U.S. patent application number 13/751776 was filed with the patent office on 2013-06-27 for systems and methods for detecting unauthorized use of a user equipment device.
This patent application is currently assigned to UNITED VIDEO PROPERTIES. The applicant listed for this patent is UNITED VIDEO PROPERTIES. Invention is credited to Thomas Patrick Antalek, Greg DeCamp, Walter R. Klappert, Haig Krakirian, Daniel Thomas Ward.
Application Number | 20130167170 13/751776 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 47178862 |
Filed Date | 2013-06-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130167170 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Klappert; Walter R. ; et
al. |
June 27, 2013 |
SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DETECTING UNAUTHORIZED USE OF A USER
EQUIPMENT DEVICE
Abstract
Systems and methods for detecting unauthorized use of a user
equipment device are provided. An instruction is transmitted, using
communications circuitry of a handheld device, to the user
equipment device directing the user equipment device to display a
unique identifier associated with the user equipment simultaneously
with media content. An image of the media content and unique
identifier simultaneously displayed on a display screen coupled to
the user equipment device is captured using camera equipment of the
handheld device. The image is automatically processed with the
handheld device to extract the unique identifier from the image.
The extracted unique identifier is cross-referenced, using the
handheld device, with user account information associated with the
user equipment device to determine whether use of the user
equipment device is unauthorized.
Inventors: |
Klappert; Walter R.; (Los
Angeles, CA) ; Ward; Daniel Thomas; (Los Angeles,
CA) ; DeCamp; Greg; (Simi Valley, CA) ;
Krakirian; Haig; (Burbank, CA) ; Antalek; Thomas
Patrick; (Hermosa Beach, CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
UNITED VIDEO PROPERTIES; |
Santa Clara |
CA |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
UNITED VIDEO PROPERTIES
Santa Clara
CA
|
Family ID: |
47178862 |
Appl. No.: |
13/751776 |
Filed: |
January 28, 2013 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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13247098 |
Sep 28, 2011 |
8387084 |
|
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13751776 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
725/25 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04N 21/42684 20130101;
G06F 21/105 20130101; H04N 21/42222 20130101; H04N 21/42202
20130101; H04N 21/6582 20130101; H04N 21/4126 20130101; H04N
21/4223 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
725/25 |
International
Class: |
H04N 21/45 20060101
H04N021/45 |
Claims
1-30. (canceled)
31. A method for detecting unauthorized use of a user equipment
device, the method comprising: monitoring content currently being
accessed by the user equipment device; determining that the
monitored content is associated with an identifier of the user
equipment device; retrieving the identifier from a memory of the
user equipment device, wherein the identifier identifies the user
equipment device to a service provider; and transmitting the
identifier to a device associated with the service provider,
wherein the device is operable to determine whether the use of the
user equipment device is unauthorized based on the identifier.
32. The method of claim 31, wherein the user equipment device
retrieves the identifier from the memory in response to receiving
an instruction from the device associated with the service
provider.
33. The method of claim 31, wherein transmitting the identifier
comprises displaying the identifier on a display screen.
34. The method of claim 33, wherein the identifier is displayed at
a predetermined location on the display screen.
35. The method of claim 33, wherein the identifier is displayed at
a predetermined time interval unknown to a user of the user
equipment device.
36. The method of claim 31, wherein the user equipment device
receives an indication from the device associated with the service
provider indicating that the use of the user equipment device is
unauthorized if the user equipment device is not authorized to
access the content.
37. The method of claim 31, wherein the identifier includes at
least one of a unique numerical value and an image unique to the
user equipment device.
38. The method of claim 31, wherein monitoring content currently
being accessed by the user equipment device comprises extracting a
title of the content.
39. The method of claim 31, wherein determining that the monitored
content is associated with an identifier of the user equipment
device comprises cross-referencing the content with a list of
sources that are associated with the identifier.
40. The method of claim 31, wherein transmitting the identifier
comprises generating an audio signal.
41. A system for detecting unauthorized use of a user equipment
device, the system comprising: control circuitry configured to:
monitor content currently being accessed by the user equipment
device; determine that the monitored content is associated with an
identifier of the user equipment device; retrieve the identifier
from a memory of the user equipment device, wherein the identifier
identifies the user equipment device to a service provider; and
transmit the identifier to a device associated with the service
provider, wherein the device is operable to determine whether the
use of the user equipment device is unauthorized based on the
identifier.
42. The system of claim 41, wherein the user equipment device
retrieves the identifier from the memory in response to receiving
an instruction from the device associated with the service
provider.
43. The system of claim 41, wherein transmitting the identifier
comprises displaying the identifier on a display screen.
44. The system of claim 43, wherein the identifier is displayed at
a predetermined location on the display screen.
45. The system of claim 43, wherein the identifier is displayed at
a predetermined time interval unknown to a user of the user
equipment device.
46. The system of claim 41, wherein the control circuitry is
further configured to receive an indication from the device
associated with the service provider indicating that the use of the
user equipment device is unauthorized if the user equipment device
is not authorized to access the content.
47. The system of claim 41, wherein the unique identifier includes
at least one of a unique numerical value and an image unique to the
user equipment device.
48. The system of claim 41, wherein the control circuitry is
further configured to extract a title of the content.
49. The system of claim 41, wherein the control circuitry is
further configured to cross-reference the content with a list of
sources that are associated with the identifier.
50. The system of claim 41, wherein the control circuitry is
further configured to generate an audio signal.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] Typically, content providers offer consumers that operate a
business in a public place (e.g., a tavern) service for use in the
public place at a higher cost than consumers that use the service
in a private residence. In addition, the level and type of service
authorized for a particular consumer is programmed into the
consumer's device (e.g., set-top-box). Thus, a consumer that
operates a business can pay a lower price for service by
deceptively purchasing service offered for private use and using
that service publicly at the business location by connecting the
device programmed for the private residence to the business
location. Such unauthorized use is difficult for the content
providers to detect without physically inspecting each suspected
consumer device at the suspected location.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0002] In view of the foregoing, systems and methods for detecting
unauthorized use of a user equipment device are provided. In
particular, an operator device at a user site receives a
fingerprint from a user equipment device and, based on the received
fingerprint, the operator device detects misuse of the user
equipment device. The fingerprint is a unique identifier of the
user equipment device.
[0003] In some embodiments, a user equipment device may determine a
need to retrieve from memory a fingerprint associated with the user
equipment device. The fingerprint may be an object that uniquely
identifies the user equipment device to a service provider. For
example, the fingerprint or unique identifier may be an object that
includes a unique image, text, graphic, audible tone or tones,
sound, alphanumerical sequence, value, a sequence of images, a
sequence of text, a sequence of graphics, a sequence of tone or
tones, a sequence of alphanumerical values, or other unique
identifier. In some implementations, the user equipment device
determines a need to retrieve the fingerprint in response to the
user equipment receiving an instruction from an operator device of
the service provider. In some implementations, the user equipment
device determines a need to retrieve the fingerprint in response to
detecting that a predetermined content is being displayed and/or
that a predetermined content source is being accessed. In some
embodiments, the user equipment device retrieves the fingerprint
from memory by having a media guidance application call a system
function that requests access to the fingerprint stored in a
dedicated portion of memory of the user equipment device.
[0004] In some embodiments, the user equipment device may make the
fingerprint available to a service provider operator (operator
device) located within the user site. For example, the user
equipment device may display the retrieved fingerprint on the
display at a predetermined time and/or at a predetermined location
on the screen. In some implementations, the user equipment device
may scramble the displayed fingerprint using various colors to hide
the fingerprint so that the fingerprint only becomes visible when
viewed by an operator with an optical device with the corresponding
colors. In some embodiments, in addition to or instead of
displaying the fingerprint, the user equipment device may make the
fingerprint available by transmitting a communication to a nearby
operator device that includes the fingerprint. In some embodiments,
in addition to or instead of displaying the fingerprint, the user
equipment device may make the fingerprint available by playing a
tone or audio signal that can only be heard and discerned by an
operator device.
[0005] In some embodiments, the service provider operator device
may determine whether use of the user equipment device is
unauthorized based on the fingerprint in response to the
fingerprint being made available. In particular, the operator
device may determine that the user equipment device is being
misused based on the fingerprint. In some implementations, an
operator of the operator device may manually input the fingerprint
displayed on a screen associated with the user equipment device
into the operator device. The operator device may cross-reference
the received fingerprint with user account information associated
with fingerprints. In particular, the operator device may query or
search a locally stored or remotely stored database for user
account information that matches a fingerprint, that has been made
available.
[0006] In some embodiments, the operator device may detect misuse
of the user equipment device based on the user account information
retrieved from the database. In particular, the operator device may
display the user account information to an operator. For example,
the user account information may include a list of authorized
services (e.g., content that may be displayed or content source
that may be accessed) for a given user equipment device and/or a
list of authorized locations (e.g., addresses, residential or
commercial authorization, GPS coordinates, etc.) for the user
equipment device. In some implementations, an operator may compare
the displayed user account information with the location and/or
content being consumed on the user equipment device. When a
mismatch is determined, the operator may determine that the user
equipment device is being misused.
[0007] Alternatively, the operator may input criteria of the user
equipment device use (e.g., a location or content that is being
consumed) and the operator device may automatically compare the
received criteria with the user account information to detect
misuse. In particular, when the criterion (e.g., a content source)
is determined not to be included in the list of authorized services
of the user account information (e.g., content sources listed), the
operator device may determine that the user equipment device is
being misused. When the operator device detects that the user
equipment device is being misused, the operator device may display
or provide an alert to the operator indicating that misuse has been
detected. In some implementations, when the criterion (e.g., a
content source) is determined to be included in the list of
authorized services of the user account information (e.g., content
sources listed), the operator device may determine that the user
equipment device is not being misused. When the operator device
detects that the user equipment device is not being misused, the
operator device may display or provide an alert to the operator
indicating that use of the user equipment device is authorized.
[0008] In some embodiments, the operator device may be a handheld
device that includes camera equipment. The handheld device may
transmit, using communications circuitry (e.g., radio frequency
communication, Bluetooth and/or WiFi), an instruction to the user
equipment device to cause the user equipment device to display the
unique identifier associated with the user equipment device. In
response to receiving the instruction from the handheld device, the
user equipment device may retrieve the unique identifier from a
memory of the user equipment device and display on a display screen
coupled to the user equipment device the retrieved unique
identifier simultaneously (e.g., as an overlay) with media content
being displayed on the display device. The handheld device may
automatically synchronize the transmission of the instruction to
the user equipment device requesting the display of the unique
identifier with activation of the camera equipment of the handheld
device. In particular, once the user equipment device displays the
unique identifier on the display screen simultaneously with the
media content, the handheld device may capture an image of the
display screen.
[0009] The handheld device may automatically process the captured
image to separate the media content from the unique identifier and
extract the unique identifier from the captured image. The handheld
device may automatically access a database which includes a mapping
between unique identifiers and user account information. The
database may be locally stored on the handheld device or stored in
a remote database. In the case where the database is locally
stored, the handheld device may retrieve from the database the user
account information associated with the extracted unique
identifier. In the case where the database is stored in a remote
location (e.g., a remote server), the handheld device may transmit
the extracted unique identifier to the remote location and may
subsequently receive back from the remote location the
corresponding user account information.
[0010] In some implementations, the handheld device may determine
the location of the user equipment device by retrieving Global
Positioning System (GPS) coordinates from GPS circuitry included in
the handheld device and automatically compare the determined
location with a location specified in the user account information.
The handheld device may display on a display screen coupled to the
handheld device an indication of whether use of the user equipment
device is authorized. In particular, when the location specified in
the user account information matches the determined location, the
handheld device may display an indication that use is authorized;
otherwise the handheld device may display an indication that use is
unauthorized. In some implementations, the handheld device may
determine what content is being displayed or what content source is
being accessed by processing the captured image to extract the
media content in the image and receiving user input identifying the
media content or media content source. When the media content or
the content source specified in the user account information
matches the determined media content being displayed or content
source being accessed, the handheld device may display an
indication that use is authorized; otherwise the handheld device
may display an indication that use is unauthorized.
