Intelligent set-top box and network mode modification method

Abstract

Some embodiments of the present application provide an intelligent set-top box and a network mode modification method. The method comprises: obtaining newly added service account information supporting the intelligent set-top box to realize network connection issued by a network server; if the newly added service account information is different from current service account information, controlling the intelligent set-top box to perform network connection according to the newly added service account information, so that the network mode of the intelligent set-top box is a newly added network mode, and multicast detection is performed on the intelligent set-top box, and a video playing mode is sent to a video platform through a probe mode. The method compares the newly added service account information with the current service account information, automatically selects a corresponding network mode for network connection according to a comparison result, so as to realize the function of automatically modifying the network mode of the intelligent set-top box; and after the network mode is modified, the video playing mode of the intelligent set-top box is obtained through multicast detection and sent to the video platform, and the video platform is adapted, so as to improve the success rate of video playing.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of set-top box technology, and in particular to a smart set-top box and a method for modifying network modes. Background Technology

[0002] A set-top box is a terminal device that connects a display device to an external signal source, transmitting signals via a broadband network to present digital television programs on the display. Set-top boxes can provide functions such as live TV, on-demand, time-shift, and playback, enhancing the user's viewing experience. Taking smart set-top boxes as an example, users can watch television programs, enjoy personalized content recommendations, and participate in interactive activities such as online shopping and gaming.

[0003] Smart set-top boxes offer various network connection methods, such as DHCP, IPoE, and PPPoE. DHCP allows access to public networks, while PPPoE / IPoE enables access to private networks. Due to varying usage scenarios and user needs, smart set-top boxes require the ability to modify network modes. For example, to improve network security, the network mode can be changed from public to private; conversely, to expand service coverage, it can be changed back to public. Modifying the network mode requires manually accessing the set-top box via a remote control to enter system settings. In these settings, the target network mode is selected. Changing from public to private requires manually entering the user account information and redialing.

[0004] The above-mentioned method of modifying the network mode of a smart set-top box requires manual control, which can easily lead to problems such as video playback failure due to the network mode not being synchronized with the video service, thus reducing the user experience. Summary of the Invention

[0005] This application provides a smart set-top box and a method for modifying the network mode, in order to solve the problems that the smart set-top box cannot automatically modify the network mode, and that the video cannot be played because the network mode and the video service are not synchronized after the network mode is modified.

[0006] In a first aspect, some embodiments of this application provide a smart set-top box, including:

[0007] The communication module is configured to establish a communication connection with the network server.

[0008] The controller is configured as follows:

[0009] Obtain newly added service account information, wherein the newly added service account information is account information issued by the network server during the operation of the smart set-top box to support the smart set-top box in achieving network connection;

[0010] If the newly added service account information is different from the current service account information, the smart set-top box is controlled to connect to the network according to the newly added service account information, so that the network mode of the smart set-top box is the newly added network mode; wherein, the current service account information is the account information that supports the current network mode of the smart set-top box to achieve network connection;

[0011] Perform multicast detection on the smart set-top box to obtain the video playback mode of the smart set-top box;

[0012] The video playback mode is sent to the video platform via probe mode.

[0013] The method first obtains the new business account information issued by the network server, compares the new business account information with the current business account information, and automatically selects the corresponding network mode for network connection based on the comparison result, so as to realize the function of automatically modifying the network mode of the smart set-top box; and after modifying the network mode, it obtains the video playback mode of the smart set-top box through multicast detection and sends it to the video platform, which then adapts it to improve the success rate of video playback.

[0014] In one possible implementation of the first aspect, the controller is further configured to:

[0015] Obtain the current network mode of the smart set-top box;

[0016] Control the smart set-top box to connect to the network in the current network mode.

[0017] In the method described above, before the smart set-top box obtains the new service account information issued by the network server, it connects to the network using the current network mode, which can ensure that the network connection of the smart set-top box is uninterrupted.

[0018] In one possible implementation of the first aspect, the controller performs the task of obtaining new business account information, specifically configured as follows:

[0019] Monitor the server data sent by the network server;

[0020] If the server data includes business account information data, then the business account information data is obtained to obtain the newly added business account information.

[0021] In the method described above, by monitoring the data sent by the network server, information on newly added business accounts can be obtained in real time, thereby improving the real-time performance and flexibility of network mode modification for smart set-top boxes.

[0022] In one possible implementation of the first aspect, the controller executes the following: if the newly added service account information is the same as the current service account information, then the network mode of the smart set-top box is kept unchanged. Specifically, this is configured as follows:

[0023] If the newly added service account information is the same as the current service account information, and the current network mode is an accountless network mode, then the network mode of the smart set-top box is set to the accountless network mode; wherein, the accountless network mode is a network mode that does not require connection through a user account.

[0024] In the method described above, when the newly added business account information is the same as the current business account information and the current network mode is the accountless network mode, the smart set-top box maintains the accountless network mode, thereby reducing the resource consumption when the smart set-top box changes the network mode.

[0025] In one possible implementation of the first aspect, the controller executes the following: if the newly added service account information is the same as the current service account information, then the network mode of the smart set-top box is kept unchanged. Specifically, this is configured as follows:

[0026] If the newly added service account information is the same as the current service account information, and the current network mode is an account-enabled network mode, then the network mode of the smart set-top box is set to the account-enabled network mode; wherein, the account-enabled network mode is a network mode that requires connection through a user account.

[0027] Control the smart set-top box to access the network in the accounted network mode.

[0028] In the method described above, when the newly added business account information is the same as the current business account information and the current network mode is the account-based network mode, the smart set-top box uses the original account-based network mode to access the network, thereby reducing the resource consumption when the smart set-top box changes the network mode.

