Method and Apparatus for Controlling Access to Content Streamed to Remote Devices

• US 20080059409A1
• Filed: 09/06/2006
• Published: 03/06/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: General Instrument Corporation (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Marie Jose Montpetit
• Inventors: Montpetit, Marie Jose
• Application Number:
  US11/470,490
• Publication Number:
  US 20080059409A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/2
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41265 having a remote control device for bidirectional communication between the remote control device and client device unidirectional remote control device H04N21/42204
• 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 21/43615 Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• 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 21/835 Generation of protective data, e.g. certificates protecting software against unauthorised usage in a vending or licensing environment G06F21/10

Abstract

The method and apparatus allow a subscriber to limit streaming of content from subscriber premises equipment (e.g., a STB, a DVR, a PVR, etc.) or from an element in the network (e.g., a streaming server) to a mobile device such as a mobile telephone. Thus, the streaming of content can be restricted so that it is not streamed to the mobile device without some indication from the subscriber that streaming of the restricted content is authorized.

Claims

1. An apparatus for controlling access by a remote device to streaming content, the apparatus comprising:

an input/output (I/O) interface configured to receive a request for content and an access control identifier from a remote device; and

a processor configured to execute an access control algorithm that determines whether the received access control identifier is a proper identifier for the requested content, wherein if the algorithm determines that the received access control identifier is a proper identifier for the requested content, the processor causes the requested content to be streamed to the remote device.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the access control identifier is a parental control access control identifier.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is part of equipment located at a subscriber premises.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the requested content is stored on a storage medium that is part of the subscriber premises equipment.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is part of a network element, and wherein the requested content is stored on a storage medium in the network, the storage medium being in communication with the network element.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is part of the remote device.

7. A method for controlling access by a remote device to content, the method comprising:

receiving a request for content and an access control identifier;

determining whether the received access control identifier is proper for the content requested; and

if a determination is made that the received access control identifier is proper for the content requested, causing the requested content to be streamed to the remote device.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the method is performed by a processor located in equipment at a subscriber'"'"'s premises.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the method is performed by a processor located in a network element.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the method is performed by a processor located in the remote device.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the content is stored in a content storage device located at a subscriber'"'"'s premises.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein the content is stored in a content storage device located in a network.

13. A computer program for controlling access by a remote device to content, the program comprising instructions for execution by a computer and being embodied in a computer-readable medium, the program comprising:

instructions for receiving a request for content and an access control identifier;

instructions for determining whether the received access control identifier is proper for the content requested; and

instructions for causing the requested content to be streamed to the remote device if a determination is made that the received access control identifier is proper for the content requested.

14. The computer program of claim 13, wherein the program is executed by a processor located in equipment at a subscriber'"'"'s premises.

15. The computer program of claim 13, wherein the program is executed by a processor located in a network element.

16. The computer program of claim 13, wherein the program is executed by a processor located in the remote device.

17. The computer program of claim 13, wherein the content is stored in a content storage device located at a subscriber'"'"'s premises.

18. The computer program of claim 13, wherein the content is stored in a content storage device located in a network.