[0011] In some implementations, the unique identifier may be
displayed for less than a few seconds requiring the handheld device
to automatically ensure the timing between the transmission of the
request and the image capture of the content being displayed is
accurate so that the image that is captured includes the displayed
fingerprint. In particular, if the handheld device is late or early
in capturing the image, the captured image may not include the
displayed unique identifier. In some implementations, the handheld
device may activate the camera equipment to capture an image
displayed on the display device accounting for delay incurred in
transmitting the instruction requesting the display of the unique
identifier, the user equipment retrieving the unique identifier
from memory, and displaying the unique identifier.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] The above and other objects and advantages of the invention
will be apparent upon consideration of the following detailed
description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings,
in which like reference characters refer to like parts throughout,
and in which:
[0013] FIGS. 1 and 2 show illustrative display screens that may be
used to provide media guidance application listings in accordance
with an embodiment of the invention;
[0014] FIG. 3 shows an illustrative user equipment device in
accordance with another embodiment of the invention;
[0015] FIG. 4 is a diagram of an illustrative cross-platform
interactive media system in accordance with another embodiment of
the invention;
[0016] FIG. 5 shows an illustrative display screen that may be used
to provide a fingerprint object in accordance with another
embodiment of the invention;
[0017] FIG. 6 shows an illustrative display screen of a main menu
for detecting unauthorized use of a user equipment device with a
service provider device in accordance with another embodiment of
the invention;
[0018] FIGS. 7 and 8 show illustrative display screens of menus for
detecting unauthorized use of a user equipment device with a
service provider device in accordance with another embodiment of
the invention; and
[0019] FIGS. 9A-B, 10A-B and 11 illustrate flow diagrams for
detecting unauthorized use of a user equipment device in accordance
with an embodiment of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0020] The amount of media available to users in any given media
delivery system can be substantial. Consequently, many users desire
a form of media guidance through an interface that allows users to
efficiently navigate media selections and easily identify media
that they may desire. An application which provides such guidance
is referred to herein as an interactive media guidance application
or, sometimes, a media guidance application, a video guidance
application, or a guidance application.
[0021] Interactive media guidance applications may take various
forms depending on the media for which they provide guidance. One
typical type of media guidance application is an interactive
television program guide. Interactive television program guides
(sometimes referred to as electronic program guides or video
guides) are well-known guidance applications that, among other
things, allow users to navigate among and locate many types of
media content including conventional television programming
(provided via traditional broadcast, cable, satellite, Internet, or
other means), as well as pay-per-view programs, on-demand programs
(as in video-on-demand (VOD) systems), Internet content (e.g.,
streaming media, downloadable media, Webcasts, etc.), and other
types of media or video content. Guidance applications also allow
users to navigate among and locate content related to the video
content including, for example, video clips, articles,
advertisements, chat sessions, games, etc. Guidance applications
also allow users to navigate among and locate multimedia content.
The term multimedia is defined herein as media and content that
utilizes at least two different content forms, such as text, audio,
still images, animation, video, and interactivity content forms.
Multimedia content may be recorded and played, displayed or
accessed by information content processing devices, such as
computerized and electronic devices, but can also be part of a live
performance. It should be understood that the embodiments that are
discussed in relation to media content are also applicable to other
types of content, such as video, audio and/or multimedia.
[0022] With the advent of the Internet, mobile computing, and
high-speed wireless networks, users are accessing media on personal
computers (PCs) and other devices on which they traditionally did
not, such as hand-held computers, personal digital assistants
(PDAs), mobile telephones, or other mobile or remote devices. On
these devices users are able to navigate among and locate the same
media available through a television. Consequently, media guidance
is necessary on these devices as well. The guidance provided may be
for media content available only through a television, for media
content available only through one or more of these devices, or for
media content available both through a television and one or more
of these devices. The media guidance applications may be provided
as on-line applications (i.e., provided on a web-site), or as
stand-alone applications or clients on hand-held computers, PDAs,
mobile telephones, or other mobile devices. The various devices and
platforms that may implement media guidance applications are
described in more detail below.
[0023] One of the functions of the media guidance application is to
provide media listings and media information to users. FIGS. 1-2
show illustrative display screens that may be used to provide media
guidance, and in particular media listings. The display screens
shown in FIGS. 1-2 and 5-8 may be implemented on any suitable
device or platform. While the displays of FIGS. 1-2 and 5-8 are
illustrated as full screen displays, they may also be fully or
partially overlaid over media content being displayed. A user may
indicate a desire to access media information by selecting a
selectable option provided in a display screen (e.g., a menu
option, a listings option, an icon, a hyperlink, etc.) or pressing
a dedicated button (e.g., a GUIDE button) on a remote control or
other user input interface or device (e.g., a touch screen which
allows the user to press the button by touching the location of the
button on the screen). In response to the user's indication, the
media guidance application may provide a display screen with media
information organized in one of several ways, such as by time and
channel in a grid, by time, by channel, by media type, by category
(e.g., movies, sports, news, children, or other categories of
programming), or other predefined, user-defined, or other
organization criteria.
[0024] FIG. 1 shows illustrative grid program listings display 100
arranged by time and channel that also enables access to different
types of media content in a single display. Display 100 may include
grid 102 with: (1) a column of channel/media type identifiers 104,
where each channel/media type identifier (which is a cell in the
column) identifies a different channel or media type available; and
(2) a row of time identifiers 106, where each time identifier
(which is a cell in the row) identifies a time block of
programming. Grid 102 also includes cells of program listings, such
as program listing 108, where each listing provides the title of
the program provided on the listing's associated channel and time.
With a user input device, a user can select program listings by
moving highlight region 110. Information relating to the program
listing selected by highlight region 110 may be provided in program
information region 112. Region 112 may include, for example, the
program title, the program description, the time the program is
provided (if applicable), the channel the program is on (if
applicable), the program's rating, and other desired
information.
[0025] In addition to providing access to linear programming
provided according to a schedule, the media guidance application
also provides access to non-linear programming which is not
provided according to a schedule. Non-linear programming may
include content from different media sources including on-demand
media content (e.g., VOD), Internet content (e.g., streaming media,
downloadable media, etc.), locally stored media content (e.g.,
video content stored on a digital video recorder (DVR), digital
video disc (DVD), video cassette, compact disc (CD), etc.), or
other time-insensitive media content. On-demand content may include
both movies and original media content provided by a particular
media provider (e.g., HBO On Demand providing "The Sopranos" and
"Curb Your Enthusiasm"). HBO ON DEMAND is a service mark owned by
Time Warner Company L. P. et al. and THE SOPRANOS and CURB YOUR
ENTHUSIASM are trademarks owned by the Home Box Office, Inc.
Internet content may include web events, such as a chat session or
Webcast, or content available on-demand as streaming media or
downloadable media through an Internet web site or other Internet
access (e.g. FTP).
[0026] Grid 102 may provide listings for non-linear programming
including on-demand listing 114, recorded media listing 116, and
Internet content listing 118. A display combining listings for
content from different types of media sources is sometimes referred
to as a "mixed-media" display. The various permutations of the
types of listings that may be displayed that are different than
display 100 may be based on user selection or guidance application
definition (e.g., a display of only recorded and broadcast
listings, only on-demand and broadcast listings, etc.). As
illustrated, listings 114, 116, and 118 are shown as spanning the
entire time block displayed in grid 102 to indicate that selection
of these listings may provide access to a display dedicated to
on-demand listings, recorded listings, or Internet listings,
respectively. In other embodiments, listings for these media types
may be included directly in grid 102. Additional listings may be
displayed in response to the user selecting one of the navigational
icons 120. (Pressing an arrow key on a user input device may affect
the display in a similar manner as selecting navigational icons
120.)
[0027] Display 100 may also include video region 122, advertisement
124, and options region 126. Video region 122 may allow the user to
view and/or preview programs that are currently available, will be
available, or were available to the user. The content of video
region 122 may correspond to, or be independent from, one of the
listings displayed in grid 102. Grid displays including a video
region are sometimes referred to as picture-in-guide (PIG)
displays. PIG displays and their functionalities are described in
greater detail in Satterfield et al. U.S. Pat. No. 6,564,378,
issued May 13, 2003 and Yuen et al. U.S. Pat. No. 6,239,794, issued
May 29, 2001, which are hereby incorporated by reference herein in
their entireties. PIG displays may be included in other media
guidance application display screens of the present invention.
[0028] Advertisement 124 may provide an advertisement for media
content that, depending on a viewer's access rights (e.g., for
subscription programming), is currently available for viewing, will
be available for viewing in the future, or may never become
available for viewing, and may correspond to or be unrelated to one
or more of the media listings in grid 102. Advertisement 124 may
also be for products or services related or unrelated to the media
content displayed in grid 102. Advertisement 124 may be selectable
and provide further information about media content; provide
information about a product or a service; enable purchasing of
media content, a product, or a service; provide media content
relating to the advertisement, etc. Advertisement 124 may be
targeted based on a user's profile/preferences, monitored user
activity, the type of display provided, or on other suitable
targeted advertisement bases.
[0029] While advertisement 124 is shown as rectangular or banner
shaped, advertisements may be provided in any suitable size, shape,
and location in a guidance application display. For example,
advertisement 124 may be provided as a rectangular shape that is
horizontally adjacent to grid 102. This is sometimes referred to as
a panel advertisement. In addition, advertisements may be overlaid
over media content or a guidance application display or embedded
within a display. Advertisements may also include text, images,
rotating images, video clips, or other types of media content.
Advertisements may be stored in the user equipment with the
guidance application, in a database connected to the user
equipment, in a remote location (including streaming media
servers), or on other storage means or a combination of these
locations. Providing advertisements in a media guidance application
is discussed in greater detail in, for example, Knudson et al.,
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/347,673, filed Jan. 17, 2003;
Ward, III et al, U.S. Pat. No. 6,756,997, issued Jun. 29, 2004; and
Schein et al. U.S. Pat. No. 6,388,714, issued May 14, 2002, which
are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entireties. It
will be appreciated that advertisements may be included in other
media guidance application display screens of the present
invention.
[0030] Options region 126 may allow the user to access different
types of media content, media guidance application displays, and/or
media guidance application features. Options region 126 may be part
of display 100 (and other display screens of the present
invention), or may be invoked by a user by selecting an on-screen
option or pressing a dedicated or assignable button on a user input
device. The selectable options within options region 126 may
concern features related to program listings in grid 102 or may
include options available from a main menu display. Features
related to program listings may include searching for other air
times or ways of receiving a program, recording a program, enabling
series recording of a program, setting program and/or channel as a
favorite, purchasing a program, or other features. Options
available from a main menu display may include search options, VOD
options, parental control options, access to various types of
listing displays, subscribe to a premium service, edit a user's
profile, access a browse overlay, or other options.
[0031] The media guidance application may be personalized based on
a user's preferences. A personalized media guidance application
allows a user to customize displays and features to create a
personalized "experience" with the media guidance application. This
personalized experience may be created by allowing a user to input
these customizations and/or by the media guidance application
monitoring user activity to determine various user preferences.
Users may access their personalized guidance application by logging
in or otherwise identifying themselves to the guidance application.
Customization of the media guidance application may be made in
accordance with a user profile. The customizations may include
varying presentation schemes (e.g., color scheme of displays, font
size of text, etc.), aspects of media content listings displayed
(e.g., only HDTV programming, user-specified broadcast channels
based on favorite channel selections, re-ordering the display of
channels, recommended media content, etc.), desired recording
features (e.g., recording or series recordings for particular
users, recording quality, etc.), parental control settings, and
other desired customizations.
