Authorization systems, methods, and computer program products

• US 6,223,292 B1
• Filed: 07/15/1997
• Issued: 04/24/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Chen, Ling Tony, Dean, Dawson F., Klemets, Anders Edgar, Chaddha, Navin, Wang, Edward Yan-Bing
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Tanh Q.
• Application Number:
  US08/893,293
• Time in Patent Office: 1,379 Days
• Field of Search: 395/188.01, 395/187, 395/200.61, 395/725, 395/200.33, 713/200, 713/201, 713/202, 713/203, 380/23, 380/25, 709/217, 709/218, 709/219, 709/220, 709/231
• US Class Current: 726/28
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/31 User authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26216 involving the channel capacity, e.g. network bandwidth admission control, resource allocation in open networks H04L12/5692; flow control in packet networks H04L47/10; establishing a schedule or organising the servicing of application requests taking into account QoS H04L67/61
• 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 21/6125 involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8586 by using a URL processing chained hypermedia data for information retrieval G06F16/94; information retrieval from the Internet by using URLs G06F16/955; URL in broadcast information H04H20/93; Web-based protocols H04L67/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17336 Handling of requests in head-ends

Abstract

Authorization methods, systems and computer program products ensure that user media streaming requests are implemented to access unmodified original content. Authorization and data collection follow a user streaming request to a media server, including comparison of user password with a remote password maintenance authority, followed by decryption and descrambling of content pursuant to password clearance. Streaming and media content recording are monitored to ensure compliance with bandwidth and stream number policies for all and specific clients. Users are provided with service levels at least at the level of predetermined status.

Claims

1. A method for authenticating a user requesting a media streaming performance with a server, said user having a password, said method comprising:

receiving, by the server, said password for said user;

transmitting, by the server, said password to a remote password authentication authority, wherein the remote password authentication authority authenticates said user based on said password;

receiving, by the server, a password authentication notice for said user from the remote password authentication authority;

determining a media streaming performance service level for said user from among a number of different media streaming performance service levels based on said password of said user; and

determining if a higher media streaming performance service level than the media streaming performance service level for said user is available.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising decrypting streaming data received pursuant to password authentication.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising descrambling streaming data received pursuant to password authentication.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising providing password notice to the user upon determining a bandwidth quota has been satisfied.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising providing password notice to the user upon determining a stream quota has been satisfied.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising transmitting a user password to a media server having media content configured for streaming presentation in a presentation window associated with a web browser.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising transmitting the password which has been encrypted.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising changing the media streaming performance service level for said user to the higher media streaming performance service level upon determining the higher media streaming performance service level is available.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising resetting the media streaming performance service level for said user to a lower media streaming performance service level in response to another user requesting multimedia services from the server, wherein the another user has a higher status than said user.

8. A method of providing secure multimedia services from a media server receiving a streaming request from a user having a password belonging to a group of passwords associated with a number of different media streaming performance service levels, said method comprising:

receiving a user stream request and the password from a user;

evaluating the password to identify whether to comply with the user stream request and to determine a media streaming performance service level for the user from among the number of different media streaming performance levels based on the password; and

determining if a higher media streaming performance service level than the media streaming performance service level for said user is available.

9. The method according to claim 8, including providing the user with a higher media streaming performance service level than the media streaming performance service level established by the password.

10. The method according to claim 8, including providing the user with media streaming performance services corresponding to a predetermined number of well-formed channels.

11. The method according to claim 8, wherein the number of different media streaming performance service levels correspond to a number of different bandwidths.

12. The method according to claim 8, wherein the number of different media streaming performance service levels correspond to a number of different frame rates.

13. The method according to claim 8, wherein the number of different media streaming performance service levels correspond to a number of different resolutions.

14. The method according to claim 8, wherein the number of different media streaming performance service levels correspond to a number of different frame sizes.

19. The method of claim 8, further comprising resetting the media streaming performance service level for said user to a lower media streaming performance service level in response to another user requesting multimedia services from the server, wherein the another user has a higher status than said user.

