KR100804930B1 - Method for granting customers access to a product - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention provides a method for granting customer access to an item or set of items.

-Provide a unique code to the registration center by the customer through a secure network;

Send the code from the registration center to the approval center,

Retrieve the identifier from the code by requesting a database or by calculating an identifier of the item or set of items,

-Sending an authorization code by the approval center to the customer terminal that grants access to the item or set of items,

A method of granting customer access to an item or set of items, comprising the above steps.

Description

How to grant customer access to an item {METHOD FOR GRANTING CUSTOMERS ACCESS TO A PRODUCT}

The present invention relates to the concept that a customer (ie, in an individual or at home) attempts to use or access a product that is the subject of a corresponding fee payment.

There is an unsatisfactory need for product providers, sporting event sponsors, or art event sponsors to suggest to the wider public the possibility of seeing the events they promote at home. Currently, these operators have to use existing channels to access the viewer's home, which can be complex and time consuming.

The present invention provides a solution to this problem according to claim 1. Customers who are subscribers of pay-TV systems can easily purchase specific events and add them to their watchlists.
The present invention provides a method for granting customer access to a single product or set of items, which method comprises: 1) a customer providing a code to a registration center via a secure communication network, the code being a unique code Relating to one item, the code is generated from an approval center, 2) sending the unique code from a registration center to an approval center, and 3) requesting a database or calculating an identifier of the item or item set Retrieving the identifier from the device, and 4) sending, by the approval center to the customer terminal, an authorization code granting access to the item or set of items.
In one embodiment, the item may be one of a video item, an audio item, or data such as a program, stock quote, or game.
In one embodiment, the authorization code may immediately grant access to the item on a scheduled basis or upon customer request.
In one embodiment, the item is already stored in the customer terminal and the authorization code may authorize the immediate use or future use of the item.
In one embodiment, the authorization code allows the customer to use the item immediately or to download the item to the customer terminal for later use.
In one embodiment, the item refers to a right of access to a restricted area (eg, a boarding pass to a vehicle or an entrance to a ski resort, etc.), and the authorization code may grant access to the restricted area for a specified time. .
In one embodiment, the item is a service related to transportation and the authorization code may permit boarding for this service.

In a preferred implementation mode of the present invention, a single smart card is provided per subscriber that initially supplies the subscriber with an STB or integrated receiver decoder connected to the television set so that the subscriber can watch the paid event. The advantage of single smart card mode is that it prevents security problems with correspondence and data transfer between valid purchase card and main smart card for each specific complementary event, compared to systems that get the necessary functions from multiple smart cards. Is the point. Using multiple smart cards has the advantage that the owning system can operate independently of the consumer's STB without talking to other systems. This can be of great interest in some environments where high security is required.

Subscription to the basic TV package is not mandatory, and viewers can only use impulse pay-per-view (IPPV) if they wish. The IPPV mode should operate for each specific subscriber in the subscriber management system of the pay TV system. This can be done by default (preferred).

In a particular embodiment of the invention, the prepaid card is a paper card (cardboard) or a plastic card and not a smart card. That is, the chip is not embedded in the paper or plastic of the card. Prepaid cards have a code number that is invisible at the time of card purchase but appears by scratching the surface of the card. This code is unique and allows you to load related products. The card can be mechanically protected prior to sale by the transparent plastic package. In order to obtain the product, this code number must be certified in a central database.

In the first authentication method, a unique code is used to access a database that defines the item and a unique code associated with the item.

In the second authentication method, an algorithm for retrieving the item identifier from the unique code is used.

In both methods, a database is used to store unique codes to prevent multiple authentication processes with the same code. In the first use, the record associated with this code is marked as used.

Another parameter to consider is the expiration date, a channel-related code that allows the operator to track the channel. The channel gained new customers, which added existing customers to the list of lovers.

In certain embodiments of the invention designed to prevent unauthorized users from handing their card numbers to friends, a warning system displays a message on the screen of the customer terminal. In this embodiment, successive attempts to use the card appear to the first user requesting that the card be destroyed after use. The user is warned that the system is memorizing and controlling impure attempts to reuse a particular card that he has not purchased or received and properly discarded in the context of a particular situation.

The unique code number is recorded by the producer. The unique code number is entered into the server database and is only safely delivered once at the point of sale. These numbers can be tracked up to the point of sale, allowing accurate marketing and sales location control.

Other methods for distributing numbers invisibly can be used within the scope of the present invention. These include the way printed numbers are visible only if the sealed and folded paper or envelope is torn open by the user.

In a first embodiment of the invention called "credit update without return path", when a user views a code, for example, by scratching his or her card or tearing a seal as before, the user has a voice server (automated) Phone operation machine, the server will identify the caller, verify it in the central database, and send the data to the subscriber management system (SMS), which in turn will send to the corresponding SMS gateway. An order will be sent along with the credit associated with the Entitlement Management Message (EMM) .If you call home from a registered phone number, ANI (Automatic Number Identification) can be used to identify the subscriber, Or you will be asked to enter a 12-digit smart card unique address (UA) number, which is typically Includes a check sum for security This mode has the great advantage of being simple, but the potential drawback of this mode is that there is no two-way communication, so that the subscriber has received his or her credit. This can lead to dissatisfaction: To reduce the likelihood of subscribers failing to receive their credit EMM, the text displayed on the prepaid card and acting as a user command process should address: In other words, the first step is to turn on the integrated receiver decoder to connect this decoder to the inserted smart card and keep it in this state for hours or days.This precaution prevents the EMM from being received by the IRD and this command. The operator can be assured that careless users who do not follow them will not be dissatisfied.