[0032] The media guidance application may allow a user to provide
user profile information or may automatically compile user profile
information. The media guidance application may, for example,
monitor the media the user accesses and/or other interactions the
user may have with the guidance application. Additionally, the
media guidance application may obtain all or part of other user
profiles that are related to a particular user (e.g., from other
web sites on the Internet the user accesses, such as
www.tvguide.com, from other media guidance applications the user
accesses, from other interactive applications the user accesses,
from a handheld device of the user, etc.), and/or obtain
information about the user from other sources that the media
guidance application may access. As a result, a user can be
provided with a unified guidance application experience across the
user's different devices. This type of user experience is described
in greater detail below in connection with FIG. 4. Additional
personalized media guidance application features are described in
greater detail in Ellis et al., U.S. patent application Ser. No.
11/179,410, filed Jul. 11, 2005; Boyer et al., U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 09/437,304, filed Nov. 9, 1999; and Ellis et
al., U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/105,128, filed Feb. 21,
2002, which are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their
entireties.
[0033] Another display arrangement for providing media guidance is
shown in FIG. 2. Video mosaic display 200 includes selectable
options 202 for media content information organized based on media
type, genre, and/or other organization criteria. In display 200,
television listings option 204 is selected, thus providing listings
206, 208, 210, and 212 as broadcast program listings. Unlike the
listings from FIG. 1, the listings in display 200 are not limited
to simple text (e.g., the program title) and icons to describe
media. Rather, in display 200 the listings may provide graphical
images including cover art, still images from the media content,
video clip previews, live video from the media content, or other
types of media that indicate to a user the media content being
described by the listing. Each of the graphical listings may also
be accompanied by text to provide further information about the
media content associated with the listing. For example, listing 208
may include more than one portion, including media portion 214 and
text portion 216. Media portion 214 and/or text portion 216 may be
selectable to view video in full-screen or to view program listings
related to the video displayed in media portion 214 (e.g., to view
listings for the channel that the video is displayed on).
[0034] The listings in display 200 are of different sizes (i.e.,
listing 206 is larger than listings 208, 210, and 212), but if
desired, all the listings may be the same size. Listings may be of
different sizes or graphically accentuated to indicate degrees of
interest to the user or to emphasize certain content, as desired by
the media provider or based on user preferences. Various systems
and methods for graphically accentuating media listings are
discussed in, for example, Yates, U.S. patent application Ser. No.
11/324,202, filed Dec. 29, 2005, which is hereby incorporated by
reference herein in its entirety.
[0035] Users may access media content and the media guidance
application (and its display screens described above and below)
from one or more of their user equipment devices. FIG. 3 shows a
generalized embodiment of illustrative user equipment device 300.
More specific implementations of user equipment devices are
discussed below in connection with FIG. 4. User equipment device
300 may receive media content and data via input/output
(hereinafter "I/O") path 302, I/O path 302 may provide media
content (e.g., broadcast programming, on-demand programming,
Internet content, and other video or audio) and data to control
circuitry 304, which includes processing circuitry 306 and storage
308. Control circuitry 304 may be used to send and receive
commands, requests, and other suitable data using I/O path 302. I/O
path 302 may connect control circuitry 304 (and specifically
processing circuitry 306) to one or more communications paths
(described below). I/O functions may be provided by one or more of
these communications paths, but are shown as a single path in FIG.
3 to avoid overcomplicating the drawing.
[0036] Control circuitry 304 may be based on any suitable
processing circuitry 306 such as processing circuitry based on one
or more microprocessors, microcontrollers, digital signal
processors, programmable logic devices, etc. In some embodiments,
control circuitry 304 executes instructions for a media guidance
application stored in memory (i.e., storage 308). In client-server
based embodiments, control circuitry 304 may include communications
circuitry suitable for communicating with a guidance application
server or other networks or servers. Communications circuitry may
include a cable modem, an integrated services digital network
(ISDN) modem, a digital subscriber line (DSL) modem, a telephone
modem, or a wireless modem for communications with other equipment.
Such communications may involve the Internet or any other suitable
communications networks or paths (which is described in more detail
in connection with FIG. 4). In addition, communications circuitry
may include circuitry that enables peer-to-peer communication of
user equipment devices, or communication of user equipment devices
in locations remote from each other (described in more detail
below).
[0037] Memory (e.g., random-access memory, read-only memory, or any
other suitable memory), hard drives, optical drives, or any other
suitable fixed or removable storage devices (e.g., DVD recorder, CD
recorder, video cassette recorder, or other suitable recording
device) may be provided as storage 308 that is part of control
circuitry 304. Storage 308 may include one or more of the above
types of storage devices. For example, user equipment device 300
may include a hard drive for a DVR (sometimes called a personal
video recorder, or PVR) and a DVD recorder as a secondary storage
device. Storage 308 may be used to store various types of media
described herein and guidance application data, including program
information, guidance application settings, user preferences or
profile information, or other data used in operating the guidance
application. Nonvolatile memory may also be used (e.g., to launch a
boot-up routine and other instructions).
[0038] In some embodiments, storage 308 may include a dedicated
nonvolatile memory or electronic storage that stores a fingerprint
that is associated with the device in which storage 308 is located.
For example, storage 308 may be part of a user equipment device
(such as a set-top-box or mobile device) and may store a
fingerprint (or unique identifier) unique to that device. The
fingerprint, or unique identifier may be an object that uniquely
identifies the user equipment device (or the device in which the
fingerprint is stored) to a service provider. The object may be a
unique image, text, graphic, audible tone or tones, alphanumerical
sequence, value, a sequence of images, a sequence of text, a
sequence of graphics, a sequence of tone or tones, a sequence of
alphanumerical values, or other unique identifier. The service
provider may be any media content source and/or data source that
provides a user with authorization and access to media content
(e.g., media content source 416 or media guidance data source 418
of FIG. 4). In some implementations, the fingerprint may enable the
service provider or an operator of the service provider to retrieve
user account information associated with the device in which the
fingerprint is stored.
[0039] The user account information may indicate the level of
authorization provided by the service provider to the device on
which the fingerprint is stored. For example, the level of
authorization may indicate what video or programming packages the
device is authorized to access and/or view. For example, the level
of authorization may indicate what sporting events (such as soccer
games) the device is authorized to access and/or view. The level of
authorization may indicate whether the device is authorized for
placement in a public place (e.g., a tavern) and/or whether the
device is only authorized for placement in a private residence.
This allows an operator of the service provider or the service
provider itself to determine or detect misuse of the device on
which the fingerprint is stored. It should be understood that the
term "misuse" is synonymous with the phrase "unauthorized use."
Namely, a user equipment device that is being misused is being used
in an unauthorized manner or manner that is unauthorized by a
service provider.
[0040] In some embodiments, storage 308 may include a programmable
memory or programmable logic array that stores the fingerprint. For
example, storage 308 may include a programmable logic device, field
programmable gate array or any other type of programmable device
that can be used to store the fingerprint. In such circumstances,
the fingerprint stored in storage 308 may be updated locally or
remotely by the service provider or operator of the service
provider. For example, the service provider may transmit
instructions to the device in which the fingerprint is stored to
cause the device to modify the stored fingerprint. In some
implementations, the instructions received by the device from the
service provider may include a new fingerprint which may be used to
replace the fingerprint stored in storage device 308 and the device
receiving the instructions may reprogram storage 308 to replace the
fingerprint with the newly received fingerprint. In some
implementations, the instructions received by the device from the
service provider may include a formula or algorithm that the device
can use to generate a new fingerprint based on the previously
stored fingerprint and replace the previously stored fingerprint
with the newly generated fingerprint. In some implementations, an
operator of the service provider may update or reprogram storage
308 with a different fingerprint locally at the location of the
device.
[0041] Control circuitry 304 may include video generating circuitry
and tuning circuitry, such as one or more analog tuners, one or
more MPEG-2 decoders or other digital decoding circuitry,
high-definition tuners, or any other suitable tuning or video
circuits or combinations of such circuits. Encoding circuitry
(e.g., for converting over-the-air, analog, or digital signals to
MPEG signals for storage) may also be provided. Control circuitry
304 may also include scaler circuitry for upconverting and
downconverting media into the preferred output format of the user
equipment 300. Circuitry 304 may also include digital-to-analog
converter circuitry and analog-to-digital converter circuitry for
converting between digital and analog signals. The tuning and
encoding circuitry may be used by the user equipment to receive and
to display, to play, or to record media content. The tuning and
encoding circuitry may also be used to receive guidance data. The
circuitry described herein, including for example, the tuning,
video generating, encoding, decoding, scaler, and analog/digital
circuitry, may be implemented using software running on one or more
general purpose or specialized processors. Multiple tuners may be
provided to handle simultaneous tuning functions (e.g., watch and
record functions, picture-in-picture (PIP) functions,
multiple-tuner recording, etc.). If storage 308 is provided as a
separate device from user equipment 300, the tuning and encoding
circuitry (including multiple tuners) may be associated with
storage 308.
[0042] A user may control the control circuitry 304 using user
input interface 310. User input, interface 310 may be any suitable
user interface, such as a remote control, mouse, trackball, keypad,
keyboard, touch screen, touch pad, stylus input, joystick, voice
recognition interface, camera equipment (still or video camera) or
other user input interfaces. Display 312 may be provided as a
stand-alone device or integrated with other elements of user
equipment device 300. Display 312 may be one or more of a monitor,
a television, a liquid crystal display (LCD) for a mobile device,
or any other suitable equipment for displaying visual images. In
some embodiments, display 312 may be HDTV-capable. Speakers 314 may
be provided as integrated with other elements of user equipment
device 300 or may be stand-alone units. The audio component of
videos and other media content displayed on display 312 may be
played through speakers 314. In some embodiments, the audio may be
distributed to a receiver (not shown), which processes and outputs
the audio via speakers 314.
[0043] In some embodiments, control circuitry 304 may retrieve from
storage 308 a fingerprint and make the fingerprint available to a
device of an operator of the service provider. It should be
understood that as referred to herein, the phrase "make available"
should be understood to mean providing the object (e.g., the
fingerprint) to a recipient by any means including by
electronically communicating over a link the object to another
device, displaying the object for a predetermined time and at a
predetermined location, audibly communicating the object (e.g., by
playing back a sound only recognizable by an operator device and
inaudible to a human), and/or any combination of the same. For
example, control circuitry 304 may make the fingerprint available
by displaying the fingerprint on display 312. Control circuitry 304
may be programmed to make available or display the fingerprint at a
predetermined time and/or at a predetermined location on display
312. For example, control circuitry 304 may display the fingerprint
every fifteen minutes in an upper-right corner of display 312, in
some implementations, the location on display 312 in which the
fingerprint is displayed is inconspicuous to the user. In
particular, the display of the fingerprint on display 312 may be
designed to not interfere with other content being displayed (e.g.,
a soccer game) and at a time and position on the screen that is
only known and expected by an operator of the service provider. In
some embodiments, the fingerprint may be displayed on display 312
in response to control circuitry 304 receiving an instruction or
command from a device of an operator of the service provider.
[0044] As referred to herein, the phrase "operator device,"
"service provider device" or "device of an operator," or any
variation thereof should be understood to mean a device that an
operator of the service provider can use to detect misuse of a user
equipment device. The operator device may include all or some of
the same circuitry and components as depicted and described in
connection with FIG. 3. An operator should be understood to mean a
person or machine that represents the service provider and who
detects fraud or misuse of user equipment devices on site or
location of the user. The user equipment devices are devices users
operate to access services (e.g., television channels,
entertainment packages, videos, audios, programming, media,
websites, etc.) provided by the service provider.
[0045] In some implementations, the device of the operator may be
within a same location (e.g., inside or within a short distance of
a tavern) in which the user equipment in which the fingerprint is
stored is located. The operator device may instruct the user
equipment to make the fingerprint available and in response control
circuitry 304 of the user equipment may retrieve and display the
fingerprint. The fingerprint may be displayed for a predetermined
time period (e.g., 30 seconds) and may then be removed from the
display by control circuitry 304.
