U.S. patent application number 13/072941 was filed with the patent office on 2012-05-17 for activating licensable component of consumer electronic device post-sale using unified software package.
This patent application is currently assigned to SONY CORPORATION. Invention is credited to Ludovic Etienne Douillet, Aran London Sadja, Peter Shintani.
Application Number | 20120124610 13/072941 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46047416 |
Filed Date | 2012-05-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120124610 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Shintani; Peter ; et
al. |
May 17, 2012 |
ACTIVATING LICENSABLE COMPONENT OF CONSUMER ELECTRONIC DEVICE
POST-SALE USING UNIFIED SOFTWARE PACKAGE
Abstract
A unified software download package is deployed to multiple CE
device models, and a user of the device can configure the unified
software package to the desired configuration. A remote feature
activation system allows the device to take advantage of any of the
additional features contained in the unified software package that
can be supported in the device, even if it was not originally
supported in the original configuration data of the CE device
itself. When the CE device is ready for activation the user can be
given the option to accept new features, and then the CE device can
notify a server accordingly so that if additional licenses and
their associated royalties are required, license codes can be
provided to the CE device and royalty payments adjusted.
Inventors: |
Shintani; Peter; (San Diego,
CA) ; Sadja; Aran London; (San Diego, CA) ;
Douillet; Ludovic Etienne; (Escondido, CA) |
Assignee: |
SONY CORPORATION
|
Family ID: |
46047416 |
Appl. No.: |
13/072941 |
Filed: |
March 28, 2011 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61412552 |
Nov 11, 2010 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
725/25 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06Q 30/0251 20130101;
H04N 21/2541 20130101; G06Q 20/20 20130101; G06F 21/125 20130101;
H04N 5/44 20130101; H04N 9/642 20130101; H04N 21/4263 20130101;
H04N 9/641 20130101; H04N 21/6547 20130101; H04N 21/4347 20130101;
H04N 21/4627 20130101; G06Q 30/0283 20130101; H04N 21/6581
20130101; H04N 21/2543 20130101; H04N 21/426 20130101; H04N 21/4382
20130101; G06Q 30/018 20130101; H04N 21/25816 20130101; G06F 21/10
20130101; G06Q 40/10 20130101; G06Q 40/12 20131203 |
Class at
Publication: |
725/25 |
International
Class: |
H04N 7/16 20110101
H04N007/16 |
Claims
1. Method for enabling a consumer electronics (CE) device to
upgrade post-vending by enabling disabled licensable components in
a unified software package with which the CE device was sold,
comprising: configuring the CE device upon initial power on using a
configuration file to access and invoke an initial subset of
software modules from the unified software package, wherein the CE
device is not configured at initial power on to execute modules in
the unified software package that are not in the initial subset;
presenting on the CE device additional feature options
corresponding to licensable components that are available but that
are not yet enabled in the CE device; receiving user selection of
one or more of the additional feature options; and responsive to
the user selection, providing to the CE device information needed
to configure the CE device to execute respective modules in the
unified software package that are not in the initial subset
corresponding to the user selection.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the unified software package
comprises an initial subset of software pertaining to operating
non-licensable components and to licensable components for which
royalties have been prepaid and software modules needed to operate
licensable components for which royalties have not been
prepaid.
3. The method of claim 1, comprising presenting the additional
feature options on a user interface (UI) of the CE device.
4. The method of claim 1, comprising correlating the feature
options identified by the user selection to respective licensable
components and respective license keys.
5. The method of claim 4, comprising returning the license keys to
the CE device for enablement of associated licensable components
with software existing in the unified software package.
6. The method of claim 1, comprising generating royalty information
associated with providing the license keys.
7. The method of claim 1, comprising prompting the user, pursuant
to receiving a selection of a feature option and prior to returning
an associated license key, to pay remuneration either through a CE
device cable reverse channel connection or by accessing a website
and entering a credit card number.
8. Consumer electronics (CE) device comprising: processor
controlling one or more licensable components, at least one of
which requires a license code to enable, the license code not being
available to the processor at a point of sale (POS) of the CE
device; display controlled by the processor; and computer readable
storage medium bearing instructions executable by the processor to:
present on the display a list of feature options each having
respective operating code stored on the computer readable storage
medium and each respective operating code being disabled at time of
sale of the CE device; receive at least one user selection from the
list; receive a license code corresponding to the user selection;
and use the license code to enable respective operating code
corresponding to a selected feature option.
