Patent ID: 8683527

Claim:
A tangible computer-readable storage device comprising executable instructions which when executed by a processor of a cellular phone cause the processor to perform operations comprising: automatically detecting a base station in communication with a set top box, in accordance with detecting a presence signal transmitted by the base station; automatically connecting with the base station; associating with the set top box in accordance with automatically detecting the set top box subsequent to the connecting with the base station, receiving a media guide over a cellular wireless access signal generated by the set top box, wherein the media guide comprises media programming guide content, wherein the media guide is received via the base station, the base station communicating with the set top box using worldwide interoperability for microwave access technology, and wherein the base station enables the cellular phone to remotely communicate with the set top box over a pre-configured short cellular communication range that is configured by a cellular transceiver of the set top box using the worldwide interoperability for microwave access technology; remaining simultaneously connected to a cellular network using a cellular access technology selected from among the group of global system for mobile communication, code division multiple access, wide-band code division multiple access, or universal mobile telecommunications system; presenting on a display unit of the cellular phone the media guide without presentation of the media guide on a media device coupled to the set top box, wherein the cellular phone is adapted to control operations of the set top box via the media guide; and providing a request to the set top box for obtaining monitoring information based on monitored activities at other set top boxes; receiving the monitoring information from the set top box; and presenting on the display unit of the cellular phone a matrix of viewable screens representing (i) the media programming guide content, (ii) media content being presented by all of the other set top boxes and (iii) the monitoring information presenting program information associated with the monitored activities for all of the other set top boxes, thereby permitting viewing at the display unit of a program being simultaneously viewed at one of the other set top boxes.