Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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CONTROLLING DATA-ON-DEMAND CLIENT ACCESS
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to data-on-demand (DOD) and digital broadcast
technology.
In particular, the present invention teaches a method and apparatus for
controlling client access
to DOD services.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
A variety of mechanisms are available for controlling the access of data-on-
demand
(DOD) clients to DOD services through set top boxes (STB) for receiving DOD
programs for
display on a television or other video display device. One problem faced in
the video-on-
demand (VOD) and DOD industry is controlling the access of a client's STB to
DOD programs
without using bi-directional communications. Traditional uni-directional
communications, such
as cable, have had many problems in controlling what services selected clients
could access. The
' advent of the STB allowed a mixed signal to be sent with some programs being
scrambled in
order to allow only clients with special STBs to receive these programs.
However, this allowed
clients who were delinquent in their payments to continue to receive service
and made it difficult
to change levels of service without exchanging STBs. Using bi-directional
communications
allowed for DOD programs to be sent to individual clients, however this would
use significant
processing and bandwidth resources and will not work in uni-directional
systems.
The following is a general discussion of widely used digital broadcast
systems.
Generally in digital broadcast systems, a bit stream, multiplexed in
accordance with the MPEG-2
standard, is a "transport stream" constructed from "packetized elementary
stream" (or PES)
packets and packets containing other necessary information. A "packetized
elementary stream"
(or PES) packet is a data structure used to carry "elementary stream data." An
"elementary
stream" is a generic term for one of (a) coded video, (b) coded audio, or (c)
other coded bit
streams carried in a sequence of PES packets with one stream ID. Transport
streams support
multiplexing of video and audio compressed streams from one program with a
common time
base.
PRIOR ART FIG. 1 illustrates the packetizing of compressed video data 106 of a
video
sequence 102 into a stream of PES ,packets 108, and then, into a stream of
transport stream
packets 112. Specifically, a video sequence 102 includes various headers 104
and associated
compressed video data 106. The video sequence 102 is parsed into variable
length segments,
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each having an associated PES packet header 110 to form a PES packet stream
108. The PES
packet stream 108 is then parsed into segments, each of which is provided with
a transport
stream header 114 to form a transport stream 112.
PRIOR ART FIG. 2 is a block schematic showing a digital broadcast system 200
including a digital broadcast server 202 and a set-top-box 204 suitable for
processing digital
broadcast data. At the digital broadcast server 202, video data is provided to
a video encoder
206 which encodes the video data in accordance with the MPEG-2 standard. The
video encoder
206 provides encoded video 208 to a packetizer 210 which packetizes the
encoded video 208.
The packetized encoded video 212 provided by the packetizer 210 is then
provided to a transport
stream multiplexes 214.
Similarly, at the digital broadcast server 202, audio data is provided to an
audio encoder
214 which encodes the audio data. The audio encoder 214 provides encoded audio
218 to a
packetizer 220 which packetizes the encoded audio 218. The packetized encoded
audio 222
provided by the packetizer 220 is then provided to the transport stream
multiplexes 2I4.
The transport stream multiplexes 214 multiplexes the encoded audio and video
packets
and transmits the resulting multiplexed stream to a set-top-box 204 via
distribution infrastructure
224. This distribution infrastructure 224 may be, for example, a telephone
network andJor a
cable TV (CATV) system, employing optical fiber and implementing asynchronous
transfer
mode (ATM) transmission protocols. At the set-top-box 204, on a remote end of
the distribution
infrastructure 224, a transport stream demultiplexer 230 receives the
multiplexed transport
stream. Based on the packet identification number of a particular packet, the
transport stream
demultiplexer 230 separates the encoded audio and video packets and provides
the video packets
to a video decoder 232 via link 238 and the audio packets to an audio decoder
236 via link 240.
The transport stream demultiplexer 230 also provides timing information to a
clock
control unit 236. The clock control unit 236 provides timing outputs to the
both the video
decoder 232 and the audio decoder 236 based on the timing information provided
by the
transport stream demultiplexer 230 (e.g., based on the values of PCR fields).
The video decoder
232 provides video data which corresponds to the video data originally
provided to the video
encoder 206. Similarly, the audio decoder 236 provides audio data which
corresponds to the
audio data originally provided to the audio encoder 216.
