Internet service provider callback for satellite systems

• US 8,689,271 B2
• Filed: 10/11/2010
• Issued: 04/01/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Cocchi, Ronald P., Breier, Donald J., Flaharty, Dennis R., Kahn, Raynold M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sheleheda, James R
• Application Number:
  US12/901,975
• Publication Number:
  US 20110030023A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,268 Days
• Field of Search: 725/1, 725/2, 725/110, 725/134
• US Class Current: 725/110
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2856 Access arrangements, e.g. Internet access asynchronous transfer mode networks H04L12/5601; broadband local area networks H04L12/2801; optical access or distribution networks H04Q11/0067; access to open networks H04L12/5691; digital subscriber line end-user equipment and bit-level processing of data on a PSTN-based network H04M11/00; home network gateways H04L12/2834; wireless access networks H04W
• 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 21/4181 for conditional access
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4182 for identification purposes, e.g. storing user identification data, preferences, personal settings or data restricting access to computer systems by authenticating users using a predetermined code in combination with an additional device, e.g. dongle or smart card G06F21/123
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4185 for payment
• 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 21/47211 for requesting pay-per-view content payment schemes payment architectures or payment protocols G06Q20/00, G07F
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6143 involving transmission via a satellite
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6175 involving transmission via Internet broadcast-related systems characterised by the transmission system being the Internet H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6371 directed to network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/64322 IP
• 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 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

A method, apparatus, article of manufacture, and a memory structure for delivering purchase information comprising storing purchase information for a purchase of a user in a set top box. The set top box (STB) is configured to receive and display the broadcast signals through a tuner onto a display device. The STB establishes a connection to the Internet through a user initiated action (e.g., when the user accesses the Internet using the STB). A new transmission control/Internet protocol (TCP/IP) connection is obtained using the established user-initiated Internet connection without the user requesting the connection. A secure electronic connection is established with a server through the new TCP/IP connection. The purchase information is then transmitted from the STB through the secure electronic connection to the server.

Claims

1. In a set top box configured to receive broadcast content, a callback method comprising:

determining whether an existing Internet or data paging network connection is coupled to the set top box;

when the existing Internet or data paging network connection is present, communicating purchase information to a service provider through the existing Internet or data paging network;

determining whether a subscriber-initiated Internet or data paging network connection has occurred within a mandatory callback time period; and

when purchasing information has been communicated within the mandatory callback time period, advancing the mandatory callback time period;

when there is no existing Internet or data paging network connection present or when no subscriber-initiated Internet or data paging network connection has occurred within the mandatory callback time period, initiating a new Internet or data paging network connection;

in response to the new Internet or data paging network connection, communicating information to the service provider through a new Internet or data paging network connection.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the purchase information relates to a pay per view program.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the purchase information relates to an electronic commerce transaction.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

automatically obtaining a TCP/IP connection through a communication module of the set top box;

establishing, through the TCP/IP connection, a secure electronic connection with a server of the service provider; and

communicating the purchase information between the set top box and the server through the secure electronic connection.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

storing the purchase information in a conditional access module coupled to the set top box; and

enabling a presentation device to display the broadcast content using the conditional access module.

6. A set top box comprising:

a memory storing purchase information therein;

a communication module; and

a controller in communication with the memory and the communication module, said controller determining whether an existing Internet or data paging network connection is present at the communication module when the existing Internet or data paging network connection is present, said controller communicating purchase information to a service provider through the existing Internet or data paging network connection;

said controller detemining whether a subscriber-initiated Internet or data paging network connection has occurred within a mandatory callback time period;

when purchase information has been communicated within the mandatory callback time period, said controller advancing the mandatory callback time period, and initiating the communication module to initiate a new Internet or data paging network connection when there is no existing Internet or data paging network connection present or no subscriber-initiated Internet or data paging network connection has occurred within the mandatory callback time period.

7. The set top box of claim 6, wherein the purchase information relates to a pay per view program.

8. The set top box of claim 6, wherein the purchase information relates to an electronic commerce transaction.

9. The set top box of claim 6, wherein the communication module communicates purchase information to a server through the Internet or data paging network connection.

10. The set top box of claim 6, wherein the memory is disposed within a conditional access module.

11. The set top box of claim 10, wherein the purchase information enables a presentation device using the conditional access module.