[0029] In one possible implementation of the first aspect, the controller executes the following: if the newly added service account information differs from the current service account information, it controls the smart set-top box to establish a network connection based on the newly added service account information, so that the network mode of the smart set-top box is the newly added network mode. Specifically, this is configured as follows:

[0030] If the newly added service account information is different from the current service account information, and the current network mode is the accountless network mode, then obtain the user account of the smart set-top box;

[0031] Configure the new network mode according to the user account;

[0032] Modify the network mode of the smart set-top box to the newly added network mode;

[0033] Control the smart set-top box to access the network using the newly added network mode.

[0034] In the method described above, when the newly added business account information is different from the current business account information and the current network mode is an accountless network mode, the smart set-top box is connected to the network according to the newly added business account information, and the user account is automatically configured, thereby improving the flexibility of modifying the network mode of the smart set-top box.

[0035] In one possible implementation of the first aspect, the controller executes the following: if the newly added service account information differs from the current service account information, it controls the smart set-top box to establish a network connection based on the newly added service account information, so that the network mode of the smart set-top box is the newly added network mode. Specifically, this is configured as follows:

[0036] If the newly added business account information is different from the current business account information, and the current network mode is the accounted network mode, then the user account in the current network mode is cleared.

[0037] Modify the network mode of the smart set-top box to the newly added network mode.

[0038] In the method described above, when the newly added business account information is different from the current business account information and the current network mode is an account-enabled network mode, the network mode of the smart set-top box is automatically changed to an accountless network mode, thereby improving the flexibility of modifying the network mode of the smart set-top box.

[0039] In one possible implementation of the first aspect, the controller performs the task of acquiring the video playback mode of the smart set-top box, specifically configured as follows:

[0040] Obtain the preset multicast address;

[0041] If the smart set-top box successfully joins the preset multicast address, then the video playback mode is set to multicast playback;

[0042] If the smart set-top box fails to join the preset multicast address, the video playback mode is set to unicast playback.

[0043] In the method described above, since the video playback mode of the smart set-top box cannot automatically adapt to the current network mode after the network mode is modified, it is easy to cause the video to fail to play normally. Therefore, the method is to test whether the smart set-top box can successfully join the preset multicast address to determine the video playback mode that can play the video normally, and select the appropriate video playback mode for video playback to improve the success rate of video playback.

[0044] Secondly, some embodiments of this application also provide a network mode modification method, applied to the smart set-top box provided in the first aspect, the method comprising:

[0045] Obtain newly added service account information, wherein the newly added service account information is account information issued by the network server during the operation of the smart set-top box to support the smart set-top box in achieving network connection;

[0046] If the newly added service account information is different from the current service account information, the smart set-top box is controlled to connect to the network according to the newly added service account information, so that the network mode of the smart set-top box is the newly added network mode; wherein, the current service account information is the account information that supports the current network mode of the smart set-top box to achieve network connection;

[0047] Perform multicast detection on the smart set-top box to obtain the video playback mode of the smart set-top box;

[0048] The video playback mode is sent to the video platform via probe mode.

[0049] Understandably, the beneficial effects that the technical solution provided in the second aspect above can achieve can be referred to the beneficial effects of the first aspect and any of its optional implementation methods, and will not be repeated here.

[0050] As can be seen from the above technical solutions, some embodiments of this application provide a smart set-top box and a method for modifying its network mode. The method is applied to a smart set-top box, which communicates with a network server. First, it obtains new service account information supporting network connection issued by the network server during the smart set-top box's operation. Then, it compares the new service account information with the current service account information. If the new service account information differs from the current service account information, it controls the smart set-top box to establish a network connection based on the new service account information, so that the smart set-top box's network mode is the new network mode. Furthermore, it performs multicast probing on the smart set-top box to obtain its video playback mode. Finally, it sends the video playback mode to the video platform via a probe mode.

[0051] The method first obtains the new business account information issued by the network server, compares the new business account information with the current business account information, and automatically selects the corresponding network mode for network connection based on the comparison result, so as to realize the function of automatically modifying the network mode of the smart set-top box; and after modifying the network mode, it obtains the video playback mode of the smart set-top box through multicast detection and sends it to the video platform, which then adapts it to improve the success rate of video playback. Attached Figure Description

[0052] To more clearly illustrate the technical solution of this application, the drawings used in the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, for those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0053] Figure 1 This application provides schematic diagrams illustrating the use scenarios of smart set-top boxes in some embodiments.

[0054] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the hardware configuration of a smart set-top box provided in some embodiments of this application;

[0055] Figure 3 A schematic diagram illustrating the software configuration of a smart set-top box provided in some embodiments of this application;

[0056] Figure 4 Architecture diagram of an IPTV set-top box provided in some embodiments of this application;

[0057] Figure 5 Hardware configuration diagrams of control devices provided in some embodiments of this application;

[0058] Figure 6 A flowchart illustrating a network mode modification method provided in some embodiments of this application;

[0059] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the storage of business account information provided in some embodiments of this application;

[0060] Figure 8 A flowchart illustrating the process of modifying the network mode when the business account information is the same in some embodiments of this application;

[0061] Figure 9 A flowchart illustrating the process of not simultaneously modifying network modes for business account information provided in some embodiments of this application;

[0062] Figure 10 A flowchart illustrating another network mode modification method provided in some embodiments of this application;

[0063] Figure 11 This is a schematic diagram of a multicast address detection method provided in some embodiments of this application;

[0064] Figure 12 Timing diagrams for network pattern modification methods provided in some embodiments of this application. Detailed Implementation

[0065] The embodiments will now be described in detail, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. When the following description relates to the drawings, unless otherwise indicated, the same numbers in different drawings represent the same or similar elements. The embodiments described below do not represent all embodiments consistent with this application. They are merely examples of systems and methods consistent with some aspects of this application as detailed in the claims.

