Method and apparatus for provisioning client devices connected to an interactive TV network

• US 20040088734A1
• Filed: 11/04/2002
• Published: 05/06/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Inventors: Donlan, Brian Joseph, Rushe, Randall G.
• Granted Patent: US 9,769,531 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/109
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/239 Interfacing the upstream path of the transmission network, e.g. prioritizing client content requests hybrid fiber coaxial [HFC] networks for upstream channel allocation for video distribution H04L12/2801; flow control in data networks H04L47/10; real-time communication protocols in data switching networks H04L65/00; scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests H04L67/60
• 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 21/25866 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 21/4751 for defining user accounts, e.g. accounts for children
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/478 Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/64307 ATM
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/64322 IP
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

A system and method manages the provisioning of an client device connected to a service distribution network, such as an interactive television service-providing network. Provisioning is managed by a provisioning manager that knows the specific provisioning data to collect and where the data is located and is to be forwarded. The client or subscriber can initiate the provisioning transaction through the client device.

Claims

1. A system for managing the intercommunication of provisioning-related data between interconnected provisioning systems in an interactive television network (ITV), comprising:

an ITV client device for receiving a provisioning request from a client;

an ITV provisioning manager device for managing the provisioning request forwarded by the ITV client device; and

at least one ITV network component and an associated provisioning system for receiving a provisioning message from the ITV provisioning manager device.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one ITV network component and associated provisioning system connected to said ITV provisioning manager includes at least one communications network and wherein the system is configured such that the provisioning request by the client is forwarded by the at least one ITV network component to the ITV provisioning manager device.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one ITV network component and associated provisioning system connected to said ITV provisioning manager includes at least one billing system for maintaining billing information for a client of the ITV network.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one ITV network component and associated provisioning system connected to said ITV provisioning manager includes at least one ITV server for providing provisioning information to the at least one ITV network component.

5. The system according to claim 2, wherein the at least one communications network is a wired communications network.

6. The system according to claim 5, wherein the at least one communications network includes a packet data network for providing services to a client of the ITV network.

7. The system according to claim 6, wherein the packet data network includes an Internet protocol data packet network.

8. The system according to claim 6, wherein the packet data network includes an asynchronous transfer mode network.

9. The system according to claim 5, wherein the at least one communications network includes a circuit-oriented switched telephone network for providing telephone services to a client of the ITV network.

10. The system according to claim 3, wherein the at least one billing system includes an ITV billing system.

11. The system according to claim 4, wherein the at least ITV server includes at least one of the following:

an e-mail server, an address book server, a calendar server, a search server, a registration server, a web server, and an E-chat server.

12. The system according to claim 2, wherein the at least one ITV client device connected to the at least one ITV network component includes a set-top video/audio converter decoder box.

13. The system according to claim 2, wherein the at least one ITV client device connected to the at least one ITV network component includes a television set.

14. The system according to claim 2, wherein the at least one ITV client device connected to the at least one ITV network component includes a device which processes video, audio or data signals for transmission, storage, visual display or sound emission.

15. A method of managing the provisioning of interactive client devices for connection to an interactive television (ITV) network for using interactive television services, comprising:

receiving, at an ITV client device, a subscriber request containing update subscriber information, the update subscriber information including user information regarding at least one of a user to be deleted, a user to be modified, and a user to be added;

receiving, at an ITV provisioning manager device, the subscriber request;

storing at least a portion of the subscriber update information in a provisioning management database accessible by the ITV provisioning manager device; and

providing said at least a portion of the subscriber update information from said provisioning management database to a first ITV network component other than the ITV provisioning manager device.

16. The method according to claim 15, further comprising:

providing a response to a second ITV network component regarding receipt by the ITV provisioning manager device of the subscriber update information.

