Method and apparatus for associating a client device with a hosted service

• US 20060085840A1
• Filed: 10/14/2004
• Published: 04/20/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: SAN Simeon Films, LLC
• Original Assignee: SAN Simeon Films, LLC
• Inventors: Bruck, Timo, Hammer, Thomas R.
• Application Number:
  US10/966,394
• Publication Number:
  US 20060085840A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/3
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/10 Protecting distributed programs or content, e.g. vending or licensing of copyrighted material protection in video systems or pay television H04N7/16 ; Digital rights management [DRM]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/31 User authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/083 using passwords cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using a predetermined code H04L9/3226
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/235 Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
• 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 21/42684 Client identification by a unique number or address, e.g. serial number, MAC address, socket ID network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming H04L61/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/435 Processing of additional data, e.g. decrypting of additional data, reconstructing software from modules extracted from the transport stream
• 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 21/643 Communication protocols network streaming protocols, e.g. real-time transport protocol [RTP] or real-time control protocol [RTCP], H04L65/65
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/173 with two-way working, e.g. subscriber sending a programme selection signal

Abstract

A set-top appliance for a video on demand service through which Internet content is available for download is identifiable through a unique identification number but becomes associated with the service (e.g., during an installation of the set-top appliance) using a pass phrase automatically generated from a database (e.g., dictionary of words and phrases) and provided to a customer of the VOD service via the set-top appliance. Use of such a pass phrase during the installation process relieves the user from having to remember the often lengthy and complex unique identification number for the set-top appliance.

Claims

1. A method, comprising associating a set-top appliance identifiable with a unique identification number with a hosted service through which Internet content is available for download to the set-top appliance using a pass phrase automatically generated from a database and provided to a customer of the hosted service via the set-top appliance.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the database comprises a dictionary of words and/or phrases.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the pass phrase is organized as adjective-adjective-noun.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the pass phrase is provided to the customer when the set-top appliance makes initial contact with a server associated with the hosted service.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein when the set-top appliance makes initial contact with the server, the set-top appliance identifies itself using the unique identification number.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the server responds to the set-top appliance identifying itself, in part by issuing the pass phrase to be displayed to the customer via a display device coupled to the set-top appliance.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the set-top appliance is associated with the hosted service after entry of the pass phrase via a user interface to the hosted service.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the user interface to the hosted service comprises one or more Web pages accessible via a Web browser not associated with the set-top appliance.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the set-top appliance is associated with the hosted service after entry of the pass phrase via a communication channel to the hosted service other than that used between the set-top appliance and a server from which the pass phrase is issued.

10. A method, comprising establishing a first communication session between a set-top appliance and a hosted service using a unique identifier associated with the set-top appliance;

and establishing a second communication session between the hosted service and a customer thereof using a pass phrase provided to the customer as part of the first communication session.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the pass phrase comprises a human readable phrase.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the pass phrase is reusable by the hosted service upon completion of the second communication session.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the pass phrase is organized as adjective-adjective-noun.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the pass phrase is provided to the customer via a display device communicatively coupled to the set-top appliance.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the pass phrase is stored on a computer readable medium at the set-top appliance at least until completion of the second communication session.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the set-top appliance is advised of the completion of the second communications session via the hosted service.

17. A method of registering an appliance with a hosted service, comprising providing the hosted service with a unique identifier associated with the appliance in a first communications session;

providing the appliance with a human readable pass phrase that is at least temporarily uniquely associated with the unique identifier; and

providing the pass phrase to the hosted service as part of a second communications session during which registration will be completed.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the pass phrase is provided to the hosted service by a human customer thereof using a Web-based user interface for the hosted service.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the pass phrase is generated using a dictionary of terms and is arranged as adjective-adjective-noun.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein upon completion of the second communication session the pass phrase is no longer uniquely associated with the unique identifier.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the appliance comprises a set-top box configured to download multimedia content available through the hosted service and further comprising presenting the pass phrase to a human user of the appliance via a display device coupled to the appliance.