PRIOR ART FIG. 3 shows a simplified functional block diagram of a VOD system
300.
At the heart of the VOD system 300 is the video server 310 which routes the
digital movies,
resident in the movie storage system 312, to the distribution infrastructure
314. This distribution
infrastructure 314 may be, for example, a telephone network and/or a cable TV
(CATV) system,
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employing optical fiber and implementing asynchronous transfer mode (ATM)
transmission
protocols. The distribution infrastructure 314 delivers movies to individual
homes based on the
routing information supplied by the video server 310.
The VOD system 300 also includes a plurality of VOD STBs 304 suitable for
processing
VOD in the VOD system 300. Each STB 304 receives and decodes a digital movie
and converts
it to a signal for display on a TV set or A/V monitor.
The typical model for digital broadcast and DOD systems described above
adheres to
what is termed a "bi-directional client-server model." In order to point out
defects inherent to
this prior art system, the typical hardware architecture generic to such a DOD
system will be
described below with reference to FIG. 4. Further, a pair of methods for
controlling the prior art
DOD server and the prior art DOD client will be described below with reference
to FIG. 5 and
FIG. 6, respectively.
PRIOR ART FIG. 4 illustrates a~general diagram of a DOD system 320 having a bi-
directional client-server architecture. The DOD system 322 includes a DOD
server 322 bi-
directionally coupled with a plurality of DOD clients 324 vi a communication
link 326. As will
be appreciated, the VOD system 300 of FIG. 3 is a somewhat specific example of
the DOD
system 320.
Broadly speaking, the DOD system 320 operation adheres to the well known
client-server
model as follows. In some manner, typically through transmission of an
Electronic Program
Guide (EPG) by the DOD server 322, the clients 324 are informed of available
on-demand data.
Using the EPG for reference, a requesting DOD client 324 requests specific
data from the DOD
server 322 via the communication link 326. The DOD server 322 interprets the
client request,
and then prepares the client specific data in a format suitable for use by the
requesting client 324.
Once the client specific data is prepared, the server 322 transmits the client
specific data
to the requesting client 324. The requesting client 324 receives, via a
specifically allocated
portion of the communication link 326, the requested client specific data in a
readably usable
format. The requested client specific data is provided in a format ready for
presentation by the
DOD client to the end user. These client-server processes are described below
in more detail
with reference to FIGS. 5-6.
Under the client-server model of FIG. 4, the available bandwidth of
communication link
326 must be divided up into allocated portions 328, each allocated portion
being dedicated to a
particular client. Hence the bandwidth required for prior art DOD systems is
directly
proportional to the number of clients being served.
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Although communication link 326 may be a true bi-directional communications
medium,
such infrastructure is uncommon. Instead, typical implementations today cobble
together
existing infrastructure such as fiber optic cabling and telephone lines to
implement the necessary
bi-directional communications. For example, the fiber optic cable may be used
for server
transmission of client specific data while an existing telephone line may be
used for client
transmission of requests.
Turning next to PRIOR ART FIG. 5, a bi-directional DOD server method 340 in
accordance with the prior art will now be described. In a first step 342, the
DOD server
identifies the available slots within the available transmission bandwidth. In
a next step 344 the
DOD server prepares and transmits a suitable EPG to each client. It will be
appreciated that
different EPGs may be transmitted for different clients depending upon factors
such as
subscription levels, available services, personalized settings, payment
history, etc. In any event,
in a next step 346, the DOD server receives a demand for specific data from a
specific client.
The demand includes information indicating the identity of the client. Then in
a step 348, the
DOD server identifies the specific client from information included with the
demand.
At a step 350, a determination is made whether the client is authorized to
receive the
requested data. This determination is made at the DOD server 322 (FIG. 4),
where each DOD
service has an assigned subscription level requirement. The DOD server
compares a client's
subscription level stored in the clients data file to the requested service's
subscription level
requirement. This determination generally requires many complex independent
operations, and
is described here in only in a very simplified manner.
If the client's subscription level corresponds with the subscription level of
the requested
data, then the client is authorized to receive the data. If the client is
authorized to receive the
data requested, the process proceeds to step 351. In step 351, the DOD server
assigns an
available slot to the authentic client. In step 352, the DOD server prepares
the requested client
specific data for transmission in a format suitable for the requesting client.
