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

• US 8,209,735 B2
• Filed: 04/11/2008
• Issued: 06/26/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: At Home Bondholders Liquidating Trust (At Home Corporation)
• Original Assignee: At Home Bondholders Liquidating Trust (At Home Corporation)
• Inventors: Gautier, Taylor S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kumar, Pankaj
• Assistant Examiner(s): MENGESHA, MULUGETA A
• Application Number:
  US12/101,923
• Publication Number:
  US 20080216146A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,537 Days
• Field of Search: 725 25- 30, 725/1, 725/100, 725/109, 725/110, 725/131, 725/139, 725/151
• US Class Current: 725/131
• 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 mapping two viewer accounts with one network account in a cable TV network, the method comprising:

creating a first viewer identity on a set-top box, the first viewer identity corresponding to a first set of services for a first IP-enabled device, wherein the first viewer identity stores first viewer preferences and access rights relating to the first IP-enabled device, and wherein the first viewer identity contains a unique identifier that is opaque to a subscriber, not known to the subscriber, and immutable;

creating a second viewer identity on a mobile phone, the second viewer identity having the unique identifier that is also contained in the first viewer identity, the second viewer identity corresponding to a second set of services for the mobile phone, wherein the second viewer identity stores second viewer preferences and access rights relating to the mobile phone;

creating a network identity containing the unique identifier that is in the first viewer identity and in the second viewer identity, data on one or more services provided by a cable operator, and a network record storing administrative and access rights of the subscriber;

mapping the first viewer identity with the network identity; and

mapping the second viewer identity with the network identity,

such that the first viewer identity and the second viewer identity map to the same network identity which belongs to one subscriber.

2. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the network identity contains a subscriber record containing billing and address data of the subscriber.

3. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the first viewer identity maps to the network identity using the unique identifier.

4. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the second viewer identity maps to the network identity using the unique identifier.

5. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the network identity has a network identifier that maps to the unique identifier in the first viewer identity and the second viewer identity.

6. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising generating the unique identifier on a network-side server.

7. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the first viewer preferences and the second viewer preferences include data that a viewer can change and that is an be stored by the cable operator.

8. A method of mapping two viewer accounts with one network account in a cable TV network, the method comprising:

creating a first viewer identity on a set-top box, the first viewer identity corresponding to a first set of services for a first IP-enabled device, wherein the first viewer identity stores first viewer preferences and access rights relating to the first IP-enabled device, and wherein the first viewer identity contains a unique identifier that is opaque to a subscriber, not known to the subscriber, and immutable;

creating a second viewer identity on a tablet computing device, the second viewer identity having the unique identifier that is also contained in the first viewer identity, the second viewer identity corresponding to a second set of services for the tablet computing device, wherein the second viewer identity stores second viewer preferences and access rights relating to the tablet computing device;

creating a network identity containing the unique identifier that is in the first viewer identity and in the second viewer identity, data on one or more services provided by a cable operator, and a network record storing administrative and access rights of the subscriber;

mapping the first viewer identity with the network identity; and

mapping the second viewer identity with the network identity,

such that the first viewer identity and the second viewer identity map to the same network identity which belongs to one subscriber.