Video games on demand with anti-piracy security

• US 7,789,757 B2
• Filed: 09/22/2005
• Issued: 09/07/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Petronelli, Anthony, Gemelos, Steve
• Primary Examiner(s): Vo; Peter DungBa
• Assistant Examiner(s): Shah; Milap
• Application Number:
  US11/233,383
• Publication Number:
  US 20070066490A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,811 Days
• Field of Search: 463 40- 42, 725/25, 725/37, 725/100, 725/133
• US Class Current: 463/42
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/12 involving interaction between a plurality of game devices, e.g. transmisison or distribution systems protocols for networked virtual reality, networked games H04L29/06034
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/30 Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/338 using television networks
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/71 using secure communication between game devices and game servers, e.g. by encrypting game data or authenticating players
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/73 Authorising game programs or game devices, e.g. checking authenticity
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/77 involving data related to game devices or game servers, e.g. configuration data, software version or amount of memory
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/792 for payment purposes, e.g. monthly subscriptions
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/409 Data transfer via television network
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/532 using secure communication, e.g. by encryption, authentication
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5513 involving billing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/552 for downloading to client devices, e.g. using OS version, hardware or software profile of the client device
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/1235 with control of digital rights management [DRM]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/306 using TV related infrastructures external card used for payment with client device H04N21/4185
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• 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 21/4781 Games
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/64322 IP

Abstract

Systems, methods and computer-readable media are described for the automated payment, download over a network, installation on a set-top box, and play of console and online video games by user interaction with a controller-adapted set-top box. Security measures inhibit video game piracy.

Claims

1. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:

send a purchase order for a video game from a set-top box to a game-on-demand server connected to the set-top box via a secure network, wherein the game-on-demand server authenticates the purchase order;

receive the video game from the game-on-demand server at the set-top box; and

in response to a request from a subscriber to execute the video game at the set-top box, send an authorization request to the game-on-demand server;

receive a determination from the game-on-demand server indicating whether the set-top box is authorized to access an account of the subscriber; and

execute the video game at the set-top box when the determination indicates that the set-top box is authorized to access the account of the subscriber.

2. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein the set-top box comprises a database identifying recently played video games.

3. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 1, further comprising instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to store a state of a particular video game that is being played at the set-top box.

4. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 1, further comprising instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to retrieve a previously stored game.

5. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 1, further comprising instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to enable the set-top box to play the video game with a second set-top box via the secure network.

6. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 1, further comprising instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to send a message to the game-on-demand server to debit a particular amount from an account associated with the set-top box.

7. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 6, wherein the particular amount is associated with a sale of the video game that includes unlimited game play.

8. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 6, wherein the particular amount is associated with a rental of the video game, wherein the video game is unplayable after a pre-designated amount of time.

9. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 6, wherein the particular amount is associated with a pay-for-play session of the video game, wherein the video game is unplayable after the video game has been played for a substantially contiguous amount of time.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 1, further comprising instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:

receive digital rights management data associated with the video game from the game-on-demand server; and

manage digital rights associated with the video game based on the digital rights management data.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 10, further comprising instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to secure the video game from unauthorized access based on the digital rights management data.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 10, further comprising associating the digital rights management data with the set-top box.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein the digital rights management data prevents the video game from being played at a second set-top box.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein the digital rights for the video game are received from the game-on-demand server after the purchase order is authenticated, wherein the digital rights are associated with the set-top box that sent the purchase order.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein when the subscriber is associated with the purchase order, the set-top box is authorized to execute the video game.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein when the subscriber is different from a subscriber associated with the purchase order, the set-top box is not authorized to execute the video game.

17. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

receiving, at a game-on-demand server, an order for a video game from a set-top box, wherein the game-on-demand server is connected to the set-top box via a secure broadband network and wherein the video game is executable at the set-top box;

authenticating an identity of a subscriber associated with the set-top box;

determining whether the set-top box is authorized to receive the video game;

sending the video game from the game-on-demand server to the set-top box when the set-top box is authorized to receive the video game

receiving, at the game-on-demand server, an authorization request by the subscriber to execute the video game at the set-top box;

in response to receiving the authorization request determining whether the set-top box is authorized to access an account of the subscriber requesting execution of the video game; and

sending the determination to the set-top box, wherein the video game is executable at the set-top box when the determination indicates that the set-top box is authorized to access the account of the subscriber.

18. The non-transitory computer-implemented method of claim 17, further comprising automatically preventing the video game from executing at the set-top box after the occurrence of a pre-determined event.

19. The non-transitory computer-implemented method of claim 18, wherein the pre-determined event comprises an expiration of an authorization associated with the video game.

20. The non-transitory computer-implemented method of claim 19, wherein the authorization expires at a predetermined time after the video game is sent from the game-on-demand server to the set-top box.