System for Interactively Distributing Information Services

• US 20100095322A1
• Filed: 12/14/2009
• Published: 04/15/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Comcast IP Holdings I LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Comcast IP Holdings I LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Inventors: Goode, Christopher, Knight, Stanley, Gordon, Donald, Van der Star, Jack, Chin, Danny
• Granted Patent: US 7,865,926 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/30
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17336 Handling of requests in head-ends

Abstract

An interactive information distribution system includes service provider equipment for generating an information stream that is coupled to an information channel and transmitted to subscriber equipment. The service provider also generates a command signal that is coupled to a command channel and transmitted to the subscriber equipment. The service provider also receives information manipulation requests from the subscriber via a back channel. A communication network supporting the information channel, command channel and back channel is coupled between the service provider equipment and the subscriber equipment.

Claims

1. A method of interactively distributing secure information including a plurality of programs to a subscriber terminal from a service provider, said method comprising:

receiving, from the subscriber terminal via a back channel, a request for at least one program of the plurality of programs, said request having a personal identification number (PIN) associated with a requesting subscriber and a unique subscriber terminal identification number (TID) assigned to the subscriber terminal;

comparing the received TID from the request to a stored TID at said service provider to confirm the received TID;

comparing the received PIN from the request to a stored PIN at said service provider to confirm the received PIN;

sending, in response to confirming the received TID and the received PIN in the steps of comparing, the requested at least one program via a forward channel, said requested at least one program comprising data stream packets containing the received TID; and

assigning, periodically by the service provider, a randomly altered TID to said subscriber terminal.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising associating each of the requested at least one program with a unique program identification number (PID).

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

sending, from a video session manager, each PID to a server storing said plurality of programs; and

sending, from the server, the requested at least one program from the server back to the video session manager upon completion of said comparing steps.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising randomly assigning and altering each PID.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

maintaining a database particular to the requesting subscriber;

associating the PIN of the requesting subscriber with at least one authorized menu tree;

providing said at least one authorized menu tree to the requesting subscriber for browsing and selection.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising randomly assigning and altering the PIN.