Video games on demand with anti-piracy security

• US 8,990,119 B2
• Filed: 07/30/2010
• Issued: 03/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Gemelos, Steve, Petronelli, Anthony
• Primary Examiner(s): AGWUMEZIE, CHINEDU CHARLES
• Application Number:
  US12/847,764
• Publication Number:
  US 20100298047A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,698 Days
• Field of Search: 705/59
• US Class Current: 705/59
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/12 involving interaction between a plurality of game devices, e.g. transmisison or distribution systems protocols for networked virtual reality, networked games H04L29/06034
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/30 Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/338 using television networks
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/71 using secure communication between game devices and game servers, e.g. by encrypting game data or authenticating players
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/73 Authorising game programs or game devices, e.g. checking authenticity
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/77 involving data related to game devices or game servers, e.g. configuration data, software version or amount of memory
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/792 for payment purposes, e.g. monthly subscriptions
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/409 Data transfer via television network
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/532 using secure communication, e.g. by encryption, authentication
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5513 involving billing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/552 for downloading to client devices, e.g. using OS version, hardware or software profile of the client device
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/1235 with control of digital rights management [DRM]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/306 using TV related infrastructures external card used for payment with client device H04N21/4185
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• 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 21/25875 involving end-user authentication restricting access to computer systems by authenticating users using a predetermined code G06F21/33; arrangements for secret or secure communication including means for verifying the identity or authority of a user of the system H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08; authentication in wireless network security H04W12/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4781 Games
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/64322 IP

Abstract

Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are described for the automated payment, download over a network, installation on a set-top box, and play of console and online video games by user interaction with a controller-adapted set-top box. Security measures inhibit video game piracy.

Claims

1. A media playback device comprising:

a network interface;

a processor; and

a memory comprising instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations including;

receiving a selection that indicates a video game;

sending a video game order to a server via the network interface in response to receiving the selection;

receiving the video game from the server responsive to the video game order;

storing the video game at a storage device accessible to the processor;

receiving a request for the processor to execute the video game stored at the storage device; and

in response to the request;

sending an authorization request to the server via the network interface;

receiving an indication of authorization to execute the video game,

wherein the authorization is based on the server verifying an identity of the media playback device and verifying subscriber rights; and

in response to receiving the indication of authorization, executing, by the processor, the video game stored at the storage device.

2. The media playback device of claim 1, further comprising a portable memory reader, wherein the storage device is coupled to the portable memory reader.

3. The media playback device of claim 1, wherein the selection is associated with a purchase request for the video game, wherein the game order comprises a purchase order for the video game, and wherein the operations further include executing the video game after the server determines that a subscriber is associated with the purchase order.

4. The media playback device of claim 1, wherein the operations further include, after completion of execution of the video game based on the request:

receiving a second request for the processor to execute the video game stored at the storage device;

in response to the second request, sending a second authorization request to the server via the network interface; and

receiving a charge request to apply a charge amount to an account to authorize the video game to be played, wherein the charge request is received from the server responsive to the server determining that the account associated with the media playback device does not have a subscription to play the video game.

5. The media playback device of claim 1, wherein the operations further include:

receiving a second request for the processor to execute a second video game stored at the storage device; and

in response to the second request, sending a second authorization request to the server via the network interface, wherein the processor is denied authorization to execute the second video game stored at the storage device responsive to the server failing to verify the identity of the media playback device, responsive to the server failing to authenticate the media playback device.

6. The media playback device of claim 1, wherein the server is a game-on-demand server that provides a video gaming service, wherein the network interface is coupled via a secure network to the game-on-demand server.

7. The media playback device of claim 1, wherein a stored state of the video game is stored at the storage device, and wherein the stored state is a single player game state or a multiplayer game state associated with a play session of the video game.

8. The media playback device of claim 1, wherein the operations further include conducting a multiplayer session of the video game with a second device.

9. The media playback device of claim 1, wherein the operations further include transmitting a message to the server to debit an amount from an account, and wherein the amount comprises a sale amount, a rental amount, or a pay-per-play amount.

10. The media playback device of claim 1, wherein the operations further include:

after sending the game order to the server, receiving information that identifies a charge amount for completing the game order; and

sending an acknowledgment to the server to authorize the server to apply the charge amount to an account, wherein the video game is received from the server after the acknowledgment is sent, wherein digital rights of the video game are not provided to the media playback device, and wherein the server verifies the digital rights of the video game based on the media playback device and a user account.

11. The media playback device of claim 1, wherein the network interface, during operation, accesses the server via a segregated network, wherein the segregated network restricts the network interface from accessing the internet.

12. The media playback device of claim 1, wherein the selection is associated with a rental request for the video game, and wherein, when the video game is rented, the video game stored at the storage device includes code to disable the video game after an amount of time or after a number of play sessions.

13. The media playback device of claim 1, wherein, each time the video game stored at the storage device is requested to be executed by the processor, a corresponding authorization request is sent to the server.

14. The media playback device of claim 6, wherein the network interface is prohibited from accessing the Internet via the secure network.

15. A game-on-demand server comprising:

a processor; and

a memory comprising instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations including;

receiving a video game order from a media playback device;

in response to receiving the video game order, sending a video game to the media playback device;

receiving, from the media playback device, an authorization request to execute the video game; and

in response to the request;

determining whether the media playback device is authorized to execute the video game, wherein determining whether the media playback device is authorized includes;

verifying user rights to play the video game;

identifying the media playback device;

based on the identified media playback device, accessing an account associated with the media playback device, and

determining a subscription status based on the account; and

when a determination is made that the media playback device is authorized to access the account, transmitting an indication to the media playback device to enable the media playback device to execute the video game from a storage device.

16. The server of claim 15, wherein the media playback device is a set-top box device, wherein the operations further include executing code to disable execution of the video game at the media playback device in response to detecting an occurrence of an event, and wherein the event is associated with an amount of play time corresponding to the video game or a number of authorized play sessions of the video game.

17. The server of claim 15, wherein the operations further include:

in response to the request, determining whether the request satisfies a gaming subscription associated with the account or whether the request is a pay-per-play request; and

when the request is the pay-per-play request, requesting authorization to charge the account based on the pay-per-play request prior to transmitting the indication.

18. A system comprising:

a media playback device that, during operation;

receives a selection of a video game;

sends a video game order to a server via a network interface in response to receiving the selection;

receives the video game at the media playback device from server responsive to the video game order;

stores the video game at a storage device of the media playback device;

receives a request to execute the video game that is stored at the storage

device of the media playback device; and

in response to the request;

sends an authorization request to the server;

receives an indication that the media playback device is authorized to execute the video game in response to the authorization request; and

in response to the indication, accesses the video game from the storage device to execute the video game using a processor; and

a controller device that, during operation, transmits video game input commands to the media playback device.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the controller device comprises a video game console controller device or a remote controller device, wherein the controller device transmits the video game input commands to the media playback device via a wireline connection, a wireless connection, an adapter communicatively disposed between the controller device and the media playback device, or any combination thereof, and wherein the video game input commands received from the controller device are executed locally at the media playback device during execution of the video game by the processor of the media playback device to control game play associated with the video game.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the input commands include a horizontal movement command, a vertical movement command, a shooting command, a fighting command, a picking up command, a throwing command, a speaking command, an access game inventory items menu command, access a map command, a pause game command, a save game command, a load game command, or a combination thereof.