Method and system for transferring user settings to another user receiving device

• US 9,351,040 B2
• Filed: 03/12/2014
• Issued: 05/24/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DIRECTV, LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Joseph, Kuriacose, Casavant, Scott D., Lee, Sean S., Wang, Phillip T., Thompson, Matthew J., Tsurutani, Brady C., Schlacht, David N., Shum, Johnny
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN BA, HOANG VU A
• Application Number:
  US14/207,354
• Publication Number:
  US 20140282749A1
• Time in Patent Office: 804 Days
• Field of Search: 725/68, 725/64, 725/85, 726/4, 726/6, 726/17, 726/21, 709/225, 709/229, 709/232
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0886 Fully automatic configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4547 for personal communications, i.e. using a personal identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1059 End-user terminal functionalities specially adapted for real-time communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25866 Management of end-user data customer care in data networks H04L41/5077
• 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 21/25891 being end-user preferences retrieval of video data in a video database based on user preferences G06F16/739; arrangements for recognizing users' preferences H04H60/46; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/274 Storing end-user multimedia data in response to end-user request , e.g. network recorder
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4312 involving specific graphical features, e.g. screen layout, special fonts or colors, blinking icons, highlights or animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4314 for fitting data in a restricted space on the screen, e.g. EPG data in a rectangular grid
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/437 Interfacing the upstream path of the transmission network, e.g. for transmitting client requests to a VOD server flow control in data networks H04L47/10; streaming protocols, e.g. RTP or RTCP, H04L65/65; scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests in data packet switching networks H04L67/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/441 Acquiring end-user identification , e.g. using personal code sent by the remote control or by inserting a card
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44213 Monitoring of end-user related data arrangements for monitoring the users' behaviour or opinions in broadcast systems H04H60/33
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44222 Analytics of user selections, e.g. selection of programs or purchase activity monitoring of user selections in data processing systems G06F11/34; arrangements for monitoring the user's behaviour or opinions in broadcast systems H04H60/33
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4516 involving client characteristics, e.g. Set-Top-Box type, software version or amount of memory available
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/485 End-user interface for client configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4852 for modifying audio parameters, e.g. switching between mono and stereo
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4854 for modifying image parameters, e.g. image brightness, contrast
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4856 for language selection, e.g. for the menu or subtitles
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4858 for modifying screen layout parameters, e.g. fonts, size of the windows
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6156 : specially adapted to the upstream path of the transmission network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6193 : involving transmission via a satellite arrangements for data linking, networking or transporting, or for controlling an end to end session in a satellite broadcast system H04B7/18526
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6547 : comprising parameters, e.g. for client setup
• 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: H04W 8/005 : Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/205 : Transfer to or from user equipment or user record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/22 : Processing or transfer of terminal data, e.g. status or physical capabilities

Abstract

A system and method for operating a user receiving device includes a head end associating a first user device with a user account having first user settings. A first user device communicates a device identifier associated with the user receiving device to the head end. The head end communicates the first user settings associated with the user account to the user receiving device. The user receiving device operates with the first user settings.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

associating a first user device with a user account comprising first user settings at a head end;

communicating a device identifier associated with a user receiving device to the head end from the first user device;

communicating the first user settings associated with the user account from the head end to the user receiving device through a terrestrial network; and

operating the user receiving device with the first user settings.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein associating the first user device comprises logging in to an authorization module.

3. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the first user settings comprise at least one of parental setting data, purchase restriction data and favorite channel data.

4. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein prior to communicating the device identifier associated with the user receiving device to the head end from the first user device, receiving a device identifier from the first user device at the use receiving device.

5. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein receiving the device identifier from the user device comprises receiving the device identifier from the user device using at least one of BLUETOOTH®

, Wi-Fi, Near field communication.

6. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein receiving the device identifier from the user device comprises receiving the device identifier from the user device from an image of a code on user receiving device.

7. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein receiving the device identifier from the user device comprises receiving the device identifier from the user device from a video image of a code generated by the user receiving device.

8. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein communicating the first user settings associated with the user account to the user receiving device comprises communicating the first user settings associated with the user account to the user receiving device through the user device.

9. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising associating content use data with the first user settings at the head end.

10. The method as recited in claim 9 wherein the content use data comprises a playlist.

11. The method as recited in claim 9 wherein the content use data comprises a content position signal for a content identifier.

12. The method as recited in claim 9 wherein the content use data comprises favorite channel data.

13. A method comprising;

associating a first user device with a user account comprising first user settings at a head end;

communicating a device identifier associated with a user receiving device to the head end from the first user device;

communicating the first user settings associated with the user account to the user receiving device through a satellite; and

operating the user receiving device with the first user settings.

14. The method as recited in claim 13 wherein the first user settings comprise at least one of parental setting data, purchase restriction data and favorite channel data.

15. The method as recited in claim 13 wherein receiving the device identifier from the user device comprises receiving the device identifier from the user device from an image of a code on user receiving device.

16. The method as recited in claim 13 further comprising associating content use data with the first user settings at the head end.

17. The method as recited in claim 16 wherein the content use data comprises a playlist.

18. The method as recited in claim 16 wherein the content use data comprises a content position signal for a content identifier.

19. The method as recited in claim 16 wherein the content use data comprises favorite channel data.

20. A system comprising:

a head end associating a first user device with a user account comprising first user settings;

a first user device communicating a device identifier associated with a user receiving device to the head end;

said head end communicating the first user settings associated with the user account to the user receiving device through a terrestrial network; and

said user receiving device operating with the first user settings.

21. The system as recited in claim 20 wherein the head end comprises an authorization module that associates the first user device with a user account.

22. The system as recited in claim 20 wherein the first user settings comprise at least one of parental setting data, purchase restriction data and favorite channel data.

23. The system as recited in claim 20 wherein the first user device communicates the device identifier using at least one of BLUETOOTH®

, Wi-Fi, Near field communication.

24. The system as recited in claim 20 wherein the user device generates the device identifier from an image of a code on user receiving device.

25. The system as recited in claim 20 wherein the user device generates the device identifier from a video image of a code on user receiving device.

26. The system as recited in claim 20 wherein the head end communicates the first user settings to the user receiving device through the first user device.

27. The system as recited in claim 20 wherein the head end associates content use data with the first user settings.

28. The system as recited in claim 27 wherein the content use data comprises a playlist.

29. The system as recited in claim 27 wherein the content use data comprises a content position signal for a content identifier.

30. The system as recited in claim 27 wherein the content use data comprises favorite channels data.

31. A system comprising;

a head end associating a first user device with a user account comprising first user settings; and

a first user device communicating a device identifier associated with a user receiving device to the head end;

said head end communicates the first user settings to the user receiving device through a satellite;

said user receiving device operating with the first user settings.

32. The system as recited in claim 31 wherein the first user settings comprise at least one of parental setting data, purchase restriction data and favorite channel data.

33. The system as recited in claim 31 wherein the user device generates the device identifier from an image of a code on user receiving device.

34. The system as recited in claim 31 wherein the head end associates content use data with the first user settings.

35. The system as recited in claim 34 wherein the content use data comprises a playlist.

36. The system as recited in claim 34 wherein the content use data comprises a content position signal for a content identifier.

37. The system as recited in claim 34 wherein the content use data comprises favorite channels data.