Set-top box with enhanced controls
A set-top box with enhanced content and system and method for use of the same are disclosed. In one embodiment, a wireless transceiver is located within a housing, which also interconnectively includes a television input, television output, a processor, and memory. The set-top box may establish a pairing with a proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device having a display. Content, such music, for example, may be imported from the proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device and provided to the television. While the music is playing, the set-top box may generate and provide to the television a control signal that includes instructions to adjust the brightness of the television by dimming the television.
1. A set-top box comprising:
a housing securing a television input, a television output, a processor, memory, and storage therein;
a busing architecture communicatively interconnecting the television input, the television output, the processor, the memory, and the storage;
a wireless transceiver associated with the housing and coupled to the busing architecture, the wireless transceiver operable to communicate with a proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device;
the television input configured to receive a source signal from an external source;
the television output configured to forward a fully tuned signal to a television;
the memory accessible to the processor, the memory including processor-executable instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to:
specify a search operation to identify the proximate wireless-enabled interactive device, wherein the search operation utilizes the wireless transceiver to wirelessly identify the proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device,
establish a pairing between the proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device and the set-top box,
send formatted parallel audiovisual experience instructions to the proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device, wherein the formatted parallel audiovisual experience instructions are configured to provide a downstream parallel experience related to the content on the television,
receive and process virtual remote control functionality input instructions from the proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device relative to providing an audio source from the proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device,
generate an audio input signal,
provide the audio input signal to the television,
generate a control signal that includes instructions to adjust the brightness of the television, and
send the control signal to the television.
2. The set-top box as recited in claim 1 , wherein the housing further comprises a housing-dongle combination securing the television input, the television output, the processor, memory, storage, and wireless transceiver therewith.
3. The set-top box as recited in claim 2 , wherein the processor and the memory are distributed through the housing-dongle combination.
4. The set-top box as recited in claim 1 , wherein the wireless transceiver is configured to communicate with the proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device via a standard selected from the group consisting of infrared (IR), 802.11, 3G, 4G, Edge, WiFi, ZigBee, near field communications (NFC), and Bluetooth.
5. The set-top box as recited in claim 1 , wherein the wireless transceiver is configured to communicate with the proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device via a short distance data exchange standard.
6. The set-top box as recited in claim 5 , wherein the short distance data exchange standard comprises Bluetooth.
7. The set-top box as recited in claim 1 , wherein the transceiver is at least partially internal to the housing.
8. The set-top box as recited in claim 1 , wherein the transceiver is at least partially external to the housing.
9. The set-top box as recited in claim 1 , wherein the transceiver comprises an antenna.
10. The set-top box as recited in claim 1 , wherein the the proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device comprises a device selected from the group consisting of personal computers, laptops, tablet computers, smart phones, and smart watches.
11. The set-top box as recited in claim 1 , wherein the control signal is provided to the television via a television control interface.
12. The set-top box as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a configuration profile associated with the memory and processor-executable instructions that enables the set-top box to control a plurality of types of televisions.
13. The set-top box as recited in claim 1 , wherein the memory includes processor-executable instructions that, when executed cause the processor to:
receive and process virtual remote control functionality input instructions from the proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device relative to providing an audiovisual source from the proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device;
generate an audiovisual input signal; and
provide the audiovisual input signal to the television.
14. The set-top box as recited in claim 1 , wherein the control signal that includes instructions to adjust the brightness of the television dims the television.
15. A set-top box comprising:
a housing securing a television input, a television output, a processor, memory, and storage therein;
a busing architecture communicatively interconnecting the television input, the television output, the processor, the memory, and the storage;
a wireless transceiver associated with the housing and coupled to the busing architecture, the wireless transceiver operable to communicate with a proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device;
the television input configured to receive a source signal from an external source;
the television output configured to forward a fully tuned signal to a television;
the memory accessible to the processor, the memory including processor-executable instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to:
specify a search operation to identify the proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device, wherein the search operation utilizes the wireless transceiver to wirelessly identify the proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device,
establish a pairing between the proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device and the set-top box,
provide instructions for virtual buttons on a touch screen display associated with the proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device, the virtual buttons being associated with the proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device,
receive and process virtual remote control functionality input instructions from the proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device,
evaluate the virtual remote control functionality input instructions,
import content from the proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device and reformat the imported content such that the television output forwards a fully tuned signal including the imported content to the television,
generate a control signal that includes instructions to adjust the brightness of the television, and
send the control signal to the television; and
wherein the fully tuned signal including the imported content provides an upstream parallel experience on the television related to the content on the proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device.
16. The set-top box as recited in claim 15 , wherein the housing further comprises a housing-dongle combination securing the television input, the television output, the processor, memory, storage, and wireless transceiver therewith.
17. The set-top box as recited in claim 15 , wherein the the proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device comprises a device selected from the group consisting of personal computers, laptops, tablet computers, smart phones, and smart watches.
18. The set-top box as recited in claim 15 , wherein the control signal that includes instructions to adjust the brightness of the television dims the television.
19. A set-top box comprising:
a housing securing a television input, a television output, a processor, memory, and storage therein;
a busing architecture communicatively interconnecting the television input, the television output, the processor, the memory, and the storage;
a wireless transceiver associated with the housing and coupled to the busing architecture, the wireless transceiver operable to communicate with a proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device;
the television input configured to receive a source signal from an external source;
the television output configured to forward a fully tuned signal to a television;
the memory accessible to the processor, the memory including processor-executable instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to:
specify a search operation to identify the proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device, wherein the search operation utilizes the wireless transceiver to wirelessly identify the proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device,
establish a pairing between the proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device and the set-top box,
provide instructions for virtual buttons on a touch screen display associated with the proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device, the virtual buttons being associated with the proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device,
receive and process virtual remote control functionality input instructions from the proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device,
evaluate the virtual remote control functionality input instructions,
import content from the proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device and reformat the imported content such that the television output forwards a fully tuned signal including the imported content to the television,
based on a configuration profile, generate a control signal that includes instructions to adjust the brightness of the television by dimming the television, and
send the control signal to the television;
the configuration profile being associated with the memory and processor-executable instructions that enables the set-top box to control a plurality of types of televisions; and
wherein the fully tuned signal including the imported content provides an upstream parallel experience on the television related to the content on the proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device.
20. The set-top box as recited in claim 19 , wherein the housing further comprises a housing-dongle combination securing the television input, the television output, the processor, memory, storage, and wireless transceiver therewith.