Method and interface for video content acquisition security on a set-top box

• US 8,584,257 B2
• Filed: 08/10/2004
• Issued: 11/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sbc Knowledge Ventures, L.P.
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kortum, Philip Ted, Sullivan, Marc Andrew, Cansler, James L. Jr., Williams, Alyssa Lenorah Noll
• Primary Examiner(s): Orgad, Edan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Le, Canh
• Application Number:
  US10/915,683
• Publication Number:
  US 20060037083A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,381 Days
• Field of Search: 726 26- 30, 726/4, 726 1- 2, 726/21, 380/241, 380/380, 713182-184, 725 1- 2, 725 25- 30, 705/50, 705/64, 705/26
• US Class Current: 726/28
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4325 by playing back content from the storage medium reproduction of recorded television signals H04N5/76; reproduction of recorded television signals H04N9/79
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4334 Recording operations recording of a television signal H04N5/76; arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44213 Monitoring of end-user related data arrangements for monitoring the users' behaviour or opinions in broadcast systems H04H60/33
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4542 Blocking scenes or portions of the received content, e.g. censoring scenes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/475 End-user interface for inputting end-user data, e.g. personal identification number [PIN], preference data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/1675 Providing digital key or authorisation information for generation or regeneration of the scrambling sequence pseudo-random number generators in general G06F7/58
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

A method of providing access to downloadable protected video content includes providing parental controls. The parental controls include a parental control password. Purchase controls are also provided and include a purchase control password. The purchase control password is different from the parental control password. Further, protected video content is downloaded and stored to a memory within a set top box when both the parental controls and the purchase controls are satisfied. A number of attempts to correctly input the parental control password or the purchase control password are monitored. When the number of attempts for either password exceeds a predetermined threshold, a user is prevented from further attempts to input the respective password. Moreover, the attempt to download protected video content is canceled, and further downloads of protected video content are prevented for a predetermined time period.

Claims

1. A computer readable storage device including processor-executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations including:

receiving a request for protected digital video content associated with a user account;

determining whether security controls associated with the user account are active, wherein the security controls include parental controls, purchase controls, or a combination thereof;

initiating a first download of the protected digital video content without streaming in response to determining that the security controls are not active;

determining whether the parental controls are active in response to determining that the security controls are active;

determining whether the purchase controls are active in response to determining that the parental controls are not active;

determining whether a rating associated with the protected digital video content exceeds a rating limit in response to determining that the parental controls are active;

determining whether the purchase controls are active in response to determining that the rating associated with the protected digital video content does not exceed the rating limit;

initiating a first prompt requesting a parental control password in response to determining that the rating associated with the protected digital video content exceeds the rating limit;

receiving a first parental password entry in response to the first prompt;

determining whether the first parental password entry is a correct parental control password;

in response to determining that the first parental password entry is the correct parental control password and a determination that a number of attempts to enter the correct parental control password does not exceed a first entry limit, determining whether the purchase controls are active;

determining whether a spending limit associated with the user account has been reached in response to determining that the purchase controls are active;

initiating a second prompt requesting a purchase control password in response to determining that the spending limit has not been reached;

receiving a first purchase control password entry in response to the second prompt;

determining whether the first purchase control password entry is a correct purchase control password;

in response to determining that the first purchase control password entry is the correct purchase control password and a determination that a number of attempts to enter the correct purchase control password does not exceed a second entry limit, initiating a second download of the protected digital video content without streaming the protected digital video content;

in response to downloading the protected digital video content, storing the downloaded protected digital video content at a memory of a set top box and locking the downloaded protected digital video content after the downloaded protected digital video content is stored at the memory;

detecting an attempt to access the downloaded protected digital video content after the protected video content is locked;

in response to detecting the attempt to access the downloaded protected digital video content that is locked, determining whether the rating associated with the downloaded protected digital video content exceeds the rating limit;

in response to a determination that the rating associated with the downloaded protected digital video content exceeds the rating limit, initiating a third prompt requesting the parental control password;

receiving a second parental password entry in response to the third prompt;

determining whether the second parental password entry is the correct parental control password; and

in response to determining that the second parental password entry is the correct parental control password, unlocking the downloaded protected digital video content, wherein the parental control password is different from the purchase control password.