[0046] In some embodiments, the operator device may receive the
fingerprint from the user equipment over a short-range
communications path (e.g., WiFi, radio-frequency (RF) or
BlueTooth). In particular, control circuitry 304 may make the
fingerprint available to the operator device by transmitting the
fingerprint over the short-range communications path. In such
circumstances, control circuitry 304 may not display the
fingerprint on the display of the user equipment. The operator
device may retrieve user account information associated with the
user equipment from which the fingerprint is made available using
the fingerprint received through the display and/or the short-range
communications path. The operator device may determine or detect
misuse of the user equipment by comparing the authorization level
indicated by the user account information with the actual use of
the user equipment device associated with the fingerprint. For
example, the operator device may determine that the user account
information authorizes the user equipment for use in a private
residence while the user equipment is located in a public place
(such as a tavern). In this case, the misuse or fraudulent use is
detected and the operator is alerted of the misuse. The operator
device may be used to transmit a signal or instruction to the user
equipment to disable or turn off the user equipment when misuse or
fraud is detected.
[0047] The guidance application may be implemented using any
suitable architecture. For example, it may be a stand-alone
application wholly implemented on user equipment device 300. In
such an approach, instructions of the application are stored
locally, and data for use by the application is downloaded on a
periodic basis (e.g., from the VBI of a television channel, from an
out-of-band feed, or using another suitable approach). In another
embodiment, the media guidance application is a client-server based
application. Data for use by a thick or thin client implemented on
user equipment device 300 is retrieved on-demand by issuing
requests to a server remote to the user equipment device 300. In
one example of a client-server based guidance application, control
circuitry 304 runs a web browser that interprets web pages provided
by a remote server.
[0048] In some embodiments, the guidance application may retrieve
the fingerprint to make the fingerprint available to the operator
by making a function call to the system resources. In particular,
control circuitry 304 may be instructed by the guidance application
to retrieve the fingerprint by receiving a function call from the
guidance application. The function call may be part of the
application programming interface of the user equipment device. The
application programming interface of the user equipment device may
provide various functions to control the display and operation of
the user equipment and which the media application uses to launch
various resources (e.g., display elements or control various
software/hardware components). Among those functions, a fingerprint
function may be provided which the media application may call to
cause the fingerprint to be made available (by display or
transmission to the operator device). In some implementations, the
fingerprint may be displayed independent of the media application
so that after the media application makes the call to the function,
the media application does not have control over when, where or how
the fingerprint is made available. Such functionality avoids the
media application and fingerprint function from being hijacked and
modified to prevent display of the fingerprint.
[0049] In yet other embodiments, the media guidance application is
downloaded and interpreted or otherwise run by an interpreter or
virtual machine (run by control circuitry 304). In some
embodiments, the guidance application may be encoded in the ETV
Binary Interchange Format (EBIF), received by control circuitry 304
as part of a suitable feed, and interpreted by a user agent running
on control circuitry 304. For example, the guidance application may
be a EBIF widget. In other embodiments, the guidance application
may be defined by a series of JAVA-based files that are received
and run by a local virtual machine or other suitable middleware
executed by control circuitry 304. In some of such embodiments
(e.g., those employing MPEG-2 or other digital media encoding
schemes), the guidance application may be, for example, encoded and
transmitted in an MPEG-2 object carousel with the MPEG audio and
video packets of a program.
[0050] User equipment device 300 of FIG. 3 can be implemented in
system 400 of FIG. 4 as user television equipment 402, user
computer equipment 404, wireless user communications device 406, or
any other type of user equipment suitable for accessing media, such
as a non-portable gaming machine. For simplicity, these devices may
be referred to herein collectively as user equipment or user
equipment devices. User equipment devices, on which a media
guidance application is implemented, may function as a standalone
device or may be part of a network of devices. Various network
configurations of devices may be implemented and are discussed in
more detail below.
[0051] User television equipment 402 may include a set-top box, an
integrated receiver decoder (IRD) for handling satellite
television, a television set, a digital storage device, a DVD
recorder, a video-cassette recorder (VCR), a local media server, or
other user television equipment. One or more of these devices may
be integrated to be a single device, if desired. User computer
equipment 404 may include a PC, a laptop, a tablet, a WebTV box, a
personal computer television (PC/TV), a PC media server, a PC media
center, or other user computer equipment. WEBTV is a trademark
owned by Microsoft Corp. Wireless user communications device 406
may include PDAs, a mobile telephone, a portable video player, a
portable music player, a portable gaming machine, or other wireless
devices.
[0052] It should be noted that with the advent of television tuner
cards for PC's, WebTV, and the integration of video into other user
equipment devices, the lines have become blurred when trying to
classify a device as one of the above devices. In fact, each of
user television equipment 402, user computer equipment 404, and
wireless user communications device 406 may utilize at least some
of the system features described above in connection with FIG. 3
and, as a result, include flexibility with respect to the type of
media content available on the device. For example, user television
equipment 402 may be Internet-enabled allowing for access to
Internet content, while user computer equipment 404 may include a
tuner allowing for access to television programming. The media
guidance application may also have the same layout on the various
different types of user equipment or may be tailored to the display
capabilities of the user equipment. For example, on user computer
equipment, the guidance application may be provided as a web site
accessed by a web browser. In another example, the guidance
application may be scaled down for wireless user communications
devices.
[0053] In system 400, there is typically more than one of each type
of user equipment device but only one of each is shown in FIG. 4 to
avoid overcomplicating the drawing. In addition, each user may
utilize more than one type of user equipment device (e.g., a user
may have a television set and a computer) and also more than one of
each type of user equipment device (e.g., a user may have a PDA and
a mobile telephone and/or multiple television sets).
[0054] The user may also set various settings to maintain
consistent media guidance application settings across in-home
devices and remote devices. Settings include those described
herein, as well as channel and program favorites, programming
preferences that the guidance application utilizes to make
programming recommendations, display preferences, and other
desirable guidance settings. For example, if a user sets a channel
as a favorite on, for example, the web site www.tvguide.com on
their personal computer at their office, the same channel would
appear as a favorite on the user's in-home devices (e.g., user
television equipment and user computer equipment) as well as the
user's mobile devices, if desired. Therefore, changes made on one
user equipment device can change the guidance experience on another
user equipment device, regardless of whether they are the same or a
different type of user equipment device. In addition, the changes
made may be based on settings input by a user, as well as user
activity monitored by the guidance application.
[0055] The user equipment devices may be coupled to communications
network 414. Namely, user television equipment 402, user computer
equipment 404, and wireless user communications device 406 are
coupled to communications network 414 via communications paths 408,
410, and 412, respectively. Communications network 414 may be one
or more networks including the Internet, a mobile phone network,
mobile device (e.g., Blackberry) network, cable network, public
switched telephone network, or other types of communications
network or combinations of communications networks. BLACKBERRY is a
service mark owned by Research In Motion Limited Corp. Paths 408,
410, and 412 may separately or together include one or more
communications paths, such as, a satellite path, a fiber-optic
path, a cable path, a path that supports Internet communications
(e.g., IPTV), free-space connections (e.g., for broadcast or other
wireless signals), or any other suitable wired or wireless
communications path or combination of such paths. Path 412 is drawn
with dotted lines to indicate that in the exemplary embodiment
shown in FIG. 4 it is a wireless path and paths 408 and 410 are
drawn as solid lines to indicate they are wired paths (although
these paths may be wireless paths, if desired). Communications with
the user equipment devices may be provided by one or more of these
communications paths, but are shown as a single path in FIG. 4 to
avoid overcomplicating the drawing.
[0056] Although communications paths are not drawn between user
equipment devices, these devices may communicate directly with each
other via communication paths, such as those described above in
connection with paths 408, 410, and 412, as well other short-range
point-to-point communication paths, such as USE cables, IEEE 1394
cables, wireless paths (e.g., Bluetooth, RF, infrared, IEEE
802-11x, etc.), or other short-range communication via wired or
wireless paths. BLUETOOTH is a certification mark owned by
Bluetooth SIG, INC. The user equipment devices may also communicate
with each other directly through an indirect path via
communications network 414.
[0057] System 400 includes media content source 416 and media
guidance data source 418 coupled to communications network 414 via
communication paths 420 and 422, respectively. Paths 420 and 422
may include any of the communication paths described above in
connection with paths 408, 410, and 412. Communications with the
media content source 416 and media guidance data source 418 may be
exchanged over one or more communications paths, but are shown as a
single path in FIG. 4 to avoid overcomplicating the drawing. In
addition, there may be more than one of each of media content
source 416 and media guidance data source 418, but only one of each
is shown in FIG. 4 to avoid overcomplicating the drawing. (The
different types of each of these sources are discussed below.) If
desired, media content source 416 and media guidance data source
418 may be integrated as one source device. Although communications
between sources 416 and 418 with user equipment devices 402, 404,
and 406 are shown as through communications network 414, in some
embodiments, sources 416 and 418 may communicate directly with user
equipment devices 402, 404, and 406 via communication paths (not
shown) such as those described above in connection with paths 408,
410, and 412.
[0058] Media content source 416 (or service provider) may include
one or more types of media distribution equipment including a
television distribution facility, cable system headend, satellite
distribution facility, programming sources (e.g., television
broadcasters, such as NEC, ABC, HBO, etc.), intermediate
distribution facilities and/or servers, Internet providers,
on-demand media servers, and other media content providers. NBC is
a trademark owned by the National Broadcasting Company, Inc., ABC
is a trademark owned by the ABC, INC., and HBO is a trademark owned
by the Home Box Office, Inc. Media content source 416 may be the
originator of media content (e.g., a television broadcaster, a
Webcast provider, etc.) or may not be the originator of media
content (e.g., an on-demand media content provider, an Internet
provider of video content of broadcast programs for downloading,
etc.). Media content source 416 may include cable sources,
satellite providers, on demand providers, Internet providers, or
other providers of media content. Media content source 416 may also
include a remote media server used to store different types of
media content (including video content selected by a user), in a
location remote from any of the user equipment devices. Systems and
methods for remote storage of media content, and providing remotely
stored media content to user equipment are discussed in greater
detail in connection with Ellis et al., U.S. patent application
Ser. No. 09/332,244, filed Jun. 11, 1999, which is hereby
incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
[0059] Media guidance data source 418 (or service provider) may
provide media guidance data, such as media listings, media-related
information (e.g., broadcast times, broadcast channels, media
titles, media descriptions, ratings information (e.g., parental
control ratings, critic's ratings, etc.), genre or category
information, actor information, logo data for broadcasters or
providers' logos, etc.), media format (e.g., standard definition,
high definition, etc.), advertisement information (e.g., text,
images, media clips, etc.), on-demand information, and any other
type of guidance data that is helpful for a user to navigate among
and locate desired media selections.
[0060] Media guidance application data may be provided to the user
equipment devices using any suitable approach. In some embodiments,
the guidance application may be a stand-alone interactive
television program guide that receives program guide data via a
data feed (e.g., a continuous feed, trickle feed, or data in the
vertical blanking interval of a channel). Program schedule data and
other guidance data may be provided to the user equipment on a
television channel sideband, in the vertical blanking interval of a
television channel, using an in-band digital signal, using an
out-of-band digital signal, or by any other suitable data
transmission technique. Program schedule data and other guidance
data may be provided to user equipment on multiple analog or
digital television channels. Program schedule data and other
guidance data may be provided to the user equipment with any
suitable frequency (e.g., continuously, daily, a user-specified
period of time, a system-specified period of time, in response to a
request from user equipment, etc.). In some approaches, guidance
data from media guidance data source 418 may be provided to users
equipment using a client-server approach. For example, a guidance
application client residing on the user's equipment may initiate
sessions with source 418 to obtain guidance data when needed. Media
guidance data source 418 may provide user equipment devices 402,
404, and 406 the media guidance application itself or software
updates for the media guidance application.
[0061] Media guidance applications may be, for example, stand-alone
applications implemented on user equipment devices. In other
embodiments, media guidance applications may be client-server
applications where only the client resides on the user equipment
device. For example, media guidance applications may be implemented
partially as a client application on control circuitry 304 of user
equipment device 300 and partially on a remote server as a server
application (e.g., media guidance data source 418). The guidance
application displays may be generated by the media guidance data
source 418 and transmitted to the user equipment devices. The media
guidance data source 418 may also transmit data for storage on the
user equipment, which then generates the guidance application
displays based on instructions processed by control circuitry.
