CONTROLLING DELIVERY OF VIDEO PROGRAMS USING USER DEFINED IDENTIFIERS FOR VIDEO RECEIVER DEVICES

• US 20120260282A1
• Filed: 04/11/2011
• Published: 10/11/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ericsson AB (Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson)
• Original Assignee: Ericsson Television Incorporated (Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson)
• Inventors: Dasher, Charles, Phillips, Chris
• Granted Patent: US 8,584,177 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/37
• 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 21/41265 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 21/42204 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 21/4222 Remote control device emulator integrated into a non-television apparatus, e.g. a PDA, media center or smart toy remote control device for a television receiver integrated into a mobile phone H04M1/72415
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4751 for defining user accounts, e.g. accounts for children
• 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

Abstract

A method of controlling delivery of video programs from video distribution equipment to video receiver devices includes receiving messages at the video distribution equipment from a mobile terminal operated by a user. The messages contain user defined identifiers that are associated with equipment identifiers of different ones of the video receiver devices. The user defined identifiers are stored associated with the equipment identifiers in a subscriber account. Delivery of video programs from the video distribution equipment to the video receiver devices is controlled in response to commands received from the mobile terminal which request delivery of identified video programs to identified ones of the user defined identifiers. Related video distribution equipment and mobile terminals are disclosed.

Claims

1. A method of controlling delivery of video programs from video distribution equipment to video receiver devices, the method comprising:

receiving, at the video distribution equipment from a mobile terminal operated by a user, messages containing user defined identifiers that are associated with equipment identifiers of different ones of the video receiver devices;

storing the user defined identifiers associated with the equipment identifiers in a subscriber account; and

controlling delivery of video programs from the video distribution equipment to the video receiver devices in response to commands received from the mobile terminal requesting delivery of identified video programs to identified ones of the user defined identifiers.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein controlling delivery of video programs from the video distribution equipment to the video receiver devices comprises:

receiving at the video distribution equipment from the mobile terminal a command requesting delivery of one of the video programs to one of the user defined identifiers;

identifying, from the subscriber account, one of the equipment identifiers that is associated with the one of the user defined identifiers; and

delivering the one of the video programs to one of the video receiver devices having the identified one of the equipment identifiers.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

generating the equipment identifier for one of the video receiver devices in response to the mobile terminal scanning an optical machine readable representation of the equipment identifier from the one of the video receiver devices;

receiving the user defined identifier for the one of the video receiver devices; and

generating one of the messages using the equipment identifier and the received user defined identifier for the one of the video receiver devices.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein storing the user defined identifiers associated with the equipment identifiers in the subscriber account comprises:

looking-up the subscriber account in response to the equipment identifier contained in one of the messages; and

storing in the subscriber account the user defined identifier logically associated with the equipment identifier contained in the one of the messages.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving, at the video distribution equipment from the mobile terminal operated by the user, messages containing user defined identifiers that are associated with equipment identifiers of different ones of the video receiver devices comprises:

communicating images to the video receiver devices that are registered with the subscriber account, wherein each of the video receiver devices receives a different image;

receiving, in each of the messages from the mobile terminal, image selection data that identifies one of the images that is selected by the user as corresponding to one of the images observed by the user through one of the video receiver devices and receiving a user defined identifier for the one of the video receiver devices.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein receiving, at the video distribution equipment from the mobile terminal operated by the user, messages containing user defined identifiers that are associated with equipment identifiers of different ones of the video receiver devices further comprises:

communicating the images to the mobile terminal for display to the user; and

receiving, in each of the messages from the mobile terminal, image selection data that identifies one of the images displayed on the mobile terminal that is selected by the user as corresponding to one of the images observed by the user through one of the video receiver devices and receiving the user defined identifier for the one of the video receiver devices.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein storing the user defined identifiers associated with the equipment identifiers in the subscriber account comprises:

storing image-to-device associations between the images and the equipment identifiers of the video receiver devices;

determining from the image-to-device associations one of the equipment identifiers that is associated with the image selection data that is received in one of the messages from the mobile terminal; and

storing in the subscriber account the user defined identifier from the one of the messages logically associated with the equipment identifier determined from the image-to-device associations.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein receiving, at the video distribution equipment from the mobile terminal operated by the user, messages containing user defined identifiers that are associated with equipment identifiers of different ones of the video receiver devices further comprises:

receiving in each of the messages from the mobile terminal a picture of one of the images displayed through one of the video receiver devices and receiving the user defined identifier for the one of the video receiver devices.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein storing the user defined identifiers associated with the equipment identifiers in the subscriber account comprises:

storing image-to-device associations between the images and the video receiver devices;

determining from the image-to-device associations one of the equipment identifiers that is associated with the picture of one of the images that is received in one of the messages from the mobile terminal; and

storing in the subscriber account the user defined identifier from the one of the messages logically associated with the equipment identifier determined from the image-to-device associations.

