Set-top box with enhanced functionality and system and method for use of same
A set-top box with enhanced functionality and system and method for use of the same are disclosed. In one embodiment of the set-top box system, first and second set-top boxes each include a housing securing a television input, a television output, a processor, a wireless transceiver, memory, and storage communicatively interconnected by a busing architecture. Each of the set-top boxes is connected to a display, such as a television. A syndication profile associated with the set-top boxes enables a proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device to control both displays via each of the set-top boxes.
1. A set-top box system comprising:
a first set-top box including:
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 first display, and
the memory accessible to the processor, the memory including processor-executable instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to:
establish a pairing between the proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device and the first set-top box,
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 to assign a meaning,
generate a command signal, and
send the command signal to the first display;
a syndication profile associated with the first set-top box and a second set-top box that enables the proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device to control the first display via the first set-top box and a second display associated via the second set-top box; and
the second set-top box including:
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 the second display, and
the memory accessible to the processor, the memory including processor-executable instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to:
receive signalization associated with a syndication profile,
send the command signal to the second display; and
wherein, with respect to the second set-top box, the signalization further comprises signalization received from a server;
wherein the server further comprises:
a housing securing inputs, outputs, a processor, memory, and storage therein;
a busing architecture communicatively interconnecting the inputs, outputs, 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 the first and second set-top boxes; and
the memory accessible to the processor, the memory including processor-executable instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to:
receive the signalization from the first set-top box, and
forward the signalization to the second set-top box;
wherein the syndication profile provides that a single instance of the virtual remote control functionality input instructions controls the first set-top box and the second set-top box.
2. The set-top box system as recited in claim 1 , wherein, with respect to the second set-top box, the signalization further comprises signalization received from the proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device.
3. The set-top box system as recited in claim 2 , wherein the signalization received from the proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device is coincident with the virtual remote control functionality input instructions received at the first set-top box.
4. The set-top box system as recited in claim 2 , wherein the signalization received from the proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device further comprises the virtual remote control functionality input instructions.
5. The set-top box system as recited in claim 2 , wherein the signalization received from the proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device follows the virtual remote control functionality input instructions received at the first set-top box.
6. The set-top box system as recited in claim 1 , wherein, with respect to the second set-top box, the signalization further comprises signalization received from the first set-top box.
7. The set-top box system as recited in claim 1 , wherein, with respect to the first set-top box, the memory further comprises processor-executable instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to send the signalization to the second set-top box.
8. The set-top box system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the syndication profile is at least partially saved in the respective memory of the first and second set-top boxes.
9. The set-top box system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the syndication profile further comprises data on subscribers selected from the group consisting of set-top boxes, proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable devices, and servers.
10. The set-top box system as recited in claim 1 , wherein 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 system 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, Wi-Fi, ZigBee, near field communications (NFC), Bluetooth, and Bluetooth low energy.
12. The set-top box system 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 an active sound control circuit portion therewith.
13. The set-top box system as recited in claim 12 , wherein the processor and the memory are distributed through the housing-dongle combination.
14. The set-top box system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first display and the second display comprise a television.
15. The set-top box system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the display comprises an electronic visual display device.
16. The set-top box system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the server receives the signalization from the first set-top box and formats the signalization to the second set-top box.
17. A set-top box system comprising:
a first set-top box including:
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 first display, and
the memory accessible to the processor, the memory including processor-executable instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to:
establish a pairing between the proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device and the first set-top box,
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 to assign a meaning,
generate a first syndication profile command signal, and
send the first syndication profile command signal to the first display;
the first syndication profile associated with the first set-top box and a second set-top box that enables the proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device to control the first display via the first set-top box and a second display associated via the second set-top box;
a second syndication profile associated with a third set-top box that enables the proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device to control a third display via the third set-top box;
the second set-top box including:
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 the second display, and
the memory accessible to the processor, the memory including processor-executable instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to:
receive and process the virtual remote control functionality input instructions from the proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device,
evaluate the virtual remote control functionality input instructions to assign a meaning,
generate the command signal, and
send the command signal to the second display; and
the third set-top box including:
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 first display, and
the memory accessible to the processor, the memory including processor-executable instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to:
establish a pairing between the proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device and the third set-top box,
receive and process virtual remote control functionality input instructions from the proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device,
evaluate the functionality input instructions to assign a meaning,
generate a second syndication profile command signal, and
send the second syndication profile command signal to a third display.