Methods and apparatus to conditionally authorize content delivery at content servers in pay delivery systems

• US 8,095,466 B2
• Filed: 05/15/2006
• Issued: 01/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DIRECTV, LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kahn, Raynold M., Dulac, Stephen P., Basse, Hanno, Klauss, Peter M., Kidd, Deanna R., Popoli, Maria G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Elisca, Pierre E
• Application Number:
  US11/434,538
• Publication Number:
  US 20070265968A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,066 Days
• Field of Search: 725/39, 725/48, 345/327, 348/465, 705/51, 705/57, 705/59, 705/64
• US Class Current: 705/51
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/382 insuring higher security of transaction
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions

Abstract

Methods and apparatus to conditionally authorize content delivery at content servers in pay delivery systems are disclosed. An example method comprises receiving an authorization for a program download, receiving a request to download the program from a receiver, wherein the receiver is configured to receive a broadcast signal, and transmitting the program to the receiver via point-to-point communication signal.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving at a content delivery network an authorization from a satellite broadcast system headend to download a first program to a receiver, wherein the receiver is programmed to receive a satellite broadcast signal including a second program and a list of available programs from the satellite broadcast system headend via a satellite communication path and wherein the first program was selected from the list of available programs received from the satellite broadcast signal and the selection was transmitted to the satellite broadcast system headend;

receiving at the content delivery network a request for the first program; and

transmitting the first program from the content delivery network to the receiver via a terrestrial communication path in response to the request.

2. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein transmitting the first program to the receiver via the terrestrial communication path comprises transmitting an electrical signal via a wired communication link.

3. A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an encryption secret; and

encrypting the first program with the encryption secret.

4. A method as defined in claim 3, wherein the authorization includes the encryption secret.

5. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the authorization is signed, and wherein the authorization is received from the satellite broadcast system headend via the receiver.

6. A method as defined in claim 5, wherein the signature is used to verify the authorization.

7. A method as defined in claim 5, wherein the signature may be verified with at least one of a secret key or a public checking key.

8. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the satellite broadcast signal is receivable by one or more additional receivers, and the first program is transmitted to the receiver via the terrestrial communication path as an Internet protocol (IP) based signal.

9. A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising receiving a file containing encrypted data packets that represent the first program.

10. A method as defined in claim 9, wherein transmitting the first program comprises transmitting Internet protocol (IP) packets each containing at least one of the encrypted data packets.

11. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the authorization expires.

12. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the authorization includes at least one of a timestamp or a changing number received by the receiver via the satellite broadcast signal.

13. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the request is cryptographically enhanced.

14. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein cryptographically enhancing the request comprises scrambling the request with an Internet protocol (IP) address.

15. An article of manufacture storing machine readable instructions which, when executed by a machine, cause the machine to at least:

receive an asset download authorization from a satellite broadcast system headend at a content delivery network;

receive a request to download a first asset from a receiver at the content delivery network, wherein the receiver station is configured to receive a satellite broadcast signal including a second asset and a list of available assets from the satellite broadcast system headend via a satellite communication link and wherein the first asset is selected from the list of available assets received from the satellite broadcast signal; and

transmit the first asset from the content delivery network to the receiver via a terrestrial communication link in response to the request.

16. An article of manufacture as defined in claim 15, wherein the machine readable instructions, when executed, cause the machine to transmit the first asset to the receiver via the terrestrial communication link by transmitting an electrical signal via a wired communication link.

17. An article of manufacture as defined in claim 15, wherein the machine readable instructions, when executed, cause the machine to:

receive an encryption secret; and

encrypt the first asset with the encryption secret.

18. An article of manufacture as defined in claim 17, wherein the authorization includes the encryption secret.

19. An article of manufacture as defined in claim 15, wherein the authorization is signed, and wherein the authorization is received from the satellite broadcast system headend via the receiver.

20. An article of manufacture as defined in claim 19, wherein the signature is used to verify the authorization.

21. An article of manufacture as defined in claim 15, wherein the satellite broadcast signal is receivable by one or more additional receivers, and wherein the machine readable instructions, when executed, cause the machine to transmit the first asset to the receiver via the terrestrial communication link as an Internet protocol (IP) based signal.

22. An article of manufacture as defined in claim 15, wherein the machine readable instructions, when executed, cause the machine to receive a file containing encrypted data packets that represent the first asset.

23. An article of manufacture as defined in claim 22, wherein the machine readable instructions, when executed, cause the machine to transmit the first asset as Internet protocol (IP) packets each containing at least one of the encrypted data packets.

24. An apparatus comprising:

a storage device to store a first asset; and

an interface to receive a download authorization at a content delivery network from a satellite broadcast system headend, to receive a download request from a receiver at the content delivery network, and to transmit the first asset from the content delivery network to the receiver via a terrestrial communication network in response to the request, wherein the receiver is programmed to receive a satellite broadcast signal including a second asset and a list of available assets from the satellite broadcast system headend via a satellite communication path and wherein the first asset is selected from the list of available assets received from the satellite broadcast signal.

25. An apparatus as defined in claim 24, wherein the satellite broadcast signal is receivable by one or more additional receivers;

and the first asset is transmitted to the receiver via the terrestrial communication network as an Internet protocol (IP) based signal.

26. An apparatus as defined in claim 25, wherein the IP based signal is addressed to the receiver.

27. An apparatus as defined in claim 24, wherein the apparatus is to:

receive an encryption secret, wherein the authorization includes the encryption secret; and

encrypt the first asset file with the encryption secret.

28. An apparatus as defined in claim 24, wherein the authorization is signed, wherein the authorization is received from the satellite broadcast system headend via the receiver, and wherein the signature is used to verify the authorization.

29. An apparatus as defined in claim 24, wherein the first asset contains encrypted data packets that represent a program.

30. An apparatus as defined in claim 24, wherein transmitting the first asset comprises transmitting Internet protocol (IP) packets each containing at least one of the encrypted data packets.