SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING CONTROLLED ACCESS

• US 20090119698A1
• Filed: 11/03/2008
• Published: 05/07/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Exceptional Innovation, Inc. (ST Holdings Topco LLC)
• Original Assignee: Quadriga Worldwide Ltd. (Kyma Leisure Ltd.)
• Inventors: Kuijlaars, Erik Gerardus Adriaan
• Granted Patent: US 8,667,518 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/25
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/27 with central registration
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42204 User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor constructive details of casings for the remote control device H01H9/0235; user interfaces for controlling a tuning device of a television receiver through a remote control H03J9/00; remote control of peripheral devices connected to a television receiver through the remote control device of the television receiver H04B1/205
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4367 Establishing a secure communication between the client and a peripheral device or smart card

Abstract

A method for operating a signal receiver which authorizes controlled access, comprising providing an authentication token device having a predetermined usage limit stored therein, providing a reading device for reading the authentication token device, and for implementing the predetermined usage limit while deauthorizing the authentication token device for use with other reading devices, comprising a signal generator for communicating with a signal receiver through a wireless transmission, receiving the wireless transmission at the signal receiver, to permit access based on the received transmission, and upon exceeding the predetermined usage limit, deauthorizing further access.

Claims

1. A method for operating a signal receiver which authorizes controlled access, comprising:

(a) providing an authentication token device having a predetermined usage limit stored therein;

(b) providing a reading device for reading the authentication token device, and for implementing the predetermined usage limit while deauthorizing the authentication token device for use with other reading devices, comprising a signal generator for communicating with a signal receiver through a wireless transmission;

(c) receiving the wireless transmission at the signal receiver, to permit access based on the received transmission; and

(d) upon exceeding the predetermined usage limit, deauthorizing further access.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the authentication token device comprises a smart card device having a microprocessor and reprogrammable memory.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the reading device comprises a timer, and the predetermined usage limit comprises a duration of permitted usage.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the predetermined usage limit further comprises a subset of available channels in a television distribution system.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the authentication token device comprises an identification code, and the reading device reads the identification code and transfers it to a memory in the reading device.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising erasing at least a portion of information stored in the authentication token device after insertion in the reading device.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the reading device comprises a set of user inputs for changing a program presented from the signal receiver.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the reading device comprises a set of user inputs for changing an audio volume of sounds presented from the signal receiver and for turning on a user presentation output.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the reading device transmits a series of commands to the signal receiver for selectively activating controlled access functions.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the reading device further is adapted to transmit information to the signal receiver which is not subject to access controls.

11. A method for providing controlled access to information and/or communication channels, comprising:

(a) providing a wireless remote control device adapted to selectively activate controlled access features;

(b) providing a wireless receiver device adapted to respond to the wireless remote control device;

(c) storing an identifier of the wireless remote control at the wireless receiver device;

(d) transmitting a signal in dependence on the stored identifier of the wireless remote control from the wireless receiver device to the wireless remote control;

(e) listening, at the wireless remote control, for the transmission of the signal in dependence on the stored identifier;

(f) if, at the wireless remote control, the transmission of the signal in dependence on the stored identifier is not received within predetermined parameters, cancelling an ability of the wireless remote control device to selectively activate the controlled access features; and

(g) implementing a usage limit, at the wireless remote control, for limiting an ability to selectively activate the controlled access features.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the wireless remote control is adapted to receive an authentication token device comprising a smart card device having a microprocessor and reprogrammable memory, having information stored in the reprogrammable memory representing at least one limit on the controlled access features.

13. The method according to claim 11, wherein the wireless remote control comprises a timer, and the controlled access features comprise a predetermined usage limit stored in a removable information carrier.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the predetermined usage limit further comprises a subset of available channels in a television distribution system.

15. The method according to claim 11, wherein the wireless remote control comprises an identification code, which is communicated to a memory in the wireless receiver device.

16. The method according to claim 11, further comprising erasing at least a portion of information stored in a memory associated with the wireless remote control after initial activating of the controlled access features.

17. The method according to claim 11, wherein the wireless remote control device comprises a set of user inputs for changing a program presented from the wireless receiver device.

18. The method according to claim 11, wherein the wireless remote control comprises a set of user inputs for changing an audio volume of sounds presented from the wireless receiver device and for turning on a user presentation output.

19. The method according to claim 11, wherein the wireless remote control device transmits a series of distinct commands to the wireless receiver device for selectively activating controlled access functions.

20. The method according to claim 11, wherein the wireless remote control is further adapted to transmit information to the signal receiver which is not subject to access controls.

21. The method according to claim 11, wherein the wireless remote control communicates with the wireless receiver device through at least one modulated infrared optical signal generator.

22. The method according to claim 11, wherein the wireless remote control is activated by insertion of a detachable authorization information carrier, which is deactivated in conjunction with activation of the wireless receiver device by the wireless remote control.

23. The method according to claim 11, wherein the wireless remote control is activated by insertion of a detachable authorization information carrier comprising a cryptographic information processor and an electronic memory.

24. A remote control device for an electronic device for authorizes controlled access thereto, comprising:

(a) an authentication token component having a predetermined usage limit stored therein;

(b) a reading device component adapted to read the authentication token component, and to implement the predetermined usage limit while deauthorizing the authentication token component for use with other reading devices;

(c) a wireless signal generator adapted to communicate with a signal receiver through a wireless transmission; and

(d) a processor adapted to, upon exceeding the predetermined usage limit, deauthorizing further access and modifying the authentication token component to limit reuse.

25. A controlled access system adapted to control access to information and/or communication channels, comprising:

(a) a wireless remote control device adapted to selectively activate controlled access features;

(b) a wireless receiver device adapted to respond to the wireless remote control device;

(c) a memory for storing an identifier of the wireless remote control at the wireless receiver device;

(d) a transmitter for transmitting a signal in dependence on the stored identifier of the wireless remote control from the wireless receiver device to the wireless remote control;

(e) a receiver, at the wireless remote control, adapted to receive the transmission of the signal in dependence on the stored identifier; and

(f) a processor at the wireless remote control adapted to determine, if the transmission of the signal in dependence on the stored identifier is not received within predetermined parameters, and if so, cancelling an ability of the wireless remote control device to selectively activate the controlled access features, and to implement a usage limit, for limiting an ability to selectively activate the controlled access features.