Classifications

• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
  • H04N7/00—Television systems
  • H04N7/16—Analogue secrecy systems; Analogue subscription systems
  • H04N7/162—Authorising the user terminal, e.g. by paying; Registering the use of a subscription channel, e.g. billing
  • H04N7/165—Centralised control of user terminal ; Registering at central
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
  • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
  • H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
  • H04N21/45—Management operations performed by the client for facilitating the reception of or the interaction with the content or administrating data related to the end-user or to the client device itself, e.g. learning user preferences for recommending movies, resolving scheduling conflicts
  • H04N21/462—Content or additional data management, e.g. creating a master electronic program guide from data received from the Internet and a Head-end, controlling the complexity of a video stream by scaling the resolution or bit-rate based on the client capabilities
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
  • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
  • H04N21/20—Servers specifically adapted for the distribution of content, e.g. VOD servers; Operations thereof
  • H04N21/25—Management operations performed by the server for facilitating the content distribution or administrating data related to end-users or client devices, e.g. end-user or client device authentication, learning user preferences for recommending movies
  • H04N21/258—Client or end-user data management, e.g. managing client capabilities, user preferences or demographics, processing of multiple end-users preferences to derive collaborative data
  • H04N21/25808—Management of client data
  • H04N21/25816—Management of client data involving client authentication
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
  • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
  • H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
  • H04N21/45—Management operations performed by the client for facilitating the reception of or the interaction with the content or administrating data related to the end-user or to the client device itself, e.g. learning user preferences for recommending movies, resolving scheduling conflicts
  • H04N21/462—Content or additional data management, e.g. creating a master electronic program guide from data received from the Internet and a Head-end, controlling the complexity of a video stream by scaling the resolution or bit-rate based on the client capabilities
  • H04N21/4623—Processing of entitlement messages, e.g. ECM [Entitlement Control Message] or EMM [Entitlement Management Message]
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
  • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
  • H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
  • H04N21/47—End-user applications
  • H04N21/472—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
  • H04N21/47202—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 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
  • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
  • H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
  • H04N21/47—End-user applications
  • H04N21/475—End-user interface for inputting end-user data, e.g. personal identification number [PIN], preference data
  • H04N21/4753—End-user interface for inputting end-user data, e.g. personal identification number [PIN], preference data for user identification, e.g. by entering a PIN or password
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
  • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
  • H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
  • H04N21/47—End-user applications
  • H04N21/488—Data services, e.g. news ticker
  • H04N21/4882—Data services, e.g. news ticker for displaying messages, e.g. warnings, reminders
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
  • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
  • H04N21/60—Network structure or processes for video distribution between server and client or between remote clients; Control signalling between clients, server and network components; Transmission of management data between server and client, e.g. sending from server to client commands for recording incoming content stream; Communication details between server and client 
  • H04N21/63—Control signaling related to video distribution between client, server and network components; Network processes for video distribution between server and clients or between remote clients, e.g. transmitting basic layer and enhancement layers over different transmission paths, setting up a peer-to-peer communication via Internet between remote STB's; Communication protocols; Addressing
  • H04N21/633—Control signals issued by server directed to the network components or client
  • H04N21/6332—Control signals issued by server directed to the network components or client directed to client
  • H04N21/6334—Control signals issued by server directed to the network components or client directed to client for authorisation, e.g. by transmitting a key
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
  • H04N7/00—Television systems
  • H04N7/16—Analogue secrecy systems; Analogue subscription systems
  • H04N7/173—Analogue secrecy systems; Analogue subscription systems with two-way working, e.g. subscriber sending a programme selection signal

Definitions

• a variety of mechanisms are available for controlling the access of data-on-demand (DOD) clients to DOD services through set top boxes (STB) for receiving DOD programs for display on a television or other video display device.
• DOD data-on-demand
• STB set top boxes
• One problem faced in the video-on- demand (VOD) and DOD industry is controlling the access of a client's STB to DOD programs without using bi-directional communications.
• Traditional uni-directional communications, such as cable have had many problems in controlling what services selected clients could access.
• the advent of the STB allowed a mixed signal to be sent with some programs being scrambled in order to allow only clients with special STBs to receive these programs. However, this allowed clients who were delinquent in their payments to continue to receive service and made it difficult to change levels of service without exchanging STBs.