Step 348 may include
such actions as retrieving the client specific data from a persistent storage
mechanism and
preparing an appropriate channel server for data transmission. Continuing with
a step 354, the
DOD server transmits the client specific data via the bandwidth allocated to
the requesting client.
If the client is not authorized to receive the requested data, the process
proceeds to step .
356, where the DOD server transmits a generic message stating that the service
is unavailable.
Other appropriate data may also be transmitted.
Turning next to FIG. 6, a client method 360 for retrieving on-demand data will
now be
described. In a tuning step 362, the DOD client will tune into the appropriate
channel program
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and in a receiving step 364 the DUD client will receiva the IJYCi transmitted
by the 1)UD server.
In a next step 366, the DOD client provides the EPG information to a DOD user
and in a step
368, receives a request for specific data from the DOD user. Then in a step
370, the DOD client
demands that the DOD server provide the requested client specific data. In a
step 372, in
anticipation of the requested client specific data, the DOD client tunes into
the allocated
bandwidth. Then in a step 374, the DOD client receives via allocated bandwidth
the requested '
client specific data in a readably usable format and provides it to the DOD
user.
As the above discussion reflects, none of the prior art systems provide a
method for
easily controlling a client's access to DOD services without bi-directional
communication.
Therefore, it is desirable to provide a method for preventing delinquent
clients from accessing
data from a DOD system without relying on bi-directional communication.
Furthermore, it is
desirable to provide a method for altering a DOD clients subscription level
without bi-directional
communication or altering the clients STB. What is also needed is a method for
communicating
a client's DOD account status to a client using uni-directional
communications.
SUMMARY
The present invention teaches methods and systems for preventing delinquent
clients
from accessing data from a DOD system without relying on bi-directional
communication. The
present invention also teaches methods and systems for altering a DOD clients
subscription level
without bi-directional communication or altering the clients STB.
Additionally, the present
invention teaches methods and systems for communicating a client's DOD account
status to a
client using uni-directional communications. These include a universal digital
data system, a
universal STB, and a variety of methods for handling these digital services
and controlling the
universal STB.
A first embodiment of the present invention teaches a method for controlling
client access to DOD. services using only uni-directional communication,
comprising the acts of:
receiving at least one subscription data packet including at least one
associated client
identification code, at least one associated subscription level code, and at
least one associated
service level code; and storing at least a portion of the at least one
associated subscription level
code in a memory location; storing at least a portion of the at least one
associated service level
code in a memory location; receiving at least one first service having at
least one associated
subscription level; and wherein the' at least one associated subscription
level code corresponds to
the at least one associated subscription level, accessing at least a portion
of the first service. The
method further includes: receiving at least one second service having at least
one associated
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service level; and wherein the at least one associated service level code
corresponds to the at
least one associated service level, accessing at least a portion of the second
service. Wherein the
subscription data packet includes at least one associated warning level code,
displaying a
warning message associated with the warning level code.
It is important to remark that as types of set-top boxes become more
ubiquitous, they are
often built-in to a unit, such as a TV or computer, rather than actually set
on top or beside. One
of ordinary skill in the art would recognize that all references to STBs would
apply equally to
built-in version, and thus the two become synonymous.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
PRIOR ART FIG. 1 illustrates pictorially the packetizing of compressed video
data into a stream of packets and a stream of transport packets;
PRIOR ART FIG. 2 illustrates by block diagram a system according to the
MPEG-2 standard;
PRIOR ART FIG. 3 illustrates a simplified functional block diagram of a VOD
system;
PRIOR ART FIG. 4 illustrates a DOD system adhering to a prior art bi-
directional
client-server architecture;
PRIOR ART FIG. 5 illustrates a DOD server method for controlling the receipt
of
DOD services by clients using a bi-directional, client specific data
transmission
mechanism;
PRIOR ART FIG. 6 illustrates a DOD client method for receiving and processing
client specific data via a bi-directional transmission mechanism;
FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a digital broadcast server in accordance with one
embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the hardware architecture of a universal STB
in accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 9 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a subscription level data
block in
accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 10 is a flow chart illustrating a computer implemented method for
controlling the subscription level of an STB in accordance with the present
invention;
FIG. 11 is a flow chart illustrating a computer executable method for
accessing
selected DOD services having an associated subscription Level in accordance
with the
presentinvention;
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FIG. 12A is schematic block diagram illustrating a subscription level data
block
in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 12B is schematic block diagram illustrating a subscription level data
block in
accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 12C is schematic block diagram illustrating a subscription level data
block in
accordance with another alternative embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 13A is schematic block diagram illustrating a service level data block in
accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 13B is schematic block diagram illustrating a service level data block in
accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 14 is a flow chart illustrating a computer executable method for
accessing
selected DOD services having an associated service level in accordance with
the present
invention;
FIG. 15 is schematic block diagram illustrating a warning level data block in
accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; and
FIG. 16 is a flow chart illustrating a computer implemented method for
displaying
a warning message in accordance with the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
In the following detailed description of the embodiments, reference is made to
the
drawings that accompany and that are a part of the embodiments. The drawings
show, by way of
illustration, specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced.