[0066] It should be noted that the brief descriptions of terms in this application are only for the convenience of understanding the embodiments described below, and are not intended to limit the embodiments of this application. Unless otherwise stated, these terms should be understood in their ordinary and common meaning.

[0067] The terms "first," "second," "third," etc., used in the specification, claims, and accompanying drawings of this application are used to distinguish similar or related objects or entities, and do not necessarily imply a specific order or sequence, unless otherwise specified. It should be understood that such terms are interchangeable where appropriate.

[0068] The terms “comprising” and “having”, and any variations thereof, are intended to cover but not exclude inclusion, for example, a product or device that includes a range of components is not necessarily limited to all of the components that are clearly listed, but may include other components that are not clearly listed or that are inherent to such product or device.

[0069] The term "module" refers to any known or subsequently developed hardware, software, firmware, artificial intelligence, fuzzy logic, or combination of hardware and / or software code that is capable of performing the functions associated with that element.

[0070] Figure 1 This is a usage scenario diagram of a smart set-top box according to some embodiments. For example... Figure 1 As shown, in some embodiments, a user can operate the set-top box 100 via the control device 101 of the smart set-top box and operate the display device 200 via the remote control device 201 of the display device. The control device 101 and the remote control device 201 can be remote controllers, and communication between the remote controller and the smart set-top box 100 can include infrared protocol communication, Bluetooth protocol communication, and other communication methods. Similarly, communication between the remote controller and the display device 200 can also include infrared protocol communication, Bluetooth protocol communication, and other communication methods, controlling the display device 200 wirelessly or via wired means.

[0071] In some embodiments, the smart set-top box 100 and the display device 200 also communicate with the server 400. The smart set-top box 100 and the display device 200 may communicate via a local area network (LAN), a wireless local area network (WLAN), and other networks. The server 400 can provide various content and interactive features to the smart set-top box 100 and the display device 200. The server 400 can be a cluster or multiple clusters, and may include one or more types of servers. For example, the smart set-top box 100 may be an IPTV set-top box, utilizing a broadband cable television network, integrating multiple technologies such as the Internet, multimedia, and communications.

[0072] Figure 2 Provided for some embodiments of this application Figure 1 Hardware configuration block diagram of the Zhongzhi Smart Set-Top Box 100. (See diagram below.) Figure 2 As shown, in some embodiments, the smart set-top box 100 includes at least one of the following: a controller 110, a first interface 120, a second interface 130, a communication module 140, a memory, a power supply, a decoder, a tuner / demodulator, a return channel, and a CA (Conditional Access) interface.

[0073] In some embodiments, the first interface 120 is a network interface used to connect to the server 400 to obtain corresponding data packets, such as program data and application data, from the server 400. The first interface 120 can support wired and wireless networks. For example, the first interface 120 can be an RJ45 network interface, a WIFI interface, etc.

[0074] In some embodiments, the second interface 130 is an audio / video output interface, used to output displayable and playable multimedia signals, such as audio / video signals of program data, audio / video signals of the application interface provided by the application, etc. The second interface 130 can be connected to a display device 200, thereby displaying the screen corresponding to the multimedia signal and playing the audio signal through the display device 200. For example, the second interface 130 can be an A / V audio / video interface, an HDMI interface, etc.

[0075] In some embodiments, the communication module 140 is a component used to communicate with external devices or the server 400 according to various communication protocol types. The smart set-top box 100 may have multiple communication modules 140 depending on the supported communication methods. For example, when the smart set-top box 100 supports wireless network communication, it may have a communication module 140 with WiFi functionality. When the smart set-top box 100 supports Bluetooth connectivity, it needs to have a communication module 140 with Bluetooth functionality.

[0076] In some embodiments, the memory of the smart set-top box 100 may include at least one of EMMC (Embedded Multi MediaCard) and DDR (Double Data Rate Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory).

[0077] In some embodiments, the controller 110 is responsible for managing and coordinating various hardware and software components within the smart set-top box 100. For example, it controls decoders within the smart set-top box 100 to read and parse data packets from programs, converting the data packets into displayable multimedia signals, and then sending the multimedia signals to the display device 200 for display via the second interface 130. The controller 101 may include a central processing unit, a graphics processing unit, etc.

[0078] To improve the expandability of the set-top box, in some embodiments, the smart set-top box 100 may also be configured with different types of external interfaces such as USB (Universal Serial Bus) interface, IDE (Integrated Drive-Electronics) interface, PCMCIA (Personal Computer Memory Card International Association) interface, and Ethernet interface.

[0079] To enable user interaction, in some embodiments, the controller 110 of the smart set-top box 100 may run an operating system. The operating system is a computer program used to manage and control the hardware and software resources of the smart set-top box 100. The operating system allows users to interact with the smart set-top box 100. For example, a user can send key value information to the smart set-top box 100 via the power button on the control device 101. The operating system of the smart set-top box 100 can parse this key value information and execute a program to put the operating system into a sleep state.

[0080] In some embodiments, the operating system's running states include a power-on state, a power-off state, and a hibernation state. The state of the operating system is the running state of the smart set-top box 100. When the smart set-top box 100 is powered on and enters the power-on state, the smart set-top box 100 will start the operating system, causing the smart set-top box 100 to enter the power-on state. When the smart set-top box 100 enters the hibernation state, the smart set-top box 100 will run the operating system at low power consumption, causing the smart set-top box 100 to enter the hibernation state. At this time, the operating system will save the smart set-top box 100's running data in the database.

