Apparatus and methods for authenticating a user of an entertainment device using a mobile communication device

• US 8,758,138 B2
• Filed: 03/06/2012
• Issued: 06/24/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dish Technologies LLC (Echostar Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Echostar Technologies LLC (Echostar Corporation)
• Inventors: Ergen, Charles W., Gratton, Max S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Laneau, Ronald
• Application Number:
  US13/413,530
• Publication Number:
  US 20120174141A1
• Time in Patent Office: 840 Days
• Field of Search: 463 40- 42, 705/34, 705/35, 709/201, 348/723
• US Class Current: 463/41
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/93 Remote control using other portable devices, e.g. mobile phone, PDA, laptop
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 23/04 using light waves, e.g. infrared
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32

Abstract

Various embodiments of apparatus and/or methods are described for remotely controlling an entertainment device using a mobile communication device. A user utilizes a mobile communication device to input information that requests manipulation of playback of content outputted for presentation by an entertainment device. The mobile communication device transmits the user input to the entertainment device and furthers transmits identifying data regarding the user. Responsive to receiving the user input and the identifying data, the mobile communication device authenticates the user and outputs the content for presentation to a user based on the user input.

Claims

1. A method for outputting locked presentation content by an entertainment device, the method comprising:

receiving a first user input, at the entertainment device, from a first mobile communication device, the first user input requesting output of locked presentation content by the entertainment device, the locked presentation content being accessible on a per-user basis;

receiving first identifying data, at the entertainment device, from the first mobile communication device, the first identifying data regarding a user of the first mobile communication device;

authenticating the user of the first mobile communication device, at the entertainment device, to access the locked presentation content of the entertainment device, based on the first identifying data;

outputting the locked presentation content for presentation on a presentation device, based on the first user input, responsive to authenticating the user of the first mobile communication device;

receiving second user input, at the entertainment device, from a second mobile communication device, the second user input requesting control of the output of locked presentation content by the entertainment device;

determining, by the entertainment device, if the second user input requires authentication, and, if the entertainment device determines the second user input requires authentication;

requesting second identifying data, by the entertainment device, from the second mobile communication device, the second identifying data regarding a user of the second mobile communication device; and

authenticating the user of the second mobile communication device, at the entertainment device, to control the output of the locked presentation content of the entertainment device, based on the identifying data; and

controlling the output of the locked presentation content according to the second user input.

2. The method of claim 1, comprising:

when the first mobile communication device is a same device as the second mobile communication device, the acts of requesting the second identifying data and authenticating the user of the second mobile communication device comprise retrieving the first identifying data and retrieving authentication data of the user of the first mobile communication device from a memory of the entertainment device.

3. The method of claim 1, comprising:

when the first mobile communication device is a different device from the second mobile communication device, the acts of requesting the second identifying data and authenticating the user of the second mobile communication device include querying the second mobile communication device to retrieve the second identifying data.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the determining if the second user input requires authentication comprises:

determining if the second user input is directed to an audio volume, a trick play mode, or an ending of the outputting of the locked presentation content.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the determining if the second user input requires authentication comprises:

determining if the second user input is received during an authorized time window.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the authenticating the user of the first mobile communication device and authenticating the user of the second mobile communication device, comprises:

determining if the locked presentation content is locked according to a parental control.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein authenticating the user of the first mobile communication device and authenticating the user of the second mobile communication device, comprises:

determining if the user of the first mobile communication device or the user of the second mobile communication device, respectively, is authorized to access pay-per-view presentation content.

8. The method of claim 1, comprising:

associating a charge to the user of the first mobile communication device with accessing the locked presentation content, the associating based on the first identifying data.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the locked presentation content comprises an on-demand video streamed to the entertainment device or a video stored on a memory associated with the entertainment device.

10. A method for outputting locked presentation content by an entertainment device, the method comprising:

receiving user input, at the entertainment device, from a first mobile communication device and from a second mobile communication device, the user input requesting presentation of locked presentation content available through the entertainment device, the locked presentation content being accessible on a per-user basis;

receiving identifying data, at the entertainment device, from at least one of the first mobile communication device and the second mobile communication device, the identifying data regarding a user of at least one of the first and second mobile communication devices;

associating the identifying data with parental control parameters stored in the entertainment device;

generating, by the entertainment device, authentication information allowing or denying the user access to the locked presentation content based on the association of the identifying data with the parental control parameters; and

outputting the locked presentation content, from the entertainment device, for presentation on a presentation device, responsive to the generated authentication information allowing the user to access the locked presentation content.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein associating the identifying data with parental control parameters, comprises:

evaluating a time budget associated with the user of at least one of the first and second mobile communication devices and permitting access to the locked presentation content if the time budget is greater than a time length associated with the locked presentation content.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein associating the identifying data with parental control parameters, comprises:

evaluating a time window associated with the user of at least one of the first and second mobile communication devices and permitting access to the locked presentation content while a current time is within the time window.

13. The method of claim 10, comprising:

preventing output of the locked presentation content, from the entertainment device, based on the generated authentication information; and

outputting a message related to the preventing, from the entertainment device, for presentation on the presentation device, responsive to the generated authentication information denying the user access to the locked presentation content.

14. The method of claim 10 wherein receiving the identifying data, comprises:

querying at least one of the first and second mobile communication devices for the identifying data if the user input includes a command of a first type and not querying either of the first and second mobile communication devices for the identifying data if the user input includes a command of a second type.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the command of the first type is a channel change command, a power-on command, a purchase command, or a selection of a recorded video command, and the command of the second type is a mute command, a volume change command, a trick play mode command, or a power-off command.

16. An entertainment device comprising:

an input module that receives locked presentation content from at least one content source, the locked presentation content being accessible on a per-user basis;

an interface module to wirelessly communicate with a plurality of mobile communication devices to receive user input and identifying data, the user input requesting access to the locked presentation content and the identifying data regarding a respective user of a mobile communication device of the plurality of mobile communication devices;

a processor communicatively coupled to the input module and the interface module, the processor configured to;

query a first mobile communication device for identifying data regarding a first user;

authenticate the first user based on the identifying data;

query a second mobile communication device for identifying data regarding a second user;

authenticate the second user based on the identifying data;

output the locked presentation content for presentation on a presentation device;

when the first user or the second user is authenticated.

17. The entertainment device of claim 16 wherein the processor is further configured to:

permit commands of a first type when the second user is not authenticated;

reject commands of a second type when the second user is not authenticated; and

permit commands of a first type and commands of second type when the second user is authenticated.

18. The entertainment device of claim 17 wherein commands of the first type include at least one of a mute command, a volume change command, a trick play mode command, and a power-off command, and commands of the second type include at least one of a channel change command, a power-on command, a purchase command, and a selection of a recorded video command.

19. The entertainment device of claim 16 wherein authenticating the first user or the second user includes evaluating a time budget associated with the respective first user or second user and permitting access to the locked presentation content if the time budget is greater than a time length associated with the locked presentation content.

20. The entertainment device of claim 16 wherein authenticating the first user or the second user includes evaluating a time window associated with the respective first user or second user and permitting access to the locked presentation content while a current time is within the time window.

21. The entertainment device of claim 16, wherein the locked presentation content comprises an on-demand video streamed to the entertainment device or a video stored on the entertainment device.

22. The entertainment device of claim 21 wherein the processor is further configured to:

generate a bill associated with the on-demand video, the bill directed toward the first user.

23. The entertainment device of claim 16 wherein authenticating the first user includes generating a request for authentication, the request directed to a remote application server.