9. The CE device of claim 8, wherein at the time of sale the
computer readable storage medium stores a unified software package
comprising an initial subset of software and software modules
needed to operate licensable components that are disabled at the
time of sale.
10. The CE device of claim 9, wherein the processor configures the
CE device at initial power on with the initial subset of software
and does not configure the CE device at initial power on with the
software modules needed to operate licensable components that are
disabled at the time of sale.
11. The CE device of claim 8, wherein the processor sends the user
selection to a server and receives the license code therefrom.
12. The CE device of claim 8, wherein the processor presents on the
display a prompt pursuant to receiving a selection of a feature
option to pay remuneration for the user selection.
13. Method comprising: deploying a unified software package to
multiple CE device models; receiving from a user of a CE device to
which the unified software package has been deployed a selection of
a feature associated with disabled software in the unified software
package; and responsive to the selection, remotely activating the
feature at least in part by returning to the CE device a license
code to enable the software in the unified software package
associated with the feature selected by the user.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein the CE device can take
advantage of any features associated with software contained in the
unified software package even if the software is not originally
supported in the original configuration data of the CE device.
15. The method of claim 13, wherein when the CE device is ready for
activation the user is given the option to accept new features.
16. The method of claim 13, wherein the CE device notifies a server
of the user selection.
17. The method of claim 13, wherein additional licenses and their
associated royalties are adjusted to reflect the user selection.
Description
[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. patent application
Ser. No. 12/970,215, filed Dec. 16, 2010 and to U.S. provisional
patent application Ser. No. 61/412,552, filed Nov. 11, 2010.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present application relates, generally to activating a
licensable component of a consumer electronic (CE) device at or
after the point of sale (POS) of the device.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Televisions incorporate a host of technologies to enable a
viewer to watch programming from a variety of sources. These
sources include terrestrial broadcast sources of analog (using
National Television System Committee, or NTSC, format) and digital
(using Advanced Television System Committee, or ATSC, format) TV
signals. ATSC signals typically use video compression known as
Motion Picture Experts Group (MPEG-2) and TVs must consequently
support MPEG-2 decompression if they support ATSC programming.
[0004] Cable-provided "basic" television programming can also be
provided in NTSC or quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) format.
Cable-provided "enhanced" programming may also be provided using
high definition multimedia interface (HDMI) principles. Likewise,
satellite-provided TV signals may be received in HDMI. As well,
video from the Internet can be displayed on many modern TVs in a
variety of formats, including data over cable service Internet
specification (DOCSIS) format. Furthermore, TVs are often
configured to support multiple audio formats, including advanced
audio coding (AAC), Audio code 3 (AC3), digital theater system
(DTS), and so on. And as contemporary viewers know, TVs are
expected to support the presentation of electronic program guides
(EPGs).
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] As understood herein, various technologies require license
fees to be paid. As further understood herein, many technologies
that must be built in to modern CE devices such as TVs to support
various program sources may not be used. Nonetheless, license fees
for the unused technologies are still paid, unnecessarily cascading
cost. Present principles understand that license fees might be
saved were licensable components to be activated only upon consumer
request.
[0006] Accordingly, a method is disclosed for enabling a consumer
electronics (CE) device to upgrade post-vending by enabling
disabled licensable components in a unified software package with
which the CE device was sold. The method includes configuring the
CE device upon initial power on using a configuration file to
access and invoke an initial subset of software modules from the
unified software package. The CE device is not configured at
initial power on to execute modules in the unified software package
that, are not in the initial subset. Additional feature options
corresponding to licensable components that are available but that
are not yet enabled in the CE device are presented on the CE
device. The method includes receiving user selection of one or more
of the additional feature options and responsive to the user
selection, providing to the CE device information needed to
configure the CE device to execute respective modules in the
unified software package that are not in the initial subset
corresponding to the user selection.
[0007] If desired, the unified software package can include an
initial subset of software pertaining to operating non-licensable
components and to licensable components for which royalties have
been prepaid and software modules needed to operate licensable
components for which royalties have not been prepaid. The method
may include presenting the additional feature options on a user
interface (UI) of the CE device. In some embodiments the method
includes correlating the feature options identified by the user
selection to respective licensable components and respective
license keys. In such an embodiment the method can further include
returning the license keys to the CE device for enablement of
associated licensable components with software existing in the
unified software package. Royalty information associated with
providing the license keys may be generated.
