Technique for providing security measures for communications device connectable to a communications network

• US 8,931,022 B2
• Filed: 04/29/2009
• Issued: 01/06/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Time Warner Cable Enterprises LLC (Charter Communications Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Time Warner Cable Enterprises LLC (Charter Communications Incorporated)
• Inventors: Lajoie, Michael L., Braun, James J
• Primary Examiner(s): Zhong, Jun Fei
• Application Number:
  US12/431,891
• Publication Number:
  US 20090210916A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,078 Days
• Field of Search: 725/107, 725/118, 725/119, 725/120, 725/25, 370/254, 370/257
• US Class Current: 725/107
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2402 Monitoring of the downstream path of the transmission network, e.g. bandwidth available traffic monitoring in data switching networks H04L43/00; monitoring data switching networks utilization H04L43/0876
• 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 21/25833 involving client hardware characteristics, e.g. manufacturer, processing or storage capabilities allocation of resources considering hardware capabilities in multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/5044; allocation of resources considering software capabilities in multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/5055
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4181 for conditional access
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42684 Client identification by a unique number or address, e.g. serial number, MAC address, socket ID network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming H04L61/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44209 Monitoring of downstream path of the transmission network originating from a server, e.g. bandwidth variations of a wireless network arrangements for maintenance or administration in data switching networks involving bandwidth and capacity management H04L41/0896
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/443 OS processes, e.g. booting an STB, implementing a Java virtual machine in an STB or power management in an STB
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6118 involving cable transmission, e.g. using a cable modem
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/658 Transmission by the client directed to the server
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6582 Data stored in the client, e.g. viewing habits, hardware capabilities, credit card number arrangements where receivers interact with the broadcast H04H20/38
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/165 Centralised control of user terminal subsequent to an upstream request signal H04N7/17345; Registering at central by two-way working H04N7/17309
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

A user may purchase in a retail outlet a host device for receiving cable services. The cable operator needs to provide a point-of-deployment (POD) module for insertion into the host device to realize out-of-band communications, and provide conditional access to premium subscription channels. Security measures are implemented to detect removal of the host device from its connection to a broadband communications system. If its removal is unauthorized, the service area in which the host device is located may be identified when it is reconnected to the system. In addition, a transmission device in the host device may be activated to transmit detectable signals to help recover the host device.

Claims

1. A system for locating a device connected to a communications network through one of a plurality of nodes, the nodes being associated with respective ones of service areas, the device being identifiable by identifying data, the system comprising:

an interface for receiving, through a first node, a request for connection by the device to the communications network, the request including information concerning the device; and

a server for determining that at least part of the information concerning the device corresponding to the identifying data is present in a theft list,

whereby the device is determined to be located in the service area associated with the first node;

the server, responsive to the at least part of the information concerning the device corresponding to the identifying data present in the theft list, being further operative to;

trigger an authorization process of the device;

receive an indication of a current postal address location during the authorization process of the device; and

cause to be provided to a security enforcement agency information about a location of the device including the current postal address location.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the server, responsive to the at least part of the information concerning the device corresponding to the identifying data present in the theft list, being further operative to:

cause to be sent, over the communications network, to the device, a transmission activation message which activates a transmitter of the device to transmit a detectable radio frequency signal; and

cause to be provided to the security enforcement agency information about the location of the device including information about the detectable radio frequency signal for identifying the device.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the communications network includes a two-way multichannel delivery network.

4. The system according to claim 3, wherein the delivery network includes a cable TV network.

5. The system according to claim 4, wherein the cable TV network includes an HFC cable network.

6. The system according to claim 4, wherein the device receives programming content from the communications network.

7. The system according to claim 6, wherein the device includes a host device having an interface for coupling with a POD module for providing conditional access to selected programming content.

8. The system according to claim 7, wherein the selected programming content is selected by the system.

9. The system according to claim 7, wherein the selected programming content includes VOD content.

10. The system according to claim 1, wherein the identifying data includes a serial number pre-assigned to the device.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the information which the server causes to be provided to the security enforcement agency comprises at least a frequency of the detectable radio frequency signal to which a radio frequency receiver of the security enforcement agency should be tuned.