2. The computer readable storage device of claim 1, wherein the operations further include prohibiting protected digital video content downloads for a time period in response to a determination that the spending limit associated with the user account has been reached.

3. The computer readable storage device of claim 1, wherein the operations further include:

detecting the number of attempts to input the correct purchase control password; and

determining whether the number of attempts to input the correct purchase control password exceeds the second entry limit.

4. The computer readable storage device of claim 3, wherein the operations further include preventing downloading during a lockout period in response to a determination that the number of attempts to input the correct purchase control password exceeds the second entry limit.

5. The computer readable storage device of claim 4, wherein the operations further include permitting downloading during the lockout period in response to receipt of an authorization by a master account user associated with the account.

13. The computer readable storage device of claim 1, wherein the operations further include prohibiting downloading the protected digital video content for a time period in response to the number of attempts to input the correct parental control password in response to the first prompt exceeding the first entry limit, wherein the time period is selected based on a master account user input.

14. The computer readable storage device of claim 1, wherein locking the downloaded protected digital video content prevents access to the downloaded protected digital video content when the security controls are active.

15. The computer readable storage device of claim 14, wherein unlocking the downloaded protected digital video content enables access to the downloaded protected digital video content.

16. The computer readable storage device of claim 14, wherein the operations further include initiating display of the downloaded protected digital video content after the downloaded protected digital video content is unlocked at the memory.

17. The computer readable storage device of claim 1, wherein the operations further include:

in response to determining that the first parental password entry is not the correct parental password, providing an indication of an incorrect parental password; and

initiating a fourth prompt requesting the parental control password in response to the determination that the number of attempts to enter the correct parental control password does not exceed the first entry limit.

18. The computer readable storage device of claim 17, wherein the operations further include:

receiving a third parental password entry in response to the fourth prompt; and

determining whether the third parental password entry is the correct parental control password.

19. The computer readable storage device of claim 18, wherein the operations further include determining whether the purchase controls are active in response to determining that the third parental password entry is the correct parental control password and that the number of attempts to enter the correct parental control password does not exceed the first entry limit.

20. The computer readable storage device of claim 1, wherein the first entry limit and the second entry limit are set based on a master account user input associated with the user account.

6. An apparatus comprising:

a processor; and

a memory of a set top box accessible to the processor, the memory including instructions that are executable by the processor to cause the processor to perform operations including;

receiving a request for protected digital video content associated with a user account;

determining whether security controls associated with the user account are active, wherein the security controls include parental controls, purchase controls, or a combination thereof;

initiating a first download of the protected digital video content without streaming in response to determining that the security controls are not active;

determining whether the parental controls are active in response to determining that the security controls are active;

determining whether the purchase controls are active in response to determining that the parental controls are not active;

determining whether a rating associated with the protected digital video content exceeds a rating limit in response to determining that the parental controls are active;

determining whether the purchase controls are active in response to determining that the rating associated with the protected digital video content does not exceed the rating limit;

initiating a first prompt requesting a parental control password in response to a determination that the rating associated with the protected digital video content exceeds the rating limit;

receiving a first parental password entry in response to the first prompt;

determining whether the first parental password entry is a correct parental control password;

in response to determining that the first parental password entry is the correct parental control password and a determination that a number of attempts to enter the correct parental control password does not exceed a first entry limit, determining whether the purchase controls are active;

determining whether a spending limit associated with the user account has been reached in response to determining that the purchase controls are active;

initiating a second prompt requesting a purchase control password in response to determining that the spending limit has not been reached;

receiving a purchase control password entry in response to the second prompt;

determining whether the purchase control password entry is a correct purchase control password;

