Control method, system and device

• US 9,324,108 B2
• Filed: 01/24/2013
• Issued: 04/26/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dunraven Finance Limited (BC Investment Management Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Dunraven Finance Limited (BC Investment Management Corp.)
• Inventors: Deeley, Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): McNally, Michael S
• Application Number:
  US14/370,770
• Publication Number:
  US 20140366100A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,188 Days
• Field of Search: 726/4
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/44 Program or device authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/14 specially adapted for billing systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/306 using TV related infrastructures external card used for payment with client device H04N21/4185
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/308 using the Internet of Things
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0645 Rental transactions; Leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/085 using electronic data carriers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32

Abstract

A computer-implemented control method for a rented device, comprises providing identification data to identify the device at a server, receiving a permission data file for the device from the server on the basis of the identification data, and including data representing a set of operating permissions associated with the device, executing a device specific operation on the basis of the permission data file to restrict or enable a function of the device.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented control method for a rented device, comprising:

providing identification data to identify the rented device at a server;

receiving a permission data file for the rented device from the server on the basis of the identification data, and including data representing a set of operating permissions associated with the device;

validating the permission data file; and

executing a device specific operation on the basis of the permission data file to control use of a function of the rented device by preventing access to that function, by enabling full access to that function, or by allowing limited access to that function.

2. A computer-implemented control method as claimed in claim 1, the device operable to display static and moving images, further including controlling an electronic program guide for the device.

3. A control system for a rented device, the system comprising:

a control platform unit operable to provide permission data representing multiple operating permissions associated with such a device; and

a permission control unit of the rented device operable to receive permission data from the control platform unit, and to use such received permission data to control use of a function of the rented device by preventing access to that function, by enabling full access to that function, or by allowing limited access to that function.

4. A control system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the permission control unit is a standalone unit for connection to such a rented device and is further operable to restrict a function of such a rented device upon removal of the permission control unit from the rented device concerned.

5. A control system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the permission control unit is embedded into a firmware module of such a rented device to be controlled.

6. A control system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the permission control unit is a cloud based module operable to communicate with the device.