System and method of authorizing a set top box device in an internet protocol television system

• US 7,631,325 B2
• Filed: 11/02/2005
• Issued: 12/08/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Chow, Lee M., Rys, Stephen, Klein, Adam Lee
• Primary Examiner(s): Kelley; Christopher
• Assistant Examiner(s): Baig; Sahar A
• Application Number:
  US11/265,785
• Publication Number:
  US 20070097860A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,497 Days
• Field of Search: 725/1, 725/2, 725/5, 709/224, 709/225, 709/219
• US Class Current: 725/25
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0213 Standardised network management protocols, e.g. simple network management protocol [SNMP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/00 Arrangements for monitoring or testing data switching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0823 using certificates cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving certificates H04L9/3263
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2662 Controlling the complexity of the video stream, e.g. by scaling the resolution or bitrate of the video stream based on the client capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4532 involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6581 Reference data, e.g. a movie identifier for ordering a movie or a product identifier in a home shopping application

Abstract

A method of authorizing use of a network device is disclosed and includes receiving an internet protocol (IP) address from the network device and receiving an identification from the network device. The method also includes retrieving information that is associated with an account based on the IP address and determining whether the IP address and the identification are associated with a same account. Further, the method includes allowing service to the network device after determining that the IP address and the identification are associated with the same account.

Claims

1. A method of authorizing use of a network device, the method comprising:

receiving, at a server of a network, an internet protocol (IP) address from the network device, wherein the received IP address indicates a location of the network device;

receiving, at the server of the network, a device identification from the network device, wherein the device identification identifies a set top box coupled to the network device;

retrieving information associated with an account based on the IP address;

determining whether the IP address and the device identification are associated with a same account;

allowing service to the network device after determining that the IP address and the device identification are associated with the same account;

determining whether an order is pending for the account, after determining that the IP address and the device identification are not associated with the same account;

determining whether a make and model of the set top box match an order for the account after determining that the order is pending for the account, wherein the make and model of the network device are determined at least partially based on the device identification received from the network device;

blocking service to the set top box after determining that the make and model of the set top box do not match the order; and

storing the device identification with the account and providing service to the set top box after determining that the make and model of the set top box match the order.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the information associated with the account includes at least one of the following:

an account number, an order, and a physical address.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the network device is a set top box that is configured to receive television services.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the network device is a Voice over IP telephone that is configured to receive telephone services.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the network device is a residential gateway that is configured to receive Internet services.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting a power up event to a remote logging module, wherein the power up event indicates that the network device is authorized and wherein the power up event is logged at a remote logging module with a time and date stamp.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the network device is a modem or a residential gateway.

7. A server, comprising:

a memory accessible to a processor; and

a computer program embedded within the memory, wherein the computer program includes;

instructions to receive an internet protocol (IP) address from a network device, wherein the received IP address indicates a location of the network device;

instructions to receive a device identification from the network device, wherein the device identification identifies a set top box coupled to the network device;

instructions to retrieve information associated with an account based on the IP address;

instructions to determine whether the IP address and the device identification are associated with a same account; and

instructions to allow service to the network device after determining that the IP address and the device identification are associated with the same account;

instructions to determine whether an order is pending for the account after determining that the IP address and the device identification are not associated with the same account;

instructions to determine whether a make and model of the set top box match an order for the account after determining that the order is pending for the account;

instructions to block service to the set top box after determining that the make and model of the set top box do not match the order; and

instructions to store the device identification with the account and to allow service to the set top box after determining that the make and model of the set top box match the order.

9. The server of claim 7, wherein the network device is a modem or a residential gateway.