SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROL OF A SET TOP BOX

摘要

According to one example embodiment disclosed herein, there is provided a system and an article of manufacture allowing a set top box to be controlled from an interactive voice response unit. A system according to an example embodiment may include a set top box control processor having a common-layer application interface and a control plug-in framework. An interactive voice processor obtains voice inputs from a voice call and through the set top box control processor remotely accesses control features of a set top box. The set top box control processor performs command process management to manage set top box commands including changing channels and controlling volume. Other embodiments are disclosed.

主权项

1. A system comprising:
a set top box control processor, comprising:
a common-layer application interface;a control plug-in framework comprising a plurality of control plug-in processes in communication between the common-layer application interface and a set top box in communication with the set top box control processor, wherein the plurality of control plug-in processes allow for control of control features of the set top box by way of the common-layer application interface;a memory to store executable instructions; anda processor in communication with the memory, wherein the processor, responsive to executing the instructions, facilitates performance of operations comprising performing a command process management; and an interactive voice response unit in communication with the common-layer application interface of the set top box control processor to obtain voice inputs from a voice call sent from a location remote from the set top box over a communication network using a telephone access point, and to associate the voice inputs with a plurality of set top box commands that when presented to the common-layer application interface, are usable to remotely access a plurality of control features of the set top box by way of the plurality of control plug-in processes, wherein performing of the command process management comprises managing a command of the plurality of set top box commands, wherein the plurality of set top box commands comprise a power-on command from a powered off state and one of a record function, a play function or a combination thereof, wherein the set top box control processor is operative to route a set top box command of the plurality of set top box commands to a control plug-in process of the plurality of control plug-in processes of the control plug-in framework by way of the common-layer application interface to control remotely a control feature of the plurality of control features of the set top box comprising changing channels and controlling volume without user intervention and without user presence at the set top box, and wherein the interactive voice response unit interactively transmits voice prompts and generates the set top box command of the plurality of set top box commands based on a voice input received without interaction with the set top box.