[0008] In an example embodiment, the method includes prompting the
user, pursuant to receiving a selection of a feature option and
prior to returning an associated license key, to pay remuneration
either through a CE device cable reverse channel connection or by
accessing a website and entering a credit card number.
[0009] In another aspect, a consumer electronics (CE) device
includes a processor controlling one or more licensable components,
at least one of which requires a license code to enable. However,
the license code is not available to the processor at a point of
sale (POS) of the CE device. The CE device has a display controlled
by the processor and a computer readable storage medium bearing
instructions executable by the processor to present on the display
a list of feature options each having respective operating code
stored on the computer readable storage medium and each respective
operating code being disabled at time of sale of the CE device. The
processor receives at least one user selection from the list and
receives a license code corresponding to the user selection. Using
the license code, the processor enables respective operating code
corresponding to a selected feature option.
[0010] In another aspect, a method includes deploying a unified
software package to multiple CE device models and receiving from a
user of a CE device to which the unified software package has been
deployed a selection of a feature associated with disabled software
in the unified software package. Responsive to the selection, the
feature is remotely activated at least in part by returning to the
CE device a license code to enable the software in the unified
software package associated with the feature selected by the
user.
[0011] The details of the present invention, both as to its
structure and operation, can best be understood in reference to the
accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals refer to
like parts, and in which:
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a non-limiting example system
in accordance with present principles;
[0013] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an example TV;
[0014] FIG. 3 is a flow chart of non-limiting TV set up logic in
accordance with present principles;
[0015] FIG. 4 is a flow chart of non-limiting logic for
automatically detecting whether an ATSC demodulator is required to
be activated;
[0016] FIGS. 5-7 are schematic diagrams illustrating alternate
methods for activating an ATSC demodulator;
[0017] FIG. 8 is a flow chart of non-limiting logic for licensing a
component in a TV;
[0018] FIG. 9 is a flow chart of example logic for providing
enhanced features post-sale to a CE device; and
[0019] FIG. 10 is a screen shot of an example user interface that
can be used in conjunction with the logic of FIG. 9.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0020] Referring initially to the non-limiting example embodiment
show in FIG. 1, a system 10 includes an audio video device 12 such
as a TV including a TV tuner 16 communicating with a TV processor
18 accessing a tangible computer readable storage medium 20 such as
disk-based or solid state storage. The TV 12 can output audio on
one or more speakers 22. The TV 12 can receive streaming video from
the Internet using a built-in wired or wireless modem 24
communicating with the processor 12 which may execute a
software-implemented browser 26. Video is presented under control
of the TV processor 18 on a TV display 28 such as but not limited
to a high definition TV (HDTV) flat panel display. User commands to
the processor 18 may be wirelessly received from a remote control
(RC) 30 using, e.g., rf or infrared. Audio-video display devices
other than a TV may be used, e.g., smart phones, game consoles,
personal digital organizers, notebook computers and other types of
computers, etc.
[0021] TV programming from one or more terrestrial TV broadcast
sources 32 as received by a terrestrial broadcast antenna 34 which
communicates with the TV 12 may be presented on the display 28 and
speakers 22. The terrestrial broadcast programming may conform to
digital ATSC standards and may carry within it a terrestrial
broadcast EPG, although the terrestrial broadcast EPG may be
received from alternate sources, e.g., the Internet via Ethernet,
or cable communication link, or satellite communication link.
[0022] TV programming from a cable TV head end 36 may also be
received at the TV for presentation of TV signals on the display 28
and speakers 22. When basic cable only is desired, the cable from
the wall typically carries TV signals in QAM or NTSC format and is
plugged directly into the "F-type connector" 38 on the TV chassis
in the U.S., although the connector used for this purpose in other
countries may vary. In contrast, when the user has an extended
cable subscription for instance, the signals from the head end 36
are typically sent through a STB 40 which may be separate from or
integrated within the TV chassis but in any case which sends HDMI
baseband signals to the TV.
[0023] Similarly, HDMI baseband signals transmitted from a
satellite source 42 of TV broadcast signals received by an
integrated receiver/decoder (IRD) 44 associated with a home
satellite dish may be input to the TV 12 for presentation on the
display 28 and speakers 22. Also, streaming video may be received
from the Internet 46 for presentation on the display 28 and
speakers 22. The streaming video may be received at the computer
modem 24 or it may be received at an in-home modem 48 that is
external to the TV 12 and conveyed to the TV 12 over a wired or
wireless Ethernet link and received at an RJ45 or 802.11x antenna
on the TV chassis.
