Set-Top Box Pairing via Visual Code Scanning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current solutions lack an efficient method for associating portable devices with set-top boxes (STBs) to manage device-STB pairing relationships, limiting user interaction and control over STBs using portable devices.

Innovation Solution

A method that uses a visual code displayed on the STB, scanned by a portable device, to establish a pairing relationship, allowing the device to process navigation and control commands, and enabling direct interaction with the STB for personalized content access.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a visual code pairing method is implemented, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepairing processVSAvoidpairing mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual pairing operations (typing codes, navigating menus) with optical scanning using a camera to capture a visual code displayed on the STB. This substitution of mechanical input methods with optical recognition simplifies the user interaction while the underlying image processing and code recognition algorithms handle the complexity internally.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The visual code serves as an intermediary element between the STB and the portable device. Instead of direct device-to-device communication or manual configuration, the visual code acts as a mediator that encapsulates pairing information, which the portable device scans and processes to establish the connection automatically.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Loss of time

If manual pairing methods are used, then device complexity is reduced, but loss of time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepairing timeVSAvoidpairing system

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The STB displays the visual code in advance, preparing the pairing information before the user initiates the pairing process on the portable device. This preliminary display of the code allows the user to simply scan it with the camera, eliminating the need for real-time code generation or manual entry during the pairing moment, thus reducing pairing time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of operation

If visual code scanning is implemented, then ease of operation is improved, but measurement precision requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepairing operationVSAvoidcode recognition

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The portable device creates a digital copy (image) of the visual code displayed on the STB screen through camera scanning. This optical copying approach is more precise and reliable than manual entry methods, as it captures the exact code sequence without human error, while still maintaining ease of operation through automatic recognition algorithms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentUS9736541B1Pairing a set-top box and personal computing device using a visual code

Publication Date: 2017.08.15 COX COMMUNICATIONS INC

AI summary

Embodiments are configured in part to pair or associate a portable or personal computing device with a set-top box (STB) to enable use of the paired device with an associated STB. Processing of a displayed visual code can be used to establish a pairing relationship and allow a paired STB to process navigation, control, and/or other commands from a paired device.