[0081] When the smart set-top box 100 loses power and enters the shutdown state, both the operating system and hardware of the smart set-top box 100 are powered off, and the runtime data stored in the operating system database will be cleared. The runtime data stored in the database includes at least one of the following: temporary data, unsaved program states, network connections, processes and sessions, memory contents, and system logs.

[0082] For the aforementioned operating systems, such as Figure 3 As shown, Figure 3 Provided for some embodiments of this application Figure 1 A software configuration block diagram of the smart set-top box 100. In some embodiments, the operating system of the smart set-top box 100 may include an application layer, an intermediate interpretation layer, and a driver layer, and each layer contains a certain number of programs or interfaces.

[0083] The application layer mainly includes the applications of the smart set-top box 100, as well as the application framework. The applications can be browser-based applications, such as HTML5 apps, or native apps.

[0084] The application framework is a complete program model containing all the basic functionalities required by standard application software, such as file access, data exchange, and the user interfaces for these functionalities (toolbars, status bars, menus, dialog boxes). Native apps can support online or offline operation, push notifications, or local resource access. The middleware layer includes various multimedia protocols and system components. The driver layer can include Bluetooth drivers, Wi-Fi drivers, USB drivers, HDMI drivers, and power drivers.

[0085] It should be noted that the above examples are merely a simple division of operating system functions and do not limit the specific form of the operating system of the smart set-top box 100 in this application embodiment. Depending on factors such as the functions of the smart set-top box 100 and the type of operating system, the number and specific types of layers included in the operating system can take other forms. For example, the operating system of the smart set-top box 100 can be Linux or Android, etc.

[0086] like Figure 4As shown, based on the hardware and software configuration of the smart set-top box 100 described above, in some embodiments, the first interface 120 of the smart set-top box 100 can access the IPTV (Internet Protocol Television) service line via DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) or Ethernet. The second interface 130 then converts the media stream and other data transmitted through the IPTV network into multimedia signals and outputs them to the display device 200, thereby enabling the display device 200 to perform different types of functions such as live TV, video-on-demand, and web browsing. IPTV provides on-demand or multicast media asset services over an IP-based network, involving technologies at the support layer, service layer, bearer layer, and access layer, as well as audio and video encoding / decoding technology, streaming technology, content distribution technology, multicast technology, and DRM technology.

[0087] In some embodiments, the interface between the smart set-top box 100 and the IPTV network includes an authentication interface, a payment interface, and a service usage interface. The authentication interface includes network layer authentication and application layer authentication, which is the process by which an internet user accesses the internet. For example, network layer access authentication methods can be PPPoE and DHCP+Web. Application layer authentication is the authentication process of the smart set-top box 100 within the IPTV network; only users who pass application layer authentication can use the services provided by IPTV.

[0088] In some embodiments, IPTV set-top boxes can access either public or private networks. Each type of network has its advantages and disadvantages, and users and video operating platforms can choose according to their specific needs. For example, IPTV set-top boxes may use DHCP authentication to access public networks, thus consuming home broadband network resources. While public network access is relatively simple, IPTV set-top boxes connected via public networks are susceptible to network fluctuations, especially during peak usage periods, which can lead to buffering or dropped connections.

[0089] For example, IPTV set-top boxes use IPoE / PPPoE authentication and require users to enter their username and password to access a dedicated network. While the access process is relatively complex, the dedicated network provides a closed network environment for IPTV services, enhancing security. Therefore, if the needs of users or video operating platforms change, the network connection method can be modified to adapt to the new requirements.

[0090] In some embodiments, the smart set-top box 100 plays video via multicast and unicast. Multicast means a message is sent from one source and forwarded to a specific group of receivers, with an identical copy of the message on each link. Multicast allows one or more multicast sources to send the same message to multiple receivers. Unicast, on the other hand, is a one-to-one communication mode. Devices in the network select a transmission path based on the destination address contained in the network packet, transmitting the unicast message to the designated destination. It only forwards received data and does not copy it.

[0091] It should be noted that smart set-top boxes accessing the network via different network connection methods support different video playback modes. For example, smart set-top boxes accessing the network via DHCP authentication support unicast video playback, while those accessing the network via IPoE / PPPoE authentication support multicast video playback.

[0092] like Figure 5 As shown, Figure 5 Provided for some embodiments of this application Figure 1 Hardware configuration block diagram of control device 101. Control device 101 may include: device controller 1011, communication interface 1012, user input / output interface, memory, power supply, etc.

[0093] In some embodiments, the control device 101 is configured to control the smart set-top box 100 and to detect user input operation events, such as physical button press events, view selection events in the touch screen, etc., and then convert the signals or data generated by the operation events into data packets that the smart set-top box 100 can recognize, thereby acting as an intermediary for interaction between the user and the smart set-top box 100.

[0094] In some embodiments, the device controller 1011 includes a processor, RAM and ROM, a communication interface, and a communication bus. The device controller 1011 is used to control the operation and function of the control device 101, as well as to control the communication and cooperation between the internal components of the control device 101 and the external and internal data processing functions.

[0095] Under the control of the device controller 101, the communication interface enables communication of control signals and data signals with the smart set-top box 100. The communication interface may include at least one of other near-field communication modules such as a WiFi chip, Bluetooth chip, or NFC chip.

[0096] In some embodiments, the control device 101 can send data packets, such as Bluetooth broadcasts or key value information of buttons, to the smart set-top box 100 via the protocol corresponding to the near-field communication module. That is, the control device 101 can send corresponding data packets to the smart set-top box 100 via WiFi, Bluetooth, or NFC protocol encoding.

