Control of Access to Data Using a Wireless Home Entertainment Hub

• US 20080066093A1
• Filed: 11/27/2006
• Published: 03/13/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Porto Vinci Ltd LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Technology Patents & Licensing Incorporated
• Inventors: Kravets, Leonid, Igoe, Patrick T.
• Application Number:
  US11/563,366
• Publication Number:
  US 20080066093A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/25
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/08 by combining tones G10H1/14, G10H1/16 take precedence; chord G10H1/38
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2809 indicating that an appliance service is present in a home automation network monitoring functionality H04L43/0817; discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services, H04L67/51
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2841 Wireless
• 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 21/43637 involving a wireless protocol, e.g. Bluetooth, RF or wireless LAN [IEEE 802.11] arrangements for wireless networking or broadcasting of information in indoor or near-field type systems H04B10/114
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/440209 for formatting on an optical medium, e.g. DVD
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/765 Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/06 Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/08 Access restriction or access information delivery, e.g. discovery data delivery signalling during connection H04W76/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0254 detecting a user operation or a tactile contact or a motion of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0258 controlling an operation mode according to history or models of usage information, e.g. activity schedule or time of day
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 60/00 Affiliation to network, e.g. registration; Terminating affiliation with the network, e.g. de-registration
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A method for presenting data through a wireless home entertainment hub in a home entertainment system includes obtaining a registration for one or more source devices and for one or more sink devices. An indication is received at the wireless home entertainment hub that one of the source devices has become active. Data is received from the active source device. One or more sink devices are selected to receive the data from the active source device, and the data is transmitted to one or more of the sink devices.

Claims

1. A method of controlling access to program data presented to a user in a home entertainment system using a wireless home entertainment hub, the method comprising:

(a) obtaining from an identification device an identification of the user at the wireless home entertainment hub;

(b) retrieving a profile for the user, wherein the profile includes a list of restrictions on program data accessible by the user;

(c) receiving a request to access the program data from the user;

(d) comparing the program data requested by the user with the list of restrictions on program data accessible by the user; and

(e) denying access to the program data requested by the user if the program data requested by the user is matched with an item on the list of restrictions.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

(f) presenting an indication to the user that the requested program data is restricted.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

(f) storing an indication of the request to access the program data; and

(g) presenting the indication of the request to access the program data to an authorized user.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the profile of the user is stored in the wireless home entertainment hub.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the program data includes content corresponding to channels from a set-top box.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the program data includes content from a DVD player.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the program data includes content from a gaming console.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the identification device is a wireless identification device.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the identification device includes a radio frequency identification device.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the identification device includes a fingerprint scanner included in a remote control device.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein fingerprint data corresponding to the user is stored in the wireless home entertainment hub.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the identification device includes a video camera for capturing a representation of one or more physical attributes of the user.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the user is identified using an image capture of physical attributes of the user.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the physical attributes include facial features.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the image capture data corresponding to the physical attributes of the user is stored in the wireless home entertainment hub.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the user profile is created by an authorized user.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the user profile includes one or more channels from a set-top box from which the program data is not accessible by the user.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the user profile includes one or more content ratings for which the program data is not accessible by the user.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the user profile includes a range of one or more time intervals that the program data is not accessible by the user.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the user profile includes one or more devices not accessible by the user.

21. A method of controlling access to a device by user in a home entertainment system using a wireless home entertainment hub, the method comprising:

(a) obtaining from an identification device an identification of the user at the wireless home entertainment hub;

(b) retrieving a profile for the user, wherein the profile includes a list of restrictions on devices accessible by the user;

(c) receiving a request to access the device from the user;

(d) comparing the device requested by the user with the list of restrictions on devices accessible by the user; and

(e) denying access to the device requested by the user if the device requested by the user is matched with an item on the list of restrictions.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

(f) presenting an indication to the user that the requested device is restricted.

23. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

(f) storing an indication of the request to access the device; and

(g) presenting the indication of the request to access the device to an authorized user.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein the profile of the user is stored in the wireless home entertainment hub.

25. The method of claim 21, wherein the device includes a set-top box.

26. The method of claim 21, wherein the device includes a DVD player.

27. The method of claim 21, wherein the device includes a gaming console.

28. The method of claim 21, wherein the user profile includes a range of one or more time intervals that the device is not accessible by the user.