PROVISION OF TV ID TO NON-TV DEVICE TO ENABLE ACCESS TO TV SERVICES

• US 20110296454A1
• Filed: 05/27/2010
• Published: 12/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Xiong, True, Pedlow, Leo
• Granted Patent: US 8,458,741 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/30
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/10 File systems; File servers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9014 hash tables
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/00 Cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for secret or secure communications; Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2351 involving encryption of additional data arrangements using cryptography for the use of broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/23
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2541 Rights Management protecting software against unauthorised usage in a vending or licensing environment G06F21/10; 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 21/25875 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 21/426 Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• 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 21/4353 involving decryption of additional data arrangements using cryptography for the use of broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/23
• 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 21/4627 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 21/47202 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 21/6334 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 21/64322 IP
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/50 Tuning indicators; Automatic tuning control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/106 for domestic distribution
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 by receiver means only
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/173 with two-way working, e.g. subscriber sending a programme selection signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17309 Transmission or handling of upstream communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 : Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17336 : Handling of requests in head-ends

Abstract

To permit non-TV CE devices to participate in a closed Internet Protocol television (IPTV) program, a non-TV CE device obtains a TV identification upon program registration which it subsequently uses to access content from the IPTV program.

Claims

1. Consumer electronic (CE) device comprising:

housing;

display on the housing;

network interface;

processor controlling the display and communicating with the Internet through the network interface;

the CE device not being a TV and including a non-TV CE device identification including a CE device serial number;

the processor executing logic including;

prompting a user to register to use an Internet TV (IPTV) program at least in part by entering a username and password;

providing the username and password in a secure fashion to an auxiliary server, the processor sending a request including a secure hash of at least a media access code (MAC) of the CE device and the CE device serial number;

responsive to verification of the CE device by the auxiliary server, receiving from the auxiliary server an encrypted string including a TVID different from the CE device identification and formatted as an identification of a television;

using the username and password as a key, decrypting from the encrypted string the TVID;

responsive to user input indicating a desire to access the IPTV program, sending the TVID to a management server to obtain a user token and service list;

sending the user token to a content server that appears on the service list;

receiving a content list from the content server; and

providing a user interface on the display from which a user may select content from the content list to be played on the CE device.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the hash of the MAC and CE device serial number provided to the auxiliary server further includes digital rights management (DRM) information and a security certificate of the CE device.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the management server and auxiliary server are separate from each other.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the management server and auxiliary server are consolidated together.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is a personal computer.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is a personal digital assistant (PDA).

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is a digital clock radio.

8. Method comprising:

providing a TVID to a non-TV CE device; and

enabling the non-TV CE device to access content in a closed Internet Protocol television (IPTV) program using the TVID, the TVID being different from a CE device identification associated with the non-TV CE device.

9. The method of claim 8, comprising:

receiving at an Internet server a username and password from the CE device;

receiving at the Internet server at least a serial number of the CE device;

comparing at least the serial number, username, and password to stored information accessible to the server to determine whether the serial number, username, and password matches the stored information;

responsive to a determination that the serial number, username, and password matches the stored information matches, sending to the CE device the TVID.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the TVID is sent to the CE device using an encrypted string with the username and password as an encryption key.

11. The method of claim 8, comprising:

receiving from the CE device the TVID;

responsive to receiving the TVID, sending a user token and at least one service list to the CE device.

12. The method of claim 11, comprising:

receiving at a content server that appears on the service list the user token;

responsive to the user token, sending a content list from the content server to the CE device, the content list listing content selectable by the CE device for download thereto and play thereon.

13. Server computer comprising:

processor;

tangible non-transitory data storage medium accessible by the processor to execute logic comprising;

receiving over a wide area computer network from a non-TV CE device a secure string including a username, password, and a non-TV CE device serial number;

decrypting the secure string;

verifying contents of the string; and

responsive to successful verification of the string, returning to the CE device a TVID not including the CE device serial number.

14. The server computer of claim 13, wherein the processor creates a user account responsive to successful verification of the string.

15. The server computer of claim 14, wherein the processor links the string to the username and password input.

16. The server computer of claim 15, wherein the server computer sends a business-to-business (B2B) call message to a management server, the call message including the CE device serial number and requesting an unused or newly created TVID of the management serve.

17. The server computer of claim 15, wherein the TVID is linked to the CE device serial number.

18. The server computer of claim 15, wherein the TVID is different from the non-TV CE device ID in that the TVID contains a TV serial number and a TV model number.

19. The server computer of claim 15, wherein the processor combines the TVID with the username and password, encrypts the combination to render an encrypted string, and returns the encrypted string to the CE device.

20. The server computer of claim 15, wherein the processor links the TVID to the username and password.