[0097] In some embodiments, the memory 190 is used, under the control of the device controller 1011, to store various operating programs, data, and applications that drive and control the control device 101. The memory 190 may store various control signals input by the user, such as key value information corresponding to a press event, audio signals corresponding to voice input, etc.

[0098] Based on the aforementioned smart set-top box 100 and control device 101, in some embodiments, the control device 101 can control the smart set-top box 100 to implement a network mode modification function. First, to make the content output by the smart set-top box 100 visible, the smart set-top box 100 is connected to the display device 200 via the second interface 130. Second, the system settings interface of the smart set-top box 100 is accessed via buttons such as "Settings" on the control device 101, and the network mode to be switched is selected in the system settings interface. If the original network mode of the smart set-top box 100 is a private network (such as IPoE authentication), and it is to be switched to a public network, the network connection method in the system settings is switched to DHCP authentication via the control device 101. If the original network mode of the smart set-top box 100 is a public network (such as DHCP authentication), and it is to be switched to a private network, the network connection method in the system settings is switched to IPoE / PPPoE authentication via the control device 101, and the authentication account and password are entered via the control device 101.

[0099] However, the aforementioned network mode switching method requires manual operation by the user through control device 101, which cannot be automated, increasing resource consumption and failure rate. Furthermore, if the video service environment cannot be synchronously set up after manually changing the network mode, video playback will fail, impacting user experience.

[0100] Therefore, some embodiments of this application provide a smart set-top box, which may include a communication module 140 and a controller 110. The communication module 140 is communicatively connected to a server 400, the controller 110 is used to run the operating system of the smart set-top box 100, and the communication module 140 is configured to establish a communication connection with a control device 101.

[0101] like Figure 6 As shown, control device 101 is configured to perform the following procedure steps:

[0102] S601: Get information on newly added business accounts.

[0103] In some embodiments, server 400 can be a network server, and smart set-top box 100 communicates with the network server via communication module 140. To enable smart set-top box 100 to automatically modify network mode, smart set-top box 100 monitors the service account information issued by the network server in real time during operation, and acquires the monitored service account information as new service account information for subsequent network mode modifications. The new service account information is account information that enables the smart set-top box to achieve network connectivity.

[0104] For example, business account information can be a string of numbers with no fixed number of digits. To distinguish the network mode corresponding to the business account information, the network mode corresponding to business account information starting with the number "9" can be identified as a private network, and the network mode corresponding to business account information starting with any number other than "9" can be identified as a public network. For example, if the newly added business account information is "82541625", then the network mode corresponding to this newly added business account information is a public network, and the network connection method can be DHCP authentication. As another example, if the newly added business account information is "915882162", then the network mode corresponding to this newly added business account information is a private network, and the network connection method can be PPoE authentication.

[0105] S602: Obtain the current service account information of the smart set-top box.

[0106] In some embodiments, to ensure that the smart set-top box 100 can still access the network even when it has not obtained new service account information from the network server, the smart set-top box 100 will connect to the network based on its existing account information and access the network in the current network mode. For example, if the smart set-top box 100's existing account information is "75245663", then the smart set-top box 100 will access the network via DHCP authentication, and the current network mode will be the public network.

[0107] In some embodiments, in order to achieve the purpose of automatically modifying the network mode, the smart set-top box 100 also needs to obtain the existing account information as the current business account information, which is used to compare with the newly added business account information issued by the network server.

[0108] For example, if the existing account information of the smart set-top box 100 is "662456655", then the account information "662456655" will be obtained as the current business account information.

[0109] S603: If the newly added service account information is the same as the current service account information, then control the network mode of the smart set-top box to remain unchanged.

[0110] In some embodiments, to determine whether the smart set-top box 100 needs to modify its network mode, the newly added service account information obtained in step S601 and the current service account information obtained in step S602 need to be compared. Therefore, after obtaining the newly added service account information and the current service account information, they need to be stored separately.

[0111] In some embodiments, the newly added business account information and the current business account information can be stored in the memory of the smart set-top box 100. Figure 7 This is a diagram illustrating the storage of business account information, such as... Figure 7 As shown, firstly, the newly added service account information and the current service account information are obtained from the network server and the smart set-top box 100, respectively; secondly, the newly added service account information is marked as the first group and the current service account information is marked as the second group; finally, the first group and the second group are stored in the memory.

[0112] For example, during the operation of the smart set-top box 100, if the network server issues a new business account information of "9541265" and the current business account information of the smart set-top box 100 is "56415", then "9541265" is marked as the first group and "56415" is marked as the second group. Both the first group and the second group are stored in the memory.

[0113] In some embodiments, the network mode of the smart set-top box 100 can be divided into an accountless network mode and an accounted network mode. The accountless network mode refers to a network mode where access to the network is possible without using an account and password, i.e., the smart set-top box 100 is connected to a public network. The accounted network mode refers to a network mode where the smart set-top box 100 needs to be configured using an account and password during network access, i.e., the smart set-top box 100 is connected to a private network.

[0114] For example, the network mode without an account can be accessed through DHCP authentication to access the public network; the network mode with an account can be accessed through IPoE authentication and connected by entering the user account and password of the smart set-top box 100.

[0115] It should be noted that the user account of the smart set-top box 100 is configured by the server, and the format can be "MAC address of smart set-top box 100 + @itv" or "web address + @itv", etc. For example, when the smart set-top box 100 accesses the network via IPoE authentication, the user account needs to be entered as "00:1A:2B:3C:4D:5E@itv". This embodiment does not specifically limit the format of the user account.

