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Television receiver-based network traffic control

  • US 9,681,196 B2
  • Filed: 08/27/2014
  • Issued: 06/13/2017
  • Est. Priority Date: 08/27/2014
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A method, comprising:

  • receiving, by a television receiver in a home network environment, packet traffic generated by network devices connected to the home network environment, wherein the network devices connected to the home network environment are different from the television receiver, and wherein the packet traffic is directed to systems external to the home network environment, wherein the television receiver includes;

    one or more audio/video decoders operable to convert encoded video and audio into a format suitable for output to display devices;

    a network interface operable to establish network connections with systems in the home network environment and external to the home network environment, wherein the packet traffic is received using the network interface; and

    an output interface operable to output audio and video signals for use by display devices;

    generating, by the television receiver, a first output signal encoding for a first interface that includes a first item for activating or deactivating a scanning service for scanning contents of packets of the packet traffic to identify data unauthorized for transfer external to the home network environment;

    receiving, by the television receiver, input corresponding to selection of the first item for activating the scanning service;

    activating, by the television receiver, the scanning service;

    generating, by the television receiver, a second output signal encoding for a second interface that includes a second item for activating or deactivating a notification service for generating messages indicating that transfers of data unauthorized for transfer external to the home network environment have been attempted;

    receiving, by the television receiver, input corresponding to selection of the second item for activating the notification service;

    activating, by the television receiver, the notification service;

    scanning, by the television receiver, contents of packets of the packet traffic to identify data unauthorized for transfer external to the home network environment, wherein scanning includes scanning at least one of a header and a body of packets of the packet traffic to identify data unauthorized for transfer external to the home network environment;

    determining, by the television receiver, that one or more first particular packets of the packet traffic include first data unauthorized for transfer external to the home network environment;

    blocking, by the television receiver, the one or more first particular packets of the packet traffic that include the first data from being routed external to the home network environment;

    generating, by the television receiver, a first message indicating that a first transfer of data unauthorized for transfer external to the home network environment has been attempted, wherein the first message includes a first option that, when activated, generates a first command to retain in memory a first action to implement upon subsequent identification of the first data, wherein the first action corresponds to blocking additional packets of packet traffic that include the first data;

    sending, by the television receiver, the first message to a display device for display thereon, wherein sending the first message includes sending the first message to the display device for display as part of an electronic programming guide;

    receiving, by the television receiver, input corresponding to activation of the first option;

    determining, by the television receiver, that one or more second particular packets of the packet traffic include the first data unauthorized for transfer external to the home network environment;

    blocking, by the television receiver, the one or more second particular packets of the packet traffic from being routed external to the home network environment based on the first command retained in memory;

    determining, by the television receiver, that one or more third particular packets of the packet traffic include second data unauthorized for transfer external to the home network environment, wherein the second data is different from the first data;

    generating, by the television receiver, a second message indicating that a second transfer of data unauthorized for transfer external to the home network environment has been attempted, wherein the second message includes a second option that, when activated, generates a second command to retain in memory a second action to implement upon subsequent identification of the second data, wherein the second action corresponds to ignoring additional packets of data that include the second data;

    sending, by the television receiver, the second message to the display device for display thereon;

    receiving, by the television receiver, input corresponding to activation of the second option;

    routing, by the television receiver, the one or more third particular packets of the packet traffic external to the home network environment; and

    routing, by the television receiver, other packets of the packet traffic to systems external to the home network environment.

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