• Using bi-directional communications allowed for DOD programs to be sent to individual clients, however this would use significant processing and bandwidth resources and will not work in uni-directional systems.
• a bit stream, multiplexed in accordance with the MPEG-2 standard is a "transport stream” constructed from "packetized elementary stream” (or PES) packets and packets containing other necessary information.
• a "packetized elementary stream” (or PES) packet is a data structure used to carry "elementary stream data.”
• An "elementary stream” is a generic term for one of (a) coded video, (b) coded audio, or (c) other coded bit streams carried in a sequence of PES packets with one stream ID.
• Transport streams support multiplexing of video and audio compressed streams from one program with a common time base.
• FIG. 2 is a block schematic showing a digital broadcast system 200 including a digital broadcast server 202 and a set-top-box 204 suitable for processing digital broadcast data.
• video data is provided to a video encoder 206 which encodes the video data in accordance with the MPEG-2 standard.
• the video encoder 206 provides encoded video 208 to a packetizer 210 which packetizes the encoded video 208.
• the packetized encoded video 212 provided by the packetizer 210 is then provided to a transport stream multiplexer 214.
• audio data is provided to an audio encoder 214 which encodes the audio data.
• the audio encoder 214 provides encoded audio 218 to a packetizer 220 which packetizes the encoded audio 218.
• the packetized encoded audio 222 provided by the packetizer 220 is then provided to the transport stream multiplexer 214.
• the transport stream multiplexer 214 multiplexes the encoded audio and video packets and transmits the resulting multiplexed stream to a set-top-box 204 via distribution infrastructure 224.
• This distribution infrastructure 224 may be, for example, a telephone network and/or a cable TV (CATN) system, employing optical fiber and implementing asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) transmission protocols.
• CAN cable TV
• ATM asynchronous transfer mode
• a transport stream demultiplexer 230 receives the multiplexed transport stream. Based on the packet identification number of a particular packet, the transport stream demultiplexer 230 separates the encoded audio and video packets and provides the video packets to a video decoder 232 via link 238 and the audio packets to an audio decoder 236 via link 240. The transport stream demultiplexer 230 also provides timing information to a clock control unit 236.
• the clock control unit 236 provides timing outputs to the both the video decoder 232 and the audio decoder 236 based on the timing information provided by the transport stream demultiplexer 230 (e.g., based on the values of PCR fields).
• the video decoder 232 provides video data which corresponds to the video data originally provided to the video encoder 206.
• the audio decoder 236 provides audio data which corresponds to the audio data originally provided to the audio encoder 216.
• FIG. 3 shows a simplified functional block diagram of a VOD system 300.
• the video server 310 which routes the digital movies, resident in the movie storage system 312, to the distribution infrastructure 314.
• This distribution infrastructure 314 may be, for example, a telephone network and/or a cable TV (CATV) system, employing optical fiber and implementing asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) transmission protocols.
• the distribution infrastructure 314 delivers movies to individual homes based on the routing information supplied by the video server 310.
• the VOD system 300 also includes a plurality of VOD STBs 304 suitable for processing VOD in the VOD system 300.
• Each STB 304 receives and decodes a digital movie and converts it to a signal for display on a TV set or A/V monitor.
• DOD server and the prior art DOD client will be described below with reference to FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, respectively.
• FIG. 4 illustrates a general diagram of a DOD system 320 having a bidirectional client-server architecture.
• the DOD system 322 includes a DOD server 322 bi- directionally coupled with a plurality of DOD clients 324 vi a communication link 326.
• the VOD system 300 of FIG. 3 is a somewhat specific example of the DOD system 320.
• the DOD system 320 operation adheres to the well known client-server model as follows. In some manner, typically through transmission of an Electronic Program Guide (EPG) by the DOD server 322, the clients 324 are informed of available on-demand data.
• EPG Electronic Program Guide
• a requesting DOD client 324 requests specific data from the DOD server 322 via the communication link 326.
• the DOD server 322 interprets the client request, and then prepares the client specific data in a format suitable for use by the requesting client 324. Once the client specific data is prepared, the server 322 transmits the client specific data to the requesting client 324.
