# US 2014/0155030 A1 · Method and apparatus for controlling a media device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0155030 A1 - Document ID: US20140155030A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/705,894 - Filed: 2012-12-05 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2012-12-05 - Assignees: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P. - Applicants: At&T Intellectual Property I, LP - Inventors: Dale W. Malik; David Brux DeLorme - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140155030A1 ## CPC - H04N 21/4367: Establishing a secure communication between the client and a peripheral device or smart card - H04L 12/2809: {indicating that an appliance service is present in a home automation network (monitoring functionality H04L43/0817; discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services, H04L67/51)} - H04L 12/282: {based on user interaction within the home (receiver circuitry for displaying additional information being controlled by a remote control apparatus H04N21/42204)} - H04L 12/2834: {Switching of information between an external network and a home network (access arrangements H04L12/2856)} - H04N 21/26613: {for generating or managing keys in general (key distribution for secret or secure communication involving central third party, e.g. key distribution center [KDC] or trusted third party [TTP] H04L9/083; network support of key management H04L63/06; key management for network security in communication control or processing H04W12/04)} - H04N 21/41265: {having a remote control device for bidirectional communication between the remote control device and client device (unidirectional remote control device H04N21/42204)} - 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 21/43637: {involving a wireless protocol, e.g. Bluetooth®, RF or wireless LAN [IEEE 802.11] (arrangements for wireless networking or broadcasting of information in indoor or near-field type systems H04B10/114)} - H04N 21/472: End-user interface for requesting content, additional data or services; End-user interface for interacting with content, e.g. for content reservation or setting reminders, for requesting event notification, for manipulating displayed content {(end-user interfaces for retrieving video data from a database G06F16/739; network services for supporting unicast streaming H04L65/612)} - H04N 21/6587: Control parameters, e.g. trick play commands, viewpoint selection - H04W 12/0431: Key distribution or pre-distribution; Key agreement - H04L 63/083: {using passwords (cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using a predetermined code H04L9/3226)} - H04L 67/51: Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) ## Abstract A system that incorporates the subject disclosure may include, for example, a method for detecting a communication network, broadcasting a query message by way of the communication network, receiving a response message from the communication network, detecting from the response message that a media device is communicatively coupled to the communication network, receiving a key from a remote server to enable communications with the media device, detecting an event requiring use of the media device, generating a command responsive to the event, transmitting to the media device the command to direct the media device to request information from a web server executed by the processor, receiving from the media device a request for information to be provided by the web server, and transmitting to the media device by way of the web server the information requested. Other embodiments are disclosed. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A portable communication device, comprising: a memory to store instructions; and a processor coupled to the memory, wherein execution of the instructions causes the processor to perform operations comprising: detecting a wireless network; transmitting a query message to the wireless network to identify devices communicatively coupled to the wireless network; receiving a response message by way of the wireless network; detecting according to the response message that a media device is communicatively coupled to the wireless network; monitoring an event associated with use of the media device; detecting the event; generating a command; transmitting to the media device the command, wherein the command directs the media device to request web page information from a web server executed by the processor of the portable communication device; receiving a request for web page information from the media device responsive to transmitting the command; and transmitting the web page information to the media device by way of the web server responsive to receiving the request. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The portable communication device of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise: submitting to a remote server a request for a key to enable communications with the media device; receiving the key from the remote server; wherein generating the command comprises generating the command according to the key, and wherein the key enables the media device to authenticate the portable communication device. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The portable communication device of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise presenting an indicator on a display of the portable communication device responsive to detecting the media device. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The portable communication device of claim 1, wherein the query message is formatted according to a simple service discovery protocol. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The portable communication device of claim 1, comprising presenting a prompt for configuring a communication feature associated with the media device. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The portable communication device of claim 5, wherein the communication feature comprises one of a caller identification feature, a media exchange feature, a call response message feature, a voicemail feature, an intercom feature, a parental control feature, a portable communication device location feature, or combinations thereof. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The portable communication device of claim 1, wherein the web page information is formatted according to an extensible markup language. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The portable communication device of claim 1, wherein the web server comprises a hypertext transfer protocol web server application. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The portable communication device of claim 1, wherein the web page information describes a graphical user interface for presentation by the media device. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The portable communication device of claim 1, wherein the event is initiated by one of an activity detected by the processor of the portable communication device or by a signal received by the media device from a remote controller causing the media device to transmit a message to the portable communication device descriptive of the signal generated by the remote controller. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The portable communication device of claim 10, wherein the activity detected by the processor is based on user input detected by the processor or an incoming communication request detected by the processor. ### Claim 12 (depends on 2) The portable communication device of claim 2, wherein the media device is a set-top box, and wherein the key is used to encrypt the command transmitted to the media device. ### Claim 13 (depends on 2) The portable communication device of claim 2, wherein the operations further comprise: detecting that the media device has not been previously detected; and storing a record that includes the key, wherein the record is associated with the wireless network with the media device. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The portable communication device of claim 13, wherein the operations further comprise retrieving the key from the record without contacting the remote server responsive to a subsequent detection of one of the wireless network or the media device. ### Claim 15 (depends on 2) The portable communication device of claim 2, wherein the operations further comprise: receiving a second response message by way of the wireless network; detecting according to the second response message that a second media device is communicatively coupled to the wireless network; submitting to the remote server a second request for a second key to enable communications with the second media device; and receiving from the remote server the second key. ### Claim 16 A method, comprising: transmitting, by a system comprising a processor, a query message to identify devices communicatively coupled to a communication network; receiving, by the system, a response message by way of the communication network; detecting, by the system, according to the response message, that a media device is communicatively coupled to the communication network; submitting, by the system, to a remote server a request for a key to enable communications with the media device; receiving, by the system, the key from the remote server; detecting, by the system, an event associated with use of the media device; generating, by the system, a command responsive to detecting the event; transmitting , by the system, to the media device the command, wherein the command directs the media device to request web page information from a web server executed by the system; receiving, by the system, a request for the web page information from the media device; and transmitting, by the system, the web page information to the media device by way of the web server. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the web page information is formatted according to an extensible markup language. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the command transmitted to the media device includes a uniform resource located used by the media device to request the web page information from the web server. ### Claim 19 A computer-readable storage device, comprising computer instructions which when executed by a processor cause the processor to perform operations comprising: detecting a communication network; broadcasting a query message by way of the communication network; receiving a response message from the communication network; detecting from the response message that a media device is communicatively coupled to the communication network; receiving a key from a remote server to enable communications with the media device; detecting an event requiring use of the media device; generating a command responsive to the event; transmitting to the media device the command to direct the media device to request information from a web server executed by the processor; receiving from the media device a request for information to be provided by the web server; and transmitting to the media device by way of the web server the information requested. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The computer-readable storage device of claim 19, wherein the event is initiated by one of an activity detected by the processor or by a signal received by the media device from a remote controller causing the media device to transmit a message to the processor descriptive of the signal generated by the remote controller, wherein the information provided by the web server comprises web page information, and wherein the command transmitted to the media device includes a uniform resource located used by the media device to request the web page information from the web server.