[0116] In some embodiments, in order to improve the efficiency and accuracy of the smart set-top box 100 in automatically modifying the network mode, it is first necessary to determine whether the newly added service account information is the same as the current service account information, and secondly, it is necessary to determine whether the current network mode of the smart set-top box 100 is an accountless network mode or an accounted network mode, and then make targeted modifications based on the comprehensive judgment results.

[0117] Below, we will first introduce the situation where the information of the newly added business account is the same as that of the current business account.

[0118] Figure 8 A flowchart illustrating the process of modifying the network mode when business account information is identical. In some embodiments, such as... Figure 8 As shown, if the newly added business account information is the same as the current business account information, and the current network mode is the no-account network mode, then the network mode of the smart set-top box 100 is set to the no-account network mode.

[0119] It should be understood that if the newly added business account information is the same as the current business account information, it means that the business account information issued by the network server is no different from the business account information currently used by the smart set-top box 100, that is, the network modes corresponding to the two are the same. Therefore, there is no need to modify the network mode of the smart set-top box 100. Furthermore, when the current network mode of the smart set-top box 100 is the accountless network mode, it is only necessary to set the network mode to the current accountless network mode, without needing to reconnect to the network.

[0120] For example, if the new service account information issued by the network server is "45621578", and the current service account information of the smart set-top box 100 is also "45621578", they are identical. Furthermore, based on the current service account information "45621578", it can be inferred that the network currently accessed by the smart set-top box 100 is a public network, requiring no user account or password configuration; therefore, the current network mode is an accountless network mode. Thus, there is no need to modify the network mode of the smart set-top box 100; simply set the network mode to the current accountless network mode.

[0121] In some embodiments, such as Figure 8 As shown, if the newly added business account information is the same as the current business account information, and the current network mode is the account-enabled network mode, then the network mode of the smart set-top box 100 is set to the account-enabled network mode; and the smart set-top box 100 is controlled to access the network in the account-enabled network mode.

[0122] It should be understood that if the newly added business account information is the same as the current business account information, it means that the business account information issued by the network server is no different from the business account information currently used by the smart set-top box 100, that is, the network modes corresponding to the two are the same. Therefore, there is no need to modify the network mode of the smart set-top box 100. However, when the current network mode of the smart set-top box 100 is the account-enabled network mode, in addition to setting the network mode to the current account-enabled network mode, it is also necessary to control the smart set-top box 100 to reconnect to the network with the current user account.

[0123] For example, if the new service account information issued by the network server is "9586254", and the current service account information of the smart set-top box 100 is also "9586254", they are identical. Furthermore, based on the current service account information "9586254", it can be inferred that the network currently accessed by the smart set-top box 100 is a dedicated network, requiring the configuration of a user account and password; therefore, the current network mode is an account-based network mode. Thus, although the network mode of the smart set-top box 100 is still an account-based network mode, it still needs to connect to the network through a user account, such as entering the account "00:1A:2B:3C:4D:5E@itv" to make a network connection request.

[0124] S604: If the newly added service account information is different from the current service account information, control the smart set-top box to connect to the network according to the newly added service account information so that the network mode of the smart set-top box is the newly added network mode.

[0125] In some embodiments, when the newly added service account information is different from the current service account information, it is necessary to continue to determine whether the current network mode of the smart set-top box 100 is an accountless network mode or an accounted network mode, and control the smart set-top box 100 to modify the network mode according to different determination results.

[0126] Figure 9 A flowchart illustrating the process of not simultaneously modifying the network mode for business account information. In some embodiments, such as Figure 9 As shown, if the newly added service account information is different from the current service account information, and the current network mode is the accountless network mode, then the user account of the smart set-top box is obtained; the new network mode is configured according to the user account; the network mode of the smart set-top box is changed to the new network mode; and the smart set-top box is controlled to access the network in the new network mode.

[0127] It should be understood that if the newly added service account information differs from the current service account information, the corresponding network modes will be different. Therefore, the smart set-top box 100 needs to be controlled to automatically modify the network mode. Furthermore, when the current network mode of the smart set-top box 100 is an accountless network mode, it needs to be changed to an accounted network mode based on the newly added service account information. First, the user account of the smart set-top box 100 needs to be obtained; second, network configuration is performed based on the user account and password to obtain the account information required for the new network mode; finally, the smart set-top box 100 needs to be controlled to reconnect to the network using the new network mode.

[0128] For example, if the new service account information issued by the network server is "9586254", and the current service account information of the smart set-top box 100 is "7854426", the two are different and need to be modified. Furthermore, based on the current service account information "7854426", it can be inferred that the smart set-top box 100 is currently connected to a public network (connecting via DHCP authentication), without a user account and password configured, i.e., the current network mode is an accountless network mode. However, the network mode corresponding to the new service account information "9586254" is an accounted network mode. Therefore, it is necessary to obtain the user account of the smart set-top box 100, such as "00:1A:2B:3C:4D:5E@itv", and then connect to the network via IPoE / PPPoE authentication using the user account and corresponding password. This will change the network connection method of the smart set-top box 100 from DHCP authentication to IPoE / PPPoE authentication, automatically changing the network mode of the smart set-top box 100 from a public network to a private network.

[0129] In some embodiments, such as Figure 9 As shown, if the newly added business account information is different from the current business account information, and the current network mode is the accounted network mode, then the user account in the current network mode is cleared; then the network mode of the smart set-top box 100 is changed to the newly added network mode.

[0130] It should be understood that if the newly added business account information differs from the current business account information, the corresponding network modes will be different. Therefore, the smart set-top box 100 will automatically modify the network mode. Furthermore, when the current network mode of the smart set-top box 100 is an account-based network mode, after modifying the network mode, it will no longer be necessary to connect to the network through a user account.

