Provision of TV ID to non-TV device to enable access to TV services

• US 8,458,741 B2
• Filed: 05/27/2010
• Issued: 06/04/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Xiong, True, Pedlow, Leo
• Primary Examiner(s): Zhong, Jun Fei
• Assistant Examiner(s): PIERORAZIO, MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US12/788,620
• Publication Number:
  US 20110296454A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,104 Days
• Field of Search: 725/30
• US Class Current: 725/30
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/10 File systems; File servers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9014 hash tables
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/00 Cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for secret or secure communications; Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2351 involving encryption of additional data arrangements using cryptography for the use of broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/23
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2541 Rights Management protecting software against unauthorised usage in a vending or licensing environment G06F21/10; security in data switching network management H04L41/28; security management or policies for network security H04L63/20; access security in wireless networks H04W12/08
• 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 21/426 Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42684 Client identification by a unique number or address, e.g. serial number, MAC address, socket ID network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming H04L61/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4353 involving decryption of additional data arrangements using cryptography for the use of broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/23
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43615 Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4627 Rights management associated to the content security in data switching network management H04L41/28; security management or policies for network security H04L63/20; access security in wireless networks H04W12/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• 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 21/6334 for authorisation, e.g. by transmitting a key wireless communications network key management H04W12/04; wireless communications network access security H04W12/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/64322 IP
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/50 Tuning indicators; Automatic tuning control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/106 for domestic distribution
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 by receiver means only
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/173 with two-way working, e.g. subscriber sending a programme selection signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17309 Transmission or handling of upstream communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 : Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17336 : Handling of requests in head-ends

Abstract

To permit non-TV CE devices to participate in a closed Internet Protocol television (IPTV) program, a non-TV CE device obtains a TV identification upon program registration which it subsequently uses to access content from the IPTV program.

Claims

1. Consumer electronic (CE) device that is not a television and without a TVID comprising:

display;

network interface;

processor controlling the display and communicating with a wide area network through the network interface;

the CE device that is not a television and without a TVID including a CE device identification including a CE device serial number;

the processor configured for executing instructions including;

prompting a user to register to use an Internet Protocol television (IPTV) program at least in part by entering a username and password;

wherein a TVID uniquely identifies a television and is formatted to indicate that a device is a television;

providing the username and password in a secure fashion to an auxiliary server, the processor sending a request including data unique to the CE device;

receiving from the auxiliary server, responsive to the auxiliary server verifying the data unique to the CE device, a virtual TVID, the virtual TVID being different from the CE device identification, the virtual TVID being formatted the same way as the TVID;

responsive to the verification of the CE device by the auxiliary server, receiving from the auxiliary server an encrypted string including the virtual TVID;

decrypting the encrypted string;

in response to determining that the CE device has a virtual TVID and responsive to user input indicating a desire to access the IPTV program, sending the virtual TVID to a management server to obtain a user token and service list, wherein at least a TVID or a virtual TVID is required by the management server to access the IPTV program;

in response to user selection from the server list, sending the user token to a content server that appears on the service list;

receiving a content list from the content server; and

providing a user interface on the display from which the user may select content from the content list to be played on the CE device.

2. The CE device of claim 1, wherein the data unique to the CE device includes a hash of a media access code (MAC) and a CE device serial number and is provided to the auxiliary server and further includes digital rights management (DRM) information and a security certificate of the CE device.

3. The CE device of claim 1, wherein the management server and auxiliary server are separate from each other.

4. The CE device of claim 1, wherein the management server and auxiliary server are consolidated together.

5. The CE device of claim 1, wherein the CE device is a personal computer.

6. The CE device of claim 1, wherein the CE device is a personal digital assistant (PDA).

7. The CE device of claim 1, wherein the CE device is a digital clock radio.