IP Library Granted Patent US 8,327,408
Granted Patent B2
US 8,327,408 · App. 11/847,120 · Granted Dec 4, 2012

System and method for troubleshooting a set top box

Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, LP
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,327,408
App. No.
11/847,120
Granted
Dec 4, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method for troubleshooting a set top box is disclosed and can include receiving a trouble ticket from a set top box and initiating a self test at the set top box. The method can also include receiving test results from the set top box and analyzing the test results to isolate a problem.

Claims (42)

1. A method of troubleshooting a set top box, the method comprising:

providing a trouble notice to a repair center from the set top box;

providing instructions to be displayed at a display device coupled to the set top box in association with the trouble notice being provided to the repair center, wherein the instructions comprise a sequence of key strokes to be entered by the user on a remote controller in communication with the set top box;

performing at least one self test at the set top box when the sequence of key strokes is detected as being entered by the user at the remote controller;

transmitting from the set top box, full test results to the repair center for analysis by a technician when the at least one self test is completed; and

displaying at least a portion of the full test results at the display device coupled to the set top box.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising: performing a root cause analysis at the set top box.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising: transmitting a failed test message to the repair center when at least one self test fails.

4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising: retrying a failed self test.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one self test includes: an IP layer connectivity test, a physical layer connectivity test, a network service function test, an STB service function test, a video stream receiving and decoding test, or a combination thereof.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising: using the set top box to determine whether a fault is isolated based on the full test results.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein a server at the repair center determines whether a fault is isolated based on the full test results.

8. A method of troubleshooting a set top box, the method comprising:

providing a trouble notice to a repair center from the set top box;

providing instructions from the set top box to be displayed at a display device coupled to the set top box in association with the trouble notice being provided to the repair center, wherein the instructions comprise a sequence of key strokes to be entered by the user on a remote controller in communication with the set top box;

performing at least one self test at the set top box when the sequence of key strokes is detected as being entered by the user at the remote controller;

determining using the set top box, when a video service channel has network connection issues;

transmitting from the set top box, full test results to the repair center for analysis by a technician, the full test results being transmitted from the set top box via a secondary wireless channel associated with the set top box when the at least one self test is completed and when the video service channel has network connection issues; and

displaying at least a portion of the full test results at the display device coupled to the set top box.

9. The method of claim 8 , comprising performing a root cause analysis at the set top box.

10. The method of claim 9 , comprising:

transmitting a failed test message to the repair center when the at least one self test fails;

retrying a failed self test to obtain retry results; and

transmitting partial test results comprising the retry results to the repair center.

11. The method of claim 8 , wherein the at least one self test includes: an IP layer connectivity test, a physical layer connectivity test, a network service function test, an STB service function test, a video stream receiving and decoding test, or a combination thereof.

12. A method of troubleshooting a set top box, the method comprising:

providing a trouble notice to a repair center from the set top box;

providing instructions to be displayed at a display device coupled to the set top box in association with the trouble notice being provided to the repair center, wherein the instructions comprise a sequence of key strokes to be entered by the user on a remote controller in communication with the set top box;

performing at least one self test at the set top box to generate test results when the sequence of key strokes is detected as being entered by the user at the remote controller;

transmitting from the set top box, at least a portion of the test results to the repair center for analysis by a technician when the at least one self test is completed; and

displaying at least a portion of the test results at the display device coupled to the set top box.

13. The method of claim 12 , comprising:

determining when all self-tests by the set top box have failed;

providing a first notice to be displayed at the display device that further testing will be required; and

providing a second notice to the repair center that further testing will be required.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the at least a portion of the test results are transmitted to the repair center via a secondary wireless channel associated with the set top box.

15. The method of claim 14 , comprising performing a root cause analysis at the set top box.

16. The method of claim 15 , comprising transmitting a failed test message to the repair center when the at least one self test fails.

17. The method of claim 16 , comprising retrying a failed self test.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the at least one self test includes: an IP layer connectivity test, a physical layer connectivity test, a network service function test, an STB service function test, a video stream receiving and decoding test, or a combination thereof.

19. The method of claim 18 , comprising using the set top box to determine whether a fault is isolated based on the test results.

20. The method of claim 12 , wherein a server at the repair center determines whether a fault is isolated based on the test results.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Mar 8, 2016
From: AT&T KNOWLEDGE VENTURES, L.P.
To: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, LP
Reel/Frame 038038/0535 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 13, 2007
From: SAVOOR, RAGHVENDRA; LI, ZHI
To: AT&T KNOWLEDGE VENTURES, L.P.
Reel/Frame 019822/0636 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20090064251A1 · Mar 5, 2009