Set-Top Box with Interactive Portal and System and Method for Use of Same

Abstract

A set-top box with an interactive portal and system and method for use of the same are disclosed. In one embodiment of the set-top box, the set-top box includes a housing that secures a signal input, a signal output, a processor, a transceiver, and memory therein in an interconnected bus architecture. The set-top box receives a status signal via the transceiver from an amenity. The set-top box then generates an interactive portal that includes a status icon relating to the status signal and a management icon relating to commanding the amenity or initiating a service request.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for a set-top box, the system comprising:
 a programming interface configured to communicate with a set-top box, the set-top box including a housing securing a signal input, a signal output, a processor, a transceiver, and memory therein, the set-top box including a busing architecture communicatively interconnecting the signal input, the signal output, the processor, the transceiver, and the memory; and   the memory accessible to the processor, the memory including processor-executable instructions that, when executed, by the processor cause the system to:
 receive a status signal via the transceiver from an amenity, 
 generate an interactive portal, the interactive portal including a status icon and a management icon, the status icon being relative to the status signal, the management icon including a command request and a service request, the command request operates the amenity, the service request solicits a third-party order relative to the amenity selected from the group consisting of repair, maintenance, and product fulfillment, 
 forward the interactive portal to a display via the signal output, and 
 receive an interactive instruction relative to at least one of the plurality of management icons. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the processor-executable instructions further comprise processor-executable instructions that, when executed, by the processor cause the system to access a database having a plurality of annotated service profiles, each of the plurality of annotated service profiles corresponding to a plurality of proximate amenities including the amenity, the plurality of annotated service profiles including information relative to the command request and service request. 
     
     
         3 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the status icon further comprises words. 
     
     
         4 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the status icon further comprises a graphical representation. 
     
     
         5 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the status icon further comprises a combination of words and a graphical representation. 
     
     
         6 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the management icon further comprises words. 
     
     
         7 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the management icon further comprises a graphical representation. 
     
     
         8 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the management icon further comprises a combination of words and a graphical representation. 
     
     
         9 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the amenity is selected from the group consisting of lighting, security alarm systems, garage doors, front doors, hot-water heaters, sump pumps, door bells, pet bowls, HVAC systems, and entry points. 
     
     
         10 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the processor-executable instructions further comprise processor-executable instructions that, when executed, by the processor cause the system to utilize a standard to receive the status signal, the standard being selected from the group consisting of infrared (IR), 802.11, 3G, 4G, Edge, Wi-Fi, ZigBee, near field communications (NFC), Bluetooth, and Bluetooth low energy. 
     
     
         11 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the display is selected from the group consisting of televisions and electronic visual display devices. 
     
     
         12 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the status signal is received in response to an event at the amenity. 
     
     
         13 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the status signal is received in response to a periodic update transmitted by the amenity. 
     
     
         14 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the status signal is received in response to a status inquiry initiated by the set-top box. 
     
     
         15 . A system for a set-top box, the system comprising:
 a programming interface configured to communicate with a set-top box connected to a display; and   the memory accessible to the processor, the memory including processor-executable instructions that, when executed, by the processor cause the system to:
 receive a status signal from an amenity, 
 generate an interactive portal, the interactive portal including a status icon and a management icon, the status icon being relative to the status signal, the management icon including a command request and a service request, the command request operates the amenity, the service request solicits a third-party order relative to the amenity selected from the group consisting of repair, maintenance, and product fulfillment, 
 forward the interactive portal to the display via the set-top box, and 
 receive an interactive instruction via the set-top box relative to at least one of the plurality of management icons. 
   
     
     
         16 . The system as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the display is selected from the group consisting of televisions and electronic visual display devices. 
     
     
         17 . The system as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the status signal is received in response to an event at the amenity. 
     
     
         18 . The system as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the status signal is received in response to a periodic update transmitted by the amenity. 
     
     
         19 . The system as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the status signal is received in response to a status inquiry initiated by the set-top box. 
     
     
         20 . A system for a set-top box, the system comprising:
 a programming interface configured to communicate with a set-top box connected to a display; and   the memory accessible to the processor, the memory including processor-executable instructions that, when executed, by the processor cause the system to:
 access a database having a plurality of annotated service profiles, each of the plurality of annotated service profiles corresponding to a plurality of proximate amenities including a particular amenity, the plurality of annotated service profiles including information relative to a command request and a service request, 
 receive a status signal from the particular amenity, 
 generate an interactive portal, the interactive portal including a status icon and a management icon, the status icon being relative to the status signal, the management icon including the command request and the service request, the command request operates the particular amenity, the service request solicits a third-party order relative to the particular amenity selected from the group consisting of repair, maintenance, and product fulfillment, 
 forward the interactive portal to the display via the set-top box, and 
 receive an interactive instruction via the set-top box relative to at least one of the plurality of management icons.