Design and implementation of a genericcommunication protocol for use in an IPTVenvironment

Abstract: With the presence of smartphones and tablets people are getting used to control their technicaldevices at home with custom applications. This thesis explores the possibility of controlling an IPSet-Top-Box from an external device.The focus of this report and thesis is finding a way for external devices to control IP-Set-Top-Boxesrunning the KreaTV platform. To open up for this possibility a service running in the KreaTVplatform was designed and implemented to handle communication from external devices. Aprotocol for communication was structured and defined to allow devices to communicate with theplatform.The protocol includes a base structure defined for general use when communicating withapplications and services in the platform. The base structure was extended and defined forcommunication with the Set-Top-Box application running the graphical user interface.An Android application was used to demonstrate that the design solution presented in this reportopens up for the possibility of external devices to control the IP-Set-Top-Box beyond the limitationsof a normal infrared remote control. The Android applications main focus is controlling the Spotifyservice of the IP-Set-Top-Box.