[0024] FIG. 2 shows details of an example TV 12. As shown, the
terrestrial signal in ATSC format is input to the TV tuner 16, as
is basic cable in NTSC or QAM format in the event that basic cable
is used and the wall cable plugged into the F-type connector 38. On
the other hand, streaming Internet video may be received at a
DOCSIS tuner 50 and demodulated/decoded at a DOCSIS
decoder/demodulator 52. Typically, the DOCSIS components are housed
separately from the TV 12 but in some embodiments may be included
in the chassis of the TV 12.
[0025] The output of the tuner 16, depending on the signal format
received, may be sent to an NTSC decoder/demodulator 54, or a QAM
decoder/demodulator 56, or an ATSC decoder/demodulator 58. The
output from the NTSC decoder/demodulator 54 can be sent directly to
the display 28 and speakers 22 for presentation. On the other hand,
the output from the digital decoder/demodulators 56, 58 typically
is sent to a transport stream demultiplexer 60, which separates the
desired program from other programs in the selected stream and
sends the desired program to an MPEG video decoder 62, which in
turn uncompresses the MPEG desired program and sends the
uncompressed program to the TV display 28 for presentation. Audio
from the demultiplexer 60 may be sent to an audio decoder 64 which
in turn sends the decoded audio to the speakers 22 for
presentation.
[0026] In contrast to the sequence of decoder/demodulators,
demultiplexer, and MPEG decoders discussed above, video from either
the STB 40 or IRD 44 is in baseband HDMI when it is received by the
TV 12. Accordingly, the signals from the STB 40 or IRD 44 are sent
directly to the TV display 28 for presentation without further
video decompression between the STB 40 or IRD 44 and TV display 28.
Audio from the STB 40 or IRD 44 may still be in a format, e.g.,
AC3, that requires decoding prior to play on the speakers 22 so the
audio may be sent through the audio decoder 64 as shown. Likewise,
audio from the ATSC terrestrial source 32 may be in AC3 format and
so may be sent through the audio decoder 64. Internet video from
the DOCSIS decoder/demodulator 52 may be sent through the
demultiplexer 60 and decoders 62, 64 as shown.
[0027] Now referring to FIG. 3, at block 66 a user of the TV 12 can
be conducted, using onscreen user interfaces (UI), through a set-up
routine upon first power on or thereafter from a menu to set up
various features of the TV. As an example, the user may be asked,
for one or more licensable components within the TV, if the user
desires to use that component. This may be done implicitly, e.g.,
by asking the user if the user wishes to automatically scan the
broadcast spectrum to detect channels, in which case it may be
inferred that the ATSC decoder/demodulator 58 and MPEG decoder 62
will be required and, hence, that licenses to use those components
will be needed. Also, in this latter case it may be inferred that a
license to the terrestrial broadcast EPG may be required, whereas
such a license would not be required if terrestrial broadcast were
not being used as an input source.
[0028] Or again, the user may be given the choice to receive
Internet video through the built-in modem 24 or from an external
modem 48 and if the latter is chosen, no license need be obtained
for the internal browser 26; otherwise, a license may be required
to use the internal browser 26.
[0029] Proceeding to block 68, for each license that is inferred to
be required based on the user set-up selections at block 66, the TV
12 uploads a request for the license over the Internet, for
example, or back through a two-way cable system, etc. Or; as
explained further below the request may be made by telephone.
Regardless of how made, the request typically identifies the
component for which a license is required based on user input at
block 66 along with a unique identification of the TV, e.g., a hash
of the TV model number and serial number, in some embodiments
encrypted if desired. Or, the unique identifier may be a high
definition content protect (HDCP) key selection vector (KSV) of the
device 12, or a media access control (MAC) address, or a digital
transmission content protect (DTCP) certificate, one or more of
which may be hashed with the serial number and/or model name of the
device 12. This hashed result can be sent to the server. The server
can now uniquely identify the device. In the event the device needs
to be repaired and the unique ID contained in the device is
changed, the device's previous identity advantageously can be
migrated to a new hashed ID. To simplify this migration of the ID,
the server can generate a unique key, and send it to the repaired
device after receiving the initial hashed ID and notification
(e.g., from the device 12) that the device was repaired and
requires a new unique ID. In some implementations the user of the
device 12 can manually recall the original ID, send it to the
server, and the server, using the original ID, migrates records of
the licenses previously enabled by the device 12 to the new ID.