• the requesting client 324 receives, via a specifically allocated portion of the communication link 326, the requested client specific data in a readably usable format.
• the requested client specific data is provided in a format ready for presentation by the DOD client to the end user.
• communication link 326 must be divided up into allocated portions 328, each allocated portion being dedicated to a particular client. Hence the bandwidth required for prior art DOD systems is directly proportional to the number of clients being served.
• communication link 326 may be a true bi-directional communications medium, such infrastructure is uncommon. Instead, typical implementations today cobble together existing infrastructure such as fiber optic cabling and telephone lines to implement the necessary bi-directional communications.
• the fiber optic cable may be used for server transmission of client specific data while an existing telephone line may be used for client transmission of requests.
• the DOD server identifies the available slots within the available transmission bandwidth.
• the DOD server prepares and transmits a suitable EPG to each client. It will be appreciated that different EPGs may be transmitted for different clients depending upon factors such as subscription levels, available services, personalized settings, payment history, etc.
• the DOD server receives a demand for specific data from a specific client. The demand includes information indicating the identity of the client.
• the DOD server identifies the specific client from information included with the demand.
• the DOD server compares a client's subscription level stored in the clients data file to the requested service's subscription level requirement. This determination generally requires many complex independent operations, and is described here in only in a very simplified manner.
• step 351 the DOD server assigns an available slot to the authentic client.
• step 352 the DOD server prepares the requested client specific data for transmission in a format suitable for the requesting client.
• Step 348 may include such actions as retrieving the client specific data from a persistent storage mechanism and preparing an appropriate channel server for data transmission.
• the DOD server transmits the client specific data via the bandwidth allocated to the requesting client. If the client is not authorized to receive the requested data, the process proceeds to step 351.
• DOD server transmits a generic message stating that the service is unavailable. Other appropriate data may also be ' transmitted.
• a client method 360 for retrieving on-demand data will now be described.
• the DOD client will tune into the appropriate channel program and in a receiving step 364 the DOD client will receive trie EFG transmitted by the DU server.
• the DOD client provides the EPG information to a DOD user and in a step 368, receives a request for specific data from the DOD user.
• the DOD client demands that the DOD server provide the requested client specific data.
• the DOD client tunes into the allocated bandwidth.
• the DOD client receives via allocated bandwidth the requested " client specific data in a readably usable format and provides it to the DOD user.
• a first embodiment of the present invention teaches a method for controlling client access to DOD services using only uni-directional communication, comprising the acts of: receiving at least one subscription data packet including at least one associated client identification code, at least one associated subscription level code, and at least one associated service level code; and storing at least a portion of the at least one associated subscription level code in a memory location; storing at least a portion of the at least one associated service level code in a memory location; receiving at least one first service having at least one associated subscription level; and wherein the' at least one associated subscription level code corresponds to the at least one associated subscription level, accessing at least a portion of the first service.
• the method further includes: receiving at least one second service having at least one associated service level; and wherein the at least one associated service level code corresponds to the at least one associated service level, accessing at least a portion of the second service.
• the subscription data packet includes at least one associated warning level code, displaying a warning message associated with the warning level code.
• FIG. 2 illustrates by block diagram a system according to the MPEG-2 standard
• FIG. 3 illustrates a simplified functional block diagram of a VOD system
• FIG. 4 illustrates a DOD system adhering to a prior art bi-directional client-server architecture
• FIG. 5 illustrates a DOD server method for controlling the receipt of DOD services by clients using a bi-directional, client specific data transmission mechanism
• FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a digital broadcast server in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.
• FIG. 9 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a subscription level data block in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.
• FIG. 10 is a flow chart illustrating a computer implemented method for controlling the subscription level of an STB in accordance with the present invention.
• FIG. 1 1 is a flow chart illustrating a computer executable method for accessing selected DOD services having an associated subscription level in accordance with the present invention
• FIG. 12A is schematic block diagram illustrating a subscription level data block in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention
• FIG. 12B is schematic block diagram illustrating a subscription level data block in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention
• FIG. 12C is schematic block diagram illustrating a subscription level data block in accordance with another alternative embodiment of the present invention.
• FIG. 13B is schematic block diagram illustrating a service level data block in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention.
