System for managing media services

• US 9,338,518 B2
• Filed: 10/02/2014
• Issued: 05/10/2016
• 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:
  US14/504,460
• Publication Number:
  US 20150020089A1
• Time in Patent Office: 586 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a device that includes a processor and a memory that stores executable instructions. The instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations including receiving an identifier of a communication device that has established communications with a media processor by way a personal area network. An association between the communication device and the media processor is determined and the communication device is authenticates according to the identifier. Information is provided to the media processor to facilitate management of media services by the communication device. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Claims

1. A device, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory that stores executable instructions, which when executed by the processor, causes the processor to perform operations comprising;

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

determining an association between the communication device and the media processor, responsive to the acceptance of the offer;

authenticating the communication device according to the identifier; and

providing to the media processor, information to facilitate management of media services by the communication device.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise authenticating a subscriber of the media processor based on an authentication message, wherein the authentication message comprises a data message.

3. The device of claim 1, further comprising a wireless headset wirelessly coupled to one of the communication device, the media processor or both by way of the personal area network.

4. The 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, wherein the acceptance of the offer is by way of a user interface.

5. The 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.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the media services are provided by a multimedia communication system 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.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise notifying the media processor that a subscriber has been authenticated, wherein the media processor facilitates management of operations of the media processor by the communication device as a remote controller responsive to the notifying.

8. 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:

extending to a communication device an offer to access media content services by way of a media content processor responsive to the communication device roaming into a personal area network of the media content processor;

detecting an acceptance of the offer by the communication device;

receiving a communication identifier of the communication device, responsive to the acceptance;

determining that the communication device is authorized to access the media content services according to the communication identifier; and

facilitating management of operations of the media content processor by the communication device responsive to the determining that the communication device is authorized.

9. The machine-readable storage device of claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise:

facilitating communications with a network element of a multimedia communication system; and

providing the communication identifier to the network element to authenticate the communication device.

10. The machine-readable storage device of claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise retrieving a profile according to the communication identifier, and wherein the acceptance of the offer is obtained by way of a user interface.

11. The machine-readable storage device of claim 8, wherein the communication identifier comprises a mobile identification number of the communication device.

12. The machine-readable storage device of claim 8, 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.

13. The machine-readable storage device of claim 8, wherein the communication device comprises a headset, and wherein the headset is wirelessly coupled to the media content processor by way of the personal area network.

14. The machine-readable storage device of claim 8, 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.

15. The machine-readable storage device of claim 8, 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.

16. A communication device, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory that stores executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, facilitate performance of operations comprising;

communicating with a media content processor by way of a personal area network;

receiving a first notification from the media content processor by way of the personal area network, wherein the notification comprises an offer to access media content services by way of the media content processor;

presenting the offer;

determining, by way of the communication device, an acceptance of the offer;

providing a communication identifier of the communication device to a backend system, responsive to the determining of the acceptance of the offer, wherein the backend system determines an association between the communication identifier and the media content processor;

forwarding user authentication data to the backend system, responsive to the association, wherein authorization to access operations of the media content processor is provided, based on the authentication data;

receiving a second notification that indicating enablement of the communication device to manage operations of the media content processor, based on the authorization; and

managing operations of the media content processor, responsive to the enablement.

17. The communication device of claim 16, wherein one of the media content processor or a network element of a multimedia communication system from which the media content processor operates, associates a communication identifier with the media content processor, and directs the media content processor to present media content to equipment of a subscriber responsive to the communication being recognized by way of the communication identifier.

18. The communication device of claim 16, wherein the operations further comprise facilitating communications with a wireless headset by way of the personal area network, wherein the presenting the offer is by way of a user interface of the communication device, and wherein the determining of the acceptance of the offer is by way of the user interface.

19. The communication device of claim 16, 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.

20. The communication device of claim 16, wherein the operations further comprise transmitting to the media content processor a profile of a subscriber of the communication device to facilitate management of media services provided by the media content processor.