15. A method of providing secure multimedia services from a media server receiving a streaming request from a user having a password belonging to a group of passwords associated with different media streaming performance service levels, said method comprising:

receiving a user stream request and the password from the user;

evaluating the password to identify whether to comply with the user stream request and to determine a media streaming performance service level for the user from among the number of different media streaming performance service levels, wherein the media streaming performance service level is higher than a predetermined entitlement associated with the password.

16. A method of providing secure multimedia services from a media server receiving a streaming request from a first user having a password belonging to a group of passwords associated with different service levels, said method comprising:

receiving a first user stream request and the password from the first user;

evaluating the password to identifying whether to comply with the first user stream request and to determine a service level for the first user from among the number of different service levels, wherein the service level is higher than a predetermined entitlement associated with the password; and

resetting the service level for the first user to a lower service level in response to a second user requesting multimedia services from the media server, wherein the second user has a higher status than the first user.

29. The method of claim 16, wherein the number of different service levels correspond to a number of different frame rates.

30. The method of claim 16, wherein the number of different service levels correspond to a number of different resolutions.

31. The method of claim 16, wherein the number of different service levels correspond to a number of different frame sizes.

20. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for authenticating a user requesting a media streaming performance with a server, said user having a password, the instructions, causing a computer to implement a method comprising:

receiving, by the server, said password from said user;

transmitting, by the server, said password to a remote password authentication authority, wherein the remote password authentication authority authenticates said user based on said password;

receiving, by the server, a password authentication notice for said user from the remote password authentication authority;

determining a media streaming performance service level for said user from among a number of different media streaming performance service levels based on said password of said user; and

determining if a higher media streaming performance service level than the media streaming performance service level for said user is available.

21. The computer-readable medium of claim 20, wherein the method further comprises changing the media streaming performance service level for said user to the higher media streaming performance service level upon determining the higher media streaming performance service level is available.

22. The computer-readable medium of claim 20, wherein the method further comprises resetting the media streaming performance service level for said user to a lower media streaming performance service level in response to another user requesting multimedia services from the server, wherein the another user has a higher status than said user.

23. The computer-readable medium of claim 20, wherein the method further comprises providing the user with media streaming performance services corresponding to a predetermined number of well-formed channels.

24. The computer-readable medium of claim 20, wherein the number of different media streaming performance service levels correspond to a number of different bandwidths.

25. The computer-readable medium of claim 20, wherein the number of different media streaming performance service levels correspond to a number of different frame rates.

26. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions causing a computer to implement a method comprising;

receiving a user stream request and a password from a user; and

evaluating the password to identify whether to comply with the user stream request and to determine a media streaming performance service level for the user from among the number of different media streaming performance service levels based on the password; and

determining if a higher media streaming performance service level than the media streaming performance service level for said user is available.

27. The computer-readable medium of claim 26, wherein the method further comprises changing the media streaming performance service level for said user to the higher media streaming performance service level upon determining the higher media streaming performance service level is available.

28. The computer-readable medium of claim 26, wherein the method further comprises resetting the media streaming performance service level for said user to a lower media streaming performance service level in response to another user requesting multimedia services from a server, wherein the another user has a higher status than said user.

32. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions providing secure multimedia services from a media server receiving a streaming request from a first user having a password belonging to a group of passwords associated with different service levels, the instructions, causing a computer to implement a method comprising:

receiving a first user stream request and the password from the first user;

evaluating the password to identify whether to comply with the first user stream request and to determine a service level for the first user from among the number of different service levels, wherein the service level is higher than a predetermined entitlement associated with the password; and

resetting the service level for the first user to a lower service level in response to a second user requesting multimedia services from the media server, wherein the second user has a higher status than the first user.

33. The computer-readable medium of claim 32, wherein the method further comprises providing the user with streaming services corresponding to a predetermined number of well-formed channels.

34. The computer-readable medium of claim 32, wherein the number of different service levels correspond to a number of different resolutions.

35. The computer-readable medium of claim 32, wherein the number of different service levels correspond to a number of different frame sizes.