System and method for automatic channel lineup determination

1 . A non-transitory, computer-readable media having stored thereon instructions executable by a portable device for configuring a program guide graphical user interface (GUI) on the portable device, the instructions causing the portable device to perform steps comprising:

obtaining from an unsolicited communication sent by a set-top box an identity of the set-top box;

determining a current geographical location of the portable device;

using the identity of the set-top box in combination with the determined current geographical location of the portable device to automatically identify within a Multi-System Operator (MSO) map, in which each of a plurality of MSO providers is correlated to a geographical location and a set-top box identity, a single one of the plurality of MSO providers;

automatically identifying a channel lineup for the identified one of the plurality of MSO providers and the determined current geographical location of the portable device; and

automatically configuring the program guide GUI on the portable device whereby the selected channel lineup is displayable to a user of the portable device for use in commanding tuning operations of the set-top box.

2 . The non-transitory, computer-readable media as recited in claim 1 , wherein the current geographical location of the portable device is determined using a GPS device resident on the portable device.

3 . The non-transitory, computer-readable media as recited in claim 1 , wherein the current geographical location of the portable device is determined using an external location service.

4 . The non-transitory, computer-readable media as recited in claim 1 , wherein the instructions cause the portable device to retrieve the selected channel lineup from the set-top box.

5 . The non-transitory, computer-readable media as recited in claim 1 , wherein the instructions cause the portable device to method retrieve the channel lineup from an Internet cloud device.

6 . The non-transitory, computer-readable media as recited in claim 1 , wherein the instructions cause the portable device to display indicia of the selected one of the plurality of MSO providers for confirmation by the user.

7 . The non-transitory, computer-readable media as recited in claim 1 , wherein the instructions cause the portable device to display indicia of the determined geographic location of the portable device for confirmation by the user.

8 . The non-transitory, computer-readable media as recited in claim 1 , wherein the instructions cause the portable device to periodically cause the selected channel lineup to be updated.

9 . A method performed by a portable device for configuring a program guide graphical user interface (GUI) on the portable device, comprising:

obtaining from an unsolicited communication sent by a set-top box an identity of the set-top box;

determining a current geographical location of the portable device;

using the identity of the set-top box in combination with the determined current geographical location of the portable device to automatically identify within a Multi-System Operator (MSO) map, in which each of a plurality of MSO providers is correlated to a geographical location and a set-top box identity, a single one of the plurality of MSO providers;

automatically identifying a channel lineup for the identified one of the plurality of MSO providers and the determined current geographical location of the portable device; and

automatically configuring the program guide GUI on the portable device whereby the selected channel lineup is displayable to a user of the portable device for use in commanding tuning operations of the set-top box.

10 . The method as recited in claim 9 , wherein the current geographical location of the portable device is determined using a GPS device resident on the portable device.

11 . The method as recited in claim 9 , wherein the current geographical location of the portable device is determined using an external location service.

12 . The method as recited in claim 9 , wherein the instructions cause the portable device to retrieve the selected channel lineup from the set-top box.

13 . The method as recited in claim 9 , wherein the instructions cause the portable device to method retrieve the channel lineup from an Internet cloud device.

14 . The method as recited in claim 9 , comprising displaying indicia of the selected one of the plurality of MSO providers for confirmation by the user.

15 . The method as recited in claim 9 , comprising displaying indicia of the determined geographic location of the portable device for confirmation by the user.

16 . The method as recited in claim 9 , comprising periodically causing the selected channel lineup to be updated.