Method and system for detecting unauthorized use of a set top box using satellite signal identification

• US 10,271,081 B2
• Filed: 04/28/2017
• Issued: 04/23/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DIRECTV, LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Casavant, Scott D., Lee, Sean S., Joseph, Kuriacose, Norin, John L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Ricky
• Application Number:
  US15/581,355
• Publication Number:
  US 20170238032A1
• Time in Patent Office: 725 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/2041 Spot beam multiple access
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/16 on playing information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/51 of receiving stations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2543 Billing , e.g. for subscription services payment schemes, architectures or protocols G06Q20/00; e-commerce G06Q30/00; arrangements for billing for the use of broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/21
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25816 involving client authentication restricting access to computer systems by authenticating users using a predetermined code G06F21/33; cryptographic authentication protocols H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08; authentication in wireless network security H04W12/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25841 involving the geographical location of the client retrieval from the Internet by querying based on geographical locations G06F16/9537; arrangements for identifying locations of receiving stations in broadcast systems H04H60/51; location of the user terminal in data switching networks H04L67/52; services making use of the location of users or terminals in wireless networks H04W4/02; locating users or terminals in wireless networks H04W64/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6112 involving terrestrial transmission, e.g. DVB-T
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6143 involving transmission via a satellite
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/10 Adaptations for transmission by electrical cable H04N7/12 takes precedence

Abstract

A system and method for determining unauthorized use of a set top box includes a satellite signal determination module in the set top box receives a satellite signal from a satellite comprising a first satellite signal identifier. A memory in the set top box stores a second satellite signal identifier for a location of the user device. The user device also includes a comparison module comparing the first satellite signal identifier to the second satellite signal identifier and a disable module disabling the user device from processing satellite signals in response to comparing.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

generating a plurality of spot beams each fixedly directed at a single different geographic region from a geosynchronous satellite, each of the plurality of spot beams having a different satellite signal identifier that identifies the one of the plurality of spot beams associated therewith;

receiving at least a first spot beam signal of the plurality of spot beams from a satellite comprising a first satellite signal identifier comprising a first designated marketing area identifier and a first transponder identifier;

generating an authorized location for a user device based on interactions with a billing system;

associating a second satellite signal identifier with the authorized location corresponding to a second designated marketing area identifier and a second transponder identifier;

storing the second designated marketing area identifier in a memory of the user device;

comparing the first designated marketing area identifier to the second designated marketing area identifier; and

when the first designated marketing area identifier and the second designated marketing area identifier are unequal, disabling the user device from processing satellite signals in response to comparing.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising communicating the second satellite signal identifier to the user device through a terrestrial network.

3. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising communicating the second satellite signal identifier to the user device through the satellite.

4. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising generating a screen display in response to comparing.

5. A system comprising:

a geostationary satellite generating a plurality of spot beams directed at different geographic regions, each of the plurality of spot beams having a different satellite signal identifier that identifies the one of the plurality of spot beams associated therewith;

a satellite signal determination module receiving a satellite signal from a satellite comprising a first satellite signal identifier comprising a first designated marketing area identifier and a first transponder identifier;

a receiver receiving a second satellite signal generated in response to an authorized location for a user device based on interactions with a billing system;

a memory storing a second satellite signal identifier comprising a second designated marketing area identifier and a second transponder identifier for a location of the user device;

a comparison module comparing the first designated marketing area identifier to the second designated marketing area identifier; and

a disable module disabling the user device from processing satellite signals in response to comparing when the first designated marketing area identifier and the second designated marketing area identifier are unequal.

6. The system as recited in claim 5 further comprising:

a head end.

7. The system as recited in claim 6 wherein the user device comprises a satellite television set top box.

8. The system as recited in claim 7 wherein the head end communicates the second satellite signal identifier to the satellite television set top box.

9. The system as recited in claim 7 wherein the head end communicates the second satellite signal identifier to the satellite television set top box through a satellite.

10. The system as recited in claim 7 wherein the head end communicates the second satellite signal identifier to the satellite television set top box through a terrestrial network.

11. The system as recited in claim 6 wherein the head end generates the second satellite signal identifier in response to billing data.