Those embodiments
are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to
practice the invention and it
is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that
structural, logical, and
electrical changes as well as other modifications may be made without
departing from the spirit
and scope of the present invention. .
The present invention teaches methods and systems for preventing delinquent
clients
from viewing data from a uni-directional DOD system by displaying a warning
message over
displayed DOD data. The present invention also teaches methods and systems for
altering a
DOD clients subscription level without bi-directional communication or
altering the clients STB.
A client's subscription level indicates the number of DOD services a client
has access to.
Generally the client must pay a higher monthly fee for a higher subscription
level, which would
allow access to more DOD services. Additionally, the present invention teaches
methods and
systems for communicating a client's DOD account status to a client using uni-
directional
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communications. These include a universal digital data system, a universal
STB, and a variety
of methods for handling these digital services and controlling the universal
STB. However,
those skilled in the art will recognize that all aspects of the present
invention can be implemented
within the bi-directional communication paradigm, the only difference being
that even more
features can be provided to the digital broadcast and DOD user when a bi-
directional
communication link is available.
FIG. 7 illustrates the architecture for a DOD server 450 in accordance with
one
embodiment of the present invention. The DOD server 450 includes a plurality
of channel
servers 41 l, a plurality of up converters 412 each corresponding to a channel
server 411, a
combiner amplifier 414, a central controlling server 502, and a central
storage 504, coupled as
illustrated through a data bus 506. As will be described below, the central
controlling server 502
controls off line operation of the channel servers 411, as well as initiating
real-time transmission
once the channel servers 411 are ready. The central storage 504 typically
stores data files in a
digital format. However, any suitable mass persistent data storage device may
be used.
In an exemplary embodiment, data files stored in the central storage 504 are
accessible
via a standard network interface (e.g., Ethernet connection) by any authorized
computer, such as
the central controlling server 502, connected to the network. The channel
servers 411 provide
data files that are retrieved from the central storage 504 in accordance with
instructions from the
central controlling server 502. The retrieval of digital data and the
scheduling of transmission of
the digital data for DOD is performed "off line" to fully prepare each channel
server 411 for
real-time data transmission. Each channel server 411 informs the central
controlling server 502
when ready to provide DOD, at which point the central controlling server 502
can control the
channel servers 411 to begin DOD transmission.
In a preferred embodiment, the central controlling server 502 includes a
graphics user
interface (not shown) to enable a service provider to schedule data delivery
by a drag-and-drop
operation. Further, the central controlling server 502 authenticates and
controls the channel
servers 410 to start or stop according to delivery matrices. Systems and
methods for providing
uni-directional DOD broadcast matrices are taught in Khoi Hoang's patent
application entitled
SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING VIDEO ON DEMAND SERVICES FOR BROADCASTING
SYSTEMS filed on May 31, 2000, bearing application serial number 09/584,832,
which is
incorporated herein by reference.
Each channel server 411 is assigned to a channel and is coupled to an up-
converter 412.
The output of each channel server 411 is a quadrature amplitude modulation
(QAM) modulated
intermediate frequency (IF) signal having a suitable frequency for the
corresponding up-
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converter 412. ~1'he (ZAM-modulated lta' signals are dependent upon adopted
standards. l he
current adopted standard in the United States is the data-over-cable-systems-
interface-
specification (DOCSIS) standard, which requires an approximately 43.75MHz IF
frequency. A
preferred channel server 411 is described below in more detail with reference
to FIG. 10.
