Supplemental Set-Top Box Control via Optical Character Recognition
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing interactive television technologies face inefficiencies in developing and maintaining provider-specific APIs for supplemental set-top boxes to interact with primary set-top boxes, especially when accessing various media content and services.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method and system that enable a supplemental set-top box to control a primary set-top box by sending command sequences via a wireless connection, capturing and analyzing display data to determine the correctness of the commands, and updating a database with correct command sequences for future use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If provider-specific APIs are developed for each primary set-top box to enable supplemental set-top box control, then control functionality is achieved, but development time and maintenance complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal control mechanism where the supplemental set-top box can control multiple different primary set-top boxes from various providers through a single standardized interface. Instead of developing separate APIs for each provider, the system uses a generic control protocol that works across different platforms, making one device serve multiple functions across diverse systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary communication layer that mediates between the supplemental set-top box and the primary set-top box. This intermediary protocol acts as a translator, converting standardized control commands into provider-specific instructions without requiring direct custom API development between each device pair, thus reducing development time and maintenance burden.
2Adaptability or versatility
If custom APIs are developed for each cable or satellite television provider, then device compatibility is achieved, but maintenance burden increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system achieves broad device compatibility across multiple cable and satellite providers through a universal control interface. The supplemental set-top box is designed to work with various primary set-top boxes using a standardized protocol, eliminating the need to maintain separate custom APIs for each provider and significantly reducing maintenance complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The control mechanism enables the supplemental set-top box to autonomously adapt to different primary set-top boxes without requiring manual API configuration or provider-specific setup. The system self-adjusts to work with different providers through the standardized interface, reducing the maintenance burden on developers and technicians.
3Ease of manufacture
If trial and error command sequences are used to control set-top box features, then API development is avoided, but time and computational resources are consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-defining a standardized set of control commands and protocols that can be directly applied to control set-top box features. Instead of relying on trial and error, the system uses pre-established command sequences that are known to work across different providers, significantly improving control efficiency while avoiding custom API development.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms where the supplemental set-top box monitors the response to control commands and adjusts subsequent actions based on the observed state. This feedback loop enables efficient control without trial and error, as the system learns from previous interactions and optimizes command sequences based on actual device responses.
Data Source
AI summary
Features of various implementations are used to control operation of a second electronic device from a first electronic device using indirect control methods and optical character recognition. In some implementations, communication between a primary set-top box and a supplemental set-top box is configured in order to avoid the need for one or more provider-specific APIs. For example, one aspect of the disclosure is a method of identifying commands that can be used to control one or more features of a primary set-top box (e.g., DVR or VOD features) by a supplemental set-top box issuing commands to the primary set-top box via a wireless (e.g., IR) transmitter, and then using optical character recognition to identify the outcomes of those commands as displayed on a primary TV display or secondary display.