Method and apparatus for managing personal identification numbers in interactive information distribution system

• US 6,163,272 A
• Filed: 10/25/1996
• Issued: 12/19/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Comcast IP Holdings I LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Original Assignee: DIVA Systems Corporation
• Inventors: McDevitt, F. Ray, Goode, Christopher, Thomas, Philip A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Horabik, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): Asongwed, Anthony A.
• Application Number:
  US08/738,343
• Time in Patent Office: 1,516 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.34, 340/825.31, 340/825.32, 340/541, 340/825.3, 235/382, 235/380, 238/375, 348/5.5, 348/10
• US Class Current: 725/30
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6218 to a system of files or objects, e.g. local or distributed file system or database
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2113 Multi-level security, e.g. mandatory access control
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/33 by means of a password
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17354 in an intermediate station common to a plurality of user terminals

Abstract

A method and apparatus for managing the personal identification numbers of customers as well as customer authorization access to an interactive information distribution system. The apparatus comprises an interactive session manager containing a central processing unit that is programmed to implement the method includes. The method of the present invention is a personal identification number (PIN) assignment routine for assigning various types of PINs to various customers of the information distribution system. The method also includes an access authorization routine for restricting access to only those customers with authorized access to particular services.

Claims

1. A method of assigning personal identification numbers to set top terminals within an interactive video on demand system, said interactive video on demand system comprising an information server including a memory and coupled to a plurality of set top terminals via a communications network, said interactive video on demand system providing video streams to said set top terminals via said communications network, said method comprising the steps of:

assigning, in response to subscriber interaction, one of a restricted and unrestricted level of video stream access for a set top terminal associated with said interacting subscriber;

storing, in said information server memory, indicia of said assigned video stream access level for said set top terminal associated with said interacting subscriber, said unrestricted level of video stream access being associated with the set top terminal of an interacting subscriber entitled to immediately receive any unrestricted video stream upon request, said restricted level of information access being associated with the set top terminal of an interacting subscriber entitled to immediately receive a restricted portion of said unrestricted video streams upon request; and

assigning, in the case of said set top terminal associated with said interacting subscriber having a restricted level of information access, a restricted personal identification number (PIN) to said set top terminal associated with said interacting subscriber and defining parameters that provide defined access to said interactive information distribution system.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:

defining, in the case of said set top terminal associated with said interacting subscriber having a restricted level of information access, sub-account parameters that provide defined access to said interactive information distribution system for a sub-account PIN.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said parameters and said sub-account parameters are program rating codes.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein said default parameters restrict access based upon program content, spending, and time of day.

5. The method of claim 2 wherein said sub-account parameters restrict access based upon a sub-account PIN, program content, spending, and time of day.

6. Apparatus for assigning personal identification numbers to set top terminals within an interactive video on demand system, said interactive video on demand system comprising an information server coupled to a plurality of set top terminals via a communications network, said interactive video on demand system providing video streams to said set top terminals via said communications network, said apparatus comprising:

a controller, for interacting with a subscriber via said communications network, and for assigning one of a restricted and unrestricted level of video stream access for a set top terminal associated with said interacting subscriber, said unrestricted level of video stream access being associated with the set top terminal of an interacting subscriber entitled to immediately receive any unrestricted information upon request, said restricted level of information access being associated with the set top terminal of an interacting subscriber entitled to immediately receive a restricted portion of said unrestricted video streams upon request; and

memory, coupled to said controller, for storing indicia of said assigned level for said set top terminal associated with said interacting subscriber;

said controller assigning, in the case of said set top terminal associated with said interacting subscriber having a restricted level of information access, a restricted personal identification number (PIN) to said set top terminal associated with said interacting subscriber and defining parameters that provide defined access to said interactive information distribution system.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein:

said controller defines sub-account parameters that provide defined access to said interactive video on demand system for a sub-account PIN if said selected authorization type is restricted.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said parameters and said sub-account parameters are program rating codes.