[0131] For example, if the new service account information issued by the network server is "7854426", and the current service account information of the smart set-top box 100 is "9586254", these two are different and need to be modified. Furthermore, based on the current service account information "9586254", it can be inferred that the smart set-top box 100 is currently connected to a private network (connected via IPoE / PPPoE authentication), and a user account and password have been configured, meaning the current network mode is an accounted network mode. However, the network mode corresponding to the new service account information "7854426" is an accountless network mode. Therefore, it is no longer necessary to connect via a user account. Simply changing the network connection method of the smart set-top box 100 from IPoE / PPPoE authentication to DHCP authentication will automatically change the network mode of the smart set-top box 100 from a private network to a public network.

[0132] In some embodiments, to improve the adaptability and flexibility of the network mode modification method, it can be first determined whether the current network mode of the smart set-top box 100 is an accountless network mode or an accounted network mode, then it can be determined whether the newly added service account information is the same as the current service account information, and finally targeted modifications can be made based on the comprehensive judgment results.

[0133] Figure 10 A flowchart illustrating the method for modifying another network mode. For example... Figure 10 As shown, the controller 110 first obtains the new service account information, then determines whether the current network mode of the smart set-top box 100 is a private network. If the current network mode is a private network, it continues to determine whether the new service account information is the same as the current service account information. If the new service account information is the same as the current service account information, it keeps the network mode as a private network and reconnects to the network. If the new service account information is different from the current service account information, it changes the network mode of the smart set-top box 100 to a public network.

[0134] In some embodiments, such as Figure 10 As shown, if the current network mode is a public network, then it continues to determine whether the newly added business account information is the same as the current business account information. If the newly added business account information is the same as the current business account information, then the network mode is kept as a public network; if the newly added business account information is different from the current business account information, then the user account is obtained, and the network mode of the smart set-top box 100 is changed to a private network, and the network connection is established again.

[0135] In some embodiments, when the smart set-top box 100 automatically modifies its network mode according to the network mode modification method, the change in network mode may cause video resources sent to the smart set-top box 100 by the video platform to fail to play properly. For example, when the network mode is changed from a public network to a private network, such as from DHCP authentication to PPPoE authentication, the way the smart set-top box 100 obtains network parameters (such as IP address, subnet mask, default gateway, etc.) under PPPoE authentication is different from that under DHCP authentication. If the video platform has different requirements for different network modes in its multicast configuration, such as the multicast server's IP address not being correctly identified or not correctly configured under PPPoE authentication, it will cause problems with multicast playback, such as the inability to receive multicast streams or video stuttering.

[0136] For example, when the network mode is changed from a private network to a public network, such as from PPPoE authentication to DHCP authentication, the network parameters obtained under DHCP authentication may differ from those under PPPoE authentication. If the multicast service is based on a specific network configuration (such as a specific range of IP addresses or gateway settings for receiving multicast), then changes in network parameters may affect multicast reception. For instance, the newly acquired DHCP-assigned IP address may not be within the range allowed by the multicast server, resulting in the inability to receive multicast programs normally.

[0137] To address the aforementioned issues, in some embodiments, the controller 110 can also acquire the video playback mode of the smart set-top box 100 and send the video playback mode to the video platform via a probe mode. The probe mode involves installing probe software on network nodes to capture network data packets and monitor the network's operational status, thereby feeding back the video playback mode to the video platform. Once the video playback mode is fed back to the video platform, the platform can make corresponding adjustments to ensure the video playback mode meets the requirements.

[0138] In some embodiments, the controller 110 obtains the video playback mode of the smart set-top box 100 as follows: First, it obtains a preset multicast address. The preset multicast address may be preset in the system of the smart set-top box 100, or it may be sent to the smart set-top box 100 by the video platform. This application embodiment does not make specific limitations.

[0139] After obtaining the preset multicast address, such as Figure 11 As shown, the controller 110 controls the smart set-top box 100 to perform multicast address detection. If the smart set-top box 100 successfully adds to the preset multicast address, the video playback mode is set to multicast playback; if the smart set-top box 100 fails to add to the preset multicast address, the video playback mode is set to unicast playback.

[0140] The above method not only allows the video platform to obtain the current video playback status of the smart set-top box 100, but also solves the problem that the video cannot be played normally after the smart set-top box 100 changes its network mode.

[0141] Based on the aforementioned smart set-top box 100, some embodiments of this application also provide a network mode modification method, which can be applied to the smart set-top box 100 provided in the above embodiments. The method includes the following steps:

[0142] Get information on newly added business accounts.

[0143] Get the current business account information of Smart Set-Top Box 100.

[0144] If the newly added business account information is the same as the current business account information, the network mode of the smart set-top box 100 will remain unchanged.

[0145] If the newly added service account information is different from the current service account information, the smart set-top box 100 will connect to the network according to the newly added service account information so that the network mode of the smart set-top box 100 is the newly added network mode.

[0146] As can be seen from the above technical solutions, some embodiments of this application provide a smart set-top box and a method for modifying network mode. The method is applied to a smart set-top box 100, which is connected to a network server. Figure 12 This is a timing diagram for the network mode modification method. (Example:) Figure 12 As shown, firstly, the communication module obtains new service account information supporting network connection issued by the network server during the operation of the smart set-top box 100; secondly, the communication module transmits the new service account information to the controller 110; the controller 110 then compares the new service account information with the current service account information. If the new service account information is different from the current service account information, the controller controls the smart set-top box 100 to establish a network connection based on the new service account information, so that the network mode of the smart set-top box 100 is the new network mode; finally, the controller 110 performs multicast detection to obtain the video playback mode of the smart set-top box and sends the video playback mode to the video platform.