[0062] Media guidance system 400 is intended to illustrate a number
of approaches, or network configurations, by which user equipment
devices and sources of media content and guidance data may
communicate with each other for the purpose of accessing media and
providing media guidance. The present invention may be applied in
any one or a subset of these approaches, or in a system employing
other approaches for delivering media and providing media guidance.
The following three approaches provide specific illustrations of
the generalized example of FIG. 4.
[0063] In one approach, user equipment devices may communicate with
each other within a home network (e.g., a network in a private
residence or a public place such as a tavern). User equipment
devices can communicate with each other and with an operator device
directly via short-range point-to-point communication schemes
describe above, via indirect paths through a hub or other similar
device provided on a home network, or via communications network
414. Each of the multiple individuals in a single home may operate
different user equipment devices on the home network. As a result,
it may be desirable for various media guidance information or
settings to be communicated between the different user equipment
devices. For example, it may be desirable for users to maintain
consistent media guidance application settings on different user
equipment devices within a home network, as described in greater
detail in Ellis et al., U.S. patent application Ser. No.
11/179,410, filed Jul. 11, 2005. Different types of user equipment
devices in a home network may also communicate with each other to
transmit media content. For example, a user may transmit media
content from user computer equipment to a portable video player or
portable music player.
[0064] In a second approach, users may have multiple types of user
equipment by which they access media content and obtain media
guidance. For example, some users may have home networks that are
accessed by in-home and mobile devices. Users may control in-home
devices via a media guidance application implemented on a remote
device. For example, users may access an online media guidance
application on a website via a personal computer at their office,
or a mobile device such as a PDA or web-enabled mobile telephone.
The user may set various settings (e.g., recordings, reminders, or
other settings) on the online guidance application to control the
user's in-home equipment. The online guide may control the user's
equipment directly, or by communicating with a media guidance
application on the user's in-home equipment. Various systems and
methods for user equipment devices communicating, where the user
equipment devices are in locations remote from each other, is
discussed in, for example, Ellis et al., U.S. patent application
Ser. No. 10/927,814, filed Aug. 26, 2004, which is hereby
incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
[0065] In a third approach, users of user equipment devices inside
and outside a home can use their media guidance application to
communicate directly with media content source 416 to access media
content. Specifically, within a home, users of user television
equipment 404 and user computer equipment 406 may access the media
guidance application to navigate among and locate desirable media
content. Users may also access the media guidance application
outside of the home using wireless user communications devices 406
to navigate among and locate desirable media content.
[0066] It will be appreciated that while the discussion of media
content has focused on video content, the principles of media
guidance can be applied to other types of media content, such as
music, images, etc.
[0067] FIG. 5 shows an illustrative display screen 500 that may be
used to provide a fingerprint object in accordance with an
embodiment of the invention. Screen 500 may include a logo 520, an
advertisement, a media asset 510, an overlay 530 and a fingerprint
540. The displayed advertisement in screen 500 may be the same or
similar as advertisement 124 (FIG. 1) and may have similar
functionality as advertisement 124.
[0068] In some embodiments, screen 500 may be a display generated
by control circuitry 304 of a user equipment device. In particular,
control circuitry 304 may receive a user selection of a media asset
from grid 102 (FIG. 1) and in response may access a source of the
media asset. The media asset may be displayed as media asset 510 on
screen 500. For example, control circuitry 304 may receive a user
selection of sporting event (e.g., a soccer game) and may tune to a
channel that is broadcasting the selected sporting event.
[0069] In some implementations, overlay 530 may be displayed and
may include information description media asset 510. For example,
overlay 530 may include a detailed description, a video clip or
current status of media asset 510. In particular, overlay 530 may
include information as to the current score of a game and time left
(or time elapsed) when media asset 510 corresponds to a sporting
event. In some implementations, overlay 530 may display information
about other related or unrelated content as media content 510. For
example, when media content 510 is a sporting event, overlay 530
may display information about other sporting events that are
related (e.g., the same sport) or unrelated to the sporting event
shown as media content 510. In some implementations, overlay 530
may be interactive to allow the user to navigate to view other
information (e.g., what is going on in other sources of media or
other sporting events) while viewing media content 510.
[0070] In some embodiments, control circuitry 304 may retrieve and
display fingerprint 540. In particular, control circuitry 304 may
monitor the source of media content 510 being displayed and
determine whether a fingerprint is associated with the source of
media content 510. For example, control circuitry 304 may monitor
whether the source of media content 510 is a source of sporting
event content and in response may determine that a fingerprint is
associated with the source. In some implementations, control
circuitry 304 may monitor whether the source of media content 510
corresponds to a source listed or included in a database stored in
storage 308. When the source is listed or included in the database,
control circuitry 304 may determine that a fingerprint is
associated with the source. For example, the database may include a
list of media content sources that are associated with a certain
level of authorization (e.g., a particular service subscription
package) offered by a service provider. In such circumstances,
control circuitry 304 may determine that a source of media content
510 is associated with a fingerprint when the source corresponds
with a particular level of authorization (e.g., is a source that
requires a subscription).
[0071] In some embodiments, the database stored in storage 308 that
lists sources that are associated with a fingerprint may be
preconfigured into storage 308. For example, the database may be
included in the manufacturing of the user equipment device with
which the fingerprint is associated. In some implementations, the
database may be downloaded or installed when the user subscribes to
a service provider. For example, the service provider may program
or configure the database to list the channels or sources of
content that are associated with a fingerprint. The sources
included in the database may include Internet sources (e.g.,
websites), television channels, broadcast channels, terrestrial
channels, satellite channels, video-on-demand sources, any source
that delivers content to the user equipment or any combination of
the same.
[0072] In some embodiments, control circuitry 304 may monitor media
content 510 being displayed to determine whether a fingerprint is
associated with media content 510. For example, control circuitry
304 may monitor whether media content 510 is a sporting event
(e.g., is a pay-per-view event) and in response may determine that
a fingerprint is associated with media content 510. In some
implementations, control circuitry 304 may monitor whether media
content 510 corresponds to one of a plurality of media content
listed or included in a database stored in storage 308. When media
content 510 is listed or included in the database, control
circuitry 304 may determine that a fingerprint is associated with
media content 510. For example, the database may include a list of
media content that are associated with a certain level of
authorization (e.g., a particular service subscription package)
offered by a service provider. In such circumstances, control
circuitry 304 may determine that media content 510 is associated
with a fingerprint when media content 510 corresponds with a
particular level of authorization (e.g., is a media content that
requires a subscription, order or purchase).
[0073] In some embodiments, the database stored in storage 308 that
lists media content that are associated with a fingerprint may be
preconfigured into storage 308. For example, the database may be
included in the manufacturing of the user equipment device with
which the fingerprint is associated. In some implementations, the
database may be downloaded or installed when the user subscribes to
a service provider. For example, the service provider may program
or configure the database to list the media content that is
associated with a fingerprint. The media content included in the
database may include Internet media (e.g., websites or media
provided by a website), television media, broadcast media,
terrestrial media, satellite media, video-on-demand media, or any
combination of the same.
[0074] In some embodiments, in response to determining that a
source or media content is associated with a fingerprint, control
circuitry 304 may retrieve and display fingerprint 540. Control
circuitry 304 may be instructed to determine whether a source or
media content is associated with a fingerprint by the media
guidance application running on the user equipment device. For
example, in response to receiving a request to access a content
source or a given media content, the media guidance application may
call a system function (e.g., using an API) and cause control
circuitry 304 to determine whether a fingerprint is associated with
the source and retrieve the fingerprint if so. Control circuitry
304 may display the fingerprint at a predetermined location on
screen 500. For example, control circuitry 304 may display
fingerprint 540 in an upper or lower corner of the screen. In some
implementations, the location of the screen may be dynamically
adjusted to avoid obstructing display of media content 510 for the
user. For example, when an important event is occurring in media
content 510 in a lower portion of screen 500, control circuitry 304
may display fingerprint 540 in an upper portion of the screen.
[0075] In some embodiments, control circuitry 304 may display
fingerprint 540 for a predetermined time period and at
predetermined intervals while media content 510 is being displayed.
For example, control circuitry 304 may display fingerprint 540 for
a period of 30 seconds after which control circuitry 304 may remove
fingerprint 540 from the display. Control circuitry 304 may
subsequently re-display fingerprint 540 at the same or a different
location every 15 minutes for the same or a different period.
[0076] In some embodiments, control circuitry 304 may display
fingerprint 540 in response to receiving a communication from a
service provider operator device. For example, an operator of the
service provider may visit a location where the user equipment
device is being used to display media content 510 (e.g., a tavern
or other public place). At some point in time unknown to the user
of the user equipment device, the operator of the service provider
may use a device to transmit a communication to the user equipment
device which is displaying media content 510. The communication may
instruct the user equipment device to display fingerprint 540
(e.g., at a predetermined location, for a predetermined time
interval, and/or repeat the display and removal of fingerprint 540
for a predetermined cycle of time). Control circuitry 304 of the
user equipment device may receive the communication and retrieve
the fingerprint stored in storage 308 for display. The operator
device may receive as input the displayed fingerprint 540 and
cross-reference the fingerprint with a list of stored fingerprints
to identify user account information associated with the
fingerprint. The operator device may use the user account
information to detect improper use of the user equipment device
which displayed the fingerprint. The functionality and operation of
the service provider operator device is discussed in more detail in
connection with FIGS. 6-8.
[0077] In some embodiments, control circuitry 304 may transmit the
fingerprint to an operator device in addition to (or instead of
displaying the fingerprint) in response to receiving a
communication from a service provider operator device. For example,
at some point in time unknown to the user of the user equipment
device, the operator of the service provider may use the operator
device to transmit a communication to the user equipment device
which is displaying media content 510. The communication may
instruct the user equipment device to transmit and/or display the
fingerprint. Control circuitry 304 of the user equipment device may
receive the communication and retrieve the fingerprint stored in
storage 308 for transmission. The operator device may receive as
input the transmitted fingerprint and cross-reference the
fingerprint with a list of stored fingerprints to identify user
account information associated with the fingerprint. The operator
device may use the user account information to detect improper use
of the user equipment device which transmitted the fingerprint.
[0078] In some embodiments, control circuitry 304 may play back an
audible tone associated with the fingerprint which can only be
heard by an operator device in addition to (or instead of
displaying the fingerprint) in response to receiving a
communication from a service provider operator device. For example,
at some point in time unknown to the user of the user equipment
device, the operator of the service provider may use the operator
device to transmit a communication to the user equipment device
which is displaying media content 510. The communication may
instruct the user equipment device to play back the unique audible
tone or tones associated with the fingerprint. Control circuitry
304 of the user equipment device may receive the communication and
retrieve the audible tone or tones associated with fingerprint
stored in storage 308 for playback. The operator device may pick up
as input the played back tone or tones associated with the
fingerprint and cross-reference the audible tones with a list of
tones associated with stored fingerprints to identify user account
information associated with the fingerprint. The operator device
may use the user account information to detect improper use of the
user equipment device which played back the audible tone or tones
associated with the fingerprint. The functionality and operation of
the service provider operator device is discussed in more detail in
connection with FIGS. 6-8.
[0079] FIG. 6 shows an illustrative display screen 600 of a main
menu for detecting unauthorized use of a user equipment device with
a service provider device in accordance with another embodiment of
the invention. Screen 600 may include an improper use detection
method region 601 and a user equipment device information region
602. Screen 600 may be generated for display on a service provider
device. The service provider device may be wireless user
communications device 406, user computer equipment 404 or a mobile
device such as an iPad, cellular telephone, mobile computing device
or any combination of the same. The service provider operator
device may generate screen 600 by executing a specific misuse
detection application provided by the service provider or by
accessing a website over the Internet associated with the service
provider. When screen 600 is generated by a website, an operator
login may be required in order for screen 600 to be displayed.
