Satellite television network and real-time method for downloading and verifying a subscriber remote record request

• US 20050229212A1
• Filed: 03/31/2004
• Published: 10/13/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DIRECTV, LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hughes Electronics Corporation (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Lim, Heang K., Kuether, David J., Hilmes, Philip R.
• Granted Patent: US 8,782,711 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/58
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/4406 Restricting access, e.g. according to user identity mechanisms actuated y cards, PIN or the like in apparatus for dispensing G07F7/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2365 Multiplexing of several video streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2393 involving handling client requests 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 21/258 Client or end-user data management, e.g. managing client capabilities, user preferences or demographics, processing of multiple end-users preferences to derive collaborative data arrangements for services using the result on the distributing side of broadcast systems H04H60/66; profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/30
• 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 21/25875 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 21/27 Server based end-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/274 Storing end-user multimedia data in response to end-user request , e.g. network recorder
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2747 Remote storage of video programs received via the downstream path, e.g. from the server
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4334 Recording operations recording of a television signal H04N5/76; arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47214 for content reservation or setting reminders; for requesting event notification, e.g. of sport results or stock market stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; notification of incoming messages in packet switching networks H04L51/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4751 for defining user accounts, e.g. accounts for children
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6143 involving transmission via a satellite
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6193 involving transmission via a satellite arrangements for data linking, networking or transporting, or for controlling an end to end session in a satellite broadcast system H04B7/18526
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17336 Handling of requests in head-ends
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/52 Systems for transmission of a pulse code modulated video signal with one or more other pulse code modulated signals, e.g. an audio signal or a synchronizing signal assembling of a multiplex stream by combining a video stream with other content or additional data, remultiplexing of multiplex streams, insertion of stuffing bits into the multiplex stream, assembling of a packetised elementary stream at server side H04N21/236; disassembling of a multiplex stream, remultiplexing of multiplex streams, extraction or processing of Service Information, disassembling of packetised elementary stream at client side H04N21/434

Abstract

Near real time downloading and verifying of a subscriber'"'"'s remote record request is provided to control a DVR using the existing satellite network. The insertion of the programming request into the continuous broadcast stream enables near real time processing of the request by a subscriber IRD to accommodate same day and even last minute remote programming requests. The use of a back channel to verify the request provides the subscriber with assurance that the request has been processed successfully and flexibility to change services on the fly.

Claims

1. A method of downloading a remote record request to control a recording device, comprising:

receiving a remote record request including a program code and a subscriber ID at a satellite broadcast center,

inserting the remote record request into a broadcast stream that is uplinked to a satellite,

transmitting the broadcast stream via the satellite,

downloading the remote record request at a subscriber site,

determining whether the remote record request is directed to the subscriber site by comparing the subscriber ID to a subscriber site ID, and, if confirmed,

tagging the program code for recording on the recording device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

inserting the remote record request into a MPT packet; and

inserting the MPT packing into a transport packet in the broadcast stream.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

sending a verification response to the subscriber.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein a positive verification response is sent to affirm receipt and execution of the remote record request and a negative verification response is sent to reject the remote record request and prompt the subscriber to override any conflicts that gave rise to the rejection.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

validating a portion of the remote record request at the satellite broadcast center, and

validating another portion of the remote record request at the subscriber site.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein a subscriber sends the remote record request using an input device,

If either the subscriber ID or whether the request is included in a service package are not validated, the satellite broadcast center sends a negative verification response to the subscriber rejecting the request and prompting the subscriber to sign up for the required service package,

If either a programming conflict or the recording device'"'"'s ability to record are not validated, the subscriber site sends a negative verification response to the subscriber rejecting the request and prompting the subscriber to override, and

If the request is validated, the subscriber site sends a positive verification response to the subscriber verifying execution of the request.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising at least one of the following:

validating that the selected program does not exceed a ratings limit,

validating that the selected program does not exceed a billing limit, and

validating that the remote record request is a feature included in a service package.

8. The method of claim 5, further comprising, if either portion of the remote record request is not validated, sending a negative verification response that rejects the remote record request and prompts the subscriber to override any conflicts that gave rise to the rejection.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

using an input device to access a programming guide, select the program and submit the remote record request, and

sending the remote record request to the satellite broadcast center.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the input device accesses a remotely maintained program guide in near real-time over a network.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the program guide is downloaded off-line and stored in the input device.

