Back channel communication
AssigneeCable Television Laboratories, Inc.
InventorJosiah J. Kirby, JR.
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Back channel communications are contemplated. The back channel communications may relate to facilitating signaling from a primary device to one or more secondary devices. One contemplated type of back channel communication may include a service provider carrying the desired signaling to the secondary devices. This may occur without the primary device being aware of the secondary devices and/or without requiring the primary device to identify the secondary devices to the service provider.
Claims20
A method of providing television related information to one or more devices in response to user interaction with a set top box (STB), the STB being configured to facilitate controlling a television to output television services, the method comprising:
- determining a control change for the STB resulting from a user input, the control change causing the STB to command the television to implement a corresponding operational change;
- determining at least one authorized device from the one or more devices, the at least one authorized device having been previously authenticated to receive notifications regarding operation of the STB;
- and
- constructing a notification message sufficient to facilitate notifying the at least one authorized device of the control change, the notification message being constructed without the STB being aware of the at least one authorized device.
A method of providing information to one or more secondary devices in response to user interaction with a primary device, the primary device being configured to facilitate controlling output of services, the method comprising:
- determining a control change for the primary device resulting from a user input, the control change causing the primary device to implement a corresponding operational change in the service;
- determining at least one authorized device from the one or more secondary devices, the at least one authorized device having been previously authenticated to receive notifications regarding operation of the primary device, the at least one authorized device being authenticated without being identified to the primary device insofar as the primary device is unable to address messages thereto;
- and
- constructing a notification message sufficient to facilitate notifying the at least one authorized device of the control change.
A headend configured to facilitate notifying one or more secondary devices of changes in operation of a settop box (STB), the headend comprising:
- a bi-directional RF Network configured to modulate television signaling for transmission to the STB, the STB demodulating the television signaling for display;
- an application server configured to:
- i) receive communications from the STB reflective of STB operations, including receiving a control change message indicating a change in operation of the STB resulting from a user input, the control change message including a unique STB identifier for the STB and no identifiers for the one or more secondary devices;
- ii) generate an Extensible Messaging and Presence Protocol (XMPP) message reflective of the change in operation and the unique STB identifier;
- and
- an Extensible Messaging and Presence Protocol (XMPP) server configured to:
- i) identify at least one authorized secondary device authenticated with the unique STB identifier;
- ii) issue a notification message in response to receipt of the XMPP message, the notification message being transmitted at least partially over the Internet to notify the at least one authorized secondary device of the change in operation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.