Set-Top Box Command Translation for Device Interoperability
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In home settings, unauthorized control devices often fail to communicate effectively with set-top boxes due to proprietary commands, leading to unsupported or ignored commands, restricting user control over media playback and recording from multiple service providers.
Innovation Solution
A method and system determine supported commands between devices, using a first communication interface for open commands and a second interface for proprietary commands, with a server translating commands from one format to another to ensure interoperability, employing Enhanced TV Binary Interchange Format (EBIF) and Representational State Transfer (REST) services for message relay and queuing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If proprietary commands are used for authorized control devices, then control functionality and reliability are improved, but compatibility with unauthorized control devices deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a set-top box as an intermediary device between the control device and the cable modem. The set-top box receives commands from unauthorized control devices, translates them into proprietary commands, and forwards them to the cable modem. This mediator approach allows unauthorized devices to control the system without direct access to proprietary command protocols, resolving the contradiction between maintaining reliable control functionality and enabling compatibility with unauthorized devices.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple communication interfaces are used, then command compatibility is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The set-top box is designed with multi-functionality, serving as both a communication interface for receiving commands from control devices and a translation engine for converting between different command formats. It handles both open commands directly and proprietary commands through translation, making the system universally compatible with different control devices without requiring separate systems for each command type.
Solution Approach 2:
The set-top box acts as a mediator that manages multiple communication interfaces (RF interface for proprietary commands and data interface for open commands). By centralizing the interface management and translation functions in the set-top box, the system achieves command compatibility across different interfaces while containing the complexity within a single device rather than distributing it across multiple components.
3Adaptability or versatility
If command translation is implemented, then interoperability between devices is improved, but processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The set-top box maintains a lookup table of command translations between open commands and proprietary commands. When a command is received, the system performs a quick table lookup to find the corresponding proprietary command rather than performing complex real-time translation. This preliminary preparation of translation mappings significantly reduces the processing time required for command interoperability.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and a device for determining what commands can be used to operate a receiving device (110) when a user operates a control device (105). After such a determination is made, a first command is transmitted to the receiving device from the control device (105) over a first communication interface and a second command is transmitted to the receiving device (110) over 5 a second communication interface. The communication interface that is selected depends on whether the control device can control the operation of the receiving device (110) with such a command directly or whether an intervening device (130/140) is required to translate the command from a first format to a second format.