Method and system for detecting unauthorized use of a set top box using weather profiles

• US 9,467,725 B2
• Filed: 12/29/2011
• Issued: 10/11/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DIRECTV, LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Lee, Sean S., Joseph, Kuriacose, Casavant, Scott D.
• Primary Examiner(s): SALCE, JASON P
• Application Number:
  US13/340,033
• Publication Number:
  US 20130174192A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,748 Days
• Field of Search: 725 32- 36
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 21/25841 involving the geographical location of the client retrieval from the Internet by querying based on geographical locations G06F16/9537; arrangements for identifying locations of receiving stations in broadcast systems H04H60/51; location of the user terminal in data switching networks H04L67/52; services making use of the location of users or terminals in wireless networks H04W4/02; locating users or terminals in wireless networks H04W64/00
• 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 21/4627 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 21/6143 involving transmission via a satellite
• 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 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

Abstract

A system and method for determining unauthorized use of a set top box includes a set top box that receives a profile of weather conditions in a geographic area, generating a weather log, comparing the weather log and the profile and disabling the set top box from receiving signals in response to comparing. A head end and a plurality of other set top boxes may be used to gather the weather data to form the profile.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving a profile of weather conditions in a geographic area at a set top box based on weather conditions in the geographic area compiled from a plurality of set top boxes in the geographical area;

generating a weather log at the set top box;

comparing the profile to the weather log; and

disabling the set top box from receiving signals in response to comparing.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein receiving the profile of weather conditions comprises generating weather condition data at a plurality of set top boxes and communicating the weather condition data to a head end.

3. The method as recited in claim 2 wherein receiving the profile of weather conditions comprises generating the profile of weather conditions at the head end from the weather condition data.

4. The method as recited in claim 2 wherein receiving the profile of weather conditions comprises generating the profile of weather conditions at the head end from the weather condition data and geographic data for the plurality of set top boxes.

5. The method as recited in claim 2 wherein generating weather condition data comprises generating weather condition data from signal strength data.

6. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein generating weather condition data comprises generating weather condition data from signal strength data of signals received from a satellite or a plurality of satellites.

7. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein receiving the profile comprises receiving the profile of weather conditions at the set top box from a satellite.

8. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein generating a weather log comprises determining the weather log at the set top box in response to signal strengths from a plurality of satellites.

9. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising generating a screen display in response to comparing.

10. A method comprising:

communicating signal strengths from a plurality of set top boxes to a head end;

generating a profile of the signal strengths in a geographic area;

communicating the profile to a first set top box;

generating a signal strength log at the first set top box;

comparing the signal strength log and the profile; and

disabling the set top box from receiving signals in response to comparing.

11. The method as recited in claim 10 wherein communicating the profile to the first set top box comprises communicating the profile to the first set top box through a satellite.

12. The method as recited in claim 10 further comprising generating a screen display in response to comparing.

13. A system comprising:

a set top box receiving a profile of weather conditions in a geographic area compiled from a plurality of set top boxes in the geographic area, generating a weather log, comparing the weather log and the profile and disabling the set top box from receiving signals in response to comparing.

14. The system of claim 13 further comprising a head end communicating the profile of weather conditions to a set top box.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein the head end generates the profile from set top box weather condition data from the plurality of set top boxes.

16. The system of claim 14 wherein the head end generates the profile of weather conditions and communicates the profile to the set top box.

17. The system of claim 14 wherein the head end generates the profile of weather conditions and communicates the profile of weather conditions to the set top box through a satellite.

18. The system of claim 13 wherein the weather log comprises a signal strength log and the profile comprises a signal strength profile.

19. The system of claim 13 wherein the set top box generates a screen display in response to comparing.