System and method for providing digital content

• US 9,300,662 B2
• Filed: 02/03/2014
• Issued: 03/29/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Inventors: Chen, Michael A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Schwartz, Darren B
• Application Number:
  US14/171,112
• Publication Number:
  US 20140215591A1
• Time in Patent Office: 785 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0853 using an additional device, e.g. smartcard, SIM or a different communication terminal cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving additional secure or trusted devices H04L9/3234
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/107 wherein the security policies are location-dependent, e.g. entities privileges depend on current location or allowing specific operations only from locally connected terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3234 involving additional secure or trusted devices, e.g. TPM, smartcard, USB or software token network architectures or network communication protocols for supporting authentication of entities using an additional device in a packet data network H04L63/0853
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3297 involving time stamps, e.g. generation of time stamps
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25816 involving client authentication restricting access to computer systems by authenticating users using a predetermined code G06F21/33; cryptographic authentication protocols H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08; authentication in wireless network security H04W12/06
• 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 21/4524 involving the geographical location of the client retrieval from the Internet by querying based on geographical locations G06F16/9537; systems specially adapted for using geographical information in broadcast systems H04H60/70; protocols in which the network application is adapted for the location of the user terminal in communication control or processing 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 21/8355 involving usage data, e.g. number of copies or viewings allowed

Abstract

A method of providing access to content based upon one or more adequately-credentialed keys being proximate to a certain location. The method includes a first step of acquiring credential information from at least one key tagged with credential information using a credential acquisition device (CAD) at the certain location. The method also includes a second step of confirming that the credential information meets requirements for receiving the content. Further, the method includes a step of providing access to the content after performing the first and second steps.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, from a first device, information acquired from a key;

verifying, by a computing device, that the information meets an encryption strength requirement and a market area requirement;

causing, by the computing device, an option to be selectable at a second device in response to verifying that the information meets the encryption strength requirement and the market area requirement; and

delivering, to the second device, content in response to receiving a selection of the option.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the delivering the content comprises delivering the content to the second device at a location separate from a location of the first device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the delivering the content comprises transmitting, by the computing device, a signal to a content server to cause the content server to deliver the content to the second device.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving delivery parameters from a data store remote from the first device,

wherein the delivering the content comprises delivering the content to the second device according to the delivery parameters.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving purchase information; and

identifying a user based on the purchase information,

wherein the delivering the content comprises delivering the content to the second device associated with the identified user.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the causing the option to be selectable at the second device comprises causing a video-on-demand option to be selectable at a set top box.

7. The method of claim 1,

wherein the verifying further comprises verifying that the information is received within a predetermined time range, and

wherein the causing the option to be selectable comprises causing the option to be selectable in response to verifying that the information is received within the predetermined time range.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the causing the option to be selectable comprises allowing the option to be accessible for a duration of an event occurring where the key is distributed.

9. A method comprising:

receiving, via first device, information from a key;

verifying, by a computing device, that the information meets an encryption strength requirement and is received within a particular time range;

causing, by the computing device, an option to be selectable at a second device in response to verifying that the information meets the encryption strength requirement and is received within the particular time range; and

transmitting content to the second device associated with the first device in response to receiving a selection of the option.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the transmitting comprises wirelessly transmitting the content to the second device as a supplement to a television program.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the verifying further comprises verifying that the information comprises an entitlement to a service based on a service identifier.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising communicating with a back office system to identify a user of the key based at least on the information.

13. The method of claim 12,

wherein the communicating with the back office system to identify the user comprises communicating a location of the first device for use in identifying the user, and

wherein the transmitting the content comprises transmitting the content that is customized for the user based on at least a profile of the user.

14. The method of claim 9,

wherein the verifying further comprises verifying that the key is located at a particular location, and

wherein the transmitting the content to the second device comprises transmitting the content to the second device if the second device is at the particular location.

15. A method comprising:

receiving, via a first device, information from a first key;

verifying, by a computing device, that the information meets an encryption strength requirement and is received within a particular time range;

causing, by the computing device, a video-on-demand selection to be accessible at a second device in response to verifying that the information meets the encryption strength requirement and is received within the particular time range; and

transmitting content to the second device in response to receiving a selection of the video-on-demand selection.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the causing the video-on-demand selection to be accessible comprises allowing the video-on-demand selection to be accessible for a limited period of time.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the allowing the video-on-demand selection to be accessible for the limited period of time comprises limiting accessibility to the video-on-demand selection to a duration of an event associated with the first key.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the verifying further comprises verifying that a user associated with the information belongs to a tier that entitles the user to the content.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

receiving, via a third device remote from the first device, second information from a second key different from the first key,

wherein the verifying further comprises verifying that the second information meets a requirement, and

wherein causing the video-on-demand selection to be accessible further comprises causing the video-on-demand selection to be accessible in response to verifying that the second information meets the requirement.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the transmitting the content comprises transmitting the content to the second device located at a location separate from a location of the first device.