HDTV subscriber verification

• US 20050160471A1
• Filed: 01/19/2004
• Published: 07/21/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TiVo Corporation (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Comcast Cable Holdings LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Inventors: Cohen, Andrew D.
• Granted Patent: US 8,087,058 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/116
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25825 involving client display capabilities, e.g. screen resolution of a mobile phone optimising the visualisation of content during browsing in the Internet G06F16/9577; processing of terminal status or physical abilities in wireless networks H04W8/22; authentication in wireless network security H04W12/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4112 having fewer capabilities than the client, e.g. thin client having less processing power or no tuning capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/441 Acquiring end-user identification , e.g. using personal code sent by the remote control or by inserting a card
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4516 involving client characteristics, e.g. Set-Top-Box type, software version or amount of memory available
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6582 Data stored in the client, e.g. viewing habits, hardware capabilities, credit card number arrangements where receivers interact with the broadcast H04H20/38
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17309 Transmission or handling of upstream communications

Abstract

A system for providing television (TV) service including high definition television (HDTV) service, and for providing verification that a subscriber has connected an HDTV to the system includes a TV service provider headend and a set top box (STB). The HDTV may have an HDTV digital video interface (DVI) interconnect. The STB may be electrically coupled to the headend and have an STB DVI interconnect. When the HDTV DVI interconnect is initially electrically coupled to the STB DVI interconnect, the HDTV generally presents a data signal to the STB and the STB generally presents the data signal to the headend.

Claims

1. A system for providing television (TV) service including high definition television (HDTV) service, and for providing verification that a subscriber has connected an HDTV to the system, the HDTV having an HDTV digital video interface (DVI) interconnect, the system comprising:

a TV service provider headend; and

a set top box (STB) electrically coupled to the headend and having an STB DVI interconnect, and when the HDTV DVI interconnect is initially electrically coupled to the STB DVI interconnect, the HDTV presents a data signal to the STB and the STB presents the data signal to the headend.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the data signal comprises manufacturer and model of the HDTV.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the headend presents a control signal and the HDTV presents the data signal in response to the control signal.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the headend presents the control signal in response to a user command.

5. The system of claim 3 wherein the headend presents the control signal periodically.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the STB presents a control signal and the HDTV presents the data signal in response to the control signal.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the STB presents the control signal periodically.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the TV service comprises analog and digital (DTV) TV service.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the TV service provider headend is at least one of a cable TV provider headend and a satellite TV headend.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the headend is coupled to the STB via a network and the network comprises hybrid fiber coaxial cable.

11. A method for providing television (TV) service including high definition television (HDTV) service, and for providing verification that a subscriber has connected an HDTV, the HDTV having an HDTV digital video interface (DVI) interconnect, the method comprising:

providing a TV service provider headend;

electrically coupling a set top box (STB) to the headend wherein the STB has an STB DVI interconnect, and when the HDTV is initially electrically coupled to the STB, the HDTV DVI interconnect presents a data signal to the STB DVI interconnect; and

receiving the data signal from the STB at the headend.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the data signal comprises manufacturer and model of the HDTV.

13. The method of claim 11 further comprising the headend presenting a control signal and the HDTV presenting the data signal in response to the control signal.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising presenting the control signal in response to a user command.

15. The method of claim 13 further comprising presenting the control signal periodically.

16. The method of claim 11 further comprising the STB presenting a control signal and the HDTV presenting the data signal in response to the control signal.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising presenting the control signal periodically.

18. The method of claim 11 wherein the service provider headend is at least one of a cable TV provider headend and a satellite TV headend.

19. The method of claim 11 further comprising coupling the headend to the STB via a network, and the network comprises hybrid fiber coaxial cable.

20. For use in a system for television service including high definition television (HDTV) service, a set top box (STB) for verification that a subscriber has connected an HDTV to the STB the HDTV having an HDTV digital video interface (DVI) interconnect, the STB comprising an STB DVI interconnect, wherein the STB is electrically coupled to a headend, and when the HDTV is initially electrically coupled to the STB, the HDTV DVI interconnect presents a data signal to the STB DVI interconnect, and the headend receives the data signal from the STB.