[0080] User equipment device information region 602 may be used by
the operator to identify and select a particular user equipment
device which is being tested for misuse. For example, the operator
of the service provider device may find a given user equipment
device at a particular location (e.g., a tavern) and physically
inspect the target device to identify attributes that correspond to
the user equipment device. User equipment device information region
602 may provide operator device with enough information to be able
to communicate with the user equipment device to receive the
fingerprint made available by the user equipment device. User
equipment device information region 602 may include make and model
information menu 650 and a communication method selection region
660. After inspecting the user equipment device which the operator
would like to test for misuse, the operator may input the model and
make of the inspected device using drop down menu 650. Depending on
the means available for communicating (e.g., WiFi, BlueTooth,
InfraRed, etc.) with the user equipment device, the operator may
select how the operator device is to communicate with the user
equipment device by selecting one or more of radio options 660.
After the information Identifying the target user equipment device
to the operator device, the operator may select a save option 670
to store the information identifying the target user equipment
device. Alternatively, the operator may select clear option 680 to
input, different information that identifies another or the same
target user equipment device.
[0081] In some embodiments, the operator of service provider device
may input into region 602 a specific code associated with a target
user equipment device. The code may be inscribed on the user
equipment device and read off of the front panel. The service
provider device may determine, identify and store the make and
model of the target user equipment device using the code that is
input into region 602.
[0082] Improper use detection method region 601 may allow the
operator of service provider device to select how the operator
would like to detect misuse. Region 601 may include a manual entry
option 610, an automated detection option 620, a request for
equipment fingerprint transmission option 630 and a request for
fingerprint display option 640. In response to receiving an
operator selection of option 610, control circuitry 304 of the
operator device may navigate the operator to screen 700 (FIG. 7)
which allows the operator to manually input a fingerprint observed
by the operator for detecting misuse. In response to receiving an
operator selection of option 620, control circuitry 304 of the
operator device may navigate the operator to screen 800 (FIG. 8)
which automatically uses the operator device to receive a
fingerprint from the user equipment device for detecting
misuse.
[0083] Control circuitry 304 of service provider device may receive
an operator selection of option 630. In response, control circuitry
304 of service provider device may transmit a communication to the
user equipment device identified in region 602 requesting that the
user equipment device make available the fingerprint associated
with the user equipment device. For example, control circuitry 304
of service provider device may transmit a communication that
includes a data structure with commands that cause the user
equipment device to call an API function that retrieves and makes
available a fingerprint associated with the user equipment
device.
[0084] In some embodiments, the communication transmitted by the
operator device to the user equipment device may include parameters
indicating how the user equipment device is to make the fingerprint
available. For example, the communication may specify whether the
user equipment device is to display the fingerprint. Alternatively
or in addition, the communication may specify whether the user
equipment device is to play back a tone associated with the
fingerprint. Alternatively or in addition, the communication may
specify whether the user equipment device is to transmit a
communication back to the operator device with the fingerprint. In
some implementations, the communication may specify a time interval
during which the user equipment device makes the fingerprint
available (e.g., how long the fingerprint should be displayed for,
where on the screen the fingerprint should be displayed and how
often, such as the repeat cycle).
[0085] Control circuitry 304 of service provider device may receive
an operator selection of option 640. In response, control circuitry
304 of service provider device may transmit a communication or
signal to the user equipment device identified in region 602
requesting that the user equipment device display the fingerprint
associated with the user equipment device.
[0086] The operator of the service provider may visit a location of
a user (e.g., at a public tavern or private residence) to detect
misuse of user equipment. The location may or may not be the
location which the service provider has listed as being associated
with the given user. In particular, the operator may visit any
random public place or private residence to detect potential misuse
of a user equipment device by cross-referencing a fingerprint being
made available with a list of potential user accounts. If a user
account matches a given fingerprint at the random location, then
the operator may determine that a user equipment is being used that
is associated with the service provider. Accordingly, the operator
may analyze whether the user equipment is accessing content which
the user equipment is authorized to access based on the user
account information that matches the fingerprint that is made
available. In some embodiments, the operator may manually input a
fingerprint being displayed at the location of a user equipment
device. In particular, control circuitry 304 of service provider
device may receive an operator selection of option 610 and in
response may navigate the operator to screen 700 (FIG. 7).
[0087] FIG. 7 shows illustrative display screen 700 of menus for
detecting unauthorized use of a user equipment device with a
service provider device in accordance with another embodiment of
the invention. Screen 700 may include a fingerprint input region
710, an authorized services region 720 and an authorized location
region 730. The operator may use screen 700 to detect misuse of a
target user equipment device.
[0088] In some embodiments, the operator may monitor a display
receiving content from a user equipment device. The operator may
wait for the display to make available (e.g., display) the
fingerprint associated with the user equipment device. Upon the
fingerprint being displayed, the operator may input the displayed
fingerprint into region 710. The operator may input the displayed
fingerprint by manually inputting the displayed alphanumeric
characters or other information identifying the fingerprint using a
keypad or other user interface device (e.g., touchscreen or voice
recognition).
[0089] In some implementations, the fingerprint may be split into
multiple sequences of objects (e.g., alphanumeric characters) where
a second instance of a sequence is displayed after a predetermined
period of time which a first instance is displayed. In such
circumstances, control circuitry of the operator device may receive
an initial one of the fingerprint sequences through region 710 and
may subsequently receive further fingerprints in the sequences
using the same or a separate region. In some implementations,
control circuitry of the operator device may be informed that the
fingerprint is split into multiple objects by way of receiving a
user selection of an interactive option (not shown).
[0090] In some implementations, the fingerprint displayed may be
obscured by being covered with different colors that disappear when
colored glasses are worn. For example, control circuitry 304 of the
user equipment device may generate a visually scrambled fingerprint
by mixing one or more colors around and/or within the fingerprint
(e.g., fingerprint values may be in a white color and the region or
box around and/or within the fingerprint may be a mix of red and
green colored objects--dots or rectangles). Accordingly, when the
visually scrambled fingerprint is displayed on the screen, the
fingerprint is not discernable to the naked eye because of the
other colors that make the fingerprint hard to see. However, when
suitably colored glasses are worn by an operator (e.g., glasses
with red and green lenses), the fingerprint becomes revealed or
visually descrambled and easy to see. The operator may subsequently
key in or input the fingerprint into region 710.
[0091] In some embodiments, region 710 may include a display of
images which correspond to different fingerprints. In particular,
the fingerprint displayed by the user equipment device may include
one or more images and/or alphanumeric characters. In such
circumstances, instead of or in addition to receiving a user input
through region 710 of alphanumeric characters, control circuitry of
the operator device may receive a user selection of one or more
images that identify a given fingerprint.
[0092] In some embodiments, after control circuitry of the operator
device receives the fingerprint through region 710, control
circuitry of the operator device may retrieve subscriber or user
account information associated with the received fingerprint. For
example, control circuitry of the operator device may establish a
connection through communications network 414 (FIG. 4) with the
service provider. Control circuitry of the operator device may
transmit to the service provider the received fingerprint. The
service provider may perform a lookup by cross-referencing
subscriber information with fingerprints stored in a database. In
particular, the service provider may provide to a database the
received fingerprint and the database may return the subscriber or
user account information that is associated with the
fingerprint.
[0093] In some implementations, instead of or in addition to the
control circuitry of the operator device communicating the
fingerprint to the service provider, control circuitry of the
operator device may access the database of user account information
directly. For example, the database may be stored locally on the
operator device and accordingly, the control circuitry of the
operator device may look up the user account information locally
using the received fingerprint. Alternatively, control circuitry of
the operator device may communicate with the database stored
remotely over communications network 414 (FIG. 4) to look up the
corresponding user account information using the received
fingerprint.
[0094] The subscriber information (or user account information)
retrieved from the database may include various information that
indicates a level of service and/or authorization a given user
equipment device is authorized to receive. For example, the
subscriber information may include a list of authorized services
for the given user equipment device (e.g., packages of programming,
specific channels authorized for access, specific content
authorized for access, and/or various service authorized such as
Internet service, on-demand service, pay-per-view service, etc.).
The subscriber information may include a list of authorized
locations for the given user equipment device (e.g., GPS
coordinates, a range or distance from a certain point or address,
one or more addresses, etc.). The subscriber information may
include information that identifies a user associated with the user
equipment device (e.g., a name of a person or organization or
public place), specific model of the user equipment device, account
balance and payment information, and/or various activity related
information such as media or services that have been accessed
within a predetermined period of time (e.g., within the past two
weeks).
[0095] Control circuitry of the operator device may display all or
some of the retrieved user account information in screen 700. For
example, control circuitry of the operator device may display the
list of authorized services in region 720. Region 720 may be
interactive so that the operator may select a given one of the
services listed in the region to receive additional information
about the service. For example, in response to control circuitry of
the operator device receiving a selection of sports package B,
control circuitry of the operator device may retrieve and display a
list of channels or sources or programming associated or authorized
for access with the selected sports package B. This may allow the
operator to determine whether the user equipment device is
accessing content not included in the authorized content of sports
package B and thereby is being misused. In some implementations, in
response to control circuitry of the operator device receiving a
selection of a service listed in region 720, control circuitry of
the operator device may retrieve and display information
identifying what is currently being provided by the selected
service (e.g., a title of a show and a description of the show
being provided on a particular channel that is selected).
[0096] In some implementations, control circuitry of the operator
device may display the list of authorized locations in region 730.
Region 730 may be interactive so that the operator may select a
given one of the locations listed in the region to receive
additional information about the location. For example, in response
to control circuitry of the operator device receiving a selection
of a displayed address 732 or GPS coordinate 734, control circuitry
of the operator device may retrieve and display a picture of the
street or surroundings at address 732 or GPS coordinate 734. In
particular, control circuitry of the operator device may search
over the Internet for an image or video associated with a given
address (e.g., using an online maps service, online (remote)
geographic information system, or local geographic information
system application) and display the retrieved image or video. This
may allow the operator to determine whether the user equipment
device is not within some predetermined range (e.g., 1 mile, 2
kilometers or 200 feet) of the selected location and thereby is
being misused.
[0097] In some implementations, control circuitry of the operator
device may display information identifying the user associated with
the user account information in user account region 740. For
example, control circuitry of the operator device may display the
residential or business address stored in the database that is
associated with the fingerprint, a customer or user name and
contact information, business name, picture of the customer or
user, and/or activity performed by the customer or user using the
user equipment device associated with the fingerprint (e.g.,
previous program orders, content sources previously accessed, user
profile information).
[0098] In some embodiments, the operator using the operator device
may detect misuse by visually comparing the content being accessed
using the user equipment device and comparing the content being
accessed with information listed in regions 720, 730 and/or 740. In
particular, the operator may visually determine what content is
being accessed by seeing the logo or content source identifier
displayed on the screen or by monitoring what program or show is
being displayed. The operator may compare what is being displayed
with what is listed in the authorized services region 720. If what
is being displayed is not listed among the authorized services in
region 720, the operator may determine that the user equipment
device is being misused. Similarly, the operator may determine the
location of the user equipment device outputting to the display by
checking an address of the location of the operator or GPS
coordinates at the location of the user equipment device. The
operator may compare the physical location of the user equipment
device with the authorized locations listed in region 730. If that
physical location is not listed among the authorized locations in
region 730, the operator may determine that the user equipment
device is being misused.
[0099] In some embodiments, the operator using the operator device
may detect misuse by inputting criteria which enables the operator
device to automatically detect misuse. In particular, the operator
may input criteria using menu 750 which identifies what content is
being accessed (e.g., a name of a show or content source such as a
television channel). The operator device may compare the input
criteria with the authorization information retrieved from the
database based on the fingerprint and/or listed in the authorized
services region 720. If the input criterion does not match the
authorized services retrieved from the database and/or displayed in
region 720, the operator device may automatically determine that
the user equipment device is being misused and generate an alert
760 informing the operator of the misuse. The alert may be a sound,
a video, a message, a prompt, and/or any combination of the same
that informs the operator of the misuse. As used above and below,
the word "automatically" means without receiving further user
input. If the input criterion matches the authorized services
retrieved from the database and/or displayed in region 720, the
operator device may automatically determine that the user equipment
device is not being misused and generate an alert 760 informing the
operator that use of the user equipment device is authorized. The
alert may be a sound, a video, a message, a prompt, and/or any
combination of the same that informs the operator of the user
equipment device not being misused and/or being authorized.
