Automatic identification of a set-top box user to a network

• US 6,618,858 B1
• Filed: 05/11/2000
• Issued: 09/09/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: At Home Bondholders Liquidating Trust (At Home Corporation)
• Original Assignee: At Home Corporation
• Inventors: Gautier, Taylor S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lim, Krisna
• Application Number:
  US09/569,967
• Time in Patent Office: 1,216 Days
• Field of Search: 725/2, 725/111, 725/112, 725/131, 725/132, 725/134, 725/141, 725/139, 709/217, 709/245
• US Class Current: 725/132
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• 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 21/4381 Recovering the multiplex stream from a specific network, e.g. recovering MPEG packets from ATM cells transmission of MPEG streams over ATM H04L12/5601
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4782 Web browsing , e.g. WebTV
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4786 e-mailing message switching systems, e.g. electronic mail systems H04L51/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4788 communicating with other users, e.g. chatting arrangements for providing for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms, to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1813; distributed application using peer-to-peer [P2P] networks H04L67/104
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/64322 IP
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 by receiver means only
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

Methods, apparatus, and computer-readable media are disclosed for enabling a user of data services over a network to automatically register for such services by plugging in a set-top box, such as an advanced set-top box, or other IP clients such as a Web pad, and entering certain information through a member services screen. The invention also allows a user to have several accounts distributed over several set-top boxes or IP clients and have all accounts map to a single network identity. That is, it allows a user to have multiple viewer identities for different purposes yet have all of them map back to a single network identity for that user.

Claims

1. A method of automatically registering a set-top box in a network comprising:

creating a first data record and a registration code wherein the first data record contains data relating to a user;

establishing IP connectivity between the set-top box and an operator wherein connectivity is indicated by presenting a data input screen to the user;

generating a unique user identifier that resides on the set-top box; and

binding the set-top box and a network account that resides on a network-server side of the network such that the unique user identifier is associated with the network account.

2. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the unique user identifier is generated on the network-server side of the network and is not known to the user.

3. A method as recited in claim 2 wherein the unique user identifier is unperceptible to the user and is immutable by the user.

4. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising providing a second set of data relating to the user to the network-server side of the network through the data input screen.

5. A method as recited in claim 4 wherein binding the set-top box and a network account further comprises comparing the first set of data in the first data record with the second set of data.

6. A method as recited in claim 5 further comprising retrieving the first set of data using the registration code.

7. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising enabling access to network services upon successful completion of binding the set-top box and a network account.

8. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising mapping the user with the network account using the unique user identifier.

9. A method as recited in claim 8 wherein the network account contains a network identifier that maps to the unique user identifier.

10. A method as recited in claim 9 further comprising creating a user identity on the set-top box upon successful completion of binding the set-top box and a network account.

11. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the set-top box is an IP client.

12. A method as recited in claim 11 wherein the IP client includes a personal digital assistant device, a Web pad, a Web appliance, and a cellular telephone capable of establishing IP connectivity.

13. A method of maintaining multiple accounts associated with a single entity oil multiple IP clients comprising:

creating a first viewer account containing a first set of information on a first IP client wherein the first viewer account contains a first unique identity and belongs to a user;

creating a second viewer account containing a second set of information on a second IP client wherein the second viewer account contains the first unique identity and belongs to the user;

mapping the first viewer account and the second viewer account to a single network account wherein the network account contains a network identity that is associated with the first unique identity.

14. A method as recited in claim 13 wherein the first viewer account and the second viewer account are on the first IP client.

15. A method as recited in claim 14 wherein the IP client is one of a cable modem and an advanced set-top box.

16. A method as recited in claim 13 wherein the first set of information and tile second set of information contain user preferences, access rights, and management rights.

17. A method as recited in claim 16 wherein the first set of information belonging to the user is different from the second set of information also belonging to the user.

18. A method as recited in claim 15 further comprising establishing communication between an IP client and an operator using the first unique identity and the network identity.

19. A method as recited in claim 13 wherein the network identity contains the first unique identity that links to a network-side set of information that corresponds to the first set of information on the first IP client.

20. A method as recited in claim 19 further comprising linking the network identity to one or more data services including email, chat, and wallet services.

21. A method as recited in claim 13 wherein the IP client is one of a personal digital assistant device, a Web pad, a cellular phone capable of establishing IP connectivity, and a Web appliance.

22. A computer-readable medium containing programmed instructions arranged to maintain multiple accounts associated with a single entity on multiple IP clients, the computer-readable medium including programmed instructions for:

creating a first viewer account containing a first set of information on a first IP client wherein the first viewer account contains a first unique identity and belongs to a user;

creating a second viewer account containing a second set of information on a second IP client wherein the second viewer account contains the first unique identity and belongs to the user;

mapping the first viewer account and the second viewer account to a single network account wherein the network account contains a network identity that is associated with the first unique identity.

23. A computer-readable medium containing programmed instructions arranged to automatically register a set-top box in a network, the computer-readable medium including programmed instructions for:

creating a first data record and a registration code wherein the first data record contains data relating to a user;

establishing IP connectivity between the set-top box and an operator wherein connectivity is indicated by presenting a data input screen to the user;

generating a unique user identifier that resides on the set-top box; and

binding the set-top box and a network account that resides on a network-server side of the network such that the unique user identifier is associated with the network account.