Note that when a download occurs, no re-activation occurs of
previously activated features.
[0030] The request may be made at set-up time. Alternatively, the
request may be cached for later upload when, e.g., an appropriate
broadband connection is sensed. In any case, the request may be
sent to an Internet server at a prestored Internet address or to a
cable head end or to another appropriate licensing entity or
agent.
[0031] Block 70 indicates that assuming it passes authentication
the TV 12 receives back the license in the form of licensing
information, typically a code that must be input to the TV
processor 18 to enable or unlock the associated component. Or the
associated component may require software code to function and a
critical piece of the code which is related to the licensable
feature may be omitted when the device is vended, with this
critical piece of code being supplied at block 70 to enable the
licensable feature of the component. Prior to provision of the
critical piece of code, the licensable feature of the component in
effect is not merely locked out, but rather is effectively missing
altogether, even though other parts of software code needed to
execute the licensable feature are vended with the device.
[0032] The code may be automatically input to the appropriate
internal components of the TV at block 72 or the code may be
displayed on the TV and the user prompted by means of an onscreen
UI to enter the code using, e.g., the RC 30. Proper input of the
code activates the related component within the TV. Block 74 simply
indicates that license fee data is maintained and used to generate
billing information from the licensing agency to the manufacturer
of the TV, and may also be used to generate marketing data as
discussed further below. The data may be kept in the TV until
uploaded to a licensing entity/agent by means noted above.
[0033] FIG. 4 shows that automatic license determinations may be
made outside of a user set-up routine if desired. In the example
shown in FIG. 4, commencing at decision diamond 76 it is determined
whether a predetermined physical condition exists in the TV, e.g.,
a particular kind of connection, from which it may be inferred what
licensable components will be required. In the example of FIG. 4,
the physical condition is the presence of a voltage in the
automatic gain control (AGC) circuitry of the tuner 16, which would
occur when, for instance, a connection is made at the TV chassis to
the terrestrial antenna 34 or when a cable from the wall is
connected to the F-type connector 38.
[0034] When the tested-for physical condition exists, the logic
flows to block 78, in this example to activate the NTSC demodulator
54. This is done recognizing that NTSC demodulators typically
require no licenses, so to avoid unnecessarily requesting licenses,
the signal at the tuner 16 is first tested to determine if it is an
NTSC signal. Decision diamond 80 indicates that the test may be
whether "noise", is present in the signal.
[0035] If the test indicates that NTSC signals only are present the
logic ends, but otherwise the logic flows to block 82 to activate
the QAM decoder/demodulator 56. If QAM only is detected (by the QAM
decoder/demodulator 56 recognizing QAM signals and/or no noise) the
logic ends, but if the QAM decoder/demodulator 56 does not
recognize the signal, this indicates that the signal is neither QAM
nor (from decision diamond 80) NTSC, with the inference thus being
that the signal is ATSC requiring use of the ATSC
decoder/demodulator 58, which is activated at block 86 to process
the signal. At block 88 an uplink is obtained by the TV processor
18 to the above-described licensing entity/agent to obtain the
license code discussed above using the unique ID of the TV, and at
block 90 the code is received and used as necessary to permit use
of the ATSC decoder/demodulator 58.
[0036] Or, the step at block 90 can be omitted and the ATSC
decoder/demodulator 58 immediately activated on the assumption that
the processor 18 is programmed to send a message to the licensing
entity/agent that licensing accounting is to be generated after
activation of the ATSC decoder/demodulator 58.
[0037] Yet again, as shown in dashed lines in FIG. 4 the logic may
flow first from decision diamond 84 to blocks 88 and 90 to obtain
the licensing "unlock" code and then back to block 86 to activate
the ATSC decoder/demodulator 58 using the code, to ensure that no
use may be made of the ATSC decoder/demodulator 58 until such time
as the licensing entity/agent has been informed of its use, has
authenticated the TV for the necessary ATSC license, and has
determined that under business rules the license code should be
downloaded to fulfill the request.
[0038] Additional example inference rules that may be employed
pursuant to automatically obtaining needed component licenses after
vending the TV to avoid paying for unnecessary licenses prior to
sale of the TV include, if there is ATSC present, it is less likely
that QAM will be found; if ATSC is present, the total number of
ATSC channels will be much smaller than the number for QAM
channels. Also, when signals are received from an external modem
48, audio video programming does not require use of the built-in
browser 26 and so receipt of video over an Ethernet link without
receipt of signals at the internal modem 24 may be inferred to mean
that the browser 26 is not in use.