[0100] In some implementations, the operator may input the location
of the user equipment device outputting to the display using menu
750. In particular, the operator may input an address of the
physical location of the operator or GPS coordinates at the
location of the user equipment device using input region 770.
Alternatively, the operator may select an option to have the
operator device automatically input the location into region 770 by
automatically retrieving a GPS coordinate from GPS circuitry or
determining a range of the location of the operator device using
any other method (e.g., triangulation). The operator device may
automatically compare the physical location of the user equipment
device in region 770 with the authorized locations retrieved from
the database and/or listed in region 730. If the physical location
does not match the authorized locations retrieved from the database
and/or displayed in region 730, the operator device may
automatically determine that the user equipment device is being
misused and generate an alert 760 informing the operator of the
misuse. The alert may be a sound, a video, a message, a prompt,
and/or any combination of the same that informs the operator of the
misuse. If the physical location matches the authorized locations
retrieved from the database and/or displayed in region 730, the
operator device may automatically determine that the user equipment
device is not being misused and generate an alert 760 informing the
operator that use of the user equipment device is authorized. The
alert may be a sound, a video, a message, a prompt, and/or any
combination of the same that informs the operator of the user
equipment device not being misused and/or being authorized.
[0101] In some embodiments, control circuitry of the operator
device may receive a selection of report option 780. In response to
receiving the selection of report option 780, control circuitry of
the operator device may transmit a communication to the service
provider indicating that the user equipment device associated with
the user account information is being misused. The service provider
may terminate service to the user equipment device and/or send a
letter or notification (electronic or otherwise) to the user or
user equipment device which is being misused. The letter or
notification may alert the user or customer about the misuse and
inform the user or client about consequences of continued misuse.
An entry may be stored in the database for the fingerprint
associated with the user account information indicating a number of
times that the user equipment device has been misused.
Alternatively or in addition, in response to receiving the
selection of report option 780, control circuitry of the operator
device may transmit a communication to the user equipment device
associated with the user account information. The communication may
instruct the user equipment device to self-terminate service. In
particular, control circuitry 304 of the user equipment device may
prevent further access to content user the user equipment device in
response to receiving the communication from the operator device to
self-terminate service. For example, further use of the user
equipment device may cause a message to be displayed for the user
indicating that service has been terminated due to misuse of the
user equipment device.
[0102] In some embodiments, control circuitry of the operator
device may receive a selection of back option 782. In response to
receiving the selection of back option 782, control circuitry of
the operator device may navigate the operator back to the previous
screen or back to screen 600. Control circuitry of the operator
device may receive a selection of store option 784. In response to
receiving the selection of store option 784, control circuitry of
the operator device may store any of the information displayed in
screen 700 for the user account information or user equipment
device being tested for misuse. Control circuitry of the operator
device may receive a selection of cancel option 786. In response to
receiving the selection of store cancel 786, control circuitry of
the operator device may clear all the fields and information
displayed in screen 700 to allow the same or different user
equipment device to be tested for misuse.
[0103] Referring back to FIG. 6, control circuitry of the operator
device may receive a selection of image capture option 620. In
response to receiving the selection of option 620, control
circuitry of the operator device may navigate the operator to
screen 800 (FIG. 8).
[0104] FIG. 8 shows an illustrative display screen 800 of menus for
automatically detecting unauthorized use of a user equipment device
with a service provider device in accordance with another
embodiment of the invention. Screen 800 includes an automatically
detected fingerprint region 810, content source being accessed menu
820, edit option 812, verify option 814 and various components and
regions previously shown and described in connection with screen
700 (FIG. 7). Those components and regions in screen 800 which are
similar to those of screen 700 (FIG. 7) are labeled the same as
they are in screen 700. It should be understood that these
components and regions that are similarly labeled provide the same
or similar functionality and, accordingly, a description of these
components and regions is being omitted for the sake of
brevity.
[0105] In some embodiments, the operator device may determine the
fingerprint of the user equipment device automatically. For
example, the operator device may use user input interface 310
(e.g., camera equipment including a still image or video camera) to
capture an image of a display screen. In particular, the operator
device may determine when a fingerprint is being displayed on the
screen and in response the operator device may capture an image of
the display screen. The operator device may process the image to
extract the fingerprint that is displayed. In some implementations,
the operator of the operator device may press a button (ea, capture
option (not shown)) in screen 800 and, in response, the operator
device may transmit a communication to the user equipment device.
The communication may instruct the user equipment device to display
the fingerprint at a given time and location on the screen. For
example, the user equipment device may be instructed to instantly
display the fingerprint. At that moment when the user equipment
device displays the fingerprint, the operator device may
automatically capture an image of the screen using user input
interface 310 (e.g., camera equipment). The operator device may
process the image to extract the fingerprint information.
[0106] In some implementations, the automatically extracted
fingerprint information may be displayed in region 810. The
operator may determine based on the information displayed in region
810 whether the fingerprint was properly processed and extracted.
In some implementations, the operator may compare the fingerprint
information displayed in region 810 with the fingerprint that was
displayed in the screen of the user equipment device. When the
fingerprint information in region 810 matches that which was
displayed on the screen, the operator device may receive an
operator selection of verify option 814. In response to receiving
the selection of verify option 814, the operator device may
continue to detect misuse based on the extracted fingerprint. For
example, the operator device may automatically compare the
information in region 720, 730 and/or 740 (determined based on the
automatically extracted fingerprint) with the location of the user
equipment device, content source being accessed and/or content
displayed to detect misuse. The process of detecting misuse based
on the information in region 720, 730 and/or 740 may be performed
manually or automatically as discussed above in connection with
FIG. 7.
[0107] In some implementations, the fingerprint displayed in region
810 may be different than that which was displayed in the screen
associated with the user equipment device. In such circumstances,
the operator device may receive a selection of edit option 812. In
response, the operator device may allow the operator to correct the
fingerprint displayed in region 810. In particular, if one number
in the fingerprint displayed in region 810 is wrong, the operator
may input the correct number to make the fingerprint accurately
reflect the fingerprint that was displayed on the screen associated
with the user equipment device.
[0108] In some embodiments, the operator device may determine the
fingerprint of the user equipment device automatically based on a
signal received from the user equipment device. For example,
instead of or in addition to displaying the fingerprint on the
screen associated with the user equipment device, control circuitry
304 of the user equipment device may transmit a communication that
includes the fingerprint of the user equipment device. The operator
device may process the communication received and extract the
fingerprint of the user equipment device. In some implementations,
the operator device may display the received fingerprint in region
810.
[0109] In some embodiments, the operator device may determine the
fingerprint of the user equipment device automatically based on an
audible tone or tones received from the user equipment device. In
some implementations, the audible tone or tones may only be heard
by a microphone of the operator device. For example, the tone or
tones may be modulated at a frequency that is outside of the range
of the human ear (e.g., lower than 20 Hz or higher than 20 kHz).
For example, instead of or in addition to displaying the
fingerprint on the screen associated with the user equipment
device, control circuitry 304 of the user equipment device may
module an audible tone or tones that represent the fingerprint of
the user equipment device. In some implementations, the tone or
tones may be unique to the user equipment device. In particular,
the audible tone or tones may be of a certain frequency that is
only associated with one user equipment device. Alternatively or in
addition, the noise pattern or the pulse or number of tones may be
unique to the user equipment device. Alternatively or in addition,
the tone or tones may include a combination of frequencies or noise
patterns that are unique to the user equipment device. The operator
device may process the received tone or tones using a microphone
and cross-reference the audio pattern or tone or tones with tone or
tones stored in a database to determine the user account
information associated with the given audio pattern.
[0110] In some implementations, the operator device may
automatically detect misuse based on the fingerprint made available
(e.g., by being displayed and captured with an image or
electronically received through a communication). In particular,
the operator device may cross-reference the received fingerprint
with the user account information stored in a database (as
discussed above in connection with FIG. 7) to populate the
information displayed in regions 720, 730 and/or 740. The operator
device may automatically determine a location of the user equipment
device by extracting information from a GPS device of the operator
device. The operator device may compare the GPS information with
information displayed or associated with region 730 to detect
misuse. When the operator device detects misuse, an alert may be
displayed in prompt 760.
[0111] The operator device may determine the content source being
accessed by the user equipment device and/or the content being
displayed based on a communication the operator device receives
from control circuitry 304 of the user equipment device. The
content source being accessed by the user equipment device and/or
the content being displayed by the user equipment device may be
displayed in menu 820. The operator may determine whether the
information displayed in menu 820 accurately reflects what is
actually shown and/or accessed by the user equipment device. When
there is an error, the operator may change the value shown in menu
820. The operator device may compare automatically determined
content source being accessed and/or content being displayed with
information displayed or associated with region 720 to detect
misuse. When the operator device detects misuse, an alert may be
displayed in prompt 760.
[0112] FIGS. 9A and 9B illustrate a flow diagram 900 for detecting
unauthorized use of a user equipment device in accordance with an
embodiment of the invention. At step 910, content being accessed on
a user equipment device is monitored. For example, control
circuitry 304 may determine what media is being accessed at the
user equipment device by extracting a title of the media or
analyzing the content source of the media.
[0113] At step 920, a determination is made as to whether the
content being accessed is associated with an equipment fingerprint.
When the content being accessed is associated with a fingerprint,
the process proceeds to step 930, otherwise the process returns to
step 910. For example, control circuitry 304 may cross-reference
the media or media source being accessed with a list of media or
sources that are associated with a fingerprint.
[0114] At step 930, a fingerprint object is retrieved from a memory
of the user equipment device, where the fingerprint object uniquely
identifies the user equipment device to a service provider. For
example, control circuitry 304 may retrieve the fingerprint stored
in dedicated storage 308 of the user equipment device (FIG. 3).
[0115] At step 940, the fingerprint of the user equipment device is
made available to a service provider operator located within (or
at) a user site of the user equipment device. For example, control
circuitry 304 may display fingerprint 540 at a predetermined time
and/or location on screen 500 associated with the user equipment
device (FIG. 5). Alternatively or in addition, control circuitry
304 may transmit a communication or generate an audio signal or
tone that represents the fingerprint to an operator device.
[0116] At step 950, the fingerprint is received with a device of a
service provider operator. For example, the fingerprint may be
manually input by an operator of the operator device using input
region 710 (FIG. 7). Alternatively, the fingerprint may be
automatically determined based on information received by the
operator device and displayed in region 810 (FIG. 8). For example,
the operator device may listen to an audible tone or audio signal
that represents the fingerprint, capture and process an image that
includes the fingerprint and/or receive an electronic communication
that includes the fingerprint from the user equipment device.
[0117] At step 960, user account information associated with the
user equipment device is identified using the fingerprint. For
example, the operator device may cross-reference the automatically
or manually input fingerprint with user account information stored
in a database. The database may be locally stored or remotely
stored (e.g., at a server of the service provider) and accessed by
the operator device. In particular, the operator device may provide
as input to the database the fingerprint and the database may
return to the operator device user account information associated
with the fingerprint.
[0118] At step 970, a determination is made as to whether the
content being accessed is within an authorization level associated
with the user account information. When the content being accessed
is within the authorization level, the process proceeds to step
980, otherwise the process proceeds to step 990. For example, the
operator device may determine what content is being displayed or
what content source is being accessed either manually by the user
inputting the information into menu 750 (FIG. 7) or automatically
by receiving a communication identifying the monitored content from
the user equipment device and displaying that information in menu
820 (FIG. 8). The operator device may compare the content being
displayed and/or the content source being accessed with the
authorized content associated with the user account information
(e.g., the authorized content displayed in region 720). In some
implementations, the comparison may be manually performed by the
operator of the operator device by visually comparing the content
being accessed with the information displayed in region 720 (FIG.
7).