17. The method according to claim 15, wherein the receiving step includes the steps of:

providing a first display, on a television connected to the ITV client device, to a subscriber, the display including a bug associated with at least one of delete a user, modify a user, and add a user;

detecting a selection of the bug by the subscriber;

providing a second display, on the television, requesting the subscriber to enter the update subscriber information; and

receiving the update subscriber information from the subscriber.

18. A system for provisioning a subscriber in an interactive television network, comprising:

an ITV client means for receiving a customer provisioning request containing update customer information, the update customer information including user information regarding at least one of a user to be deleted, a user to be modified, and a user to be added;

an ITV provisioning manager means for communicating the update customer information between interconnected provisioning systems in an interactive television network; and

memory means, accessible by the ITV provisioning manager, for storing at least a portion of the customer update information.

19. The apparatus according to claim 18, further comprising at least one provisioning message interface connecting the ITV provisioning manager means with a provisioning system of at least one subscriber management billing system.

20. The apparatus according to claim 19, further comprising at least one provisioning message interface connecting the ITV provisioning manager means with a provisioning system of at least one communications network.

21. The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the ITV client means is a set-top box and further comprising a television connected to the ITV client means for displaying one or more provisioning requests to a customer associated with the television.

22. A method of managing the provisioning of interactive client devices for connection to an interactive television network for using interactive television services, comprising:

receiving from a first ITV network component service information relating to at least one subscriber, the service information identifying said at least one subscriber and requesting at least one of updating subscriber information corresponding to the at least one subscriber, user information corresponding to at least one user affiliated with the at least one subscriber, a geographical location corresponding to the at least one subscriber, and an ITV client device corresponding to the at least one subscriber;

determining which of a plurality of other ITV network components are to receive at least some of the service information; and

communicating the at least some of the service information to at least one other ITV network component, the at least one other ITV component network being different from the first ITV network component and providing a service requested by the at least one subscriber.

23. The method according to claim 22, further comprising:

storing said service information in a provisioning management database;

retrieving said service information from said provisioning management database; and

communicating said service information to a provisioning system of an ITV network component.

24. The method according to claim 22, further comprising:

storing said service providing information in a provisioning management database;

retrieving said service providing information from said provisioning management database; and

providing the service providing information to an ITV network component.

25. The method according to claim 22, further comprising:

providing the service providing information to an ITV network component that is a billing system.

26. The method according to claim 22, wherein the service providing information includes one or more network addresses from the provisioning system of an IP data network.

29. The system according to claim 22, further comprising:

storing means for storing said service providing information in a provisioning management database;

retrieving means for retrieving said service providing information in said provisioning management database; and

providing means for providing the service providing information to an ITV network component.

30. The system according to claim 22, further comprising:

providing means for providing the service providing information to an ITV network component that is a billing system.

31. The system according to claim 22, wherein the service providing information includes one or more network addresses from the provisioning system of an IP data network.

27. A system for managing the provisioning of interactive client devices for connection to an interactive television network for using interactive television services, comprising:

first receiving means for receiving from a first ITV network component service information relating to at least one subscriber, the service information identifying said at least one subscriber and requesting at least one of updating subscriber information corresponding to the at least one subscriber, user information corresponding to at least one user affiliated with the at least one subscriber, a geographical location corresponding to the at least one subscriber, and an ITV client device corresponding to the at least one subscriber;

determining means for determining which of a plurality of other ITV network components are to receive at least some of the service information;

communicating means for communicating the at least some of the service information to at least one other ITV network component, the at least one other ITV network component being different from the first ITV network component and providing a service requested by the at least one subscriber;

second receiving means for receiving from the at least one other ITV network component service providing information, the service providing information at least one of enabling and disabling a user associated with the subscriber to access the service provided by the at least one other ITV component; and

providing means for providing the service providing information to the subscriber.

28. The system according to claim 27, further comprising:

storing means for storing said service information in a provisioning management database;

retrieving means for retrieving said service information in said provisioning management database; and

communicating means for communicating said service information to a provisioning system of an ITV network component.