The up-converters 412 convert IF signals received from the channel servers 104
to radio
frequency signals (RF signals). The RF signals, which include frequency and
bandwidth, are
dependent on a desired channel and adopted standards. For example, under the
current standard
in the United States for a cable television channel 80, the RF signal has a
frequency of
approximately 559.2SMHz and a bandwidth of approximately 6MHz.
The outputs of the up-converters 412 are applied to the combiner/amplifier
414. The
combiner/amplifier 414 amplifies, conditions and combines the received RF
signals then outputs
the signals out to a transmission medium.
FIG. 8 illustrates a universal STB 600 in accordance with one embodiment of
the
invention. The STB 600 comprises a QAM demodulator 602, a CPU 604, a local
memory 608, a
buffer memory 6I0, a decoder 612 having video and audio decoding capabilities,
a graphics
overlay module 614, a user interface 618, a communications link 620, and a
fast data bus 622
coupling these devices as illustrated. The CPU 602 controls overall operation
of the universal
STB 600 in order to select data in response to a client's request, decode
selected data,
decompress decoded data, re-assemble decoded data, store decoded data in the
local memory 608
or the buffer memory 610, and deliver stored data to the decoder 612. In an
exemplary
embodiment, the local memory 608 comprises both non-volatile memory (e.g., a
hard drive) aiid
secure memory (e.g., a ROM chip), and the buffer memory 610 comprises volatile
memory. A
hardware identification code (not shown) is stored in a secure memory location
of the local
memory 608, this code is unique to the STB 600 and cannot be readily altered.
An STB
subscription level code is stored in a non-volatile memory location of the
local memory 608, and
is needed to access DOD programs.
In one embodiment, the QAM demodulator 602 comprises transmitter and receiver
modules and one or more of the following: privacy encryption/decryption
module, forward error
correction decoder/encoder, tuner control, downstream and upstream processors,
CPU and
memory interface circuits. The QAM demodulator 602 receives modulated IF
signals, samples
and demodulates the signals to restore data.
In an exemplary embodiment, when access is granted, the decoder 612 decodes at
least
one data block to~ transform the data block into images displayable on an
output screen. The
decoder 612 supports commands from a subscribing client, such as play, stop,
pause, step,
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reword, rorwara, etc. nne aecoaer dm promaes aecoaea aa~a ~o an umpm uevm;C
o~'+ cur u~C uy
the client. The output device 624 may be any suitable device such as a
television, computer, any
appropriate display monitor, a VCR, or the like.
The graphics overlay module 614 enhances displayed graphics quality by, for
example,
providing alpha blending or picture-in-picture capabilities. In an exemplary
embodiment, the
graphics overlay module 614 can be used for graphics acceleration during game
playing mode;'
far example, when the service provider provides games-on-demand services using
the system in
accordance with the invention.
The user interface 618 enables user control of the STB 600, and may be any
suitable
device such as a remote control device, a keyboard, a smartcard, etc. The
communications link
620 provides an additional communications connection. This may be coupled to
another
computer, or rnay be used to implement bi-directional communication. The data
bus 622 is
preferably a commercially available "fast" data bus suitable for performing
data communications
in a real time manner as required by the present invention. Suitable examples
are USB, firewire,
etc. Although services are broadcast to all cable television subscribers, only
the DOD subscriber
who has an STB 600 authorized to view a selected DOD service will be able to
decode and enjoy
the selected service.
FIG. 9 snows a subscription data packet at 630 for controlling what DOD
services are
available to selected clients in accordance with one embodiment of the present
invention. A
subscription data packet 630 is sent to all clients via the packet data stream
112 (FIG. 1 ). The
subscription data packet 630 includes: a version identifier 632, a plurality
of client identification
codes 634; a plurality of client subscription level codes 636; a plurality of
subscription service
codes 638; and a plurality of warning codes 640. Each STB 600 (FIG. 8) is
provided with the
subscription level code 636, subscription service code 638 and warning code
640 associated with
that client's client identification code 634. When a client changes
subscription level or
subscription services a new subscription data packet is created with the codes
associated with
that client reflecting the change in services. In this way a DOD service
provider can control
exactly what DOD services each client may access. The subscription data packet
630 is
transmitted at some regular time interval, for example once every 5 minutes.
It is desirable to
send the packet as frequently as practicable, but more frequent transmissions
require more of the
available transmission band width.
