Method and system for trigger management in an interactive television environment

摘要

A trigger manager and related processes and systems for managing triggers for a plurality of subscribing set-top boxes in an interactive television environment are provided. In response to receipt of a configuration update request originating from a specific set-top box, the trigger manager accesses a database of subscribing set-top box profiles associating subscribing set-top boxes with respective sets of triggers. The database is processed based on the configuration update request to identify a profile associated with the specific set-top box from which the configuration update request originated. Trigger update information associated with the identified profile is transmitted over a network to the specific set-top box from which the configuration update request originated. In response to receipt at the specific set-top box of the trigger update information, the set of current triggers in the memory unit is updated at least in part based on the information received.

主权项

1. A set-top box in an IPTV environment comprising an IPTV provider, the set-top box comprising a processor programmed for:
a) upon booting of the set-top box:
obtaining an address of a remote Trigger Server of the IPTV provider;accessing the remote Trigger Server to obtain a set of current triggers; andobtaining a trigger update schedule defined by the IPTV provider, the trigger update schedule specifying a time delay of no more than a month; b) maintaining the obtained set of current triggers in a memory unit of the set-top box; c) in accordance with the time delay specified in the trigger update schedule, transmitting a configuration update request to the remote Trigger Server and awaiting an updated set of triggers at the set-top box; d) for every receipt at the set-top box of the updated set of triggers originating from the remote Trigger Server, updating the set of current triggers in the memory unit at least in part based on the updated set of triggers received from the Trigger Server; e) determining if a specific condition has been met at the set-top box, wherein the specific condition is associated with a specific trigger in the set of current triggers; and f) in response to a determination that the specific condition has been met at the set-top box, causing an event associated with the specific trigger to be instantiated by the set-top box.