12. Apparatus for receiving programming content from a communications network, the apparatus comprising:

an interface for coupling the apparatus with a device for effecting a communication to a server through the communications network;

a modem which, enabled by the interface with the device;

sends, from the apparatus, to the server, through a first node of the communications network, a request for connection of the device to the communications network after the device has first been properly connected to the communications network through a second node and then disconnected and improperly reconnected through the first node, the request including the identifying data of the apparatus, an address of the device within the communications network and a current postal address location of the apparatus obtained during an authorization process during the reconnection through the first node;

receives, from the server, a transmission activation message upon determining that at least a part of the identifying data is present in a theft list accessible to the server; and

a transmission mechanism, which, responsive to the transmission activation message, generates a detectable radio frequency signal receivable by a radio frequency receiver of a security enforcement agency for confirming a location of the apparatus at the current postal address location obtained during the authorization process.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the address includes an Internet protocol (IP) address.

14. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the address includes a media access control (MAC) address.

15. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the identifying data includes a serial number pre-assigned to the apparatus.

16. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the detectable radio frequency signal contains information concerning a serial number pre-assigned to the apparatus.

17. The apparatus according to claim 12 comprising an entertainment unit.

18. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the entertainment unit includes a TV unit.

19. A method for locating a device connected to a communications network through one of a plurality of nodes, the nodes being associated with respective ones of service areas, the device being identifiable by identifying data, the method comprising:

receiving, through a first node, a request for connection by the device to the communications network, the request including information concerning the device; and

determining that at least part of the information concerning the device, corresponding to the identifying data is present in a theft list,

whereby the device is determined to be located in the service area associated with the first node;

further comprising, responsive to the at least part of the information concerning the device corresponding to the identifying data present in the theft list;

triggering an authorization process of the device;

receiving an indication of a current postal address location during the authorization process; and

providing to a security enforcement agency information about a location of the device including the current postal address location.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein, responsive to the at least part of the information concerning the device corresponding to the identifying data present in the theft list, being further operative to:

cause to be sent, over the communications network, to the device, a transmission activation message which activates a transmitter of the device to transmit a detectable radio frequency signal; and

cause to be provided to the security enforcement agency information about the location of the device including information about the detectable radio frequency signal contains information for identifying the device.

21. The method according to claim 19, wherein the communications network includes a two-way multichannel delivery network.

22. The method according to claim 21, wherein the delivery network includes a cable TV network.

23. The method according to claim 22, wherein the cable TV network includes an HFC cable network.

24. The method according to claim 22, wherein the device receives programming content from the communications network.

25. The method according to claim 24, wherein the device includes a host device having an interface for coupling with a POD module for providing conditional access to selected programming content.

26. The method according to claim 25, wherein the selected programming content is selected by the system.

27. The method according to claim 25, wherein the selected programming content includes VOD content.

28. The method according to claim 19, wherein the identifying data includes a serial number pre-assigned to the device.

29. The method of claim 19, wherein the providing step comprises at least providing to the security enforcement agency at least a frequency of the detectable radio frequency signal to which a radio frequency receiver of the security enforcement agency should be tuned.

30. A method for use in an apparatus for receiving programming content from a communications network, the apparatus including a transmission mechanism, the method comprising:

providing an interface for coupling the apparatus with a device for effecting a communication to a server through the communications network;

enabled by the interface with the device, sending, from the apparatus, to the server, through a first node of the communications network, a request for connection of the device to the communications network after the device has first been properly connected to the communications network through a second node and then disconnected and improperly reconnected through the first node, the request including the identifying data of the apparatus, an address of the device within the communications network and a current postal address location of the apparatus obtained during an authorization process during the reconnection through the first node; and

receiving, from the server, a transmission activation message upon determining that at least a part of the identifying data is present in a theft list accessible to the server, the transmission activation message causing the transmission mechanism to generate a detectable radio frequency signal receivable by a radio frequency receiver of a security enforcement agency for confirming a location of the apparatus at the current postal address location obtained during the authorization process.

31. The method according to claim 30, wherein the address includes an IP address.

32. The method according to claim 30, wherein the address includes a MAC address.

33. The method according to claim 30, wherein the identifying data includes a serial number pre-assigned to the apparatus.

34. The method according to claim 30, wherein the detectable radio frequency signal contains information concerning a serial number pre-assigned to the apparatus.

35. The method according to claim 30, wherein the apparatus comprises an entertainment unit.

36. The method according to claim 35, wherein the entertainment unit includes a TV unit.