10. The method of claim 5, wherein communicating images to the video receiver devices that are registered with the subscriber account comprises:

identifying equipment identifiers for the video receiver devices registered with the subscriber account;

associating a different one of the images with each the equipment identifiers; and

communicating the images and associated equipment identifiers to the video receiver devices.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein communicating the images and associated equipment identifiers to the video receiver devices comprises:

transcoding each of the images into a video stream to generate a plurality of video streams;

communicating the video streams to the video receiver devices, wherein each of the video streams are communicated using a different carrier frequency; and

communicating force tune commands containing the equipment identifiers of the video receiver devices to cause each of the video receiver devices to tune to a different one of the carrier frequencies to receive one of the video streams containing one of the images associated with the equipment identifier for the video receiver device.

12. Video distribution equipment that controls delivery of video programs to video receiver devices, the video distribution equipment is configured to:

receive messages from a mobile terminal containing user defined identifiers that are associated with equipment identifiers of different ones of the video receiver devices;

store the user defined identifiers associated with the equipment identifiers in a subscriber account; and

control delivery of video programs to the video receiver devices in response to commands received from the mobile terminal requesting delivery of identified video programs to identified ones of the user defined identifiers.

13. The video distribution equipment of claim 12, further configured to:

receive a command from the mobile terminal requesting delivery of one of the video programs to one of the user defined identifiers;

identify, from the subscriber account, one of the equipment identifiers that is associated with the one of the user defined identifiers; and

deliver the one of the video programs to one of the video receiver devices having the identified one of the equipment identifiers.

14. The video distribution equipment of claim 12, further configured to:

store image-to-device associations between the images and the equipment identifiers of the video receiver devices;

communicate the images to the mobile terminal for display to the user;

receive, in each of the messages from the mobile terminal, image selection data that identifies one of the images displayed on the mobile terminal that is selected by the user as corresponding to one of the images observed by the user through one of the video receiver devices and to receive the user defined identifier for the one of the video receiver devices;

determine from the image-to-device associations one of the equipment identifiers that is associated with the image selection data that is received in one of the messages from the mobile terminal; and

store in the subscriber account the user defined identifier from the one of the messages logically associated with the equipment identifier determined from the image-to-device associations.

15. The video distribution equipment of claim 12, further configured to:

store image-to-device associations between the images and the video receiver devices;

receive in each of the messages from the mobile terminal a picture of one of the images displayed through one of the video receiver devices and to receive the user defined identifier for the one of the video receiver devices;

determine from the image-to-device associations one of the equipment identifiers that is associated with the picture of one of the images that is received in one of the messages from the mobile terminal; and

store in the subscriber account the user defined identifier from the one of the messages logically associated with the equipment identifier determined from the image-to-device associations.

16. The video distribution equipment of claim 12, further configured to communicate images to the video receiver devices that are registered with the subscriber account by:

identifying equipment identifiers for the video receiver devices registered with the subscriber account;

associating a different one of the images with each the equipment identifiers; and

transcoding each of the images into a video stream to generate a plurality of video streams;

communicating the video streams to the video receiver devices, wherein each of the video streams are communicated using a different carrier frequency; and

communicating force tune commands containing the equipment identifiers of the video receiver devices to cause each of the video receiver devices to tune to a different one of the carrier frequencies to receive one of the video streams containing one of the images associated with the equipment identifier for the video receiver device.

17. A mobile terminal comprising:

a user interface that is configured to receive user defined identifiers for video receiver devices from a user;

a transceiver that is configured to communicate with video distribution equipment; and

a microprocessor that is configured to communicate, through the transceiver, commands containing the user defined identifiers for the video receiver devices to control delivery of video programs from the video distribution equipment to the video receiver devices.

18. The mobile terminal of claim 17, further comprising:

a camera device that is configured to scan an optical machine readable representation of an equipment identifier for one of the video receiver devices,

wherein the microprocessor is further configured to;

identify the equipment identifier from the optical machine readable representation of the equipment identifier;

receive one of the user defined identifiers through the input interface;

communicate to the video distribution equipment a message containing the equipment identifier and the received one of the user defined identifiers.

19. The mobile terminal of claim 17, further comprising:

a display device,

wherein the microprocessor is further configured to;

receive a plurality of images that are different from each other;

display the images on the display device;

receive through the user interface an image selection data that identifies one of the images displayed on the display device that has been selected by the user as corresponding to one of the images observed by the user through one of the video receiver devices;

receive through the user interface a user defined identifier for the one of the video receiver devices; and

communicate to the video distribution equipment a message containing the image selection data and the user defined identifier for the one of the video receiver devices.

20. The mobile terminal of claim 17, further comprising:

a camera device,

wherein the microprocessor is further configured to;

operate the camera device responsive to a command from the user to take a picture of an image that the video distribution equipment displays through one of the video receiver devices on a display device that is separate from the mobile terminal;

receive through the user interface a user defined identifier for the one of the video receiver devices; and

communicate to the video distribution equipment a message containing the picture of the image and the user defined identifier for the one of the video receiver devices.

21. The mobile terminal of claim 17, wherein the microprocessor is further configured to:

communicate a command to the video distribution equipment that contains the user defined identifier for one of the video receiver devices and an instruction for the video distribution equipment to redirect a video program that the video distribution equipment is communicating to one video receiver device to instead be communicated to another video receiver device that is associated with the user defined identifier.