Method and system for using a website to perform a remote action on a set top box with a secure authorization

• US 8,364,778 B2
• Filed: 04/11/2007
• Issued: 01/29/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DIRECTV, LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kahn, Raynold M., Kidd, Deanna R., Basse, Hanno, Labisi, Tokunbo, Palase, Frank A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chan, Wing F
• Assistant Examiner(s): Thieu, Benjamin M
• Application Number:
  US11/786,136
• Publication Number:
  US 20080256084A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,120 Days
• Field of Search: 709/203, 709/217, 709/231, 709/208, 709/219, 348/13, 348/10, 348/17, 348 46- 47, 725/55, 725/100, 725/131, 725/39, 725/51, 725/139, 725/105, 725/86, 37910201-10205
• US Class Current: 709/217
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26613 for generating or managing keys in general key distribution for secret or secure communication involving central third party, e.g. key distribution center [KDC] or trusted third party [TTP] H04L9/083; network support of key management H04L63/06; key management for network security in communication control or processing H04W12/04
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4147 PVR [Personal Video Recorder] H04N5/76 takes precedence ; arrangements for broadcast with accumulation-type receivers H04H20/40
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4334 Recording operations recording of a television signal H04N5/76; arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/27
• 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 21/472 End-user interface for requesting content, additional data or services; End-user interface for interacting with content, e.g. for content reservation or setting reminders, for requesting event notification, for manipulating displayed content end-user interfaces for retrieving video data from a database G06F16/739; network services for supporting unicast streaming H04L65/612
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6143 involving transmission via a satellite
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

A communication system 10 and method of operating the same includes a website 40, a computing device 30 accessing the website 40 and selecting a content request from the website 40, a conditional access system 60 coupled to the website 40 generates a permission packet in response to the content request. A user device 22 receives the permission packet. In response to the permission packet, the user device 22 forms a connection to the user device 22 in response to the permission packet through a communication network 50.

Claims

1. A method of delivering content comprising:

accessing a website from a computing device;

selecting a content title from the website using the computing device;

generating a permission packet at a conditional access system for accessing content from a content delivery network corresponding to the content title;

communicating the permission packet from the conditional access system to a user device; and

at the user device, opening a connection to the content delivery network for communicating content corresponding to the content title to the user device through a communication network based on the permission packet.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising:

communicating content corresponding to the content title through the connection; and

storing the content in the user device.

3. The method as recited in claim 2 wherein the user device is a satellite television set top box having a digital video recorder therein.

4. The method as recited in claim 3 wherein storing the content comprises storing the content in the digital video recorder.

5. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein accessing a website comprises accessing the website by a subscriber using the computing device.

6. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein accessing a website comprises accessing the website from a mobile computing device.

7. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein accessing a website comprises verifying a user prior to selecting a content file.

8. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein forming a connection comprises forming a two-way connection between the content delivery network and the user device.

9. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein forming a connection comprises forming a two way connection between a second website and the user device.

10. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein communicating the permission packet comprises communicating the permission packet through a satellite.

11. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the connection is a broadband connection.

12. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the connection comprises a satellite connection.

13. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the connection comprises a cable connection.

14. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the connection comprises a wireless connection.

15. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the user device comprises a digital video recorder.

16. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the user device is a satellite television set top box.

17. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising forming a second connection between the user device and content delivery network, and thereafter communicating a request for action to the user device through the connection and communicating the content through the second connection.

18. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising adding the content to a queue associated with the user device.

19. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising assigning a download priority and when the download priority is high inserting the content in the queue.

20. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising communicating content through a satellite connection.

21. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein forming a connection to the user device in response to the permission packet comprises tuning and receiving a program from a broadcast satellite system.

22. A method of delivering content comprising:

accessing a website from a computing device;

validating an account status from the website;

after validating an account status, selecting a request for content from a user interface associated with the website;

communicating the request to a conditional access system;

generating a permission packet at the conditional access system that includes a recording request;

communicating the permission packet to a user device through a satellite;

in response to the permission packet, forming a connection between a content delivery network and the user device;

communicating the content from the content delivery network to the user device through the connection in response to the recording request; and

storing the content at the user device.

23. The method as recited in claim 22 wherein the connection is a broadband connection.

24. The method as recited in claim 22 wherein the connection comprises a satellite connection.

25. The method as recited in claim 22 wherein the connection comprises a cable connection.

26. The method as recited in claim 22 wherein the connection comprises a wireless connection.

27. The method as recited in claim 22 wherein the user device comprises a digital video recorder.

28. The method as recited in claim 22 wherein the user device is a satellite television set top box.

29. A method of distributing content comprising:

selecting a content title from a list at a computing device;

generating a permission packet at a conditional access system directed to a first user device in response to selecting;

broadcasting the permission packet to multiple user devices;

in response to the permission packet, opening a connection between a content delivery network and the first user device; and

communicating the content through the connection.

30. The method as recited in claim 29 wherein the connection comprises a satellite connection.

31. The method as recited in claim 29 wherein the connection comprises a cable connection.

32. The method as recited in claim 29 wherein the connection comprises a wireless connection.

33. The method as recited in claim 29 wherein the user device comprises a digital video recorder.

34. The method as recited in claim 29 wherein the user device is a satellite television set top box.

35. A system comprising:

a website;

a computing device accessing the website and selecting a content request from the website;

a conditional access system coupled to the website generating a permission packet in response to the content request; and

a user device receiving the permission packet and, in response to the permission packet, opening a first connection from a content delivery network to the user device through a communication network.

36. The system as recited in claim 35 wherein said content delivery network communicates the content through the first connection and said user device stores the content in the user device.

37. The system as recited in claim 35 wherein said website communicates a request for action to the user device, said user device in response to the request for action forming a second connection to a content delivery network, said content delivery network communicates the content through the second connection, said user device stores the content in the user device.

38. The system as recited in claim 37 wherein the second connection comprises a cable connection.

39. The system as recited in claim 37 wherein the second connection comprises a wireless connection.

40. The system as recited in claim 37 wherein the second connection comprises a broadband connection.

41. The system as recited in claim 37 wherein the user device comprises a digital video recorder.

42. The system as recited in claim 37 wherein the user device comprises a satellite television set top box.

43. The system as recited in claim 35 wherein the first connection comprises a satellite connection.

44. The system as recited in claim 35 wherein the first connection comprises a cable connection.

45. The system as recited in claim 44 wherein the second connection comprises a broadband connection.

46. The system as recited in claim 35 wherein the first connection comprises a wireless connection.