On Controlling Digital TV Set-Top-Box by Mobile Devices via IP Network

Traditional analogue TVs are expected to be replaced by digital TVs in the very near future. Unlike the traditional TV system, the digital TV architecture allows users to execute application programs in their set-top-boxes. One of the benefits is that users can communicate interactively with their broadcasters or even other subscribers by executing certain programs via some channels, e.g. The Internet. However, the only input device for users is the remote controller, which has rather limited transmission range. In this thesis, we propose a system that allows mobile devices, e.g. mobile phones, laptops and PocketPCs, to control set-top-box. For future compatibilities, we adopt MHP (Multimedia Home Platform) as our middleware in the set-top-box. Server programs and client programs are implemented by Java. Our system provides two services: one is to view the digital contents online; and the other is for users to command MHP server to record a TV program. We assume that in the future inside every house there will be a “Personal Multimedia Server”. This server serves the functions of transcoding DTV contents to video streaming data and broadcasting to the Internet. Also, it plays the role as web server. Users can connect to the MHP server by mobile phones via GPRS. They can also let the web server be the third party to communicate with the MHP server by browsing the web site.