SYSTEM FOR MANAGING MEDIA SERVICES

• US 20090094662A1
• Filed: 10/03/2007
• Published: 04/09/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Knowledge Ventures, L.P. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: COX, RICHARD V., CHANG, HISAO
• Granted Patent: US 8,555,330 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/141
• 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 21/41265 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 21/4316 for displaying supplemental content in a region of the screen, e.g. an advertisement in a separate window
• 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 21/4627 Rights management associated to the content security in data switching network management H04L41/28; security management or policies for network security H04L63/20; access security in wireless networks H04W12/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6175 involving transmission via Internet broadcast-related systems characterised by the transmission system being the Internet H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6181 involving transmission via a mobile phone network arrangements for providing broadcast or conference services to substation in data switching networks in combination with wireless systems H04L12/189; wireless uplink channel access H04W74/004
• 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 7/162 Authorising the user terminal, e.g. by paying; Registering the use of a subscription channel, e.g. billing

Abstract

A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a Media Content Processor (MCP) having a controller to detect a communication device roaming into a personal area network, receive a communication identifier from the communication device, authenticate the communication device responsive to validating the communication identifier, and enable the communication device to manage operations of the MCP according to a profile of a subscriber of said communication device responsive to a successful authentication of said communication device. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Claims

1. A computer-readable storage medium operating in a network element of a multimedia communication system, comprising computer instructions for:

receiving from a Set-Top Box (STB) receiver a Mobile Identification Number (MIN) of a cellular communication device that has established communications with the STB receiver by way of a Personal Area Network (PAN);

determining whether the MIN of the cellular communication device has an association with the STB receiver;

establishing communications with the cellular communication device by way of the STB receiver responsive to detecting an association between the MIN and the STB receiver;

authenticating a subscriber of the STB receiver according to an authentication message supplied by the cellular communication device of said subscriber by way of the STB receiver;

identifying a profile of the subscriber responsive to a successful authentication of the subscriber; and

transmitting to the STB receiver the profile of the subscriber to manage a presentation of media services by the STB receiver.

2. The storage medium of claim 1, comprising computer instructions for processing the authentication message as at least one among a voice and data message.

3. The storage medium of claim 1, wherein the cellular communication device comprises a wireless headset and a wireless communication device.

4. The storage medium of claim 3, wherein each of the wireless headset and the wireless communication device are wirelessly coupled to the STB receiver by way of the PAN.

5. The storage medium of claim 1, wherein the PAN operates according to one among a plurality of 802 wireless access protocols defined by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers.

6. The storage medium of claim 1, wherein the PAN operates according to one among a Bluetooth protocol, a Wireless Fidelity protocol, an Ultra-wideband protocol, a Zigbee protocol, and a Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications protocol.

7. The storage medium of claim 1, wherein the multimedia communication system comprises one among an Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) communication system, a satellite TV communication system, and a cable TV communication system, and wherein the STB receiver utilizes the profile of the subscriber to tailor presentation of media content for the subscriber.

8. The storage medium of claim 1, comprising computer instructions for notifying the STB receiver that the subscriber has been authenticated, wherein the STB receiver enables the cellular communication device to manage operations of the STB receiver as a remote controller responsive to said notification.

9. A Media Content Processor (MCP), comprising a controller to:

detect a communication device roaming into a Personal Area Network (PAN);

receive a communication identifier from the communication device;

authenticate the communication device responsive to validating the communication identifier; and

enable the communication device to manage operations of the MCP according to a profile of a subscriber of said communication device responsive to a successful authentication of said communication device.

10. The MCP of claim 9, wherein the controller is adapted to:

establish communications with a network element of a multimedia communication system;

transmit the communication identifier to the network element to authenticate the communication device;

receive from the network element the profile of the subscriber responsive to the network element successfully authenticating the subscriber and associating said subscriber to the MCP; and

present a Picture-In-Picture Graphical User Interface (PIP GUI) for navigating through one or more media services offered by the MCP.

11. The MCP of claim 10, wherein the controller is adapted to enable the communication device to manage operations of the MCP by way of the PIP GUI responsive to receiving the profile.

12. The MCP of claim 9, wherein the controller is adapted to retrieve the profile according to the communication identifier.

13. The MCP of claim 9, wherein the communication identifier comprises a Mobile Identification Number (MIN) of the communication device.

14. The MCP of claim 9, wherein the controller is adapted to receive an authentication message from the communication device, and wherein the authentication message corresponds to at least one among a voice and data message.

15. The MCP of claim 9, wherein the communication device comprises a wireless headset and a wireless communication device, and wherein each of the wireless headset and the wireless communication device are wirelessly coupled to the MCP by way of the PAN.

16. The MCP of claim 9, wherein the PAN operates according to one among a Bluetooth protocol, a Wireless Fidelity protocol, an Ultra-wideband protocol, a Zigbee protocol, and a Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications protocol.

17. The MCP of claim 9, wherein the MCP corresponds to a Set-Top Box receiver operating in one among an Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) communication system, a satellite TV communication system, and a cable TV communication system, and wherein the controller is adapted to present media content according to the profile of the subscriber.

18. A communication device, comprising a controller to:

detect a Personal Area Network (PAN) managed by a Media Content Processor (MCP);

establish communications with the MCP over the PAN;

receive a notification from the MCP offering media content services upon receiving authentication data;

transmit to the MCP a communication identifier;

receive notice from the MCP that the communication device has been enabled to manage operations of the MCP responsive to the communication identifier having an association with the MCP; and

manage operations of the MCP.

19. The communication device of claim 18, wherein the communication identifier comprises one among a Session Initiation Protocol Universal Resource Identifier (SIP URI), and a Mobile Identification Number (MIN).

20. The communication device of claim 18, wherein one among the MCP and a network element of a multimedia communication system from which the MCP operates associates the communication identifier with the MCP, retrieves a profile of a subscriber of the communication device, and directs the MCP to present media content to the subscriber according to said profile.

21. The communication device of claim 18, wherein the communication device corresponds to a wireless headset and a cellular phone, and wherein the wireless headset is wirelessly coupled to one among the MCP and the cellular phone over the PAN.

22. The communication device of claim 18, wherein the wireless headset is wirelessly coupled to the MCP by way of the PAN for managing operations thereof, and the cellular phone provides data services to a subscriber by way of one among a wireless fidelity interface or a cellular wireless access interface.

23. The communication device of claim 18, wherein the PAN operates according to one among a Bluetooth protocol, a Wireless Fidelity protocol, an Ultra-wideband protocol, a Zigbee protocol, and a Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications protocol, and wherein the MCP corresponds to a Set-Top Box receiver operating in one among an Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) communication system, a satellite TV communication system, and a cable TV communication system.

24. The communication device of claim 18, wherein the controller is adapted to transmit to the MCP a profile of a subscriber of the communication device to manage presentation of media services by the MCP.