Systems and method of controlling access to media content
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method, comprising:
- receiving, by a mobile communication device, a polling signal from a set-top box device;
sending, by the mobile communication device, a response signal to the set-top box device responsive to receiving the polling signal, wherein the sending of the response signal causes the set-top box device to determine a relative proximity of the mobile communication device to the set-top box device according to a time between the polling signal and the response signal; and
sending, by the mobile communication device, a viewing request associated with media content of the set-top box device, wherein the sending of the viewing request causes the set-top box device to process the viewing request according to the relative proximity and a permission policy of the set-top box device,wherein the relative proximity corresponds to;
being inside a premises but outside a room of the premises where the set-top box device is located if the mobile communication device is beyond a range of a first short range signaling protocol communications link of the set-top box device;
being in contact with the set-top box device if the mobile communication device is within a range of a second short range signaling protocol communications link of the set-top box device; and
being inside the room of the premises where the set-top box device is located if the mobile communication device is within a line of sight of the set-top box device,wherein the viewing request is not fulfilled by the set-top box device if the set-top box device determines that the mobile communication device is not present at the premises where the set-top box is located, andwherein the viewing request is fulfilled by the set-top box device if the set-top box device determines that the relative proximity does not exceed a communication range identified by the permission policy.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method of controlling access to media content are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes receiving a viewing request at a set-top box device at a user premises. The method also includes retrieving a permission policy stored at the set-top box device and identifying a wireless device associated with the permission policy. Further, the method includes fulfilling the viewing request when the wireless device is present at the user premises and is within a first relative proximity to the set-top box device, and not fulfilling the viewing request when the wireless device is present at the user premises and is within a second relative proximity to the set-top box device.
-
Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A method, comprising:
-
receiving, by a mobile communication device, a polling signal from a set-top box device; sending, by the mobile communication device, a response signal to the set-top box device responsive to receiving the polling signal, wherein the sending of the response signal causes the set-top box device to determine a relative proximity of the mobile communication device to the set-top box device according to a time between the polling signal and the response signal; and sending, by the mobile communication device, a viewing request associated with media content of the set-top box device, wherein the sending of the viewing request causes the set-top box device to process the viewing request according to the relative proximity and a permission policy of the set-top box device, wherein the relative proximity corresponds to;
being inside a premises but outside a room of the premises where the set-top box device is located if the mobile communication device is beyond a range of a first short range signaling protocol communications link of the set-top box device;
being in contact with the set-top box device if the mobile communication device is within a range of a second short range signaling protocol communications link of the set-top box device; and
being inside the room of the premises where the set-top box device is located if the mobile communication device is within a line of sight of the set-top box device,wherein the viewing request is not fulfilled by the set-top box device if the set-top box device determines that the mobile communication device is not present at the premises where the set-top box is located, and wherein the viewing request is fulfilled by the set-top box device if the set-top box device determines that the relative proximity does not exceed a communication range identified by the permission policy. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
-
-
9. A mobile communication device, comprising:
-
a memory to store computer instructions; and a processor coupled to the memory, wherein the processor, responsive to executing the computer instructions, performs operations comprising; receiving a polling signal from a set-top box device; sending a response signal to the set-top box device responsive to receiving the polling signal, wherein the sending of the response signal causes the set-top box device to determine a relative proximity of the mobile communication device to the set-top box device according to a time between the polling signal and the response signal; and sending a viewing request associated with media content of the set-top box device, wherein the sending of the viewing request causes the set-top box device to process the viewing request according to the relative proximity and a permission policy of the set-top box device, wherein the relative proximity corresponds to;
being inside a premises but outside a room of the premises where the set-top box device is located if the mobile communication device is beyond a range of a first short range signaling protocol communications link of the set-top box device;
being in contact with the set-top box device if the mobile communication device is within a range of a second short range signaling protocol communications link of the set-top box device; and
being inside the room of the premises where the set-top box device is located if the mobile communication device is within a line of sight of the set-top box device,wherein the viewing request is not fulfilled by the set-top box device if the set-top box device determines that the mobile communication device is not present at the premises where the set-top box is located, and wherein the viewing request is fulfilled by the set-top box device if the set-top box device determines that the relative proximity does not exceed a communication range identified by the permission policy. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
-
-
17. A non-transitory computer-readable storage device comprising computer instructions which when executed by a processor of a mobile communication device cause the processor to perform operations comprising:
-
receiving a polling signal from a set-top box device; sending a response signal to the set-top box device responsive to receiving the polling signal, wherein the sending of the response signal causes the set-top box device to determine a relative proximity of the mobile communication device to the set-top box device according to a time between the polling signal and the response signal; and sending a viewing request associated with media content of the set-top box device, wherein sending the viewing request causes the set-top box device to process the viewing request according to the relative proximity and a permission policy of the set-top box device, wherein the relative proximity corresponds to;
being inside a premises but outside a room of the premises where the set-top box device is located if the mobile communication device is beyond a range of a first short range signaling protocol communications link of the set-top box device;
being in contact with the set-top box device if the mobile communication device is within a range of a second short range signaling protocol communications link of the set-top box device; and
being inside the room of the premises where the set-top box device is located if the mobile communication device is within a line of sight of the set-top box device,wherein the viewing request is not fulfilled by the set-top box device if the set-top box device determines that the mobile communication device is not present at the premises where the set-top box is located, and wherein the viewing request is fulfilled by the set-top box device if the set-top box device determines that the relative proximity does not exceed a communication range identified by the permission policy. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
-
Specification