Mobile Device Control of Set-Top Box via Wireless LAN

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Solution Overview

Problem

Users of set-top box devices face difficulties in navigating through numerous media content choices and controlling the device's operations due to cumbersome on-screen program guides and traditional remote controls with many unused buttons, which impede the viewing experience.

Innovation Solution

A mobile phone device is configured to establish a wireless local area network communication channel with the set-top box, allowing it to display graphical user interfaces for controlling the device, enabling users to input commands efficiently and customize settings without occupying the main display screen, thus enhancing user interaction and media content navigation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If an on-screen program guide is displayed on the set-top box display screen, then users can navigate through media content choices, but the user's ability to view a full rendition of media content is impaired

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemedia content navigationVSAvoiddisplay screen area for content viewing

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

A mobile device serves as an intermediary control interface between the user and the set-top box. The mobile device displays the program guide and receives user input, transmitting control signals to the set-top box via wireless communication. This allows full-screen content viewing on the main display while enabling program guide navigation on the mobile device screen.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If a traditional remote control device with numerous buttons is used, then comprehensive control of set-top box operations is possible, but the complexity of locating and selecting required buttons increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrol functionalityVSAvoidremote control button complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The mobile device application replicates essential remote control functions through a simplified graphical user interface. Instead of physical buttons, the app presents contextual control options that can be selected through touch input, maintaining comprehensive control capability while eliminating the complexity of numerous physical buttons.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The remote control interface adapts dynamically based on the current context and user needs. The graphical user interface can change its layout and available controls depending on what the user is viewing or attempting to do, presenting only relevant controls at any given moment rather than a static array of all possible functions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS8634390B2Systems and methods for wireless local area network based control of a set-top box device

Publication Date: 2014.01.21 VERIZON PATENT & LICENSING INC

AI summary

An exemplary method includes establishing, by a mobile phone device, a wireless local area network communication channel between the mobile phone device and a set-top box device, providing, by the mobile phone device, a graphical user interface for display on a display screen of the mobile phone device, the graphical user interface configured to facilitate inputting of one or more control commands by a user of the mobile phone device, and controlling, by the mobile phone device, at least one operation of the set-top box device via the wireless local area network communication channel in accordance with the one or more control commands. Corresponding methods and systems are also described.