Method of controlling multi-user access to the functionality of consumer devices

• US 20010030644A1
• Filed: 06/05/2001
• Published: 10/18/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rakuten, Inc. (Rakuten Group, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Research Investment Network Incorporated
• Inventors: Allport, David E.
• Granted Patent: US 6,906,696 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/37 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2330/04 Display protection
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/00 Control arrangements or circuits for visual indicators common to cathode-ray tube indicators and other visual indicators image data processing or generation, in general G06T
• 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 21/42204 User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor constructive details of casings for the remote control device H01H9/0235; user interfaces for controlling a tuning device of a television receiver through a remote control H03J9/00; remote control of peripheral devices connected to a television receiver through the remote control device of the television receiver H04B1/205
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4223 Cameras H04N23/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4415 using biometric characteristics of the user, e.g. by voice recognition or fingerprint scanning cryptography using biological data H04L9/3231; authentication in networks using biometric H04L63/0861
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4532 involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; 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 21/4661 Deriving a combined profile for a plurality of end-users of the same client, e.g. for family members within a home user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4751 for defining user accounts, e.g. accounts for children

Abstract

Methods are described whereby multiple users can swap a controller of consumer devices between themselves frequently, whilst each retains the ability to reinstate their own customized controller interface through a quick and simple yet secure log-on procedure. Stored data accessible to the controller is used to automatically upon log-on return a user to a system state associated with that user, which is typically the system state of the controller that existed the last time the user logged on thereto. The log-on procedure may include fingerprint and/or voice recognition. Additionally, time-out algorithms wherein the controller automatically shuts down and/or logs-off the current user as a security measure to prevent unauthorized users from gaining access thereto, may take into account factors other than merely the amount of time that has passed during which there has been no activity.

Claims

1. A method of allowing access to functionality of a consumer device comprising the steps:

receiving bio-metric input of a first user into a bio-metric user-identification input component of a controller;

establishing a current system state of the controller related to a previous system state of the controller that was in effect after a previous use of the controller by the first user and before a use of the controller by a second user; and

providing access to functionality of a consumer device by use of the controller;

wherein said access is dependent upon the bio-metric input;

wherein said use of the controller by the second user caused the controller to have a system state different than the previous system state.

2. The method of

claim 1

, wherein the bio-metric user-identification input component is a fingerprint pad.

3. The method of

claim 2

, wherein the controller is a hand-held controller.

4. The method of

claim 3

, wherein the controller comprises a display area, and further comprising the step of displaying on the display area data representing available functions to be executed.

5. The method of

claim 1

, wherein the bio-metric user-identification input component is a microphone.

6. The method of

claim 5

, wherein the bio-metric input is voice data, and wherein the voice date is received after the controller enters a temporary system state in response to a request to process the voice data.

7. The method of

claim 5

, wherein the controller is a hand-held controller.

8. The method of

claim 7

, wherein the controller comprises a display area, and further comprising the step of displaying on the display area data representing available functions to be executed.

9. The method of

claim 1

, wherein the consumer device is a television.

10. The method of

claim 1

, wherein the consumer device is a set-top box.

11. The method of

claim 1

, wherein the controller comprises a display area, and further comprising the step of displaying on the display area data representing the current system state.

12. The method of

claim 1

, wherein the controller comprises a plurality of physical actuating buttons.

13. The method of

claim 1

, wherein the current system state is substantially identical to the previous system state.

14. The method of

claim 1

, wherein the current system state is identical to the previous system state.

15. The method of

claim 1

, wherein the current system state prevents use of the controller for accessing pay-per-view programming.

16. The method of

claim 1

, wherein the current system state allows use of the controller for conducting e-commerce transactions via the Internet.

17. A controller for controlling access to a consumer device comprising:

a bio-metric input component; and

a graphical display;

wherein the controller, upon log-on thereto by a first user, is programmed to enter a current system state related to a previous system state of the controller that was in effect after a previous use of the controller by the first user and before a use of the controller by a second user, both uses occurring before said log-on;

wherein said log-on occurs in response to the first user inputting bio-metric input into the bio-metric input component.

18. The controller of

claim 17

, wherein the bio-metric input component is a fingerprint pad, and the bio-metric input comprises a fingerprint pattern.

19. The controller of

claim 17

, wherein the bio-metric input component is a microphone, and the bio-metric input comprises voice data.

20. The controller of

claim 17

wherein the controller is a hand-held controller.

21. The controller of

claim 17

, further comprising a plurality of physical actuating buttons.

22. The controller of

claim 17

, wherein the current system state is substantially identical to the previous system state.

23. The controller of

claim 17

, wherein the controller is programmed to display a representation of the current system state on the display.

24. The controller of

claim 17

, wherein the current system state prevents use of the controller for accessing pay-per-view programming.

25. The controller of

claim 17

, wherein the bio-metric input component is connected to the controller via a port on the controller.

26. The controller of

claim 17

, in combination with a database of known users of the controller stored externally to the controller on a separate storage device.

27. A method of controlling multi-user access to functionality of a consumer device comprising the steps:

determining an identity of a first user in response to bio-metric input supplied by the first user to a controller;

establishing a first system state of the controller, said first system state being associated with said identity;

providing access to a first set of functionality of a consumer device by use of the controller, said access being dependent upon the identity of the first user; and

switching to a second system state from the first system state at a time calculated by an algorithm which incorporates at least one factor other than the passage of a certain amount of time.

28. The method of

claim 27

, wherein the second system state prevents use of the controller for accessing pay-per-view programming.

29. The method of

claim 27

, wherein the second system state allows use of the controller for conducting e-commerce transactions via the Internet.

30. The method of

claim 27

, wherein the second system state causes a banner ad program to execute and display a banner ad on a display associated with the controller.

31. The method of

claim 30

, wherein the display is on the controller.

32. The method of

claim 27

wherein the consumer device is a set-top box.

33. The method of

claim 27

, wherein the at least one factor is the identity of the first user.

34. The method of

claim 27

, wherein the at least one factor is a category of use associated with the consumer device.

35. The method of

claim 27

, wherein the at least one factor is a subject matter of activity within a category of use associated with the consumer device.

36. The method of

claim 27

wherein the second system state is associated with a second set of functionality different than the first set of functionality.

37. The method of

claim 27

, wherein the second system state is associated with an identity of a second user.

38. A method of controlling multi-user access to functionality of a consumer device comprising the steps:

determining an identity of a first user in response to bio-metric input supplied by the first user to a controller;

establishing a first system state of the controller, said first system state being associated with said identity;

providing access to a first set of functionality of a consumer device by use of the controller, said access being dependent upon the identity of the first user; and

switching to a second system state from the first system state in response to a predetermined amount of time passing after establishing the first system state, said second system state being related to a previous system state of the controller that was in effect after a previous use of the controller by a second user which occurred prior to establishing the first system state.

39. The method of

claim 38

, wherein the second system state is substantially identical to the previous system state.

40. The method of

claim 38

, wherein the second system state is a default system state.

41. The method of

claim 38

, wherein the predetermined amount of time is calculated by an algorithm which incorporates at least one factor other than the passage of a certain amount of time.

42. The method of

claim 41

, wherein the other factor is the identity of the first user.

43. The method of

claim 41

, wherein the at least one factor is a category of use associated with the consumer device.

44. The method of

claim 41

, wherein the at least one factor is a subject matter of activity with a category of activity associated with the consumer device.