Synchronization of users and user actions between disparate video distribution systems

• US 10,237,599 B1
• Filed: 12/17/2013
• Issued: 03/19/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/26/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cox Communications Incorporated (Cox Enterprises Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Cox Communications Incorporated (Cox Enterprises Incorporated)
• Inventors: Gravino, Douglas D., Scarborough, Charles P., Holzman, Thomas G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Alcon, Fernando
• Application Number:
  US14/109,071
• Time in Patent Office: 1,918 Days
• Field of Search: None
• 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 21/6118 involving cable transmission, e.g. using a cable modem
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/10 Adaptations for transmission by electrical cable H04N7/12 takes precedence

Abstract

Synchronization of users between a CATV system and a disparate video distribution system is provided. A network account identifier tied to a household subscriber account may be linked to a plurality of users in the household. A strong authentication may only be required once (or at infrequent intervals) to initially validate credentials and authorize a requesting device. Subsequently, the device may be configured to retrieve accounts for all users in the household. Because the device is now known to the service provider, easy user-switching rules may be applied. Each user in a household may get his own personalized recommendations, use his own preferences, or tie to other individualized service personas. Any changes or updates in personalized information for a video user may be synchronized back to the originating system such that the next time the particular video user uses a CATV system device, any changes/updates may be reflected.

Claims

1. A method for synchronizing users between disparate video distribution systems, the method comprising:

receiving an indication of a login request on a first system of a plurality of systems that are disparate relative to one another;

in response to the login request, authenticating that a user is entitled to service on a requesting device associated with the first system;

configuring the first system to recognize one or more individual user accounts associated with a household subscription account;

receiving an indication of a selection of an individual user account of the one or more individual user accounts associated with the household subscription account;

providing the service to the requesting device associated with the first system based on the selected individual user account;

linking the household subscription account of the first system to another household subscription account of at least one other system of the plurality of systems by an account identifier associated with the user;

via the account identifier, providing the service to the user on the same requesting device via the other household subscription account associated with the at least one other system based on only the authentication that entitled the user to service via the requesting device associated with the first system;

receiving an indication of a user action via the requesting device of the first system associated with the individual user account of the household subscription account; and

as a result of the account identifier linking the household subscription account of the first system to the other household subscription account of the at least one other system on the same requesting device, synchronizing data associated with the user action with the at least one other system of the plurality of systems, such that the user action on the first system causes an action to take place on the same requesting device associated with the at least one other system.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing a selective option to save the requesting device to a list of authorized devices; and

if an indication of selection to save the requesting device to the list of authorized devices is received, saving the requesting device to the list of authorized devices associated with the account identifier.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving an indication of a login request via a strong authentication on a first system comprises receiving an indication of a login request via one or more of:

a username and password;

a retina scan authentication;

a fingerprint scan;

a gesture authentication;

a social network login authentication;

or

an email address and a password.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving an indication of selection of a next individual user account of one of the one or more individual user accounts associated with the household subscription account from the requesting device and providing the service to the requesting device based on the selected individual user account.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein receiving an indication of a selection of a next individual user account of one of the one or more individual user accounts associated with the household subscription account does not require a strong authentication tied to the individual user account.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein synchronizing data associated with the user action with the plurality of systems comprises synchronizing one or more of:

bookmarks;

recordings;

viewing history;

parental control permissions;

pin codes;

user behavior data;

user feedback;

changes to the household subscription account;

user account profile data;

or

deletion of content.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising providing recommendations to the individual user account based on the synchronized data associated with the user action.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the account identifier is a unique account number tied to the household subscription account for the first system.