In one embodiment each subscription data packet 630 has a version code 632
associated
with the packet. An STB 600 (FIG. 8) receiving a data packet 630 with a
version code 632 that
it has previously received will not store information from that previously
received data packet.
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In tins way the ~ t t~ wu1 not use processing resources to upaate itselt
unnecessamly.
In one embodiment a plurality of subscription data packets 630 are
transmitted, wherein
each packet has subscription information for less than all of the registered
DOD system clients.
This reduces the necessary size of subscription packets 630 by allowing the
DOD system
subscription information transmitted to be distributed among a plurality of
packets 630.
Each client STB receives every subscription data packet, but only an STB
having a
hardware identification code (not shown) corresponding to a selected client
identification code
634 may access the subscription level code 636, subscription service code 638
and warning code
640 associated with that client. An STB not having a hardware identification
code
corresponding to any of the client codes contained in the subscription data
packet cannot access
any of the subscription level codes or subscription service codes. In this way
each STB 600
(FIG. 8) may only access the subscription level code and subscription service
code associated
with that STB. The hardware identification code is located at a location
within the STB 600
(FIG. 8). Each STB has a unique hardware identification code. The client
identification code
allows an STB having a corresponding hardware identification code to access
the associated
subscription level code, subscription service code and warning code in a
subscription data
packet.
In accordance with one embodiment DOD services associated with network and
premium
television channels are assigned subscription levels, whereas individual
movies, sporting events,
publications and games are assigned service levels. This allows more
flexibility in ordering one
time viewing of certain desired DOD services with the use of the service level
code, while
maintaining a level of base line service with the subscription level code. Of
course it may also
be desirable to assign both a service level and a subscription level to each
available DOD service
in order to provide maximum flexibility.
In an alternative embodiment each subscription data packet includes only
client
identification codes and subscription level codes, wherein the packet includes
a client
identification code corresponding to each STB registered to receive service. A
client having
more than one STB 600 (FIG. 8) for receiving transmissions would be assigned a
plurality of
client identification codes. In accordance with this embodiment, each
subscription data packet is
structured as follows:
_ SUBSCRIPTION DATA PACKET VERSION
STB ID. SUBSCRIPTION LEVEL CODE
STB ID. . SUBSCRIPTION LEVEL CODE
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STB ID. , ~ SUBSCRIPTION LEVEL CODE
In yet another alternative embodiment, each subscription data packet includes
only a
client identification code and a warning code. In. such an embodiment the
warning code is used
to control access to DOD program data. The implementation of warning levels is
discussed in
greater detail below.
FIG. 10 shows a process for updating client level of access to DOD programs at
648 in
accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The process 648
begins at step 650,
in which an STB 600 (FIG. 8) receives a subscription data packet 630 (FIG. 9)
from the server
450 (FIG. 7). The data packet is transmitted via different channels randomly
so that each STB
will receive the data packet regardless of what channels are accessed.
Generally the data packets
will be interspersed with regularly transmitted DOD data files.
In a step 652 the STB determines whether the STB hardware identification code
matches
any of the client identification codes included in the subscription data
packet 630 (FIG. 9). The
STB hardware identification code is unique, and corresponds to a client
registered to receive
DOD services. A client with multiple STBs will be assigned multiple client
identification codes,
each corresponding to a single STB.
If the STB hardware identification code matches one of the client
identification codes
contained in the subscription data packet, then in step 654 the STB determines
whether the
subscription data packet version 632 (FIG. 9) is more recent than the last
packet used to update
the STB.
In step 656 the STB retrieves the subscription level code 636, subscription
service code
638 and warning code 640 corresponding to the client identification code 634
associated with the
STB. In a step 658 the STB updates the subscription level, subscription
service and warning
level of the STB. This may involve simply over writing previous levels stored
in memory 608
(FIG. 8), or may require a more complex process of updating the STB's
software.
If in step 652, the STB ID does not match any of the IDs stored in the
subscription data
packet 630' (FIG. -9), the STB subscription, service and warning levels are
not updated.
Similarly, if in step 654, the subscription data packet has a version that is
not newer than the last
version received, the STB subscription, service and warning levels are not
updated.
