Systems and methods for controlling purchasing and/or reauthorization to access content using quick response codes and text messages

• US 10,298,981 B2
• Filed: 01/31/2017
• Issued: 05/21/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DIRECTV, LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Yang, Christopher, Yee, Woei-Shyang, Huie, Wesley, Talatinian, Gerard V., Shum, Johnny
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim, William J
• Application Number:
  US15/421,059
• Publication Number:
  US 20170142460A1
• Time in Patent Office: 840 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/14 the marking being sensed by radiation
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1095 the scanner comprising adaptations for scanning a record carrier that is displayed on a display-screen or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1417 2D bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2223 being a public access point, e.g. for downloading to or uploading from clients arrangements specially adapted to plural spots in a confined site in broadcast systems H04H20/63
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2396 characterized by admission policies admission control, resource allocation in open networks H04L12/5692; arrangements for network security using user profiles for access control H04L63/102; access security in wireless networks H04W12/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2541 Rights Management protecting software against unauthorised usage in a vending or licensing environment G06F21/10; security in data switching network management H04L41/28; security management or policies for network security H04L63/20; access security in wireless networks H04W12/08
• 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 21/25866 Management of end-user data customer care in data networks H04L41/5077
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25875 involving end-user authentication restricting access to computer systems by authenticating users using a predetermined code G06F21/33; arrangements for secret or secure communication including means for verifying the identity or authority of a user of the system H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08; authentication in wireless network security H04W12/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4126 The peripheral being portable, e.g. PDAs or mobile phones
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41407 embedded in a portable device, e.g. video client on a mobile phone, PDA, laptop constructional details of equipment or arrangements specially adapted for portable computer application G06F1/1626; arrangements specially adapted for mobile receivers in broadcast systems H04H20/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4143 embedded in a Personal Computer [PC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4223 Cameras H04N23/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4623 Processing of entitlement messages, e.g. ECM [Entitlement Control Message] or EMM [Entitlement Management Message] arrangements for conditional access to broadcast information or to broadcast-related services H04H60/14
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4627 Rights management associated to the content security in data switching network management H04L41/28; security management or policies for network security H04L63/20; access security in wireless networks H04W12/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4722 for requesting additional data associated with the content
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/475 End-user interface for inputting end-user data, e.g. personal identification number [PIN], preference data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4882 for displaying messages, e.g. warnings, reminders arrangements for providing short real-time information to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1895
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6334 for authorisation, e.g. by transmitting a key wireless communications network key management H04W12/04; wireless communications network access security H04W12/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6581 : Reference data, e.g. a movie identifier for ordering a movie or a product identifier in a home shopping application

Abstract

A mobile device including a content module, an imaging module, and an interface. The content module is configured to attempt to access content including transmitting a content request signal from the mobile device to a user receiving device. The imaging module is configured to acquire an image of at least a portion of a screen shown on a display connected to the user receiving device. The interface is configured to transmit the image or information pertaining to the image to the user receiving device, a head end or a content provider to cause the user receiving device or the mobile device to receive an authorization signal for access to the content.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a user receiving device associated with an account;

a mobile device comprising;

a content module configured to attempt to access content including transmitting a content request signal to the user receiving device;

an imaging module configured to acquire an image of a text message displayed on at least a portion of a screen shown on a display connected to the user receiving device, said image is based on the content request signal;

an interface configured to transmit the image to a head end, through a network;

said user receiving device directly receiving an authorization signal from the head end through the network, said authorization signal generated at the head end in response to the image and displaying content on the screen in response to the authorization signal; and

a purchasing server billing the account in response to the image and the authorization signal.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising an authorization module configured to receive an authorization confirmation for the content based on the transmission of the image to the head end.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the user receiving device further comprises a control module configured to display the content based on the authorization signal.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the image comprises a quick response code or a bar code; and

the interface is configured to transmit the quick response code, the bar code or information embedded in the quick response code to the head end to cause the user receiving device to receive the authorization signal for access to the content.

5. A method of operating a system, the method comprising:

attempting to access content including transmitting a content request signal to the user receiving device;

acquiring, by a mobile device, an image of a text message displayed on at least a portion of a screen shown on a display connected to a user receiving device, said image based on the content request signal;

transmitting the image to a head end;

generating an authorization signal at the head end in response to the image;

billing an account associated with the user receiving device in response to the image and the authorization signal;

communicating, by the head end, the authorization signal for access to content directly to the user receiving device through a network;

receiving the authorization signal from the head end at the user receiving device directly through the network; and

displaying the content on the screen in response to the authorization signal.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising receiving an authorization confirmation for the content based on the transmission of the image to the head end.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising displaying the content based on the authorization signal.

8. The method of claim 5, further comprising transmitting a quick response code or information embedded in the quick response code to the head end to cause the user receiving device or the mobile device to receive the authorization signal for access to the content, wherein the image comprises the quick response code.

9. The method of claim 5, further comprising transmitting a text message or information associated with the text message to the head end to cause the user receiving device to receive the authorization signal for access to the content, wherein the image comprises the text message.