Method and Arrangements for Control of Consumption of Content Services

• US 20110035768A1
• Filed: 08/06/2010
• Published: 02/10/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Xie, Jinyang, Ekenberg, Stefan, Hu, Liang Feng, Chen, Emer, Ling, Robbie
• Application Number:
  US12/851,683
• Publication Number:
  US 20110035768A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/28
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/10 Protecting distributed programs or content, e.g. vending or licensing of copyrighted material protection in video systems or pay television H04N7/16 ; Digital rights management [DRM]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2149 Restricted operating environment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/083 using passwords cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using a predetermined code H04L9/3226
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/102 Entity profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25875 involving end-user authentication restricting access to computer systems by authenticating users using a predetermined code G06F21/33; arrangements for secret or secure communication including means for verifying the identity or authority of a user of the system H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08; authentication in wireless network security H04W12/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/37 Managing security policies for mobile devices or for controlling mobile applications
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/20 Information technology specific aspects, e.g. CAD, simulation, modelling, system security

Abstract

The present invention relates to a server and a client for providing parental control of media content and methods thereof. In order to achieve a more flexible service deployment of the parental control, the parental control is implemented in the service consumption period according to the present invention. The operator can then offer content services which do not require a specific service order.

The server sends a message to the client indicating that a parental control verification code is required in response to a request of a content during the consumption phase. A parental control verification code such as a PIN code is then inserted in a field in an authentication field originally intended for a password for authenticating the user. Thereby, parental control can be achieved even if a specific service order is not performed.

Claims

1. A method in a server for controlling content to be consumed by a user, the method comprising:

receiving from a client of a user a request to consume a certain content, the user having a user-specific parental rating level and the content having a content-specific parental rating level;

checking if the content-specific parental rating level of the requested content is more restrictive than the user-specific parental rating level of the user;

if the content-specific parental rating level is more restrictive;

sending a first message indicating that a parental control verification code is required,

receiving a parental control verification code in a second message comprising authorization information wherein the parental control verification code is inserted instead of a password in the second message, and

verifying the parental control verification code.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first and second messages are constructed according to basic authentication.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first and second messages are constructed according to digest authentication.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the request and the second message are RTSP messages.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the request and the second message are HTTP messages.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first message is a 401 unauthorized message that has a prefix in the realm indicating that a parental control verification code is required.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first message is a “

PIN code required”

message with a status code selected to indicate that a parental control verification code is required.

8. A method in a client for allowing a user of the client to get access to content protected by parental control, the method comprising:

sending to a content server a request for consuming a certain content that has a content-specific parental rating level,

if the content-specific parental rating level is more restrictive than a user-specific parental level of the user;

receiving a first message indicating that a parental control verification code is required;

prompting the user to enter the parental control Verification code;

receiving the parental control verification code; and

sending the parental control verification code in a second message comprising authorization information wherein the parental control verification code is inserted instead of a password in the second message.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the first and second messages are constructed according to basic authentication.

10. The method according to claim 8, wherein the first and second messages are constructed according to digest authentication.

11. The method according to claim 8, wherein the request and the second message are RTSP messages.

12. The method according to claim 8, wherein the request and the second message are HTTP messages.

13. The method according to claim 8, wherein the first message is a 401 unauthorized message that has a prefix in the realm indicating that a parental control verification code is required.

14. The method according to claim 8, wherein the first message is a “

PIN code required”

message with a status code selected to indicate that a parental control verification code is required.

15. A server for controlling content to be consumed by a user, the server comprising:

a receiver configured to receive from a client of a user a request for consuming a certain content, the user having a user-specific parental rating level and the content having a content-specific parental rating level,

a processor configured to check if the content-specific parental rating level of the requested content is more restrictive than the user-specific parental level of the user,

a transmitter configured to send a first message indicating that parental control verification is required;

wherein the receiver is further configured to receive a parental control verification code in a second message comprising authorization information wherein the parental control verification code is inserted instead of a password in the second message, and

wherein the processor is further configured to verify the parental control verification code.

16. The server according to claim 15, wherein the receiver is configured to receive the request and the second message as RTSP messages.

17. The server according to claim 15, wherein the receiver is configured to receive the request and the second message as HTTP messages.

18. The server according to claim 15, wherein the transmitter is configured to send the first message as a 401 unauthorized message that has a prefix in the realm indicating that a parental control verification code is required.

19. The server according to claim 15, wherein the transmitter is configured to send the first message as a “

PIN code required”

message with a status code selected to indicate that a parental control verification code is required.

20. A client configured to allow a user of the client to get access to content protected by parental control, the client comprising:

a transmitter configured to send to a content server a request for consuming a certain content having a content-specific parental rating level;

a receiver configured to receive, if the content-specific parental rating level is more restrictive than a user-specific parental rating level of the user, a first message indicating that a parental control verification code is required;

a user interface configured to prompt the user to enter the parental control verification code and to receive the parental control verification code; and

wherein the transmitter is further configured to send the parental control verification code in a second message comprising authorization information wherein the parental control verification code is inserted instead of a password in the second message.

21. The client according to claim 20, wherein the transmitter is configured to send the request, and the receiver is configured to receive the first message, as RTSP messages.

22. The client according to claim 20, wherein the transmitter is configured to send the request, and the receiver is configured to receive the first message, as HTTP messages.

23. The client according to claim 20, wherein the first message is a 401 unauthorized message that has a prefix in the realm indicating that a parental control verification code is required.

24. The client according to claim 20, wherein the first message is a “

PIN code required”

message with a status code selected to indicate that a parental control verification code is required.