System and method for control of a set top box

A system comprising:

• a memory to store executable instructions;
• and
• a processor in communication with the memory, wherein the processor, responsive to executing the instructions, performs operations comprising controlling remotely a plurality of set top box features without user intervention and without user presence at the set top box,
• wherein the plurality of set top box features comprises a power on from a powered off state, a channel change and a volume control at the set top box based on a plurality of set top box inputs received from an interactive voice response unit at a common-layer application interface of a controller of the set top box that obtains voice inputs from a voice call from a telephone at a location remote from the set top box during a voice communication exchange and associates the voice inputs with a plurality of set top box commands that when presented to the common-layer application interface, are usable to remotely access the plurality of set top box features by way of a plurality of plug-in modules,
• wherein the plurality of set top box inputs are routable by the controller of the set top box to appropriate plug-in modules of the plurality of plug-in modules of a control plug-in framework by way of the common-layer application interface to control remotely the plurality of set top box features without user intervention and without user presence at the set top box,
• wherein the interactive voice response unit interactively transmits voice prompts and generates the set top box command of the plurality of set top box commands based on a voice input received without interaction with the set top box,
• wherein the plurality of plug-in modules are in communication between the common-layer application interface and the set top box, and wherein the plug-in modules of the plurality of plug-in modules implement specific logic associated with the channel change and volume control features of the set top box,
• wherein the control plug-in framework provides command process management to manage the plurality of set top box commands, and
• wherein the plurality of set top box inputs received at the set top box from the interactive response unit are processed at the set top box without user interaction with the set top box.

An article of manufacture comprising instructions stored on a non-transitory machine readable medium, wherein the instructions responsive to being executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

• receiving, from an interactive voice response unit, a set top box command of a plurality of set top box commands to remotely control the operation of a set top box;
• and
• forwarding, to the set top box, the set top box command by way of a common-layer application interface of a set top box control server,
• the set top box control server also having a control plug-in framework comprising a plurality of plug-in modules in communication between the common-layer application interface and the set top box,
• wherein the control plug-in framework provides command process management to manage the plurality of set top box commands,
• wherein the set top box commands are routable by the set top box control server to plug-in modules of the plurality of plug-in modules by way of the common-layer application interface to implement specific logic associated with specific set top box control features comprising channel changing and volume controlling without user presence at the set top box,
• wherein the set top box commands are based on input obtained from a voice call sent from a location remote from the set top box using a telephone access point,
• wherein the input is received at the interactive voice response unit without set top box interaction,
• wherein the set top box commands comprise a power-on command from a powered off state, and
• wherein the set top box is controlled so as to perform one of a record function, a play function or a combination thereof.