Auto discovery and auto provisioning of set top boxes

摘要

A system and method for the automatic discovery and provisioning of a video set top box within an IPTV network is provided. When first connected to a residential gateway, the set top box requests the address information of the residential gateway. The set top box then sends a request to a video operations and support server (VOSS) with the identifying information for the set top box and the residential gateway. Once the VOSS determines that the residential gateway is authorized for video service, the VOSS associates the residential gateway with the set top box. The VOSS then communicates the authorization to a middleware server, which downloads client software and encryption keys to the set top box, enabling the set top box to request and receive video content. The set top box may be reconnected to any port on the residential gateway and receive video service without being re-provisioned.

主权项

1. A method, comprising:
connecting a set top box to a video services network and powering on the set top box, the video services network including a residential gateway, a video operational support system and a middleware server; the residential gateway supplying an internet protocol address to the set top box; the set top box transmitting a video service request to the video operational support system within the video services network, wherein the video service request comprises information for the gateway and the set top box; the video operational support system authenticating the set top box based on the information for the gateway and the set top box, determining the user account based on the information for the gateway, and determining the authorized video services associated with the user account, wherein authentication information is stored in the video operational support system, and wherein information for the set top box is added to a list of authorized set top boxes associated with the user account; the video operational support system transmitting, in response to determining that the user account is authorized to receive video services, authorization of provisioning of the authorized video services associated with the user account to the middleware server; and the middleware server transmitting client software to the set top box and loading the client software on the set top box, the client software representing the authorized video services associated with the user account.