12. A method of downloading a remote record request to control a recording device, comprising:

using a subscriber input device to access a programming guide, select a program and submit a remote record request including a program code and a subscriber ID,

broadcasting the remote record request via a satellite,

downloading the remote record request at a subscriber site,

validating whether the remote record request is directed to the subscriber site by comparing the subscriber ID to a subscriber site ID, and, if confirmed, and

if validated, tagging the program code for recording on the recording device and sending a positive validation response to the subscriber input device, and

if not validated, sending a negative verification response to the subscriber input device that rejects the remote record request and prompts the subscriber to override any conflicts that gave rise to the rejection.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising at least one of the following:

validating that the selected program does not exceed a ratings limit,

validating that the selected program does not exceed a billing limit,

validating that the remote record request does not conflict with a previous record request,

validating that the recording device has sufficient memory to record the selected program,

validating that the selected program is included in a subscriber service package, and

validating that the remote record request capability is included in the subscriber service package.

14. A method of downloading a remote record request to control a recording device, comprising:

using an input device to access a programming guide, select a program and submit a remote record request including a program code and a subscriber ID,

sending the remote record request over a link to a satellite broadcast center,

validating the request to confirm whether the selected program is included in a subscriber service package,

broadcasting the remote record request via a satellite,

downloading the remote record request at a subscriber site,

determining whether the remote record request is directed to the subscriber site by comparing the subscriber ID to a subscriber site ID, and, if confirmed,

validating the request to determine whether the selected program can be recorded, and

if validated, tagging the program code for recording on the recording device and sending a positive validation response to the subscriber, and

if not validated, sending a negative verification response that rejects the remote record request and prompts the subscriber to override any conflicts that gave rise to the rejection.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

inserting the remote record request into an MPT packet; and

inserting the MPT packing into a transport packet that is broadcast via the satellite.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising validating the request to open the link to a satellite broadcast center.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the request is validated to determine whether the selected can be recorded by,

checking for a time conflict with previous record requests;

and

checking for adequate remaining memory in the record device.

18. A satellite broadcast network in which a broadcast stream is sent from a satellite broadcast center (SBC) via satellite to a plurality of subscriber sites each having antenna, an integrated receiver decoder (IRD) and a recording device, wherein said SBC is configured to receive a remote record request including a program code and a subscriber ID and insert the request into the broadcast stream, and wherein the IRD is configured to decode the request from the broadcast stream, compare the subscriber ID to a stored ID, and, if valid, tag the program code for recording on the recording device.

19. The satellite broadcast network of claim 18, wherein the SBC comprises:

an I/O port for receiving the remote record request;

a billing center having a record of subscribers and subscribed services;

a validation switch that compares the subscriber ID against the record of subscribers and subscribed services to validate the remote record request;

a bridge router that for validated requests inserts the subscriber ID and the program code into a MPT packet; and

an uplink system that inserts the MPT packet into a transport packet and transmits the transport packet to the satellite.

20. The satellite broadcast network of claim 18, further comprising:

A subscriber input device for accessing an interactive programming guide for subscriber selection of the program, said input device transmitting the remote record request including the program code and the subscriber ID to the SBC, and

A back channel connecting the subscriber IRD to the subscriber input device, said IRD sending a verification response via the back channel to the input device to confirm or reject the remote record request.

21. The satellite broadcast network of claim 20, wherein the SBC sends a negative verification response to the subscriber input device rejecting the request and prompting the subscriber to sign up for a required service package if either the subscriber ID or the required service package are not validated, and wherein the subscriber site sends a negative verification response to the subscriber input device rejecting the request and prompting the subscriber to override if either a programming conflict or the recording device'"'"'s ability to record are not validated.

22. A satellite broadcast center for delivering a remote record request, comprising:

an I/O port for receiving a remote record request including a program code and a subscriber ID;

a billing center having a record of subscribers and subscribed services;

a validation switch that compares the subscriber ID against the record of subscribers and subscribed services to validate the remote record request;

a bridge router that for validated requests inserts the subscriber ID and the program code for into a MPT packet; and

an uplink system that inserts the MPT packet into a transport packet and transmits the transport packet to a satellite.

23. A subscriber site for downloading a remote record request, comprising:

A recording device,

A back channel,

an antenna that receives a broadcast stream including a packet containing a subscriber ID and a program code, and

an integrated receiver decoder (IRD) that validates the subscriber ID against a stored ID, and, if valid, tags the program code so that the recording device will record the selected program, said IRD sending over the back channel either a positive verification response that affirms receipt and execution of the remote record request or a negative verification response that rejects the remote record request and prompts the subscriber to override any conflicts that gave rise to the rejection.