8. A system for synchronizing users between disparate video distribution systems, the system comprising:

a memory storage; and

one or more processing units coupled to the memory storage, wherein the one or more processing units are operable to;

receive an indication of a login request on a first system of a plurality of systems that are disparate relative to one another;

in response to the login request, authenticate that a user is entitled to service on a requesting device;

configure the first system to recognize one or more individual user accounts associated with a household subscription account;

receive an indication of a selection of an individual user account of the one or more individual user accounts associated with the household subscription account;

provide the service to the requesting device associated with the first system based on the selected individual user account;

linking the household subscription account of the first system to another household subscription account of at least one other system of the plurality of systems by an account identifier associated with the user;

via the account identifier, provide the service to the user on the same requesting device via the other household subscription account associated with the at least one other system based on only the authentication that entitled the user to service via the requesting device associated with the first system;

receive an indication of a user action via the requesting device of the first system associated with the individual user account of the household subscription account; and

as a result of the account identifier linking the household subscription account of the first system to the other household subscription account of the at least one other system on the same requesting device, synchronize data associated with the user action with at least one other system of the plurality of systems, such that the user action on the first system causes an action to take place on the same requesting device associated with the at least one other system.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the one or more processing units are further operable to:

provide a selective option to save the requesting device to a list of authorized devices; and

if an indication of selection to save the requesting device to the list of authorized devices is received, save the requesting device to the list of authorized devices associated with the account identifier.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein in receiving an indication of a login request via a strong authentication on a first system, the one or more processing units are operable to receive an indication of a login request via one or more of:

a username and a strong password;

a retina scan authentication;

a fingerprint scan;

a gesture authentication;

a social network login authentication;

or

an email address and a strong password.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the one or more processing units are further operable to receive an indication of selection of a next individual user account of one of the one or more individual user accounts associated with the household subscription account from the requesting device and provide the service to the requesting device based on the selected individual user account.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein in receiving an indication of a selection of a next individual user account of one of the one or more individual user accounts associated with the household subscription account, the one or more processing units do not require a strong authentication tied to the next individual user account.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein in synchronizing the data associated with the user action with the plurality of systems, the one or more processing units are further operable to synchronize one or more of:

bookmarks;

recordings;

viewing history;

parental control permissions;

pin codes;

user behavior data;

user feedback;

changes to the household subscription account;

user account profile data;

or

deletion of content.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the one or more processing units are further operable to provide recommendations to the individual user account based on the synchronized data associated with the user action.

15. A computer-readable storage device which stores a set of instructions which when executed performs a method for synchronizing users between disparate video distribution systems, the method executed by the set of instructions comprising:

receiving an indication of a login request on a first system of a plurality of systems that are disparate relative to one another;

in response to the login request, authenticating that a user is entitled to service on a requesting device associated with the first system;

configuring the first system to recognize one or more individual user accounts associated with a household subscription account;

receiving an indication of a selection of an individual user account from the one or more individual user accounts associated with the household subscription account;

providing the service to the requesting device associated with the first system based on the selected individual user account;

linking the household subscription account of the first system to another household subscription account of at least one other system of the plurality of systems by an account identifier associated with the user;

via the account identifier, providing the service to the user on the same requesting device via the other household subscription account associated with the at least one other system based on only the authentication that entitled the user to service via the requesting device associated with the first system;

receiving an indication of a user action via the requesting device of the first system associated with the individual user account of the household subscription account; and

as a result of the account identifier linking the household subscription account of the first system to the other household subscription account of the at least one other system on the same requesting device, synchronizing data associated with the user action with at least one other system of the plurality of systems, such that the user action on the first system causes an action to take place on the same requesting device associated with the at least one other system.

16. The computer-readable storage device of claim 15, wherein synchronizing data associated with the user action with the plurality of systems comprises synchronizing one or more of:

bookmarks;

recordings;

viewing history;

parental control permissions;

pin codes;

user behavior data;

user feedback;

changes to the household subscription account;

user account profile data;

or

deletion of content.

17. The computer-readable storage device of claim 16, further comprising providing recommendations to the individual user account based on the synchronized data associated with the user action.

18. The computer-readable storage device of claim 15, further comprising:

providing a selective option to save the requesting device to a list of authorized devices; and

if an indication of selection to save the requesting device to the list of authorized devices is received, saving the requesting device to the list of authorized devices associated with the account identifier.

19. The computer-readable storage device of claim 15, further comprising receiving an indication of selection of a next individual user account of one of the one or more individual user accounts associated with the household subscription account from the requesting device and providing the service to the requesting device based on the selected individual user account.