Automatic user band assignment in a satellite signal distribution environment

A system comprising:

• a set top box (STB) configured for, after a cold boot or memory reset command:
• accessing an STB memory to determine a user band in use prior to the cold boot or memory reset command;
• tuning to the prior user band and determining presence or absence of a valid signal from a channel stacking switch;
• and
• responsive to determining the absence of a valid signal, issuing a request for a user band, the request identifying the STB;
• and
• a channel stacking switch (CSS) configured to receive the request identifying the STB, consult a CSS memory to identify a particular user band that is available for the STB, assign the particular user band to the STB and issue a message identifying the particular user band;
• wherein the STB is further configured to tune to the particular user band in response to receipt of the message.

A method implemented by a set top box (STB), comprising, after a cold boot or memory reset command:

• the STB accessing a memory to determine a user band in use prior to the cold boot or memory reset command;
• the STB tuning to the prior user band and determining presence or absence of a valid signal from the CSS;
• responsive to determining the absence of a valid signal, issuing a request for a user band, the request identifying the STB;
• receiving a message identifying an assigned user band;
• tuning to the assigned user band in response to receipt of the message.

A set top box (STB), comprising:

• a computing apparatus configured for, after a cold boot or memory reset command, accessing a memory to determine a user band in use prior to the cold boot or memory reset command;
• a tuning element configured to tune to the prior user band;
• and
• a communications interface;
• wherein the computing apparatus is further configured to determine presence or absence of a valid signal from a channel stacking switch and, responsive to determining the absence of a valid signal, to cause the communications interface to issue a request for a user band, the request identifying the STB;
• wherein the communications interface is further configured to receive a message identifying an assigned user band;
• and
• wherein the tuning element is further configured to tune to the assigned user band in response to receipt of the message.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions for execution by a set top box (STB), wherein execution of the instructions by the STB after a cold boot or memory reset command cause the STB to:

• access a memory to determine a user band in use prior to the cold boot or memory reset command;
• tune to the prior user band and determine presence or absence of a valid signal from a channel stacking switch;
• responsive to determining the absence of a valid signal, issue a request for a user band, the request identifying the STB;
• respond to receipt of a message identifying an assigned user band by tuning to the assigned user band.