Tracking activation of licensable component in audio video device by unique product identification

• US 8,589,305 B2
• Filed: 03/16/2011
• Issued: 11/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/11/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Shintani, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Hewitt, II, Calvin L
• Assistant Examiner(s): Winter, John M
• Application Number:
  US13/048,981
• Publication Number:
  US 20120120315A1
• Time in Patent Office: 979 Days
• Field of Search: 705/59
• US Class Current: 705/59
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/10 Protecting distributed programs or content, e.g. vending or licensing of copyrighted material protection in video systems or pay television H04N7/16 ; Digital rights management [DRM]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/125 by manipulating the program code, e.g. source code, compiled code, interpreted code, machine code
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/306 using TV related infrastructures external card used for payment with client device H04N21/4185
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/018 Certifying business or products
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0251 Targeted advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0283 Price estimation or determination
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/10 Tax strategies
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/12 Accounting
• 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 21/2543 Billing , e.g. for subscription services payment schemes, architectures or protocols G06Q20/00; e-commerce G06Q30/00; arrangements for billing for the use of broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/21
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25816 involving client authentication restricting access to computer systems by authenticating users using a predetermined code G06F21/33; cryptographic authentication protocols 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 21/4263 involving specific tuning arrangements, e.g. two tuners
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4347 Demultiplexing of several video streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4382 Demodulation or channel decoding, e.g. QPSK demodulation analog front ends or means for connecting modulators, demodulators or transceivers to a transmission line H04L27/0002
• 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 21/6547 comprising parameters, e.g. for client setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6581 Reference data, e.g. a movie identifier for ordering a movie or a product identifier in a home shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/44 Receiver circuitry for the reception of television signals according to analogue transmission standards H04N5/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/641 : Multi-purpose receivers, e.g. for auxiliary information H04N9/642 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/642 : Multi-standard receivers

Abstract

An audio-video display device (AVDD) includes a licensable component providing a licensable function. The licensable function is available to present data on the AVDD without paying a license fee to exploit the licensable function when the AVDD is in a retail demonstration mode, whereas post-vending of the AVDD the licensable function is available to present data on the AVDD only pursuant to a license fee therefor being arranged.

Claims

1. Video display device (VDD) comprising:

at least one licensable component for which a license has not been obtained prior to vending the VDD, the licensable component providing a licensable feature;

a video display for displaying video signals; and

a processor in the VDD for controlling the display;

and at least one memory storing executable instructions that when executed by the processor cause the processor to perform a method, the method comprising;

determining that the VDD is in a retail demonstration mode and in response to a determination that the VDD is in a retail demonstration mode, activating

the licensable component in accordance with the licensable feature without implementing a license fee payment,

determining that the VDD is in a post-vending mode, wherein the post-vending mode is distinct from the retail demonstration mode, based on an activation code, and in response to the determination that the VDD is in a post-vending mode, activating

the licensable component in accordance with the licensable feature, wherein the determining that the VDD is in a retail demonstration mode is based on at least one of;

(i) determining via a communication connection to a plurality of devices within a retail outlet that a device of the plurality of devices is in retail demonstration mode;

(ii) receiving an audio signal and determining that the audio signal comprises audio from multiple VDDs within a retail outlet;

(iii) presenting a prompt on the display and receiving a retail demonstration mode key, wherein the retail demonstration mode key is distinct from the activation code, and further comprising that the VDD is in post-vending mode when a retail demonstration mode key was not received after a timeout period and in response, permanently disabling the retail demonstration mode.

2. The VDD of claim 1,

wherein the licensable component is a terrestrial broadcast advanced television systems committee (ATSC) demodulator assembly.

3. The VDD of claim 1,

wherein the licensable component is a video decoder.

4. The VDD of claim 1,

wherein the licensable component is an audio decoder.

5. The VDD of claim 1, wherein the licensable component is a digital rights management component.

6. The VDD of claim 1,

wherein the licensable component is a web browser.

7. The VDD of claim 1, wherein the licensable component is an electronic program guide (EPG) component.

8. The VDD of claim 1,

wherein the determining that the VDD is in a retail demonstration mode is based on determining via a communication connection to a plurality of devices within a retail outlet that a device of the plurality of devices is in retail demonstration mode.

9. The VDD of claim 1,

wherein the determining that the VDD is in a retail demonstration mode is based on receiving an audio signal and determining that the audio signal comprises audio from multiple VDDs within a retail outlet.

10. The VDD of claim 9,

wherein the determining that the VDD is in a retail demonstration mode is based on presenting a prompt on the display and receiving a retail demonstration mode key, wherein the retail demonstration mode key is distinct from the activation code, and further comprising that the VDD is in post-vending mode when a retail demonstration mode key was not received after a timeout period and in response, permanently disabling the retail demonstration mode.