. FIG. 11 shows an STB process for accessing DOD services at 700 in accordance
with
one embodiment of the present invention. The process begins at step 702, in
which a user selects
a DOD service to be accessed using the user interface 618 (FIG. 8). This may
involve selecting a
program for viewing from a listing of available DOD programs on the EPG. A
service may also
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be selected by entering a code corresponding to the desired service. In
accordance with one
embodiment each DOD service has a subscription level accessible on the EPG
program. In
accordance with another embodiment, DOD subscription programs are limited to
DOD services
such as television channels, whereas selected DOD services such as games,
publications and
special events are reserved for access via the service level code 638 (FIG.
9).
In a step 703, the STB retrieves the subscription level corresponding to the
selected DOD
service from the EPG program. With the data associated with each D.OD service
included in the
EPG program is included an associated subscription level corresponding to that
DOD program.
The STB searches for the selected program data contained in the EPG program
and retrieves the
corresponding subscription level.
In an alternative embodiment the subscription level of a selected DOD service
is
contained in each header 104 (FIG. 1 ) associated with that service. In such
an embodiment the
STB retrieves the selected DOD service's subscription level directly from a
header 104 of the
selected DOD program.
In step 704, the STB 600 (FIG. 8) determines whether the STB subscription
level is
sufficient to access the selected DOD program. The STB 600 (FIG. 8) retrieves
a selected DOD
services subscription level from the EPG program. An STB's subscription level
is sufficient to
access a selected DOD service if it is greater than or equal to the
subscription level of the
selected service.
If the STB subscription level is sufficient the process continues to step 706,
in which the
STB accesses the selected DOD service. In step 708 the STB displays any
graphical elements of
the selected DOD service on an A/V monitor or television set.
If the STB subscription level is found.to be insufficient, the process
continues to a step
710. At step 710 the STB displays a refusal message to the user.
FIG. 12A shows a subscription level data block at 850 in accordance . with one
embodiment of the present invention. The subscription level data block 850
contains a single
subscription level 852 ranging from 1-10. Each subscription level represents a
different level of
access to DOD services. An~STB having a subscription level could access and
display any DOD
service having a subscription level less than or equal to the STB'
subscription level. For
example, a client with a subscription level of 5 could view any DOD service
having a
subscription level of 1-5. For example, in step 706 (FIG. 11), if HBO had a
subscription level 'of
4, an STB with a subscription level of 5 would be found to be sufficient for
viewing HBO.
Generally a level 1 subscription would allow access to most commercial
television channels such
as NBC, TNT, etc., and a level 10 subscription would allow access to all
premium channels
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available Trom the server.
FIG. 12B shows a subscription level data block at 860 in accordance with
another
embodiment of the present invention. The subscription level data block 860
contains a single
numerical value 862. The value 862 indicates the subscription level of a
selected client ox STB
600 (FIG. 8). In this embodiment each STB can only have one subscription level
862, wherein
an increase in the subscription level corresponds with one more DOD service
available to a
client. For example, the premium service HBO may be viewed by a first STB
having a
subscription Ievel of 10,000, but not by a second STB having a subscription
level of 9,999.
FIG. 12C shows a subscription level data block at 870 in accordance with
another
embodiment of the present invention. The subscription level data block 870 is
composed of a bit
index with 8 binary values. A first bit 872 corresponds to a first
subscription service. A
subscription service may correspond to one or more DOD services such as movies
or video
games , or one or more network television channels, etc. The first bit 872 has
a value of zero,
which indicates to the STB 600 (FIG. 8) that these services may not be
displayed, and that the
client would not have a sufficient subscription level to view these programs
as determined in step
706 (FIG. 11). For example, if the first bit 872 corresponded with HBOl and
HB02, the client
would not be authorized to view HBO1 and HB02.
A second bit 874 corresponds with a second subscription service. For example,
second
bit 854 corresponds to the NBC, ABC and CBS networks. The second bit 874
contains a value
of 1, which indicates to the STB 600 (FIG. 8) that these services may be
displayed, and that the
client would have a sufficient subscription level to view these programs as
determined in step
706 (FIG. 11 ).
FIG. 13A shows a service level data block at 880 in accordance with one
embodiment of
the present invention. In this embodiment the subscription service data block
880 contains
multiple values 882, with each value corresponding to an individual DOD
service or group of
DOD services. The receiving STB would be able to access each DOD service that
corresponded
to a value contained in the STB's service level code. For example, a service
level code
consisting of 12, 33, 44, 56, 222 would enable access to five different DOD
services
corresponding to the five values.
