Patent ID: 7729357
Filing Date: 2010-06-01
Classification: H04J,H04L

Abstract:
1. An apparatus employed in a set top box (STB) for determining how frequently or infrequently keep-alive messages should be sent between the STB and the network device, the apparatus comprising: an input/output (I/O) port in communication with a router or gateway device; and a processor in communication with the I/O port, the processor being configured to perform a Timing Interval Determination (TID) algorithm that determines how frequently or infrequently keep-alive messages should or must be sent between the STB and the network device; wherein when the processor performs the TID algorithm, the processor causes a Test Time Period (TTP) Request Message to be sent via the I/O port through the router or gateway device to a network device, the TTP Request Message including a TTP value that indicates to the network device a TTP that the network device is to wait before responding to the TTP Request Message, and wherein the processor determines whether or not to adjust the TTP value based on whether the processor receives via the I/O port a TTP Response Message from the network device in response to the TTP Request Message.