• FIG. 14 is a flow chart illustrating a computer executable method for accessing selected DOD services having an associated service level in accordance with the present invention
• FIG. 15 is schematic block diagram illustrating a warning level data block in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.
• FIG. 16 is a flow chart illustrating a computer implemented method for displaying a warning message in accordance with the present invention.
• the present invention teaches methods and systems for preventing delinquent clients from viewing data from a uni-directional DOD system by displaying a warning message over displayed DOD data.
• the present invention also teaches methods and systems for altering a DOD clients subscription level without bi-directional communication or altering the clients STB.
• data files stored in the central storage 504 are accessible via a standard network interface (e.g., Ethernet connection) by any authorized computer, such as the central controlling server 502, connected to the network.
• the channel servers 411 provide data files that are retrieved from the central storage 504 in accordance with instructions from the central controlling server 502. The retrieval of digital data and the scheduling of transmission of the digital data for DOD is performed "off-line" to fully prepare each channel server 411 for real-time data transmission.
• Each channel server 411 informs the central controlling server 502 when ready to provide DOD, at which point the central controlling server 502 can control the channel servers 411 to begin DOD transmission.
• the central controlling server 502 includes a graphics user interface (not shown) to enable a service provider to schedule data delivery by a drag-and-drop operation. Further, the central controlling server 502 authenticates and controls the channel servers 410 to start or stop according to delivery matrices.
• Systems and methods for providing uni-directional DOD broadcast matrices are taught in Khoi Hoang's patent application entitled SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING VIDEO ON DEMAND SERVICES FOR BROADCASTING SYSTEMS filed on May 31, 2000, bearing application serial number 09/584,832, which is incorporated herein by reference.
• Each channel server 411 is assigned to a channel and is coupled to an up-converter 412.
• the output of each channel server 411 is a quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) modulated intermediate frequency (IF) signal having a suitable frequency for the corresponding up- converter 412.
• QAM-modulated IF signals are dependent upon adopted standards. 1 he current adopted standard in the United States is the data-over-cable-systems-interface- specification (DOCSIS) standard, which requires an approximately 43.75MHz IF frequency.
• DOCSIS data-over-cable-systems-interface- specification
• a preferred channel server 411 is described below in more detail with reference to FIG. 10.
• the up-con verters 412 convert IF signals received from the channel servers 104 to radio frequency signals (RF signals).
• the RF signals which include frequency and bandwidth, are dependent on a desired channel and adopted standards. For example, under the current standard in the United States for a cable television channel 80, the RF signal has a frequency of approximately 559.25MHz and a bandwidth of approximately 6MHz.
• the outputs of the up-con verters 412 are applfed to the combiner/amplifier 414.
• the combiner/amplifier 414 amplifies, conditions and combines the received RF signals then outputs the signals out to a transmission medium.
• FIG. 8 illustrates a universal STB 600 in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.
• the STB 600 comprises a QAM demodulator 602, a CPU 604, a local memory 608, a buffer memory 610, a decoder 612 having video and audio decoding capabilities, a graphics overlay module 614, a user interface 618, a communications link 620, and a fast data bus 622 coupling these devices as illustrated.
• the CPU 602 controls overall operation of the universal STB 600 in order to select data in response to a client's request, decode selected data, decompress decoded data, re-assemble decoded data, store decoded data in the local memory 608 or the buffer memory 610, and deliver stored data to the decoder 612.
• the local memory 608 comprises both non-volatile memory (e.g., a hard drive) and secure memory (e.g., a ROM chip), and the buffer memory 610 comprises volatile memory.
• a hardware identification code (not shown) is stored in a secure memory location of the local memory 608, this code is unique to the STB 600 and cannot be readily altered.
• An STB subscription level code is stored in a non- volatile memory location of the local memory 608, and is needed to access DOD programs.
• the QAM demodulator 602 comprises transmitter and receiver modules and one or more of the following: privacy encryption/decryption module, forward error correction decoder/encoder, tuner control, downstream and upstream processors, CPU and memory interface circuits.
• the QAM demodulator 602 receives modulated IF signals, samples and demodulates the signals to restore data.
• the decoder 612 when access is granted, decodes at least one data block to transform the data block into images displayable on an output screen.
