System Method and Apparatus for Portable Digital Identity

• US 20110093881A1
• Filed: 12/23/2010
• Published: 04/21/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2001
• Status: Active Application

• Current Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications Management LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Original Assignee: TVWorks LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Inventors: McCormack, Jonathan I., Srinivasan, Venkatachary, Drewry, Raymond, Vasudev, Hari
• Application Number:
  US12/977,742
• Publication Number:
  US 20110093881A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/27
• 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 21/25875 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: H04N 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4753 for user identification, e.g. by entering a PIN or password cryptographic authentication protocols H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/60 Network structure or processes for video distribution between server and client or between remote clients; Control signalling between clients, server and network components; Transmission of management data between server and client , e.g. sending from server to client commands for recording incoming content stream; Communication details between server and client
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6581 Reference data, e.g. a movie identifier for ordering a movie or a product identifier in a home shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

Two-way digital media devices typically store digital identifying data that identify the user to providers of content and interactive data. In the case of a Web browser of a personal computer, the digital identity is stored in the form of a plurality of cookies that are used by respective web sites to personalize the web site experience for each particular user. When a user is at a different computer, the digital identifying data is not available. In addition, other types of interactive devices, such as CATV settop boxes, cell phones, PDAs and the like, may not have enough non-volatile memory (persistent storage) to store the digital identifying data. In order to provide users with a portable digital identity, a digital identity server is provided as a server node on the Internet, which retrieves digital identifying data and downloads such digital identifying data to any device upon request. In such manner, the user'"'"'s digital identity is portable and available at any computer or other digital device that is being used. The system digital identity server permits devices without sufficient non-volatile memory storage to download a digital identity for temporary storage in volatile memory, thereby providing a digital identity in devices without non-volatile memory.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

processing, by a remote communication device, user identification information;

communicating the user identification information to a digital identity server;

receiving, from the digital identity server, a digital identity associated with the user identification information, the digital identity identifying a service authorized for presentation by a home communication device; and

enabling presentation of the service by the remote communication device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the service is a premium television channel accessible by the home communication device.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising communicating capability information of the remote communication device to the digital identity server.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising processing the digital identity to configure operation of the remote communication device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the digital identity comprises software settings to configure operation of the remote communication device based on settings of the home communication device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the remote communication device comprises a personal computer and the home communication device comprises a television or set top box.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the digital identity comprises a video pause point identifying a point at which a video program was paused using the home communication device to permit the remote communication device to resume presentation of the video program from the video pause point.

8. A computer readable storage device storing software that, when executed, causes an apparatus at least to perform:

processing user identification information;

communicating the user identification information to a digital identity server;

receiving, from the digital identity server, a digital identity associated with the user identification information, the digital identity identifying a service authorized for presentation by a home communication device; and

enabling presentation of the service.

9. The computer readable storage device of claim 8, wherein the service is a premium television channel.

10. The computer readable storage device of claim 8, wherein the software, when executed, causes the apparatus to communicate capability information to the digital identity server.

11. The computer readable storage device of claim 8, wherein the software, when executed, causes the apparatus to process the digital identity to configure operation of the apparatus.

12. The computer readable storage device of claim 8, wherein the digital identity comprises software settings to configure operation of the apparatus based on settings of the home communication device.

13. The computer readable storage device of claim 8, wherein the digital identity comprises a video pause point identifying a point at which a video program was paused using the home communication device to permit the apparatus to resume presentation of the video program from the video pause point.

14. An apparatus comprising:

a processor; and

a memory storing software that, when executed, causes the apparatus at least to perform;

processing user identification information;

communicating the user identification information to a digital identity server;

receiving, from the digital identity server, a digital identity associated with the user identification information, the digital identity identifying a service authorized for presentation by a home communication device; and

enabling presentation of the service.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the service is a premium television channel.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the software, when executed, causes the apparatus to communicate capability information to the digital identity server.

17. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the software, when executed, causes the apparatus to process the digital identity to configure operation of the apparatus.

18. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the digital identity comprises software settings to configure operation of the apparatus based on settings of the home communication device.

19. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the apparatus comprises a personal computer and the home communication device comprises a television or set top box.

20. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the digital identity comprises a video pause point identifying a point at which a video program was paused using the home communication device to permit the apparatus to resume presentation of the video program from the video pause point.