System for managing media services

• US 8,869,232 B2
• Filed: 09/13/2013
• Issued: 10/21/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Chang, Hisao, Cox, Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Chenea
• Application Number:
  US14/026,940
• Publication Number:
  US 20140013363A1
• Time in Patent Office: 403 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 725/140
• 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 21/41265 having a remote control device for bidirectional communication between the remote control device and client device unidirectional remote control device H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4316 for displaying supplemental content in a region of the screen, e.g. an advertisement in a separate window
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43615 Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43637 involving a wireless protocol, e.g. Bluetooth, RF or wireless LAN [IEEE 802.11] arrangements for wireless networking or broadcasting of information in indoor or near-field type systems H04B10/114
• 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 21/6175 involving transmission via Internet broadcast-related systems characterised by the transmission system being the Internet H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6181 involving transmission via a mobile phone network arrangements for providing broadcast or conference services to substation in data switching networks in combination with wireless systems H04L12/189; wireless uplink channel access H04W74/004
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6334 for authorisation, e.g. by transmitting a key wireless communications network key management H04W12/04; wireless communications network access security H04W12/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/162 Authorising the user terminal, e.g. by paying; Registering the use of a subscription channel, e.g. billing

Abstract

A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a media content processor (MCP) having a controller to detect a communication device roaming into a personal area network, receive a communication identifier from the communication device, authenticate the communication device responsive to validating the communication identifier, and enable the communication device to manage operations of the MCP according to a profile of a subscriber of the communication device responsive to a successful authentication of the communication device. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Claims

1. A machine-readable storage device, comprising executable instructions, which when executed by a processor operating in a network element of a multimedia communication system, causes the processor to perform operations comprising:

receiving an identifier of a communication device that has established communications with a media processor by way a personal area network responsive to the communication device having accepted from the media processor an offer to access media content services;

determining an association between the identifier of the communication device and the media processor;

facilitating communications with the communication device responsive to the association between the identifier and the media processor;

authenticating the communication device according to the identifier; and

transmitting to the media processor, information to enable the communication device to manage media services provided by the media processor.

2. The machine-readable storage device of claim 1, further comprising authenticating a subscriber of the media processor according to an authentication message, wherein the authentication message comprises a data message, execution of the instructions causes the processor to perform operations comprising processing the authentication message as a data message.

3. The machine-readable storage device of claim 1, wherein the communication device comprises a wireless headset and a wireless communication device.

4. The machine-readable storage device of claim 3, wherein each of the wireless headset and the wireless communication device are wirelessly coupled to the media processor by way of the personal area network.

5. The machine-readable storage device of claim 1, wherein the personal area network operates according to one of a plurality of 802 wireless access protocols defined by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers.

6. The machine-readable storage device of claim 1, wherein the personal area network operates according to a protocol selected from a group consisting of a Bluetooth protocol, a wireless fidelity protocol, an ultra-wideband protocol, a Zigbee protocol, and a digital enhanced cordless telecommunications protocol.

7. The machine-readable storage device of claim 1, wherein the multimedia communication system is selected from a group consisting of an internet protocol television communication system, a satellite television communication system, and a cable television communication system, and wherein the media processor utilizes a profile of a subscriber to tailor a presentation of media content for the subscriber.

8. The machine-readable storage device of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise notifying the media processor that a subscriber has been authenticated, wherein the media processor enables the communication device to manage operations of the media processor as a remote controller responsive to said notification.

9. A media content processor, comprising:

a memory to store executable instructions; and

a processor coupled to the memory, wherein the processor, when executing the instructions, performs operations comprising;

detecting a communication device roaming into a personal area network;

extending to the communication device an offer to access media content services;

receiving in response to the offer a communication identifier from the communication device;

determining that the communication device is authenticated according to the communication identifier; and

enabling the communication device to manage operations of the media content processor responsive to a successful authentication of said communication device.

10. The media content processor of claim 9, wherein the operations further comprise:

establishing communications with a network element of a multimedia communication system;

transmitting the communication identifier to the network element to authenticate the communication device; and

presenting a picture-in-picture graphical user interface to allow navigation through media services offered by the media content processor.

11. The media content processor of claim 10, wherein the operations further comprise enabling the communication device to manage operations of the media content processor by way of the picture-in-picture graphical user interface.

12. The media content processor of claim 9, wherein the operations further comprise retrieving a profile according to the communication identifier.

13. The media content processor of claim 9, wherein the communication identifier comprises a mobile identification number of the communication device.

14. The media content processor of claim 9, wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving an authentication message; and

authenticating a subscriber according to the authentication message,

wherein the authentication message comprises a data message, executing the instructions causes the processor to perform operations comprising authenticating the subscriber responsive to a data message.

15. The media content processor of claim 9, wherein the communication device comprises a wireless headset and a wireless communication device, and wherein each of the wireless headset and the wireless communication device are wirelessly coupled to the media content processor by way of the personal area network.

16. The media content processor of claim 9, wherein the personal area network operates according to one of a Bluetooth protocol, a wireless fidelity protocol, an ultra-wideband protocol, a Zigbee protocol, a digital enhanced cordless telecommunications protocol, or combinations thereof.

17. The media content processor of claim 9, wherein the media content processor corresponds to a set-top box receiver operating in one of an internet protocol television communication system, a satellite television communication system, or a cable television communication system, and wherein the processor is adapted to present media content.

18. A method, comprising:

detecting, by a communication device, a personal area network;

facilitating communications between the communication device and a media content processor over the personal area network;

receiving at the communication device a notification from the media content processor offering media content services in response to the communications between the communications device and the media content processor over the personal area network;

providing a communication identifier from the communication device in response to the notification offering media content services;

receiving, at the communication device, notice from the media content processor that the communication device has been enabled to manage operations of the media content processor responsive to the media content processor determining that the communication device has been recognize according to the communication identifier; and

managing operations of the media content processor.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the communication identifier comprises one of a session initiation protocol universal resource identifier, or a mobile identification number.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein one of the media content processor or a network element of a multimedia communication system from which the media content processor operates, associates the communication identifier with the media content processor, and directs the media content processor to present media content to equipment of a subscriber.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein the communication device corresponds to a wireless headset and a cellular phone, and wherein the wireless headset is wirelessly coupled to one of the media content processor or the cellular phone over the personal area network.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the wireless headset is wirelessly coupled to the media content processor by way of the personal area network for managing operations thereof, and the cellular phone provides data services to a subscriber by way of one of a wireless fidelity interface or a cellular wireless access interface.

23. The method of claim 18, wherein the personal area network operates according to one of a group consisting of a Bluetooth protocol, a wireless fidelity protocol, an ultra-wideband protocol, a Zigbee protocol, and a digital enhanced cordless telecommunications protocol, and wherein the media content processor corresponds to a set-top box receiver operating in a system selected from a group consisting of an internet protocol television communication system, a satellite television communication system, and a cable television communication system.

24. The method of claim 18, comprising transmitting to the media content processor a profile of a subscriber of the communication device to manage media services provided by the media content processor.