FIG. 13B shows .a service level data block at 890 in accordance with one
embodiment of
the present invention. In this embodiment the subscription service data block
890 is composed
of a bit index with 8 binary values: A first bit 892 corresponds to a first
subscription service. A
subscription service may correspond to one or more DOD services such as movies
or video
games, etc. The first bit 892 has a value of zero, which indicates to the STB
600 (FIG. 8) that
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these services may not be displayed, and that the client woula not nave the
reqmren seance Level
to access these services. For example, if the first bit 892 corresponded with
the movie "Star
Wars", the client would not be authorized to view this movie.
A second bit 894 corresponds with a second DOD service. For example, second
bit 894
corresponds to the video game "Final Fantasy IV". The second bit 894 contains
a value of 1,
which indicates to the STB 600 (FIG. 8) that this service may be accessed.
A DOD service's service level is retrieved from the EPG program, just as a DOD
services subscription level was retrieved in step 703 (FIG. 11).
Alternatively, each packet header
110 (FIG. 1) containing a portion of a DOD service includes a service level
638, and may only
be accessed by an STB having a corresponding service level code. Different DOD
services may
have the same service level.
FIG. 14 shows an STB process for accessing DOD services at 900 in accordance
with
one embodiment of the present invention. The process begins at step 902, in
which a user selects
a DOD service to be accessed using the user interface 618 (FIG. 8). This may
involve selecting a
program for viewing from a listing of available DOD programs on the EPG. A
service may also
be selected by entering a code corresponding to the desired service. In
accordance with one
embodiment each DOD service has a service level accessible by the STB via the
EPG program.
In a step 903, the STB retrieves the service level corresponding to the
selected DOD
service from the EPG program. In step 904, the STB 600 (FIG. 8) determines
whether the STB
service level code includes a code corresponding to the selected DOD service.
If the STB service level includes a value corresponding to the selected DOD
service the
process continues to step 906, in which the STB accesses the selected DOD
service. In step 908
the STB displays any graphical elements of the selected DOD service on an A/V
monitor or
television set.
If the STB service level does not contain a value corresponding to the
selected DOD
service, the process continues to a step 910. At step 910 the STB displays a
refusal message to
the user.
FIG. 15 shows a warning level data block at 920 in accordance with one
embodiment of
the present invention. The warning level data block 920 included with each
subscription data
packet 630 (FIG. 9) may contain a value 922 ranging from 0 to 3. A 0 value
indicates that the
client's account is current. A value of 1 indicates that the client is 30 days
overdue on his
payment. A value of 2 indicates a 60 day delinquency. A value of 3 indicates
that the client is
seriously delinquent and should be blocked from receiving DOD services. For
example, the
warning level data block 920 contains a value of 3, indicating that the client
is seriously
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delinquent in payments, and that his viewing should be blocKea.
FIG. 16 shows a warning level display process at 950 in accordance with one
embodiment of the present invention. The process begins at step 952, in which
an STB 600
(FIG. 8) retrieves a warning level value 922 from the warning level data block
920 (FIG. 15)
associated with STB 600. If the warning level value equals 0 the process ends
and no warning
message is displayed. If the warning value equals 3 the process continues to
step 958, in which a
warning message is displayed for a five second time interval whenever the STB
600 (FIG. 8) is
turned "ON". This warning message (not shown) could be a generic message or a
client specific
message stored in the memory 608 (FIG. 8). In one embodiment the message
includes
information indicating that the client's account is over due. In one
embodiment the warning
message includes a contact number or other information for remedying the
account status. After
five seconds the warning level message is no longer displayed and the STB
functions normally.
If the warning level value 922 (FIG. 15) equals 3 the process continues to a
step 960, in
which a warning Level message is displayed blocking any DOD program display.
This warning
I5 level message is displayed continuously such that any DOD program being
displayed is blocked
from the view of a user. The warning message may include an amount due, a
contact number or
other information for remedying the account status.
The foregoing examples illustrate certain exemplary embodiments of the
invention from
which other embodiments, variations, and modifications will be apparent to
those skilled in the
art. The invention should therefore not be limited to the particular
embodiments discussed above,
but rather is defined by the following claims.
What is claimed is:
16
