Set Top Box Remote Control via Web Interface

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Solution Overview

Problem

Low-end terminals lack the necessary functions to perform remote control operations on set top boxes or televisions, as they require decoding video content and real-time information processing, which is beyond their capabilities.

Innovation Solution

A method where a set top box generates and sends application information using a web page description language to a mobile terminal, enabling the mobile terminal to acquire a control UI through a web page server for remote control operations, without the need for decoding video content, allowing low and middle-end smart mobile terminals to perform remote control functions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the terminal performs video content decoding and real-time information processing for remote control, then the remote control function is achieved, but the terminal capability requirement becomes too high for low-end devices

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveremote control functionVSAvoidterminal capability requirement
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the video decoding and complex processing functions from the terminal device and relocates them to the set-top box. The terminal only needs to capture the screen and transmit basic control signals, while the set-top box handles the heavy processing of video content decoding and real-time information processing, thus reducing terminal capability requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a screen capturing mechanism as an intermediary. Instead of the terminal directly decoding video content from the set-top box, the terminal captures the already-rendered screen output and processes this visual information. This intermediary approach simplifies the terminal's processing requirements while maintaining full remote control functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If the terminal captures and processes video content in real-time, then remote control operations can be performed, but the processing power and energy consumption increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveremote control operation speedVSAvoidterminal energy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the energy-intensive video decoding function from the terminal and assigns it to the set-top box. The terminal only performs low-power screen capturing and basic image processing, significantly reducing energy consumption while maintaining remote control productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses screen capturing to create a visual copy of the set-top box output. The terminal processes this captured image copy rather than the original video stream, which reduces processing complexity and energy requirements while enabling real-time remote control operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

3Adaptability or versatility

If low-end terminals are used for remote control, then device accessibility is improved, but the terminal lacks necessary decoding and processing functions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveterminal compatibilityVSAvoidremote control functionality
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces screen capturing as an intermediary mechanism that works universally across different terminal types. This approach allows low-end terminals without video decoding capabilities to perform remote control by capturing and processing screen images, thereby improving compatibility while maintaining functional reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of requiring the terminal to have advanced decoding capabilities to perform remote control, the patent inverts the approach: the set-top box renders the video content, and the terminal simply captures and processes the visual output. This inversion allows any terminal with screen capturing capability to perform remote control, greatly expanding device accessibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Data Source

PatentEP2922277B1Method and device for remote control of a set top box
Publication Date: 2017.07.26 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP2922277B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2922277B1 patent drawingFigure 3~6
  • EP2922277B1 patent drawingFigure 7~9

AI summary

The present invention provides a terminal remote control method, including: sending (101), by a set top box, application information to a mobile terminal, where the application information is used to instruct the mobile terminal to acquire, by using a web page server, a control user interface UI for remote control on the set top box, the application information carries address information of the control UI and connection information that is required by the mobile terminal for establishing a connection to the set top box by using the web page server; receiving (102), by the set top box, an operation instruction that is sent by the mobile terminal on the control UI by using the web page server; and performing (103), by the set top box, an operation according to the operation instruction. Therefore, a remote control operation performed by the mobile terminal on the set top box is implemented.