Various embodiments include computing devices and methods for provisioning a set top box (STB) with a software stack. A processor of a computing device may receive a software stack download request comprising downstream channel descriptor (DCD) information, determine region information for the STB based on the DCD information, determine a software stack authorization for the STB, select a software stack for the STB based on the region information and the software stack authorization for the STB, and obtain the selected software stack to enable the STB to replace existing software with the selected software stack.

A session management involves registering at least one IPTV application in a registration table so that the registration table includes at least a respective identifier of the IPTV applications. The IPTV applications are invokable at a set top box and can be so-called embedded applications and/or browser-based applications. An event requiring the invocation of an IPTV application at the set top box is detected and triggers a look-up in the registration table. The registration table is thus used as source to indicate those IPTV applications that are potentially available and can be launched at the set top box. One of the registered applications is launched for the purpose of handling the detected event.

A reception apparatus includes a memory that stores a television receiver application and a native application. The reception apparatus further includes a processor configured to send, by the native application to the television receiver application, a query command regarding a number of services available for display, receive, by the native application from the television receiver application in response to the query command, a query response message including at least a first parameter that specifies a number of associated services available for display, and provide, by the native application, a video surface for each service indicated in the first parameter.

A virtual set-top box (vSTB) for executing a middleware component, designed originally for use with the physical STB, including emulating hardware capabilities of the physical STB to process IPTV content received over a connection for presenting the IPTV content on a display of the electronic device.

A session management involves registering at least one IPTV application in a registration table so that the registration table includes at least a respective identifier of the IPTV applications. The IPTV applications are invokable at a set top box and can be so-called embedded applications and/or browser-based applications. An event requiring the invocation of an IPTV application at the set top box is detected and triggers a look-up in the registration table. The registration table is thus used as source to indicate those IPTV applications that are potentially available and can be launched at the set top box. One of the registered applications is launched for the purpose of handling the detected event.

A reception apparatus includes a memory that stores a television receiver application and a native application. The reception apparatus further includes a processor configured to send, by the native application to the television receiver application, a query command regarding a number of services available for display, receive, by the native application from the television receiver application in response to the query command, a query response message including at least a first parameter that specifies a number of associated services available for display, and provide, by the native application, a video surface for each service indicated in the first parameter.

A reception apparatus includes processing circuitry. The processing circuitry is configured to receive IP packets that include signaling information originating from an Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC) broadcast stream received by a tuner device, the broadcast stream including a plurality of physical layer pipes (PLPs), each PLP containing a plurality of ATSC link-layer protocol (ALP) packets. The processing circuitry is configured to extract the signaling information from the IP packets, the signaling information including a link mapping table (LMT) and at least one low level signaling (LLS) table. The LMT is identified based on a predetermined IP address and port designated to indicate the presence of the LMT. The processing circuitry is further configured to retrieve, based on the extracted LMT and extracted at least one LLS table, audio and visual content corresponding to a service associated with the broadcast stream.

Systems and methods for providing services are disclosed. One method can comprise receiving data having a first format and transmitting the data to a first device. The method may also comprise detecting a second device, automatically recognizing a supported second format of the detected second device, converting the data to the second format, and transmitting the converted data to the second device via wireless communication.

Provided are a device and a method which are capable of realizing an efficient search of metadata such as access information corresponding to acquisition-scheduled data in a reception device. A reception device receives a token which is auxiliary search information for efficiently searching for metadata such as access information related to acquisition-scheduled data of the reception device and performs a search process using the token. The token includes a service worker (SW) search scope token capable of limiting a search scope of access information corresponding to data serving as a management target of a specific service worker (SW) which is a data management program and a service worker (SW) cache scope token indicating that access information corresponding to data serving as a management target of a service worker (SW) is collectively recorded.

A virtual set-top box (vSTB) for executing a middleware component, designed originally for use with the physical STB, including emulating hardware capabilities of the physical STB to process IPTV content received over a connection for presenting the IPTV content on a display of the electronic device.