Set-Top Box with Enhanced Controls

A set-top box comprising:

• a housing securing a television input, a television output, a processor, memory, and storage therein;
• a busing architecture communicatively interconnecting the television input, the television output, the processor, the memory, and the storage;
• a wireless transceiver associated with the housing and coupled to the busing architecture, the wireless transceiver operable to communicate with a proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device;
• the television input configured to receive a source signal from an external source;
• the television output configured to forward a fully tuned signal to a television;
• the memory accessible to the processor, the memory including processor-executable instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to:
• establish a pairing between the proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device and the set-top box,
• receive and process virtual remote control functionality input instructions from the proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device,
• evaluate the virtual remote control functionality input instructions,
• import content from the proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device and reformat the imported content such that the television output forwards a fully tuned signal including the imported content to the television,
• generate a control signal that includes instructions to adjust the brightness of the television, and
• send the control signal to the television.

A set-top box comprising:

• a housing securing a television input, a television output, a processor, memory, and storage therein;
• a busing architecture communicatively interconnecting the television input, the television output, the processor, the memory, and the storage;
• a wireless transceiver associated with the housing and coupled to the busing architecture, the wireless transceiver operable to communicate with a proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device;
• the television input configured to receive a source signal from an external source;
• the television output configured to forward a fully tuned signal to a television;
• the memory accessible to the processor, the memory including processor-executable instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to:
• establish a pairing between the proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device and the set-top box,
• receive and process virtual remote control functionality input instructions from the proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device,
• evaluate the virtual remote control functionality input instructions,
• import content from the proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device and reformat the imported content such that the television output forwards a fully tuned signal including the imported content to the television,
• based on a configuration profile, generate a control signal that includes instructions to adjust the brightness of the television by dimming the television, and
• send the control signal to the television;
• the configuration profile being associated with the memory and processor-executable instructions that enables the set-top box to control a plurality of types of televisions;
• and
• wherein the fully tuned signal including the imported content provides an upstream parallel experience on the television related to the content on the proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device.