HDTV subscriber verification

• US 8,087,058 B2
• Filed: 01/19/2004
• Issued: 12/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TiVo Corporation (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Comcast Cable Holdings LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Inventors: Cohen, Andrew D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kumar, Pankaj
• Assistant Examiner(s): BAIG, SAHAR A
• Application Number:
  US10/761,108
• Publication Number:
  US 20050160471A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,899 Days
• Field of Search: 725/68, 725/70, 725/82, 725/85, 725/116, 725/131
• US Class Current: 725/116
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25825 involving client display capabilities, e.g. screen resolution of a mobile phone optimising the visualisation of content during browsing in the Internet G06F16/9577; processing of terminal status or physical abilities in wireless networks H04W8/22; authentication in wireless network security H04W12/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4112 having fewer capabilities than the client, e.g. thin client having less processing power or no tuning capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/441 Acquiring end-user identification , e.g. using personal code sent by the remote control or by inserting a card
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4516 involving client characteristics, e.g. Set-Top-Box type, software version or amount of memory available
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6582 Data stored in the client, e.g. viewing habits, hardware capabilities, credit card number arrangements where receivers interact with the broadcast H04H20/38
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17309 Transmission or handling of upstream communications

Abstract

A system for providing television (TV) service including high definition television (HDTV) service, and for providing verification that a subscriber has connected an HDTV to the system includes a TV service provider headend and a set top box (STB). The HDTV may have an HDTV digital video interface (DVI) interconnect. The STB may be electrically coupled to the headend and have an STB DVI interconnect. When the HDTV DVI interconnect is initially electrically coupled to the STB DVI interconnect, the HDTV generally presents a data signal to the STB and the STB generally presents the data signal to the headend.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a high definition television (HDTV) comprising an interconnect; and

a video receiving device configured to be coupled to a video service provider headend and comprising an interconnect, wherein the video receiving device and the HDTV are configured such that responsive to the interconnect of the HDTV being initially electrically coupled to the interconnect of the video receiving device, the HDTV presents a data signal to the video receiving device, the video receiving device determines whether the HDTV is in fact an HDTV, and responsive to determining that the HDTV is an HDTV, the video receiving device presents the data signal to the headend,

wherein the video receiving device is further configured to, responsive to determining that the HDTV is not an HDTV, refrain from presenting the data signal to the headend.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the service provider headend is at least one of a cable television provider headend and a satellite television headend.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the headend is coupled to the video receiving device via a network, and the network comprises hybrid fiber coaxial cable.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the video receiving device comprises a set top box (STB).

4. A method, comprising:

coupling a video receiving device to a service provider headend, wherein the video receiving device has an interconnect;

responsive to a video viewing device being initially electrically coupled to the interconnect of the video receiving device, the video viewing device presenting a data signal to the interconnect of the video receiving device;

responsive to the video receiving device receiving the data signal, the video receiving device determining whether the video viewing device is a high-definition television (HDTV);

responsive to determining that the video viewing device is an HDTV, the video receiving device sending the data signal to the service provider headend; and

responsive to determining that the video viewing device is not an HDTV, the video receiving device refraining from sending the data signal to the service provider headend.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the service provider headend is at least one of a cable television provider headend and a satellite television provider headend.

6. The method of claim 4 further comprising coupling the video receiving device to the headend via a network, the network comprising hybrid fiber coaxial cable.

7. A television receiving device configured to verify that a high-definition television (HDTV) has been coupled to the television receiving device, the HDTV having an HDTV digital video interface (DVI) interconnect, the television receiving device comprising a DVI interconnect, wherein the television receiving device is configured to be electrically coupled to a headend, the television receiving device and the HDTV being further configured such that responsive to the HDTV being initially electrically coupled to the television receiving device, the HDTV DVI interconnect presents a data signal to the DVI interconnect of the television receiving device, the television receiving device determines whether the HDTV is in fact an HDTV, and if so, the television receiving device sends the data signal to the headend,

the television receiving device being further configured to, responsive to determining that the HDTV is not an HDTV, refrain from sending the data signal to the headend.

14. The television receiving device of claim 7, wherein the television receiving device comprises a set top box (STB).

8. An apparatus, comprising:

an interconnect;

a receiver; and

a transmitter,

the apparatus being configured to receive via the receiver a video signal from a service provider, to receive a data signal from the interconnect, and, responsive to receiving the data signal from the interconnect, to determine whether the data signal is generated by a high-definition television (HDTV) and, if so, to transmit via the transmitter the data signal to the service provider,

wherein the apparatus is further configured to, responsive to determining that the data signal is not generated by a high-definition television (HDTV), refrain from transmitting via the transmitter the data signal to the service provider.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the data signal represents a manufacturer of a high-definition television device connected to the interconnect.

15. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the apparatus comprises a set top box (STB).

10. A method, comprising:

receiving at a receiver a video signal from a service provider;

receiving a data signal at an interconnect of the receiver;

responsive to receiving the data signal at the interconnect, the receiver determining whether the data signal is generated by a high-definition television (HDTV);

responsive to determining that the data signal is generated by an HDTV, the receiver presenting the data signal to the video service provider; and

responsive to determining that the data signal is not generated by an HDTV, the receiver refraining from presenting the data signal to the video service provider.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the data signal represents a manufacturer of the HDTV.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the data signal represents a model of the HDTV.