• the decoder 612 supports commands from a subscribing client, such as play, stop, pause, step, rewind, rorwar ⁇ , etc. ine decoder oiz provi ⁇ es ⁇ eco ⁇ e ⁇ ⁇ aca LO an ouipui ueviue o t iur use ⁇ y the client.
• the output device 624 may be any suitable device such as a television, computer, any appropriate display monitor, a VCR, or the like.
• the graphics overlay module 614 enhances displayed graphics quality by, for example, providing alpha blending or picture-in-picture capabilities.
• the graphics overlay module 614 can be used for graphics acceleration during game playing mode for example, when the service provider provides games-on-demand services using the system in accordance with the invention.
• the user interface 618 enables user control of the STB 600, and may be any suitable device such as a remote control device, a keyboard, a smartcard, etc.
• the communications link may be any suitable device such as a remote control device, a keyboard, a smartcard, etc.
• the data bus 622 is preferably a commercially available "fast" data bus suitable for performing data communications in a real time manner as required by the present invention. Suitable examples are USB, firewire, etc.
• FIG. 9 shows a subscription data packet at 630 for controlling what DOD services are available to selected clients in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.
• a subscription data packet 630 is sent to all clients via the packet data stream 112 (FIG. 1).
• the subscription data packet 630 includes: a version identifier 632, a plurality of client identification codes 634; a plurality of client subscription level codes 636; a plurality of subscription service codes 638; and a plurality of warning codes 640.
• Each STB 600 (FIG. 8) is provided with the subscription level code 636, subscription service code 638 and warning code 640 associated with that client's client identification code 634.
• the subscription data packet 630 is transmitted at some regular time interval, for example once every 5 minutes. It is desirable to send the packet as frequently as practicable, but more frequent transmissions require more of the available transmission band width.
• a plurality of subscription data packets 630 are transmitted, wherein each packet has subscription information for less than all of the registered DOD system clients. This reduces the necessary size of subscription packets 630 by allowing the DOD system subscription information transmitted to be distributed among a plurality of packets 630.
• Each client STB receives every subscription data packet, but only an STB having a hardware identification code (not shown) corresponding to a selected client identification code 634 may access the subscription level code 636, subscription service code 638 and warning code 640 associated with that client.
• An STB not having a hardware identification code corresponding to any of the client codes contained in the subscription data packet cannot access any of the subscription level codes or subscription service codes.
• each STB 600 (FIG. 8) may only access the subscription level code and subscription service code associated with that STB.
• the hardware identification code is located at a location within the STB 600 (FIG. 8).
• Each STB has a unique hardware identification code.
• the client identification code allows an STB having a corresponding hardware identification code to access the associated subscription level code, subscription service code and warning code in a subscription data packet.
• DOD services associated with network and premium television channels are assigned subscription levels, whereas individual movies, sporting events, publications and games are assigned service levels. This allows more flexibility in ordering one time viewing of certain desired DOD services with the use of the service level code, while maintaining a level of base line service with the subscription level code. Of course it may also be desirable to assign both a service level and a subscription level to each available DOD service in order to provide maximum flexibility.
• each subscription data packet includes only client identification codes and subscription level codes, wherein the packet includes a client identification code corresponding to each STB registered to receive service. A client having more than one STB 600 (FIG. 8) for receiving transmissions would be assigned a plurality of client identification codes.
• each subscription data packet is structured as follows:
• each subscription data packet includes only a client identification code and a warning code.
• the warning code is used to control access to DOD program data. The implementation of warning levels is discussed in greater detail below.
• FIG. 10 shows a process for updating client level of access to DOD programs at 648 in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.
• the process 648 begins at step 650, in which an STB 600 (FIG. 8) receives a subscription data packet 630 (FIG. 9) from the server 450 (FIG. 7).
• the data packet is transmitted via different channels randomly so that each STB will receive the data packet regardless of what channels are accessed. Generally the data packets will be interspersed with regularly transmitted DOD data files.
• the STB determines whether the STB hardware identification code matches any of the client identification codes included in the subscription data packet 630 (FIG. 9).
• the STB hardware identification code is unique, and corresponds to a client registered to receive DOD services. A client with multiple STBs will be assigned multiple client identification codes, each corresponding to a single STB.
