INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDER CALLBACK FOR SATELLITE SYSTEMS

• US 20110030023A1
• Filed: 10/11/2010
• Published: 02/03/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Cocchi, Ronald P., Breier, Donald J., Flaharty, Dennis R., Kahn, Raynold M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,689,271 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/110
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2856 Access arrangements, e.g. Internet access asynchronous transfer mode networks H04L12/5601; broadband local area networks H04L12/2801; optical access or distribution networks H04Q11/0067; access to open networks H04L12/5691; digital subscriber line end-user equipment and bit-level processing of data on a PSTN-based network H04M11/00; home network gateways H04L12/2834; wireless access networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2543 Billing , e.g. for subscription services payment schemes, architectures or protocols G06Q20/00; e-commerce G06Q30/00; arrangements for billing for the use of broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/21
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4181 for conditional access
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4182 for identification purposes, e.g. storing user identification data, preferences, personal settings or data restricting access to computer systems by authenticating users using a predetermined code in combination with an additional device, e.g. dongle or smart card G06F21/123
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4185 for payment
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4381 Recovering the multiplex stream from a specific network, e.g. recovering MPEG packets from ATM cells transmission of MPEG streams over ATM H04L12/5601
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47211 for requesting pay-per-view content payment schemes payment architectures or payment protocols G06Q20/00, G07F
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6143 involving transmission via a satellite
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6175 involving transmission via Internet broadcast-related systems characterised by the transmission system being the Internet H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6371 directed to network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/64322 IP
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6581 Reference data, e.g. a movie identifier for ordering a movie or a product identifier in a home shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

A method, apparatus, article of manufacture, and a memory structure for delivering purchase information comprising storing purchase information for a purchase of a user in a set top box. The set top box (STB) is configured to receive and display the broadcast signals through a tuner onto a display device. The STB establishes a connection to the Internet through a user initiated action (e.g., when the user accesses the Internet using the STB). A new transmission control/Internet protocol (TCP/IP) connection is obtained using the established user-initiated Internet connection without the user requesting the connection. A secure electronic connection is established with a server through the new TCP/IP connection. The purchase information is then transmitted from the STB through the secure electronic connection to the server.

Claims

1. In a set top box configured to receive broadcast content, a callback method comprising:

exchanging purchase information with a service provider over an Internet or data paging network connection;

determining whether an existing Internet or data paging network connection is present on a telephone line coupled to the set top box;

determining whether a mandatory callback time period has elapsed; and

when there is no existing Internet or data paging network connection present on the telephone line and the mandatory callback time period has elapsed, initiating a new Internet or data paging network connection.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the purchase information relates to a pay per view program.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the purchase information relates to an electronic commerce transaction.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

automatically obtaining a TCP/IP connection through a communication module of the set top box;

establishing, through the TCP/IP connection, a secure electronic connection with a server of the service provider; and

communicating the purchase information between the set top box and the server through the secure electronic connection.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

storing the purchase information in a conditional access module coupled to the set top box;

enabling a presentation device to display the broadcast content using the conditional access module.