[0147] The method first obtains the new business account information issued by the network server, compares the new business account information with the current business account information, and automatically selects the corresponding network mode for network connection based on the comparison result, so as to realize the function of the smart set-top box 100 automatically changing the network mode; and after changing the network mode, the video playback mode of the smart set-top box 100 is obtained through multicast detection and sent to the video platform, which then adapts to improve the success rate of video playback.

[0148] The same or similar parts among the various embodiments in this specification can be referred to mutually, and will not be repeated here.

[0149] Those skilled in the art will clearly understand that the techniques in the embodiments of the present invention can be implemented using software plus necessary general-purpose hardware platforms. Based on this understanding, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention, or the parts that contribute to the prior art, can be embodied in the form of a software product. This computer software product can be stored in a storage medium, such as ROM / RAM, magnetic disk, optical disk, etc., and includes several instructions to cause a computer device (which may be a personal computer, server, or network device, etc.) to execute the methods of various embodiments or certain parts of the embodiments of the present invention.

[0150] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of this application, and are not intended to limit them. Although this application has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can still be made to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or equivalent substitutions can be made to some or all of the technical features therein. Such modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application.

[0151] For ease of explanation, the above description has been provided in conjunction with specific embodiments. However, the above exemplary discussion is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the embodiments to the specific forms disclosed above. Various modifications and variations can be obtained based on the above teachings. The selection and description of the above embodiments are for the purpose of better explaining the principles and practical applications, thereby enabling those skilled in the art to better utilize the described embodiments and various different variations of embodiments suitable for specific use considerations.

Claims

1. A smart set-top box, characterized in that, include: The communication module is configured to establish a communication connection with the network server. The controller is configured as follows: Obtain newly added service account information, wherein the newly added service account information is account information issued by the network server during the operation of the smart set-top box to support the smart set-top box in achieving network connection; If the newly added service account information is different from the current service account information, the smart set-top box is controlled to connect to the network according to the newly added service account information, so that the network mode of the smart set-top box is the newly added network mode; wherein, the current service account information is the account information that supports the current network mode of the smart set-top box to achieve network connection; Perform multicast detection on the smart set-top box to obtain the video playback mode of the smart set-top box; The video playback mode is sent to the video platform via probe mode.

2. The smart set-top box according to claim 1, characterized in that, Before the controller retrieves the new business account information, it is also configured as follows: Obtain the current network mode of the smart set-top box; Control the smart set-top box to connect to the network in the current network mode.

3. The smart set-top box according to claim 1, characterized in that, The controller is configured to retrieve new business account information as follows: Monitor the server data sent by the network server; If the server data includes business account information data, then the business account information data is obtained to obtain the newly added business account information.

4. The smart set-top box according to claim 1, characterized in that, After the controller retrieves the new business account information, it is also configured as follows: If the newly added service account information is the same as the current service account information, and the current network mode is an accountless network mode, then the network mode of the smart set-top box is set to the accountless network mode; wherein, the accountless network mode is a network mode that does not require connection through a user account.

5. The smart set-top box according to claim 1, characterized in that, After obtaining the information of the newly added business account, it is further configured as follows: If the newly added service account information is the same as the current service account information, and the current network mode is an account-enabled network mode, then the network mode of the smart set-top box is set to the account-enabled network mode; wherein, the account-enabled network mode is a network mode that requires connection through a user account. Control the smart set-top box to access the network in the accounted network mode.

6. The smart set-top box according to claim 4, characterized in that, If the controller executes the following steps: if the newly added service account information differs from the current service account information, it controls the smart set-top box to establish a network connection based on the newly added service account information, so that the network mode of the smart set-top box is the newly added network mode. Specifically, this is configured as follows: If the newly added service account information is different from the current service account information, and the current network mode is the accountless network mode, then obtain the user account of the smart set-top box; Configure the new network mode according to the user account; Modify the network mode of the smart set-top box to the newly added network mode; Control the smart set-top box to access the network using the newly added network mode.

7. The smart set-top box according to claim 5, characterized in that, If the controller executes the following steps: if the newly added service account information differs from the current service account information, it controls the smart set-top box to establish a network connection based on the newly added service account information, so that the network mode of the smart set-top box is the newly added network mode. Specifically, this is configured as follows: If the newly added business account information is different from the current business account information, and the current network mode is the accounted network mode, then the user account in the current network mode is cleared. Modify the network mode of the smart set-top box to the newly added network mode.

8. The smart set-top box according to claim 1, characterized in that, The controller is configured to obtain the video playback mode of the smart set-top box, specifically as follows: Obtain the preset multicast address; If the smart set-top box successfully joins the preset multicast address, then the video playback mode is set to multicast playback; If the smart set-top box fails to join the preset multicast address, the video playback mode is set to unicast playback.

9. The smart set-top box according to claim 1, characterized in that, The controller is configured to send the video playback mode to the video platform via probe mode, specifically as follows: The control probe collects video playback data, and the video playback data includes at least the video playback mode; Establish a communication connection between the probe and the video platform; The probe is controlled to send the video playback data to the video platform.

10. A method for modifying a network pattern, characterized in that, Applied to the smart set-top box according to any one of claims 1-9, the method includes: Obtain newly added service account information, wherein the newly added service account information is account information issued by the network server during the operation of the smart set-top box to support the smart set-top box in achieving network connection; If the newly added service account information is different from the current service account information, the smart set-top box is controlled to connect to the network according to the newly added service account information, so that the network mode of the smart set-top box is the newly added network mode; wherein, the current service account information is the account information that supports the current network mode of the smart set-top box to achieve network connection; Perform multicast detection on the smart set-top box to obtain the video playback mode of the smart set-top box; The video playback mode is sent to the video platform via probe mode.

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