in response to determining that the purchase control password entry is the correct purchase control password and a determination that a number of attempts to enter the correct purchase control password does not exceed a second entry limit, initiating a second download of the protected digital video content without streaming the protected digital video content;

in response to downloading the protected digital video content, storing the downloaded protected digital video content at the memory and locking the downloaded protected digital video content after the downloaded protected digital video content is stored at the memory;

detecting an attempt to access the downloaded protected digital video content after the protected video content is locked;

in response to detecting the attempt to access the downloaded protected digital video content that is locked, determining whether the rating associated with the downloaded protected digital video content exceeds the rating limit;

in response to a determination that the rating associated with the downloaded protected digital video content exceeds the rating limit, initiating a third prompt requesting the parental control password;

receiving a second parental password entry in response to the third prompt;

determining whether the second parental password entry is the correct parental control password; and

in response to determining that the second parental password entry is the correct parental control password, unlocking the downloaded protected digital video content, wherein the parental control password is different from the purchase control password.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the operations further comprise:

determining the number of attempts to input the correct purchase control password; and

blocking the second download of the protected digital video content for a time period in response to the number of attempts exceeding the second entry limit.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the operations further comprise prohibiting downloading the protected digital video content for a time period based on the spending limit being reached.

11. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the spending limit is imposed by a content provider when the account has an outstanding unpaid balance.

12. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the operations further comprise preventing downloading the protected digital video content, based on the spending limit, until a balance associated with the user account is a zero balance.

21. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein an entirety of the protected digital video content is stored and locked at the memory prior to the attempt to access the downloaded protected digital video content, and wherein the memory is associated with the set top box.

22. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the rating limit is set based on a master account user input associated with the user account.

9. A method comprising:

receiving a request for protected digital video content associated with a user account, the user account associated with a set-top box;

determining whether security controls associated with the user account are active, wherein the security controls include parental controls, purchase controls, or a combination thereof;

initiating a first download of the protected digital video content without streaming in response to determining that the security controls are not active;

determining whether the parental controls are active in response to determining that the security controls are active;

determining whether the purchase controls are active in response to determining that the parental controls are not active;

determining whether a rating associated with the protected digital video content exceeds a rating limit in response to determining that the parental controls are active;

determining whether the purchase controls are active in response to determining that the rating associated with the protected digital video content does not exceed the rating limit;

initiating a first prompt requesting a parental control password in response to a determination that the rating associated with the protected digital video content exceeds the rating limit;

receiving a first parental password entry in response to the first prompt;

determining whether the first parental password entry is a correct parental control password;

in response to determining that the first parental password entry is the correct parental control password and a determination that a number of attempts to enter the correct parental control password does not exceed a first entry limit, determining whether the purchase controls are active;

determining whether a spending limit associated with the user account has been reached in response to determining that the purchase controls are active;

initiating a second prompt requesting a purchase control password in response to determining that the spending limit has not been reached;

receiving a purchase control password entry in response to the second prompt;

determining whether the purchase control password entry is a correct purchase control password;

in response to determining that the purchase control password entry is the correct purchase control password and a determination that a number of attempts to enter the correct purchase control password does not exceed a second entry limit, initiating a second download of the protected digital video content without streaming the protected digital video content;

in response to downloading the protected digital video content, storing the downloaded protected digital video content at a memory of a set top box and locking the downloaded protected digital video content after the protected digital video content is stored at the memory;

detecting an attempt to access the downloaded protected digital video content after the downloaded protected digital video content is locked;

in response to detecting the attempt to access the downloaded protected digital video content that is locked, determining whether the rating associated with the downloaded protected digital video content exceeds the rating limit;

in response to a determination that the rating associated with the downloaded protected digital video content exceeds the rating limit, initiating a third prompt requesting the parental control password;

receiving a second parental password entry in response to the third prompt;

determining whether the second parental password entry is the correct parental control password; and

unlocking the downloaded protected digital video content in response to determining the second parental password entry is the correct parental control password, wherein the parental control password and the purchase control password are different.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the spending limit is imposed for a predetermined amount of time.