Dish Network LLC

Echostar Technologies Corporation

Alan Terry Pattison

Danny Jean Minnick

Shiqiang Chu

Robert Lee Sadler

Jeremy Stephen Mickelsen

David Innes

Michael T Dugan

Adam Schafer

William Norris Moran

Harold Jaramillo

Ashok Soni

Bhavesh Patel

Geoffrey C Kemp

Anand Menon

Embodiments detect updates to digital video broadcast (DVB) service information (SI), and forcing off-schedule updates to local meta-programming data (MPD) of a customer premises appliance in response to the update, where appropriate. For example, embodiments detect an SI update for at least one DVB content service being provided via a DVB network and determine whether a stream update descriptor in the SI is asserted. Detected assertion triggers an automatic off-schedule MPD update, including assigning a tuner to obtain updated provider MPD via an MPD service, and rebuilding local MPD based on the updated provider MPD. The local MPD is usable by the customer premises appliance to populate a meta-programming user interface (e.g., an electronic program guide) by which to display descriptive information about at least some of the plurality of DVB content services.

Forced update of meta-programming data using digital video broadcast service information

A facility for updating software installed on a media device in connection with installation of the media device in customer premises is described. Outside the customer premises, the facility transfers a later-issued version of the software installed on the media device from a server to a portable storage device. Within the customer premises, the facility transfers the later-issued version of the software installed on the media device from the portable storage device to the media device for installation on the media device.

Media device software installation

A facility for establishing a wireless connection between first and second devices is described. On the first device, the facility causes a one-time pairing code to be displayed, then wirelessly receives from the second device a wireless connection solicitation having contents. On the first device, in response to the receiving, the facility determines whether the contents reflect the one-time pairing code. In response to determining that the contents reflect the one-time pairing code, on the first device, the facility establishes the wireless connection between the first and second devices.

Secure pairing of wireless devices

A facility for transferring configuration information to a target media device is described. The facility receives in the target media device a copy of media device settings stored in a source media device distinct from the target media device in a first form in which they are used in the source media device. This copy of media device settings is received by the target media device via a route other than its visual user interface. The facility causes the received copy of media device settings to be transformed into a second form in which they can be used in the target media device. The facility then stores the media receiver settings in the second form in the target media device for use by the target media device.

Automatically or semi-automatically transferring configuration information in connection with a media device upgrade

Various arrangements for acquiring network configuration data are presented. In response to a television receiver being booted, the television receiver may determine if it can communicate with a service provider's server. If so, the television receiver may request network configuration data from the television programming broadcast network configuration server via a network interface. The television receiver may receive the network configuration data from the television programming broadcast network configuration server via the network interface. Based on the network configuration data, the television receiver may process television programming data received via the tuner.

Acquiring network configuration data for a television receiver

A remote control is powered by multiple batteries connected in series. The remote control includes a voltage comparison circuit configured to compare a midpoint voltage from a node connecting two of the batteries to a reference voltage. The remote control is able to determine if there is a non-uniform drain rate in the batteries based on the comparison.

Predicting end of battery life for a remote controller device

A television receiving device includes a memory configured to store an electronic program guide. The electronic program guide is divided into channel listings including program information corresponding to television programs being broadcast currently and to television programs scheduled for future broadcast. The device further includes a user interface configured to receive a user input and a processor in communication with the memory and the user interface. The processor is configured to output the electronic program guide to be displayed with, alternatively: 1) at least one channel listing including an expansion icon, where upon the user input indicating a selection of the expansion icon, a single channel listing expands into a plurality of channel listings, or 2) at least one channel including a collapsing icon, where upon the user input indicating a selection of the collapsing icon, a plurality of channel listings collapse into a single channel listing.

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Castle Rock, CO, United States of America

Alan Terry Pattison