[0039] FIGS. 5-7 illustrate logic that may be used during setup to
obtain licenses. Using, e.g., the RC 30, a person may input 92 a
request to conduct auto-scan of available terrestrial or cable or
satellite channels from, e.g., an onscreen setup menu presented on
an audio video display product 94 (which may be implemented by the
TV 12). In response, the AV display product sends an activation
request for, e.g., the ATSC decoder/demodulator 58 which may
include the tuner ID and product 94 ID and/or the
decoder/demodulator 58 ID/product 94 ID. Activation of the ATSC
decoder/demodulator 58 is executed at 96 using activation codes
from one or more licensing entities/agents such as server 98,
provided the licensing entities/agents determine, based on the
information received from the product 94, that the product is
entitled to a license for the requested component.
[0040] A log may be kept by the licensing entities/agents
indicating what products and what components in those products have
been activated and based on that log, licensing accounting data may
be generated for purposes of presenting licensing invoices for
activated components to the manufacturer of the product 94. In any
case, 100 indicates that the product 94 receives the activation
response, e.g., activation codes, to activate the
demodulator/decoder 58 at 101, which converts the product 94 to an
ATSC-capable device. The user may be notified using onscreen
notification that ATSC programming may now be viewed using the
product 94.
[0041] FIG. 6 shows an alternative embodiment. Using, e.g., the RC
30, a person may input 102 a request to conduct auto-scan of
available terrestrial or cable or satellite channels from, e.g., an
onscreen setup menu presented on an audio video display product 94
(which may be implemented by the TV 12). In response, at 104
telephone information including a phone number to a licensing
entity/agent is prepared and the user notified 106 of the
information by means of, e.g., a user interface or prompt presented
on the product 94. The user enters 108 the information into a
telephone, either by speaking the number or by holding the
telephone adjacent a speaker on the product 94 for receiving dual
tone multifrequency (DTMF) tones from the product that are detected
by the telephone and used to automatically dial the number using,
e.g., a voice response unit (VRU) 110.
[0042] Other alternate embodiments involve sending short message
service (SMS) messages to a server to send the above information or
scanning bar-type codes on the TV or component to send the
requisite information to the server to obtain the license. In any
case, determining what licenses are needed may be accomplished upon
start up and/or periodically during operation.
[0043] Tuner activation is generated at 112 by licensing
entities/agents 114 such as Internet servers and the activation
code discussed above sent 116 to the VRU 110, which presents the
code to the user to complete the activation process at 120.
Activation of the licensable component, e.g., the ATSC
decoder/demodulator 58, is executed at 101, which converts the
product 94 to an ATSC-capable device. The user may be notified
using onscreen notification that ATSC programming may now be viewed
using the product 94.
[0044] FIG. 7 shows another alternative embodiment. Using, e.g.,
the RC 30, a person may input 122 a request to conduct auto-scan of
available terrestrial or cable or satellite channels from, e.g., an
onscreen setup menu presented on an audio video display product 94
(which may be implemented by the TV 12). In response, at 124
Internet information including an Internet address of a licensing
entity/agent is prepared and the user notified 126 of the
information by means of, e.g., a user interface or prompt presented
on the product 94. The user enters 128 the information into, e.g.,
a home computer 127. Tuner activation is generated at 130 by
licensing entities/agents 132 such as Internet servers and the
activation code discussed above sent 134 to the computer, which
presents 136 the code to the user by means of, e.g., a web page or
telephone to complete the activation process at 138. Activation of
the licensable component, e.g., the ATSC decoder/demodulator 58, is
executed at 101, which converts the product 94 to an ATSC-capable
device. The user may be notified using onscreen notification that
ATSC programming may now be viewed using the product 94.
[0045] Alternatively, licensing information may be exchanged using
short message service (SMS) codes or by using bar codes. To use bar
codes the TV can include a camera that images the bar codes on
various components, which are interpreted by the processor 18 as
identifying information.
[0046] In some instances, if only a limited number (e.g., two) NTSC
channels are needed, a limited and less expensive license may be
requested and granted to permit access to only those two channels
through the NTSC demodulator with a license being requested and
granted to any component such as a stereo audio decoder should the
legacy device (typically, a VCR) use such audio.
