Media Content Processor Configuration Recovery via Web Server
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Solution Overview
Problem
Media content processors such as Set-Top Boxes (STBs) and Digital Video Recorders (DVRs) often lose complex configurations over time due to damage or malfunction, leading to loss of parental controls, recording settings, and personalized content, which existing systems fail to effectively recover or provision.
Innovation Solution
A system where a web server communicates with STBs and DVRs over an ISP network to retrieve, record, and re-provision configurations, including parental controls, recording settings, and personalized content, using a controller to manage configuration updates and transcoding for compatibility between different device models.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If media content processors store complex configurations locally, then configuration features and functionality are improved, but vulnerability to data loss from damage or malfunction increases
Solution Approach 1:
A server acts as an intermediary between multiple media content processors, storing configuration data centrally. When a processor is damaged or malfunctioning, the server retrieves and restores configuration data, eliminating the vulnerability of local-only storage while maintaining full configuration functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates and maintains copies of configuration data on a remote server. This copying mechanism ensures that configuration information is preserved independently of any single processor's physical state, allowing recovery after damage or malfunction while maintaining all configuration features.
2Reliability
If configuration data is stored remotely on a server, then reliability against local damage is improved, but system complexity and communication requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The server performs multiple functions: storing configuration data, receiving processor status information, determining which processors need restoration, and transmitting restored configurations. This multi-functionality consolidates complexity into a single component rather than distributing it across multiple processors.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables processors to autonomously retrieve and restore their own configurations from the server when needed, without requiring manual intervention or complex coordination between processors. The server automatically determines which processors need restoration based on information they provide.
3Device complexity
If configuration restoration is performed manually, then system simplicity is maintained, but time consumption and user impact increase
Solution Approach 1:
Configuration data is pre-stored on the server before any damage occurs. When a processor malfunctions, the restoration process immediately retrieves and restores the pre-saved configuration without requiring manual data entry or preparation, significantly reducing restoration time while maintaining automated operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements a feedback mechanism where processors communicate their status to the server, which then automatically determines which processors need configuration restoration and initiates the process. This closed-loop feedback system eliminates manual assessment and accelerates the restoration timeline.
Data Source
AI summary
A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a media content processor having a controller adapted to transmit to a web server one or more configurations of said media content processor. The web server can record said one or more configurations to perform one among re-provisioning of the media content processor after it experiences a loss of configuration information and provisioning of another media content processor. Other embodiments are disclosed.