• step 654 the STB determines whether the subscription data packet version 632 (FIG. 9) is more recent than the last packet used to update the STB.
• step 656 the STB retrieves the subscription level code 636, subscription service code 638 and warning code 640 corresponding to the client identification code 634 associated with the STB.
• step 658 the STB updates the subscription level, subscription service and warning level of the STB. This may involve simply over writing previous levels stored in memory 608 (FIG. 8), or may require a more complex process of updating the STB's software.
• FIG. 11 shows an STB process for accessing DOD services at 700 in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.
• the process begins at step 702, in which a user selects a DOD service to be accessed using the user interface 618 (FIG. 8). This may involve selecting a program for viewing from a listing of available DOD programs on the EPG. A service may also be selected by entering a code corresponding to the desired service.
• each DOD service has a subscription level accessible on the EPG program.
• DOD subscription programs are limited to DOD services such as television channels, whereas selected DOD services such as games, publications and special events are reserved for access via the service level code 638 (FIG. 9).
• the STB retrieves the subscription level corresponding to the selected DOD service from the EPG program. With the data associated with each DOD service included in the EPG program is included an associated subscription level corresponding to that DOD program. The STB searches for the selected program data contained in the EPG program and retrieves the corresponding subscription level.
• the subscription level of a selected DOD service is contained in each header 104 (FIG. 1) associated with that service.
• the STB retrieves the selected DOD service's subscription level directly from a header 104 of the selected DOD program.
• the STB 600 determines whether the STB subscription level is sufficient to access the selected DOD program.
• the STB 600 retrieves a selected DOD services subscription level from the EPG program. An STB's subscription level is sufficient to access a selected DOD service if it is greater than or equal to the subscription level of the selected service. If the STB subscription level is sufficient the process continues to step 706, in which the
• STB accesses the selected DOD service.
• the STB displays any graphical elements of the selected DOD service on an A/N monitor or television set.
• FIG. 12A shows a subscription level data block at 850 in accordance . with one embodiment of the present invention.
• the subscription level data block 850 contains a single subscription level 852 ranging from 1-10.
• Each subscription level represents a different level of access to DOD services.
• An STB having a subscription level could access and display any DOD service having a subscription level less than or equal to the STB' subscription level. For example, a client with a subscription level of 5 could view any DOD service having a subscription level of 1-5.
• step 706 FIG.
• a level 1 subscription would allow access to most commercial television channels such as ⁇ BC, T ⁇ T, etc.
• a level 10 subscription would allow access to all premium channels available rrom the server.
• FIG. 12B shows a subscription level data block at 860 in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.
• the subscription level data block 860 contains a single numerical value 862.
• the value 862 indicates the subscription level of a selected client or STB 600 (FIG. 8).
• each STB can only have one subscription level 862, wherein an increase in the subscription level corresponds with one more DOD service available to a client.
• the premium service HBO may be viewed by a first STB having a subscription level of 10,000, but not by a second STB having a subscription level of 9,999.
• FIG. 12C shows a subscription level data block at 870 in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.
• the subscription level data block 870 is composed of a bit index with 8 binary values.
• a first bit 872 corresponds to a first subscription service.
• a subscription service may correspond to one or more DOD services such as movies or video games , or one or more network television channels, etc.
• the first bit 872 has a value of zero, which indicates to the STB 600 (FIG. 8) that these services may not be displayed, and that the client would not have a sufficient subscription level to view these programs as determined in step
• a second bit 874 corresponds with a second subscription service.
• second bit 854 corresponds to the NBC, ABC and CBS networks.
• the second bit 874 contains a value of 1, which indicates to the STB 600 (FIG. 8) that these services may be displayed, and that the client would have a sufficient subscription level to view these programs as determined in step 706 (FIG. 1 1).
• FIG. 13 A shows a service level data block at 880 in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.
• the subscription service data block 880 contains multiple values 882, with each value corresponding to an individual DOD service or group of
• FIG. 13B shows a service level data block at 890 in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.
• the subscription service data block 890 is composed of a bit index with 8 binary values:
• a first bit 892 corresponds to a first subscription service.
• a subscription service may correspond to one or more DOD services such as movies or video games, etc.
