Method and apparatus to configure, provision and control a set-top terminal

A method of configuring a set-top terminal with a wireless web appliance using configuration data received from a controller at a headend located remotely from the set-top terminal, the method comprising the steps of:

• establishing a wireless communications path between the wireless web appliance and the set-top terminal;
• establishing an upstream communications path and a downstream communications path between the set-top terminal and the controller;
• receiving an unsolicited message at the controller over the upstream communications path in response to a control signal transmitted by the wireless web appliance over the wireless communications path;
• and
• implementing a configuration,
• wherein the configuration change comprises implementing a configuration record change at the headend.

A method of configuring a set-top terminal with a wireless web appliance using configuration data received from a controller at a headend located remotely from the set-top terminal, the method comprising the steps of:

• establishing a wireless communications link between the wireless web appliance and the set-top terminal;
• establishing an upstream communications path and a downstream communications path between the set-top terminal and the controller;
• transmitting, from the set-top terminal, an unsolicited message to the controller over the upstream communications path in response to a control signal transmitted by the wireless web appliance over the wireless communications path;
• and
• receiving at the set-top terminal, the configuration data over the downstream communications path from the controller, where the controller sends the configuration data in response to the unsolicited message,
• wherein the configuration data comprises middleware.

A method of configuring a set-top terminal with a wireless web appliance using configuration data received from a controller at a headend located remotely from the set-top terminal, the method comprising the steps of:

• establishing a wireless communications link between the wireless web appliance and the set-top terminal;
• establishing an upstream communications path and a downstream communications path between the set-top terminal and the controller;
• transmitting, from the set-top terminal, an unsolicited message to the controller over the upstream communications path in response to a control signal transmitted by the wireless web appliance over the wireless communications path;
• and
• receiving at the set-top terminal, the configuration data over the downstream communications path from the controller, where the controller sends the configuration data in response to the unsolicited message,
• wherein the configuration data comprises context-sensitive help.

A method of configuring a set-top terminal with a wireless web appliance using configuration data received from a controller at a headend located remotely from the set-top terminal, the method comprising the steps of:

• establishing a wireless communications link between the wireless web appliance and the set-top terminal;
• establishing an upstream communications path and a downstream communications path between the set-top terminal and the controller;
• transmitting, from the set-top terminal, an unsolicited message to the controller over the upstream communications path in response to a control signal transmitted by the wireless web appliance over the wireless communications path;
• and
• receiving at the set-top terminal, the configuration data over the downstream communications path from the controller, where the controller sends the configuration data in response to the unsolicited message,
• further including a step of capturing an electronic signature on the wireless web appliance.

A method of configuring a set-top terminal with a wireless web appliance using configuration data received from a controller at a headend located remotely from the set-top terminal, the method comprising the steps of:

• establishing a wireless communications link between the wireless web appliance and the set-top terminal;
• establishing an upstream communications path and a downstream communications path between the set-top terminal and the controller;
• transmitting, from the set-top terminal, an unsolicited message to the controller over the upstream communications path in response to a control signal transmitted by the wireless web appliance over the wireless communications path;
• and
• receiving at the set-top terminal, the configuration data over the downstream communications path from the controller, where the controller sends the configuration data in response to the unsolicited message,
• wherein the configuration data comprises data used to configure peripheral equipment coupled to the set-top terminal.

A method of configuring a set-top terminal with a wireless web appliance using configuration data received from a controller at a headend located remotely from the set-top terminal, the method comprising the steps of:

• establishing a wireless communications link between the wireless web appliance and the set-top terminal;
• establishing an upstream communications path and a downstream communications path between the set-top terminal and the controller;
• transmitting, from the set-top terminal, an unsolicited message to the controller over the upstream communications path in response to a control signal transmitted by the wireless web appliance over the wireless communications path;
• and
• receiving at the set-top terminal, the configuration data over the downstream communications path from the controller, where the controller sends the configuration data in response to the unsolicited message,
• the configuration data further includes service call data.

A method of configuring a set-top terminal with a wireless web appliance using configuration data received from a controller at a headend located remotely from the set-top terminal, the method comprising the steps of:

• establishing a wireless communications link between the wireless web appliance and a server;
• establishing a downstream communications path between the set-top terminal and the controller;
• transmitting, from server, an unsolicited message to the controller over an upstream communication path in response to a control signal transmitted by the wireless web appliance over the wireless communications path;
• and
• receiving at the set-top terminal, the configuration data over the downstream communications path from the controller, where the controller sends the configuration data in response to the unsolicited message.

A wireless web appliance device for configuring a set-top terminal using configuration data received from a controller at a headend located remotely from the set-top terminal, comprising:

• a processor for generating an unsolicited message for transmission to a remote controller, the remote controller being arranged to download the configuration data to a remote set-top terminal in response to the unsolicited message;
• a wireless transceiver coupled to the processor for transmitting the unsolicited message to the controller and for establishing a wireless communications link with the remote set-top terminal;
• and
• a user interface for displaying a configuration status of the remote set-top terminal to a user, the configuration status set in response to the configuration data downloaded from the controller and received from the remote set-top terminal over the wireless communications path.

A wireless web appliance device for configuring a set-top terminal using configuration data received from a controller at a headend located remotely from the set-top terminal, comprising:

• a processor for controlling transmission of an unsolicited message from the remote set-top terminal to a controller where, in response to the unsolicited message, the downloads the configuration data to the remote set-top terminal;
• a wireless transceiver for transmitting an unsolicited message to an controller and for establishing a wireless communications link with the remote set-top terminal;
• and
• a user interface for displaying a configuration status of the remote set-top terminal to a user, the configuration status set in response to the configuration data downloaded from the addressable controller and received from the remote set-top terminal over the wireless communications path.