Mobile Cable Subscription

• US 20080209464A1
• Filed: 02/23/2007
• Published: 08/28/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: General Instrument Corporation (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: General Instrument Corporation (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Inventors: Wright-Riley, Patrick
• Application Number:
  US11/678,202
• Publication Number:
  US 20080209464A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/25
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/254 Management at additional data server, e.g. shopping server, rights management server arrangements for maintenance or administration in data networks H04L41/00; network services using third party service providers H04L67/53
• 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 21/472 End-user interface for requesting content, additional data or services; End-user interface for interacting with content, e.g. for content reservation or setting reminders, for requesting event notification, for manipulating displayed content end-user interfaces for retrieving video data from a database G06F16/739; network services for supporting unicast streaming H04L65/612
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6118 involving cable transmission, e.g. using a cable modem
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/173 with two-way working, e.g. subscriber sending a programme selection signal

Abstract

A system, method and computer readable medium are described that allow a traveler to receive content similar to what that subscriber receives at home. In one case, the subscriber receives local content but at a tier of service that is similar to the tier of service the subscriber enjoys at home. In another case, the head-end in the home region forwards some or all content to the head-end in the remote region for distribution to the subscriber. In yet another case, the subscriber'"'"'s set-top box located in his home is used to transmit all the content to a set-top box in the remote region. Finally, the subscriber'"'"'s set-top box located in his home is used to transmit the content, one content service at a time to a set-top box in the remote region.

Claims

1. A computer readable medium that contains a computer program comprising instructions wherein those instructions control a processor in a media content processing device in a first region to perform a method comprising:

receiving a request to receive media content not normally available to the media content processing device;

receiving first information identifying a user not associated with the media content processing device;

transmitting the identifying information to a first head-end in the first region coupled to the media content processing device.

2. The computer readable medium of claim 1 further comprising instructions to control the processor to perform the method comprising:

receiving information associated with a time of usage.

3. The computer readable medium of claim 1 further comprising instructions to control the processor to perform the method comprising:

receiving second information identifying a second head-end associated with the user in a second region.

4. The computer readable medium of claim 1 further comprising instructions to control the processor to perform the method comprising:

receiving at least one encryption key;

decrypting the media content not normally available to the media content processing device.

5. A computer readable medium that contains a computer program comprising instructions wherein those instructions control a processor to perform a method comprising:

receiving identification data in a first region;

determining if the identification data identifies an account associated with the first region;

transmitting media content distribution control signals to a second region if the identification data identifies an account associated with the first region; and

wherein the first region is associated with a first head-end and the second region is associated with a second head-end.

6. The computer readable medium of claim 5 further comprising instructions for:

transmitting media content from the first head-end in the first region to the second head-end in the second region if the identification data identifies an account associated with the first region and a portion of the media content is not available in the second region.

7. The computer readable medium of claim 5 further comprising instructions for:

transmitting control signals to a first set-top box in the first region associated with the identified account instructing the first set-top box to transmit at least some media content to a second set-top box in the second region; and

encrypting the at least some content with a specific key.

8. The computer readable medium of claim 7 wherein the control signals include instructions for the set-top box to transmit only a single media content service at a time to a second set-top box in the second region.

9. The computer readable medium of claim 6 further comprising instructions for informing the first head-end to cease distributing media content to the second head-end.

10. The computer readable medium of claim 7 wherein the control signals include instructions for the first set-top box to cease distributing media content to the second set-top box.

11. A computer readable medium that contains a computer program comprising instructions wherein those instructions control a processor to perform a method comprising:

transmitting identification data to a first region;

receiving controls signals from the first region;

selecting media content based on the control signals;

wherein the control signals authorize a set-top in a second region to process the selected media content; and

wherein the first region is associated with a first head-end and the second region is associated with a second head-end and the second set-top resides.

12. The computer readable medium of claim 11 further comprising instructions for:

determining which portion of media content the first head-end does not distribute that is distributed by the second head-end based on the received control signals; and

receiving a second set of media content from the first head-end.

13. The computer readable medium of claim 12further comprising instructions for:

determining and defining one or more channels for carrying the received media content; and

wherein the control signals configure the set-top to process the content on the one or more defined channels.

14. The computer readable medium of claim 12 further comprising instructions for:

allocating bandwidth in the second head-end on which to carry the media content being received from the first head-end.

15. The computer readable medium of claim 11 wherein the selected media content is one media content service.

16. The computer readable medium of claim 11 further comprising instructions for:

determining if a time period has expired and transmitting additional control signals to the set-top to stop processing the selected media content.

17. The computer readable medium of claim 16 wherein the additional control signals comprise:

removing at least one encryption key from the set-top.

18. The computer readable medium of claim 12 further comprising instructions for:

recovering bandwidth used to transmit the second set of media content.

19. The computer readable medium of claim 12 further comprising instructions for:

recovering channels allocated to transmit the second set of media content