance and diagnostic functions for the STB can be carried out.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The system of claim 16, comprising providing a control module for providing control signals to the STB and or tooling module.