In the "no reverse path" operation described above, it can be seen that there is no direct control over credit usage. This is the reason why the second embodiment of the more differentiated invention is presented and is called "credit update with reverse path".

In the second embodiment, the same principle as above (telephone voice server) can be applied when the reverse path is available. However, instead of delivering credit directly to the card, an "immediate callback request", which is well known in the art, is delivered. When an STB (set-top box; synonym for integrated receiver decoder) is in communication with a conditional access system (CAS), credit is transferred to a Callback EMM (CEMM). The advantage is that credit reception is guaranteed and can be registered with the Conditional Access System (CAS).

Instead of using a voice server, certain applications may be embedded in the STB. An additional item is displayed in the menu and is called "register credit". The user is asked to enter the card code into the remote control device. The STB dials the CAS, sends the smart card UA and the prepaid card number, the credit is authenticated at the server, and the credit is passed.

The same mechanism as before can be used to purchase a specific event (eg soccer game) or a timed subscription (3 month specific movie channel). The EMM for the specified outcome will be sent to the card.

For example, a well-known beverage producer who sponsors the Olympic Games may choose to provide free TV access to the Olympic closing ceremony for some customers with the system according to the invention. This provisioning cost is minimal. This is because it consists of a number properly packaged on the beverage bottle box. Consumers will be given the right to watch a fascinating closing ceremony by simply entering this number into their existing PayTV system hardware, and will simply associate the image of the beverage maker with the gift he received by purchasing a beverage bottle box.                 

Similarly, the mentioned system allows mid-sales agents to safely determine how much promotional product is effectively sold through the Pay-per-view channel and rewarded with an error-free referral system.

Using the card in the manner described above does not show any distinctive features compared to existing events sold via SMS, but the prepaid television service described generally has a great advantage in terms of sales or recognition. Expanding available channels opens the door to new sales opportunities. In particular, the card price may be set differently from the SMS / CAS item price. If the regular conditions permit it, the prepaid card can be physically packaged at low cost with an item that is not necessarily a TV-related product and billed to the sponsor upon actual use. Being able to get new customer segments is a big advantage for sponsors. For example, it is a great advantage for sponsors to be able to get specific target buyers for some items. Finding a free voucher for a prepaid television service in a package of another item is a cumbersome ring and expensive marketing. In addition, the chosen distribution channel may appear attractive to potential customers because it provides the potential customer with greater anonymity in card purchases. This may be an advantage for some services.

In certain embodiments of the invention, certain prepaid television service subjects of the present invention have a subscription start time initiated by a customer revealing a card number or envelope number. Today's daily enrollment process has a clear start date and a specific end date. In this embodiment, by starting the aforementioned process by the customer set, the start date and end date of ratification are calculated, and this service continues for the designated time specified on the card.

When events are sold this way, there is complete control over the actual number of buyers. This control can be obtained without the need for a reverse path. This has the main advantage of paying for the rights of the content provider.

The item according to the invention is not limited to pay-TV items such as audio and video. Considering an internet connection (or other connection), the item can be data such as games, programs, weather forecasts or stock quotes, and is sent in encrypted form. The customer must transmit a unique code with the right to use the item through the registration center to the approval center.

Conversely, the approval center transmits an authorization code that serves as a key for unloading the item. The transmission runs on a secure network. That is, data is encrypted and deciphered according to the general security policy of the network.

The authorization code is typically stored on a smart card that contains the secret key needed to execute a secure transaction.

Once the authorization code is stored, it can be used immediately at a scheduled time or upon customer request.

If the item is not yet available at the customer terminal, the customer can request the download of the item by presenting an authorization code.

Another application of the present invention is the purchase of transport related services. This item represents a boarding pass on an airplane or train during a particular trip. By using the unique code number, the customer purchases the service, and the authorization code is stored on the electronic medium as a credit card with an electronic chip.

At the end of the service, the customer creates his own electronic medium to verify the authorization code.

Similar applications apply to ski resorts. Once the authorization code is stored in the customer terminal, a counter is attached to this code.

This counter indicates a specified maximum number of uses or determines a specified time (eg week).

Claims (7)

A method of granting customer access to a product or set of items, which is The customer provides a code to the registration center via a secure network, the code being a unique code associated with an item in the item set, the unique code being generated from an authorization center, Send the unique code from the registration center to the authorization center, Retrieve the identifier from the unique code by requesting a database or by calculating an identifier of the item or set of items, Sending, by the approval center, an authorization code to the customer terminal which grants access to the item or set of items, A customer access authorization method comprising the above steps. The method of claim 1, wherein the item is one of a video item, an audio item, or data such as a program, stock quote, or game. 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the authorization code grants access to the item on a scheduled basis or upon a customer request. 4. The method of claim 3 wherein the item is already stored in a customer terminal and the authorization code authorizes the use of the item. 4. The method of claim 3 wherein the authorization code is capable of downloading the item to a customer terminal for use of the item. The method of claim 1, wherein the item is a right of access to the restricted area, and the authorization code grants access to the restricted area for a specified time. The method of claim 1 wherein the item is a service related to transportation and the authorization code permits boarding for this service.