Mobile Phone Control of Set-Top Box via Automatic LAN Registration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users of set-top box devices face difficulties in navigating and controlling media content due to cumbersome remote controls and on-screen program guides that occupy screen space, making it hard to find and select desired media content.
Innovation Solution
A system that allows mobile phone devices to automatically register and control media content access devices within a local area network, enabling users to control multiple devices through a mobile app, reducing the need for complex remote controls and providing a more intuitive interface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a traditional remote control device is used to control a set-top box device, then the device can be controlled, but the remote control includes a plethora of buttons that makes it difficult for users to locate and select required operations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential control functions from the complex traditional remote control and implements them through a mobile device application. The mobile device communicates with the set-top box via a local area network, pulling out only the necessary control operations needed for media content access, thereby eliminating the need for a physical remote with numerous buttons.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical button-based remote control system with an electronic software-based control interface on a mobile device. This substitution allows for a more flexible and intuitive user interface that can adapt to different operations without requiring physical buttons for each function.
2Ease of operation
If an on-screen program guide is displayed to help users find media content, then navigation is improved, but the program guide occupies display screen space and impairs the user's ability to view a full rendition of media content
Solution Approach 1:
The patent moves the program guide interface from the two-dimensional display screen to the mobile device interface. This dimensional shift allows users to access program guide information on a separate device while the main display screen remains fully available for viewing media content, effectively resolving the space conflict.
3Reliability
If manual registration of mobile phone device is implemented, then security can be maintained, but the registration process becomes time-consuming and complex for users
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by automatically detecting the mobile device's presence on the local area network and pre-configuring communication parameters before user interaction is needed. This preliminary setup enables rapid authentication and registration, maintaining security while dramatically reducing the time required for the process.
Solution Approach 2:
The registration system enables self-service by allowing the mobile device to automatically register itself with the set-top box through network-based identification and authentication protocols. The system handles the complex registration steps autonomously without requiring manual configuration or lengthy user input, thus maintaining security while minimizing user time investment.
Data Source
AI summary
An exemplary method includes a media content access device detecting a request provided by a mobile phone device to register the mobile phone device with the media content access device, registering the mobile phone device with the media content access device in response to the detected request, and automatically registering the mobile phone device with one or more additional media content access devices within the local area network. Corresponding methods and systems are also described.