[0047] FIG. 8 shows logic that may be executed by a licensing
entity/agent computer. Commencing at block 140, a license request
from, e.g., the TV 12 is received at, e.g., any of the
above-described servers or head ends, which are programmed with
software to execute the logic shown in FIG. 8. The unique ID
discussed above is looked up at block 142 and the requesting device
is authenticated at decision diamond 144 by, e.g., determining if
the device is on a list of approved devices. If desired, it may be
further determined whether a license for the particular licensable
component that is the subject of the request has already been
granted and if so, authentication fails. If the requesting device
is approved and a license for the licensable component that is the
subject of the request has not already been granted, the logic
moves to block 146 to send license information, e.g., activation
codes, to the requesting device.
[0048] Block 148 indicates that license accounting data is
generated pursuant to sending the activation code to the requesting
device. This accounting data can be used to effect remuneration
from the manufacturer of the requesting device to the licensing
authority for the component that is the subject of the request. At
block 150 the authorized device database is modified to record the
grant of the license.
[0049] Marketing data may be generated at block 152 based on the
license grant. As an example, the total number of devices vended
with the licensable component may be compared against the number of
licenses granted to requesting devices to ascertain usage of the
component compared to other components within the requesting
device. For instance, it might be noted that 30% of vended devices
of a particular TV model ever request activation of the ATSC tuner.
This data can moreover be correlated to demographic data obtained
during device registration so that, as an example, of the 30% of
devices requesting activation of the TV tuner, it can be known
which geographic region was more likely to request such activation,
or which demographic age group, etc. It may be further ascertained,
using device registration information submitted by purchasers, that
of the devices requesting activation of the ATSC tuner, for
example, 90% of those devices were second or third home TVs that
consequently can be inferred to lack a cable or satellite
hookup.
[0050] It is preferred that once a licensable component has been
activated by obtaining a license for it, it cannot subsequently be
deactivated by the user, to avoid multiple license payments for the
same component. Accordingly, the TV processor 18 may be programmed
to refuse deactivation commands from the user if any are input for
any component that has been activated and licensed, at least
insofar as deactivation would require another license to
reactivate.
[0051] Verification of license may also be provided by the TV
processor so that, for example, if a component license is requested
by the TV but the corresponding feature never used within some
period of time, the TV can retract the license request and any
license fees refunded as a result.
[0052] FIG. 9 shows example logic for enabling a consumer
electronics (CE) device such as the TV 12 shown in FIG. 1 to
upgrade itself post-vending by enabling or activating licensable
components it may have been sold with but which lacked necessary
license keys (without which the components are disabled) owing to
royalties for the respective components not having been prepaid by
the manufacturer. Commencing at block 200, some or all of the CE
devices made by a common manufacturer may be provided with a single
unified comprehensive software package prior to sale. This software
package may include software for multiple CE device models and/or
all software needed for all components of a model, e.g., all
software needed to operate all licensable components that a
particular model may be capable of operating. However, only an
initial subset of the items of software, namely, those software
modules pertaining to non-licensable components and to licensable
components for which royalties may happen to have been prepaid, are
enabled at time of sale. Software modules needed to operate
licensable components for which royalties have not been prepaid are
not enabled by, e.g., not providing a CE device with respective
license keys needed to enable the licensable components for which
royalties have not been prepaid.
[0053] Proceeding to block 202, an individual CE device configures
itself upon initial power on using a configuration file to access
and invoke the initial subset of software modules from the unified
software package. The CE device is not (and typically cannot be,
absent possessing license keys) configured at initial power on to
invoke modules in the unified software package that are not in the
initial subset.
[0054] Moving to block 204, additional feature options
corresponding to licensable components that are available (but that
are not yet enabled) in the CE device are presented to the
purchaser, who may select to activate one or more of the additional
feature options. In one implementation, the user interface (UI) of
FIG. 10 may be presented on the display 28 of the CE device to this
end.
[0055] User selections of additional feature options are received
at block 206 and uploaded to one or more of the above-described
servers, which correlate the selected features to licensable
components and respective license keys, with the license keys being
returned at block 208 to the CE device for enablement/activation of
the associated licensable components existing in the unified
software package.
[0056] In some cases, along with the license keys, software
upgrades may be included to enable the CE device to execute a
software module in the uniform package that it did not possess the
capability to execute before. For example, the uniform software
package may contain software for premium device models and standard
device models, and a feature for a premium model at the time of
vending a standard device model might not be executable by the
standard model even with the needed keys owing to memory
limitations or operating system limitations or other software
limitations in the standard model at the time of vending it. In the
event that improved memory allocation or operating system software
or other relevant improvement becomes available for the standard
model and renders the standard model capable of executing the
premium feature, this improved software can be downloaded along
with the needed keys as part of fulfilling a request from a
standard model to activate or enable the licensable component
corresponding to the premium feature.
