Proximity detection using wireless connectivity in a communications system

• US 8,127,326 B2
• Filed: 10/01/2003
• Issued: 02/28/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Scientific-Atlanta LLC (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Claussen, Paul J., Nair, Ajith N., Russ, Samuel H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Koenig, Andrew
• Assistant Examiner(s): Stockely-Collins, Jasmine
• Application Number:
  US10/676,968
• Publication Number:
  US 20040068744A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,072 Days
• Field of Search: 725/81, 725/29, 455/26.1
• US Class Current: 725/25
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1094 Inter-user-equipment sessions transfer or sharing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/612 for unicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/613 for the control of the source by the destination control signals issued by the client directed to the server or network components specially adapted for selective content distribution H04N21/637
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/752 adapting media to network capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25841 involving the geographical location of the client retrieval from the Internet by querying based on geographical locations G06F16/9537; arrangements for identifying locations of receiving stations in broadcast systems H04H60/51; location of the user terminal in data switching networks H04L67/52; services making use of the location of users or terminals in wireless networks H04W4/02; locating users or terminals in wireless networks H04W64/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4113 PC
• 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 21/426 Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/434 Disassembling of a multiplex stream, e.g. demultiplexing audio and video streams, extraction of additional data from a video stream; Remultiplexing of multiplex streams; Extraction or processing of SI; Disassembling of packetised elementary stream demultiplexing of data packets for data networks, e.g. RTP/UDP H04L65/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43615 Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43637 involving a wireless protocol, e.g. Bluetooth, RF or wireless LAN [IEEE 802.11] arrangements for wireless networking or broadcasting of information in indoor or near-field type systems H04B10/114
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4383 Accessing a communication channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4402 involving reformatting operations of video signals for household redistribution, storage or real-time display details of conversion of video standards at pixel level H04N7/01; video transcoding H04N19/40; adapting incoming signals to the display format of the display terminal G09G5/005; media handling at the source in data packet switching networks H04L65/764
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/440254 by altering signal-to-noise parameters, e.g. requantization
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 by receiver means only
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/173 with two-way working, e.g. subscriber sending a programme selection signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17309 Transmission or handling of upstream communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/18 Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast

Abstract

The present invention is directed towards a primary device that detects the proximity of additional remote devices, which are intended to be within the same local network. The primary device communicates with the remote devices using wireless communication. In the event that the remote devices are outside of a predetermined range, the remote devices are disabled.

Claims

1. A system for distributing program services by transmitting said program services in the form of a plurality of audio/video signals from a headend facility to a plurality of receiving devices, the system comprising:

a primary device for receiving and distributing the plurality of audio/video signals from said headend facility to at least one remote device and including a wireless accessory for wireless communication with said at least one remote device to distribute said audio/video signals, wherein the primary device, in response to receiving a proximity detection request from said headend facility, determines a distance between the primary device and each remote device via the wireless accessory to identify each remote device with said determined distance from said primary device exceeding a predetermined distance, communicates said each identified remote device to said headend facility to facilitate disablement of said program services to said each identified remote device, and selectively disables said program services to said each identified remote device in accordance with direction from said headend facility.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein when the primary device determines the distance to be outside of the predetermined distance, the corresponding remote device discontinues receiving signals.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the primary device transmits a signal indicating the presence or absence of the at least one remote device within the predetermined distance.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein when the headend facility receives the signal indicating the absence of the at least one remote device, the headend facility discontinues program services to the at least one remote device.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the headend facility discontinues program services by at least one of no longer transmitting signals directly from the headend facility and sending a discontinue signal to the primary device directing the primary device to no longer communicate with the at least one remote device.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the primary device includes a set-up procedure that includes detecting and storing the distance between the primary device and the at least one remote device, wherein the detected distance becomes the predetermined distance.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the primary device determines the distance by using a receive signal strength indication measurement.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the primary device determines the distance by using ultrawideband (UWB) communications with the at least one remote device.

9. A system for distributing program services by transmitting said program services in the form of a plurality of audio/video signals from a headend facility to a plurality of receiving devices, the system comprising:

a primary device for receiving and distributing the plurality of audio/video signals from said headend facility, the primary device comprising;

a plurality of tuners, each tuner for providing an audio/video signal; and

a wireless accessory for wireless communication to distribute said audio/video signal from each said tuner; and

at least one remote device in wireless communication with the primary device to receive said program services, the at least one remote device for selecting and receiving a selected audio/video signal from at least one of the plurality of tuners and the headend facility;

wherein the primary device, in response to receiving a proximity detection request from said headend facility, determines a distance between the primary device and each said remote device via the wireless accessory to identify each remote device with said determined distance from said primary device exceeding a predetermined distance, communicates said each identified remote device to said headend facility to facilitate disablement of said program services to said each identified remote device, and selectively disables said program services to said each identified remote device in accordance with direction from said headend facility.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein when the primary device determines the distance to be outside of the predetermined distance, the corresponding remote device discontinues receiving signals.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the primary device transmits a signal indicating the presence or absence of the at least one remote device within said predetermined distance.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein when the headend facility receives the signal indicating the absence of the at least one remote device, the headend facility discontinues program services to the at least one remote device.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the headend facility discontinues program services by at least one of no longer transmitting signals directly from the headend facility and sending a discontinue signal to the primary device directing the primary device to no longer communicate with the at least one remote device.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the primary device includes a set-up procedure that includes detecting and storing the distance between the primary device and the at least one remote device, wherein the detected distance becomes the predetermined distance.

15. The system of claim 9, wherein the primary device determines the distance by using a receive signal strength indication measurement.

16. The system of claim 9, wherein the primary device determines the distance by using ultrawideband (UWB) communications with the at least one remote device.