System and method to remotely manage and audit set top box resources

Abstract

A system and method for determining the resources available or used in a remote device is disclosed. The system can be used to determine whether the remote device is using expected resources as originally configured or to determine whether resources are available to support new or extended services. The method can be used to configure or reconfigure the remote device for its intended use or as reconfigure a remote device for new, different or extended purposes.

1 . A method for communicating with a remote set top box (STB) that provides a service to end users comprising:
 receiving at a location remote from the STB a first item of information related to parameter settings associated with the STB, the parameter settings affecting the provisioning of the service;   retrieving a second item of information from a database remote from the STB; and   comparing at the location remote from the STB the first item of information with the second item of information, the second item of information being related to parameter settings expected to be associated with the STB.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein based on a result of the comparing, the method communicates to the STB from the location remote from the STB an instruction to change at least one of the parameter settings affecting the provisioning of the service. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the instruction submitted to the STB provides for at least one of enabling a resource of the STB related to the first item of information, disabling a resource of the STB related to the first item of information, including authorization keys related to the first item of information, and causing the STB to diagnose a problem of the STB related to the first item of information. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the second item of information is received by the location remote from the STB from a database. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the first item of information includes information related to a fixed disc drive. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the STB is integrated into a television. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the service comprises audio and video content playback. 
     
     
         8 . A computer readable non-transitory medium having encoded instructions that causes at least one computer to:
 receive a first item of information from a set top box (STB) that provides a service, wherein the first item of information relates to parameter settings that affect the provisioning of the service and that are associated with the STB;   retrieve a second item of information from a database remote from the STB, wherein the second item of information relates to an expected configuration of the STB; and   compare the first item of information with the second item of information.   
     
     
         9 . The computer readable medium according to  claim 8 , wherein the encoded instructions further cause sending an STB instruction to the STB wherein the instruction is adapted to change at least one of the parameter settings affecting the provisioning of the service. 
     
     
         10 . The computer readable medium according to  claim 9 , wherein the STB instruction provides for at least one of enabling a resource of the STB related to the first item of information, disabling a resource of the STB related to the first item of information, including authorization keys related to the first item of information, and causing the STB to diagnose a problem of the STB related to the first item of information. 
     
     
         11 . The computer readable medium according to  claim 9 , wherein the STB instruction provides for enabling a resource of the STB related to the first item of information. 
     
     
         12 . The computer readable medium according to  claim 9 , wherein the STB instruction provides for at least disabling a resource of the STB related to the first item of information. 
     
     
         13 . The computer readable medium according to  claim 9 , wherein the STB instruction provides for at least disabling a resource of the STB related to the first item of information, including authorization keys related to the first item of information. 
     
     
         14 . The computer readable medium according to  claim 9 , wherein the STB instruction causes the STB to diagnose a problem of the STB related to the first item of information. 
     
     
         15 . The computer readable medium according to  claim 8 , wherein the encoded instructions further cause the STB instructions to be sent to a remote resource manager of the STB and wherein the encoded instructions further cause the remote resource manager to detect the resources and send the first item of information. 
     
     
         16 . The computer readable medium of  claim 8 , wherein the encoded instructions further cause the STB to receive user input that requests a new service, and determine by the remote resource manager whether the STB has the resources to support the new service. 
     
     
         17 . The computer readable medium of  claim 8 , wherein the STB is integrated into a television. 
     
     
         18 . The computer readable medium of  claim 8 , wherein the STB instructions provide for at least one of enabling a resource of the STB related to the first item of information, disabling a resource of the STB related to the first item of information, including authorization keys related to the first item of information, and causing the STB to diagnose a problem of the STB related to the first item of information. 
     
     
         19 . The computer readable medium of  claim 8 , wherein the service comprises audio and video content playback. 
     
     
         20 . A method for communicating with a remote set top box (STB) that provides a service to end users comprising:
 receiving at a location remote from the STB a first item of information related to parameter settings associated with the STB, the parameter settings affecting the provisioning of the service which comprises audio and video content playback;   retrieving a second item of information from a database remote from the STB;   comparing at the location remote from the STB the first item of information with the second item of information, the second item of information being related to parameter settings expected to be associated with the STB; and   based on a result of the comparing, communicating to the STB from the location remote from the STB an instruction to change at least one of the parameter settings affecting the provisioning of the service.