[0057] Also, necessary royalties for the now-activated licensable
components are adjusted accordingly. If desired, selection of a
feature can result in immediate return of license keys that expire
after a limited time to allow a user to "try out" a feature prior
to purchasing permanent keys.
[0058] In one embodiment, the royalties are adjusted by billing the
user. This may be done by prompting the user, pursuant to receiving
a selection of a feature option and prior to returning the
associated license key, to pay either through a CE device cable
reverse channel connection or by accessing a website and entering a
credit card number. Only after payment are the needed license keys
"pushed" to the CE device, with the CE device notifying the user
through, e.g., an on-screen display that the feature is now
available. Or, the server can periodically request ("pull")
selection of a feature and/or payment by presenting a prompt on the
display of the CE device.
[0059] FIG. 10 shows an example UI 210 that can be presented on the
display 28 of the CE device according to block 204 in FIG. 9. The
UI 210 may list features having associated software in the unified
software package that have not yet been enabled owing to a lack of
the necessary license keys. For example, the CE device may have
been vended with a non-enabled modem for Internet access and the
user can select this feature using the UI 210 for provisioning of
the necessary license keys to enable use of the modem for Internet
access in accordance with principles above. Or, the CE device may
have been vended with high definition capability but without HDCP
keys needed to exploit it, and this feature may be selected using
the UI 210 shown in FIG. 10, and so on.
[0060] Without limitation, the need for paying for licenses for the
following technologies may be determined:
[0061] Video Decoders
[0062] MPEG-2 video, MPEG-2 video with optical disk, MPEG4 advanced
video coding (AVC), MPEG4 Visual, MPEG video codec (VC) 1
[0063] Audio Decoders
[0064] unified AAC (MPEG 2&4 AAC) 2ch, unified AAC (MPEG
2&4 AAC) 3ch, Dolby Digital AC3 2ch, Dolby Digital AC3 5.1ch,
Dolby Digital Plus (DD+) 2ch, ProLogic2 (Surround Sound), MPEG
audio 1&2 layer 1, 2, 3) MP3, DTS_Blueray disk (BD) (2CH/2CH+
Digital Out), BBE Sound, sound retrieval system (SRS) sound
[0065] EPGs
[0066] Gemstar Guide EPG, non-Gemstar EPG (S1-EPG)
[0067] Demodulators
[0068] Association of Radio Industries and Businesses (ARIB)
(D+BS+CS), ATSC, digital video broadcasting (terrestrial)
(DVB-T)
[0069] Other Components Including Digital Rights Management
(DRM)
[0070] Joint Photographic Expert Group (JPEG), digital transmission
content protection (DTCP)/AACP/Open MG, HDMI, System Synchronized
Brightness Control (contrast enhancement), Inverter controller
integrated circuit (IC), IEEE 802.11 wireless license, IEEE
802.11(n), BD Pool (player), BD Pool (recorder), digital video disk
(DVD) format, IEEE 802.11/16, IEEE 1394
[0071] Software
[0072] JAVA, MHP/Ginga interactive TV software, JAVA-BD
combination, DivX codec software, Windows Media Audio, Windows
Media Video, Windows Media Network read, Windows Media digital
rights management (DRM), audio watermark, Netfront, web browser
software.
[0073] Additionally, production encryption keys and test encryption
keys may be used to permit testing a licensable component in
production, pre-sale, without triggering the above-described
license request mechanisms. A TV may be placed in a test activation
mode used only in the manufacturing or test phase, and if desired
the test mode may have a hardwired time out. A test key or keys can
be used to activate licensable components and the license request
algorithm recognizes a test key and responsive to the recognition
does not request a license. The test activation mode may be
hardwired to deactivate after a single power cycle and the TV
processor may not permit reactivation of the test mode thereafter.
Activation of a licensable component thereafter requires a
production key which is associated with a license request.
[0074] While the particular ACTIVATING LICENSABLE COMPONENT OF
CONSUMER ELECTRONIC DEVICE POST-SALE USING UNIFIED SOFTWARE PACKAGE
is herein shown and described in detail, it is to be understood
that the subject matter which is encompassed by the present
invention is limited only by the claims.
* * * * *