[0119] At step 980, a determination is made as to whether the user
site location is within an authorized range of authorized locations
associated with the user account information. When the user site is
within an authorized range of the authorized locations, the process
returns to step 910, otherwise the process proceeds to step 990.
For example, the operator device may determine a location of the
user equipment device either manually by the user inputting the
information into region 740 (FIG. 7), automatically by retrieving
GPS coordinates from GPS circuitry or automatically by
cross-referencing GPS coordinates from GPS circuitry with an
address associated with those GPS coordinates. The operator device
may compare the location of the user equipment device with the
authorized location (s) associated with the user account
information (e.g., the authorized location(s) displayed in region
730). In some implementations, the comparison may be manually
performed by the operator of the operator device by visually
comparing the location of the user equipment device (e.g., the
location of the operator at the user site) with the information
displayed in region 730 (FIG. 7).
[0120] At step 990, use of the user equipment device is reported as
being unauthorized (e.g., misuse of the user equipment device is
reported). For example, the operator device may transmit a
communication to the service provider indicating that the user
equipment device associated with the user account information is
being misused. Alternatively or in addition, the operator device
may transmit a communication to the user equipment device
associated with the user account information instructing the user
equipment device to self-terminate service.
[0121] In some embodiments, there may be multiple user equipment
devices outputting information or content to multiple displays
(e.g., in a tavern). In such circumstances, it may be difficult to
determine which user equipment device actually is outputting the
information being displayed. More specifically, it may be difficult
to determine what user equipment device corresponds to the
fingerprint being shown on a given display screen. In some
implementations, to ensure the user equipment device that is being
tested for misuse is the one outputting the fingerprint being
analyzed to the display is to compare what content is actually
being shown or what content source is actually being accessed in
the display where the fingerprint is shown with the content or
content source a given user equipment device is actually accessing
or outputting to a display. This process is further explained below
in connection with FIG. 10.
[0122] FIGS. 10A and 10B illustrate a flow diagram 1000 for
detecting unauthorized use of a user equipment device in accordance
with an embodiment of the invention. At step 1010, a communication
is established between a user equipment device and a device of a
service provider operator located within a user site of the user
equipment device. For example, the operator device may establish a
line of site communication with the user equipment device (e.g., an
infra-red communication).
[0123] At step 1020, a determination is made as to whether the
content being displayed on a screen corresponds to a user equipment
device with which communication has been established. When the
content being displayed corresponds to the user equipment device,
the process proceeds to step 1030, otherwise the process proceeds
to step 1080. For example, the operator device may receive a
communication from the user equipment device indicating what
content the user equipment device is displaying or what content
source the user equipment device is accessing currently.
Alternatively or in addition, the user equipment device may also
transmit information identifying the GPS coordinates of the user
equipment device. In some implementations, the operator device may
compare the received information with what is actually being shown
on the display screen. In particular, the operator device may
receive manual input from the user (e.g., using menu 820 (FIG. 8))
indicating what content is being displayed or what content source
is being accessed on a given display screen.
[0124] In some implementations, the operator device may compare
what is being shown on a display screen with what a given user
equipment device transmission indicates the user equipment device
is accessing or displaying. Alternatively, the operator device may
automatically determine what content is being displayed or what
content source is being accessed on a given display screen by
capturing an image and analyzing the contents of the image to
extract content identifying information and/or content source
identifying information. The operator device may compare what is
being shown on a display screen with what a given user equipment
device transmission indicates the user equipment device is
accessing or displaying. Similarly, the operator device may compare
a GPS coordinate range of the operator device with what a given
user equipment device transmission indicates as the location of the
user equipment device.
[0125] At step 1080, a different user equipment device is selected
with which to establish a communication. For example, the operator
device may transmit a discovery communication or message that
causes any user equipment device within a predetermined range to
transmit an identification message (e.g., an IP address or
Bluetooth ID number). The operator device may determine whether any
of the identification messages received from nearby user equipment
devices corresponds to a user equipment device that has already
been tested as being the user equipment device that is outputting
to the display with the fingerprint. The operator device may select
to communicate with one of the user equipment devices that has not
yet been tested as being the user equipment device that is
outputting to the display with the fingerprint or the display that
is being tested for user equipment device misuse.
[0126] At step 1030, an instruction is received from the service
provider device to make available a fingerprint object associated
with the user equipment device that uniquely identifies the user
equipment device to the service provider. For example, the operator
device may transmit an instruction to the selected user equipment
device requesting that the user equipment device make available the
fingerprint.
[0127] At step 1040, the fingerprint object is retrieved from a
memory of the user equipment device. For example, control circuitry
304 may retrieve the fingerprint stored in dedicated storage 308 of
the user equipment device (FIG. 3).
[0128] At step 1050, the fingerprint of the user equipment device
is made available to the service provider operator. For example,
control circuitry 304 may display fingerprint 540 at a
predetermined time and/or location on screen 500 associated with
the user equipment device (FIG. 5). Alternatively or in addition,
control circuitry 304 may transmit a communication or generate an
audio signal or tone that represents the fingerprint, to an
operator device.
[0129] At step 1060, the fingerprint is received with the service
provider device. For example, the fingerprint may be manually
input, by an operator of the operator device using input region 710
(FIG. 7). Alternatively, the fingerprint may be automatically
determined based on information received by the operator device and
displayed in region 810 (FIG. 8). For example, the operator device
may listen to an audible tone or audio signal that represents the
fingerprint, capture and process an image that includes the
fingerprint and/or receive an electronic communication that
includes the fingerprint from the user equipment device.
[0130] At step 1070, user account information associated with the
user equipment device is identified. For example, the operator
device may cross-reference the automatically or manually input
fingerprint with user account information stored in a database. The
database may be locally stored or remotely stored (e.g., at a
server of the service provider) and accessed by the operator
device. In particular, the operator device may provide as input to
the database the fingerprint and the database may return to the
operator device user account information associated with the
fingerprint.
[0131] At step 1090, a determination is made as to whether the
content being accessed is within an authorization level associated
with the user account information. When the content being accessed
is within the authorization level, the process proceeds to step
1092, otherwise the process proceeds to step 1094. For example, the
operator device may determine what content is being displayed or
what content source is being accessed either manually by the user
inputting the information into menu 750 (FIG. 7) or automatically
by receiving a communication identifying the monitored content from
the user equipment device and displaying that information in menu
820 (FIG. 8). The operator device may compare the content being
displayed and/or the content source being accessed with the
authorized content associated with the user account information
(e.g., the authorized content displayed in region 720). In some
implementations, the comparison may be manually performed by the
operator of the operator device by visually comparing the content
being accessed with the information displayed in region 720 (FIG.
7).
[0132] At step 1092, a determination is made as to whether the user
site location is within an authorized range of authorized locations
associated with the user account information. When the user site is
within an authorized range of the authorized locations, the process
returns to step 1080, otherwise the process proceeds to step 1094.
For example, the operator device may determine a location of the
user equipment device either manually by the user inputting the
information into region 740 (FIG. 7), automatically by retrieving
GPS coordinates from GPS circuitry or automatically by
cross-referencing GPS coordinates from GPS circuitry with an
address associated with those GPS coordinates. The operator device
may compare the location of the user equipment device with the
authorized location(s) associated with the user account information
(e.g., the authorized location(s) displayed in region 730). In some
implementations, the comparison may be manually performed by the
operator of the operator device by visually comparing the location
of the user equipment device (e.g., the location of the operator at
the user site) with the information displayed in region 730 (FIG.
7).
[0133] At step 1094, use of the user equipment device is reported
as being unauthorized (e.g., misuse of the user equipment device is
reported). For example, the operator device may transmit a
communication to the service provider indicating that the user
equipment device associated with the user account information is
being misused. Alternatively or in addition, the operator device
may transmit a communication to the user equipment device
associated with the user account information instructing the user
equipment device to self-terminate service.
[0134] FIG. 11 illustrates a flow diagram 1100 for detecting
unauthorized use of a user equipment device in accordance with an
embodiment of the invention. At step 1110, an instruction is
transmitted using communications circuitry of a handheld device to
a user equipment device directing the user equipment device to
display a unique identifier associated with the user equipment
device simultaneously with media content. For example, the operator
device may be a handheld device that transmits an instruction to a
user equipment device requesting that the user equipment device
display the fingerprint associated with the user equipment
device.
[0135] At step 1120, the unique identifier is retrieved from a
memory dedicated to storing the unique identifier in the user
equipment device in response to receiving the instruction. For
example, the fingerprint may be stored in a dedicated portion of
storage 308 of the user equipment device and control circuitry 304
of the user equipment device may retrieve the unique identifier
from storage 308.
[0136] At step 1130, a simultaneous display of the media content
and the retrieved unique identifier is generated with the user
equipment device for display on a display screen coupled to the
user equipment device. For example, user equipment device may
generate display screen 500 which shows media content 510
simultaneously with fingerprint 540 (FIG. 5).
[0137] At step 1140, a determination is made as to whether a
latency period between transmission of the request to
simultaneously display the unique identifier and media content and
the expected display time is met. When the latency period is met,
the process proceeds to step 1150, otherwise the process returns to
step 1140. For example, processing circuitry of the operator device
may be preconfigured with a time period that reflects the amount of
time it takes between the time the operator device transmits a
request for a fingerprint (e.g., using RF, Bluetooth or WiFi
communication scheme) and when that fingerprint actually gets
displayed with the user equipment device. The amount of time may
also account for the period of time the fingerprint is displayed on
the screen (e.g., 3 seconds). The amount of time may differ
depending on the type of user equipment device which is being
requested to display the fingerprint. For example, newer faster
user equipment devices may require a smaller latency period while
older slower user equipment devices may require a larger latency
period.
[0138] At step 1150, an image of the media content and unique
identifier simultaneously displayed on the display screen is
automatically captured using camera equipment of the handheld
device. For example, user input interface 310 of the operator
device may include camera equipment and automatically at the right
time when the unique identifier is displayed capture an image of
display screen 500.
[0139] At step 1160, the captured image is automatically processed
with the handheld device to extract the unique identifier from the
image. For example, control circuitry of the operator device may
apply any suitable image processing techniques to identify specific
objects in an image. The image processing technique may be executed
by the control circuitry of the operator device to identify,
extract and/or convert the unique identifier from the captured
image (e.g., using character recognition techniques) to
alphanumeric characters or other digital representation.
[0140] At step 1170, the extracted unique identifier is
cross-referenced using the handheld device with database to
retrieve user account information associated with the user
equipment device. For example, a local or remote database may
include a mapping between unique identifiers or fingerprints and
user account information. The operator device may query the
database using the extracted unique identifier to retrieve the user
account information corresponding to the unique identifier.
[0141] At step 1180, a determination is made as to whether the
content being accessed is within an authorized level associated
with the user account information or whether a user site location
is within an authorized range of authorized locations associated
with the user account information. When the content being accessed
is within an authorized level or the user site location is within
an authorized range of authorized locations, the process proceeds
to step 1192, otherwise the process proceeds to step 1190.
[0142] At step 1192, another user equipment device is selected by
the handheld device to test for misuse.
[0143] At step 1190, use of the user equipment device is reported
as being unauthorized (e.g., misuse of the user equipment device is
reported) by the handheld device. For example, the operator device
may transmit a communication to the service provider indicating
that the user equipment device associated with the user account
information is being misused. Alternatively or in addition, the
operator device may transmit a communication to the user equipment
device associated with the user account information instructing the
user equipment device to self-terminate service.
[0144] It should be understood that the above steps of the flow
diagrams of FIGS. 9A-B, 10A-B, and 11 may be executed or performed
in any order or sequence not limited to the order and sequence
shown and described in the figures. Also, some of the above steps
of the flow diagrams of FIGS. 9A-B, 10A-B and 11 may be executed or
performed substantially simultaneously where appropriate or in
parallel to reduce latency and processing times.
[0145] The above-described embodiments of the present disclosure
are presented for purposes of illustration and not of limitation,
and the present disclosure is limited only by the claims which
follow.
* * * * *
References