Method and apparatus for collecting information from a wireless device

Abstract

Systems and methodologies are described that facilitate remotely monitoring and/or controlling a media device that obtains broadcast and/or multicast transmission(s). According to various aspects, systems and methods are described that facilitate remotely controlling media device(s) that operate in connection with broadcast and/or multicast transmission(s) with limited or no reverse link (e.g., employing Forward Link Only (FLO) technology, . . . ). Such systems and methods may monitor various service issues, device performance, network performance, and the like.

1 . A computer program product tangibly embodied on a computer-readable medium, the computer program product comprising instructions operable to cause a computer to perform operations comprising: receiving collected information associated with a broadcast transmission of content from an operational media device;
 monitoring performance of the broadcast network based upon the collected information; and   modifying a subsequent broadcast transmission based on the monitored performance, wherein the subsequent broadcast transmission is associated with at least one of a limited reverse link and no reverse link.   
     
     
         2 . The computer program product of  claim 1 , wherein the collected information comprises at least one of service information, system information, network information, and device performance information. 
     
     
         3 . The computer program product of  claim 1 , wherein the collected information comprises device diagnostic information. 
     
     
         4 . The computer program product of  claim 1 , wherein the collected information comprises device position information. 
     
     
         5 . The computer program product of  claim 1 , wherein the broadcast transmission is in accordance with Forward Link Only (FLO) technology. 
     
     
         6 . The computer program product of  claim 1 , wherein receiving collected information occurs via a communication path differing from a path associated with the broadcast transmission. 
     
     
         7 . The computer program product of  claim 6 , wherein receiving collected information occurs via at least one of a wireless area network, a 1× reverse link and a wired broadband link. 
     
     
         8 . The computer program product of  claim 6 , wherein receiving collected information occurs via a wireless connection in accordance with at least one of a 2G protocol, a 3G protocol, and a 4G protocol. 
     
     
         9 . The computer program product of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving collected information from a plurality of operational media devices; and   comparing the collected information corresponding to each of the plurality of operational media devices to identify a location with diminished quality of service.   
     
     
         10 . The computer program product of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving information from disparate nodes in addition to the operational media device; and   correlating the information from the disparate nodes and the collected information from the operational media device to identify a fault.   
     
     
         11 . The computer program product of  claim 1 , further comprising transmitting control information to the operational media device to modify an operating parameter. 
     
     
         12 . The computer program product of  claim 11 , wherein the operating parameter is associated with at least one of a channel, a location, information to collect, and information to backhaul. 
     
     
         13 . The computer program product of  claim 1 , wherein monitoring performance further comprises playing back collected information. 
     
     
         14 . A wireless communications apparatus that facilitates remotely monitoring a broadcast network, comprising:
 a receiver configured to receive collected information associated with a broadcast transmission of content; and   a processor configured to monitor performance of the broadcast network based on the collected information, and modify a subsequent broadcast transmission based upon the monitored performance, wherein the subsequent broadcast transmission is associated with at least one of a limited reverse link and no reverse link.   
     
     
         15 . The wireless communications apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the processor is further configured to control a plurality of operational media devices from a remote location. 
     
     
         16 . The wireless communications apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the processor is further configured to monitor at least one of service information, system information, network information, and operational media device performance information. 
     
     
         17 . The wireless communications apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the processor is further configured to obtain feedback in a Forward Link Only (FLO) system. 
     
     
         18 . The wireless communications apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the receiver receives the collected information via a communication path differing from a path associated with the broadcast transmission. 
     
     
         19 . The wireless communications apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein receiving collected information occurs via a wireless connection in accordance with at least one of a 2G protocol, a 3G protocol, and a 4G protocol. 
     
     
         20 . The wireless communications apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein receiving collected information occurs via at least one of a wireless area network, a 1× reverse link and a wired broadband link. 
     
     
         21 . The wireless communications apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the processor is further configured to identify geographic locations associated with diminished quality of service. 
     
     
         22 . The wireless communications apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the processor is further configured to locate a fault associated with the broadcast transmission based upon the monitored performance. 
     
     
         23 . The wireless communications apparatus of  claim 14 , further comprising a transmitter to transmit control information to modify an operating parameter of an operational media device. 
     
     
         24 . The wireless communications apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein monitoring performance further comprises playing back collected information.