Systems and methods for subscriber authentication
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A subscriber authentication system comprising:
- an encoder coupled to a source of video signals and a source of subscriber data that is operable to generate encoded video signals having at least a portion of the subscriber data encoded thereon, wherein the subscriber data encoded on the encoded video signals are imperceptible to a viewer during presentation of the encoded video signals to the viewer; and
an authentication indicating apparatus that is operable to receive the encoded video signals and to decode the encoded video signals that are received to determine an authentication status to at least one of confirm a level of service, validate a level of service, or substantiate a level of service in the video signals that the viewer is authorized to receive using the subscriber data, wherein the authentication indicating apparatus comprises one or more indicating devices positioned on an exterior portion of the apparatus that provide an observable indication of the authentication status for the subscriber.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods for authenticating subscribers of video signals are disclosed. In accordance with the various embodiments, a subscriber authentication system includes an encoder coupled to a source of video signals and a source of subscriber data. The encoder generates encoded video signals having at least a portion of the subscriber data encoded in the video signals. An authentication indicating apparatus operable to receive the encoded video signals and to decode the received signals generates an authentication status for the subscriber.
176 Citations
59 Claims
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1. A subscriber authentication system comprising:
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an encoder coupled to a source of video signals and a source of subscriber data that is operable to generate encoded video signals having at least a portion of the subscriber data encoded thereon, wherein the subscriber data encoded on the encoded video signals are imperceptible to a viewer during presentation of the encoded video signals to the viewer; and an authentication indicating apparatus that is operable to receive the encoded video signals and to decode the encoded video signals that are received to determine an authentication status to at least one of confirm a level of service, validate a level of service, or substantiate a level of service in the video signals that the viewer is authorized to receive using the subscriber data, wherein the authentication indicating apparatus comprises one or more indicating devices positioned on an exterior portion of the apparatus that provide an observable indication of the authentication status for the subscriber. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A subscriber authentication system comprising:
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an encoder in communication with video signals and subscriber data, the encoder operable to modulate a predetermined portion of the subscriber data onto the video signals to generate a modulated video signal, wherein the subscriber data encoded on the encoded video signals are imperceptible to a viewer during presentation of the encoded video signals to the viewer; and an authentication indicating apparatus that is operable to receive the modulated video signals and to demodulate the predetermined portion of the subscriber data, the authentication indicating apparatus further operable to use the predetermined portion of the subscriber data to determine an authentication status to at least one of confirm a level of service, validate a level of service, or substantiate a level of service in the video signals that the viewer is authorized to receive using the predetermined portion of the subscriber data, wherein the authentication indicating apparatus comprises one or more indicating devices positioned on an exterior portion of the apparatus that provide a visible indication of the authentication status. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8)
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9. A subscriber authentication system comprising:
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a receiver configured to receive encoded video signals that include selected subscriber data and to provide an encoded output displayable on a visual display device, wherein the selected subscriber data are encoded on the encoded video signals and are imperceptible to a viewer during presentation of the encoded video signals to the viewer; and an authentication indicating apparatus that is operable to receive the encoded output and to decode the selected subscriber data in order to determine an authentication status to at least one of confirm a level of service, validate a level of service, or substantiate a level of service in the encoded video signals that the viewer is authorized to receive using the selected subscriber data, wherein the authentication indicating apparatus comprises one or more indicating devices positioned on an exterior portion of the apparatus that provide a visible indication of the authentication status. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of subscriber authentication, the method comprising:
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encoding a selected portion of subscriber data onto a video signal to generate an encoded video signal, the subscriber data representative of an identification of a subscriber authorized to view the video signal, wherein the subscriber data encoded on the encoded video signals are imperceptible to a viewer during presentation of the encoded video signals to the viewer; communicating the encoded video signal to a display device operable to display the encoded video signals; decoding the displayed video signals to at least one of confirm a level of service, validate a level of service, or substantiate a level of service in the video signals that the subscriber is authorized to receive using the subscriber data; and displaying the subscriber data on at least one of a light-emitting device or the display device. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method of subscriber authentication, the method comprising:
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modulating a selected portion of subscriber data onto a video signal to generate a modulated video signal, wherein the subscriber data modulated onto the video signal are imperceptible to a viewer during presentation of the modulated video signals to the viewer; communicating the modulated video signal to a display device operable to display the modulated video signals; detecting the selected portion of the subscriber data while the modulated video signal is displayed; at least one of confirming a level of service, validating a level of service, or substantiating a level of service in the video signals that the viewer is authorized to receive using the subscriber data that is detected; and displaying the generated authentication status on at least one of a light-emitting device or the display device. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. A subscriber authentication system comprising:
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a receiver configured to receive video signals and to combine the video signals with selected subscriber data to generate encoded video signals displayable on a visual display device, wherein the selected subscriber data combined with the video signals are imperceptible to a viewer during presentation of the encoded video signals to the viewer; and an authentication indicating apparatus that is operable to receive the encoded video signals and to decode the selected subscriber data from the encoded video signals to at least one of confirm a level of service, validate a level of service, or substantiate a level of service in the video signals that the viewer is authorized to receive, wherein the authentication indicating apparatus comprises one or more indicating devices positioned on an exterior portion of the authentication indicating apparatus that provide a visible indication of the level of service in the video signals that the viewer is authorized to receive. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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42. A subscriber authentication system, comprising:
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a transmitter configured to communicate video signals; a receiver configured to receive the video signals and to combine the video signals with selected subscriber data to generate encoded video signals displayable on a visual display device, wherein the selected subscriber data combined with the video signals are imperceptible to a viewer during display of the encoded video signals to the viewer; and an authentication indicating apparatus coupled to the receiver that is operable to receive the encoded signals, decode the selected subscriber data and compare the subscriber data with a subscriber status, wherein the authentication indicating apparatus is operable to discontinue reception of the video signals if the subscriber data and the subscriber status differ. - View Dependent Claims (43)
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44. A method of subscriber authentication, the method comprising:
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accessing a video signal having encoded subscriber data that is obtained from a source of supplemental data and that is modulated onto the video signal, wherein the encoded subscriber data are imperceptible to a viewer during presentation of the video signal to the viewer; detecting the encoded subscriber data while the modulated video signal is displayed; generating an authentication status representative of commercial verification of the viewer using the encoded subscriber data that are detected to at least one of confirm a level of service, verify a level of service, or substantiate a level of service in the video signal that the viewer is authorized to receive; and displaying the authentication status that is generated on at least one of a light-emitting device or a display device. - View Dependent Claims (45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55)
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56. A subscriber authentication system comprising:
a decoder configured to be operatively coupled to a display device and a receiver of encoded video signals having at least a portion of subscriber data encoded thereon, the subscriber data imperceptibly encoded on the encoded video signals such that the subscriber data are imperceptible to a viewer during presentation of the encoded video signals to the viewer on the display device, the subscriber data representative of a commercial verification of a subscriber of the encoded video signals, wherein the decoder is configured to decode the subscriber data from the encoded video signal to at least one of confirm a level of service, verify a level of service, or substantiate a level of service in the encoded video signals that the subscriber is authorized to view on the display device, wherein the decoder is configured to determine one or more locations where the subscriber is authorized to view the encoded video signals based on the level of service that is at least one of confirmed, verified, or substantiated from the subscriber data. - View Dependent Claims (57, 58, 59)
Specification