Patent ID: 7325036

Claim:
A reporting apparatus for an integrated receiver decoder configured to receive content data transport streams, decode content data from the transport stream and output content data, said reporting apparatus comprising: a microprocessor; a radio frequency input interface; a computer network interface; a memory; said microprocessor, said radio frequency input interface, said computer network interface and said memory all being in operative communication; said microprocessor being configured to receive at least one data packet containing an e-mail return address through said radio frequency input interface, said e-mail return address being addressed a transmission controller, said microprocessor being further configured to store said e-mail return address in said memory; said microprocessor being further configured to periodically update at least one parameter, said parameter being an operational status of the integrated receiver decoder, and said microprocessor being further configured to store a current status of said at least one parameter in said memory; said microprocessor being further configured to write a report of said at least one parameter; said microprocessor being further configured to attach said report to an e-mail, said e-mail being addressed to said e-mail return address, said e-mail return address being recalled from said memory; said microprocessor being further configured to send said e-mail when a command in the data transport stream requests said e-mail.