• the first bit 892 has a value of zero, which indicates to the STB 600 (FIG. 8) that these services may not be displayed, and that the client would not have tne required service level to access these services. For example, if the first bit 892 corresponded with the movie "Star Wars", the client would not be authorized to view this movie.
• a second bit 894 corresponds with a second DOD service.
• second bit 894 corresponds to the video game "Final Fantasy IV”.
• the second bit 894 contains a value of 1, which indicates to the STB 600 (FIG. 8) that this service may be accessed.
• a DOD service's service level is retrieved from the EPG program, just as a DOD services subscription level was retrieved in step 703 (FIG. 11).
• each packet header is retrieved from the EPG program, just as a DOD services subscription level was retrieved in step 703 (FIG. 11).
• a portion of a DOD service includes a service level 638, and may only be accessed by an STB having a corresponding service level code. Different DOD services may have the same service level.
• FIG. 14 shows an STB process for accessing DOD services at 900 in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.
• the process begins at step 902, in which a user selects a DOD service to be accessed using the user interface 618 (FIG. 8). This may involve selecting a program for viewing from a listing of available DOD programs on the EPG. A service may also be selected by entering a code corresponding to the desired service.
• each DOD service has a service level accessible by the STB via the EPG program.
• the STB retrieves the service level corresponding to the selected DOD service from the EPG program.
• the STB 600 determines whether the STB service level code includes a code corresponding to the selected DOD service.
• step 906 the STB accesses the selected DOD service.
• step 908 the STB displays any graphical elements of the selected DOD service on an A/V monitor or television set. If the STB service level does not contain a value corresponding to the selected DOD service, the process continues to a step 910. At step 910 the STB displays a refusal message to the user.
• FIG. 15 shows a warning level data block at 920 in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.
• the warning level data block 920 included with each subscription data packet 630 may contain a value 922 ranging from 0 to 3.
• a 0 value indicates that the client's account is current.
• a value of 1 indicates that the client is 30 days overdue on his payment.
• a value of 2 indicates a' 60 day delinquency.
• a value of 3 indicates that the client is seriously delinquent and should be blocked from receiving DOD services.
• the warning level data block 920 contains a value of 3, indicating that the client is seriously delinquent in payments, and that his viewing should be bloc eo.
• FIG. 16 shows a warning level display process at 950 in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.
• the process begins at step 952, in which an STB 600 (FIG. 8) retrieves a warning level value 922 from the warning level data block 920 (FIG. 15) associated with STB 600. If the warning level value equals 0 the process ends and no warning message is displayed. If the warning value equals 3 the process continues to step 958, in which a warning message is displayed for a five second time interval whenever the STB 600 (FIG. 8) is turned "ON".
• This warning message could be a generic message or a client specific message stored in the memory 608 (FIG. 8).
• the message includes information indicating that the client's account is over due.
• the warning message includes a contact number or other information for remedying the account status. After five seconds the warning level message is no longer displayed and the STB functions normally.
• warning level value 922 (FIG. 15) equals 3 the process continues to a step 960, in which a warning level message is displayed blocking any DOD program display.
• This warning level message is displayed continuously such that any DOD program being displayed is blocked from the view of a user.
• the warning message may include an amount due, a contact number or other information for remedying the account status.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
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• Databases & Information Systems (AREA)
• Computer Security & Cryptography (AREA)
• Human Computer Interaction (AREA)
• Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
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• Two-Way Televisions, Distribution Of Moving Picture Or The Like (AREA)

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• 2001
  • 2001-07-10 AU AU2001273357A patent/AU2001273357A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2001-07-10 CA CA002428831A patent/CA2428831A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2001-07-10 KR KR10-2003-7006374A patent/KR20030051798A/ko not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2001-07-10 WO PCT/US2001/021832 patent/WO2002039741A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2001-07-10 CN CNB01802937XA patent/CN1309255C/zh not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2001-07-10 EP EP01952624A patent/EP1340374A1/en not_active Withdrawn
  • 2001-07-10 JP JP2002542132A patent/JP2004530314A/ja not_active Withdrawn
  • 2001-11-09 TW TW090127936A patent/TWI244344B/zh not_active IP Right Cessation
• 2003
  • 2003-07-22 HK HK03105264.5A patent/HK1053403B/zh not_active IP Right Cessation

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