Methods and systems to operate a set-top box

1. A set-top box controlled by a portable communication device serving as a remote controller comprising:

a receiving module to receive an encrypted signal from the remote controller, the encrypted signal containing information associated with a command; and

a decryption engine to decrypt the encrypted signal to enable the set-top box to execute the command,

wherein the set-top box receives the encrypted signal over a radio frequency (RF) signal,

wherein the receiving module receives an explicit frequency identifier that identifies a first radio frequency from a plurality of radio frequencies corresponding to an explicit market, and

wherein a user is presented with a user interface and prompted to select either a frequency of 432 MHz for a first market or 433.92 MHz for a second market corresponding to the frequency identifier.

2. The set-top box of claim 1 , wherein the encrypted signal includes verification information that includes a first set of data.

3. The set-top box of claim 2 , wherein the decryption engine includes a verification module that verifies the information.

4. The set-top box of claim 3 , wherein the verification module generates a second set of data, based on the information and compares the second set of data with the first set of data.

5. The set-top box of claim 1 , wherein the decryption engine utilizes a decryption key that was communicated from the remote controller to the set-top box over an infra red signal during a set-top box installation set up.

6. The set-top box of claim 1 , wherein the decryption engine uses a decryption key that was stored in a storage device.

7. The set-top box of claim 1 , wherein the decryption engine includes a verification module to verify the information with a cyclic redundancy check.

8. The set-top box of claim 1 , wherein the decryption engine includes a verification module to verify the information with a cryptographic hash function.

9. The set-top box of claim 1 , wherein the remote controller is a cell phone.

10. A portable communication device serving as a remote controller for controlling a set-top box comprising:

a control including control buttons for generating a command input;

an encryption engine to encrypt information to generate an encrypted signal, the information associated with the command input by a user via the control; and

a communication module to communicate the encrypted signal to the set-top box, the encrypted signal for decryption at the set-top box to enable execution of the command to operate the set-top box,

wherein the remote controller communicates with the set-top box using an infrared(IR) signal,

wherein the communication module receives an explicit user selected frequency identifier that identifies a first radio frequency from a plurality of radio frequencies, and

wherein a user interface prompts for the explicit user selected frequency identifier selected from identifiers associated with either a frequency of 432 MHz or 433.92 MHz corresponding to the explicit user selected frequency identifier.

11. The portable communication device of claim 10 , wherein the encryption engine includes a verifying module to verify the information with a cyclic redundancy check.

12. The portable communication device of claim 10 , wherein the encryption engine encrypts verification information is utilized to verify the information.

13. A method to operate a set-top box, the method comprising:

receiving an encrypted signal from a portable communication device serving as a remote controller, the encrypted signal containing information associated with a command; and

decrypting the encrypted signal to enable the set-top box to execute the command,

wherein the set-top box receives the encrypted signal over a radio frequency (RF) signal,

wherein the receiving module receives an explicit user selected frequency identifier that identifies a first radio frequency from a plurality of radio frequencies, and

presenting a user with a user interface and prompting the user to select either a frequency of 432 MHz or 433.92 MHz corresponding to the user selected frequency identifier for predefined markets using either 432 MHz or 433.92 MHz.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the decrypting the encrypted signal includes verifying the information.

15. The method of claim 13 , wherein the decrypting the encrypted signal includes generating a second set of data based on the information and comparing the second set of data with the first set of data.

16. The method of claim 13 , wherein the decrypting is performed by using a decryption key that was communicated from the remote controller to the set-top box.

17. The method of claim 13 , wherein the decrypting is performed by using a decryption key that was communicated from the set-top box to the remote controller.

18. The method of claim 13 , wherein the decrypting the encrypted signal includes verifying the information with a cyclic redundancy check.

19. The method of claim 13 , wherein the decrypting the encrypted signal includes verifying the information with a cryptographic hash function.

20. A non-transitory machine readable medium storing a set of instructions that, when executed by a machine, cause the machine to:

receive an encrypted signal from a portable communication device serving as a remote controller, the encrypted signal containing information associated with a command; and

decrypt the encrypted signal to enable the set-top box to execute the command,

wherein the set-top box receives the encrypted signal over a radio frequency (RF) signal,

wherein the receiving module receives a user selected frequency identifier that identifies a first radio frequency from a plurality of radio frequencies wherein each frequency among the plurality of frequencies corresponds to a predetermined market, and

wherein a user is presented with a user interface and prompted to select either a first explicit frequency or another explicit frequency corresponding to the frequency identifier and the predetermined market.