Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02873150 2016-06-03
METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR AUTHORIZING A USER DEVICE
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to the field of methods and systems for
authorizing devices, and
more particularly authorization methods and systems using an acoustic signal.
BACKGROUND
Media content companies such as TV channels or radio stations always try to
offer new
services to their customers in order to retain their customers. For example,
TV channels may
offer mobile content to customers of a broadcast company that broadcasts the
content of the
TV channel. In order to provide the broadcast company customers with an access
to the
mobile content, the customers must receive an access code from the TV channel
in order to
authorize a given mobile device of a customer to access the mobile content.
The access code
may be sent via email to the customers. However, sending emails to each
customer may be
cumbersome and time-consuming for the TV channel. Furthermore, the customer
has to
access the email in which the code access is contained, copy the access code,
and enter the
access code into the mobile application that will allow him to access the
mobile content. This
method for a user to access the mobile content is time-consuming and may
prevent some
customers from accessing the mobile content offered by the TV channel. The
customer
might also need to create a username and password with the TV broadcaster in
order to
access the mobile content. Such credentials are often forgotten or unknown to
the customer
and as such the advantage of broader usage of the mobile application is
limited
Therefore, there is a need for an improved method for authorizing a user
device.
SUMMARY
There is described a method for authorizing a user device using the audio
signal contained in
a media content transmitted to a main separate device. Once authorized, the
user device may
have access to resources or content accessible over a telecommunication
network. A
reference identifier is embedded in the audio signal. The reference identifier
depends on the
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media content itself and/or a scheduled playback time associated with the
media content. A
media content comprising the reference identifier is transmitted to the main
device. The
audio signal having the reference identifier is played back the main device,
thereby
generating an acoustic signal. The user device to be authorized acquires the
acoustic signal
for a predefined period of time, and extracts the identifier embedded therein.
The predefined
period of time is chosen to ensure that the whole reference identifier will be
present in the
acquired portion of acoustic signal. The user device then transmits the
extracted identifier to
an authorization server. The authorization server retrieves the reference
identifier that
corresponds to the actual playback time of the media content and compares the
extracted and
received identifier to the retrieved reference identifier. Upon successful
comparison, the
authorization server transmits an authorization confirmation to the user
device.
In accordance with a first broad aspect, there is provided a computer-
implemented method
for authorizing a user device, comprising: use of a processor for receiving an
extracted
identifier transmitted by a secondary device to be authorized over a
telecommunication
network, the extracted identifier being previously extracted by the secondary
device to be
authorized from an acoustic signal generated by an authorized main device, the
acoustic
signal corresponding to a transmitted audio signal received by the authorized
main device
and having a reference identifier embedded therein; use of the processor for
validating the
received identifier; and upon successful validation, use of the processor for
transmitting an
authorization confirmation to the secondary device, thereby authorizing the
secondary device
to access media content.
In one embodiment, the reference identifier is generated as a function of a
scheduled
playback time associated with the audio signal, the scheduled playback time
corresponding to
a given time at which the audio signal is scheduled to be one of: played back
by the
authorized main device; and transmitted to the main device.
In another embodiment, the reference identifier is generated as a function an
identification of
a media content that contains the audio signal.
In one embodiment, the reference identifier is further generated as a function
of an
identification of the authorized main device.
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In one embodiment, the reference identifier comprises an audio watermark.
In one embodiment, the audio signal is one of streamed and broadcasted, the
authorized main
device for playing back the audio signal as the authorized main device
receives the audio
signal.
In another embodiment, the audio signal is transmitted to the authorized main
device as a
whole at a discrete point in time, the authorized main device being adapted to
further receive
a scheduled playback time indicating a time at which the audio signal is
scheduled to be
played back by the authorized main device.
In one embodiment, the step of validating comprises: determining an actual
playback time for
the audio signal; retrieving a given reference identifier for which a
scheduled playback time
substantially corresponds to the actual playback time; comparing the extracted
identifier to
the given reference identifier, a positive match between the extracted
identifier and the given
reference identifier corresponding to a successful validation.
In one embodiment, the actual playback time substantially corresponds to one
of: a first time
at which the extracted identifier is received; a second time at which the
extracted identifier is
extracted by the secondary device; and a third time at which the extracted
identifier is
transmitted by the secondary device.
In another embodiment, the step of validating comprises: determining a first
identification of
an actual audio signal being actually streamed or broadcasted; determining a
second
identification of the audio signal corresponding to the extracted identifier;
and comparing the
first and second identification, a positive match corresponding to a
successful validation.
In one embodiment, the audio signal corresponds to an audio track of a video.
In one embodiment, the authorization message comprises a security code to be
used to access
resources.
In accordance with a second broad aspect, there is provided an apparatus for
authorizing a
user device, the apparatus comprising a processing unit, a communication unit,
and a
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memory having stored thereon instructions that when executed by the processing
unit
performs the steps of the above method for authorizing a user device.
In accordance with another broad aspect, there is provided a computer-
implemented method
for a user device to request for an authorization, comprising: use of a
processor for acquiring
an acoustic signal having a reference identifier embedded therein, thereby
obtaining an
acquired audio signal having the reference identifier embedded therein, the
acoustic signal
being generated by an authorized device, the acoustic signal corresponding to
a transmitted
audio signal received by the authorized device and having the identifier
embedded therein;
use of the processor for extracting the reference identifier from the acquired
audio signal,
thereby obtaining an extracted identifier; use of the processor for
transmitting the extracted
identifier to an authorization server over a telecommunication network; and
use of the
processor for receiving from the authorization server an authorization
confirmation upon
successful validation of the extracted identifier from the authorization
server.
In one embodiment, the reference identifier depends on a scheduled playback
time associated
with the audio signal, the scheduled playback time corresponding to a given
time at which
the audio signal is scheduled to be one of: played back by the authorized main
device; and
transmitted to the main device.
In the same or another embodiment, wherein the reference identifier is
generated as a
function an identification of a media content that contains the audio signal.
In one embodiment, the reference identifier is further generated as a function
of an
identification of the authorized main device.
In one embodiment, the reference identifier comprises an audio watermark.
In one embodiment, the audio signal is one of streamed and broadcasted, the
authorized main
device for playing back the audio signal as the authorized main device
receives the audio
signal.
In another embodiment, the audio signal is transmitted to the authorized main
device as a
whole at a discrete point in time, the authorized main device being adapted to
further receive
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a scheduled playback time indicating a time at which the audio signal is
scheduled to be
played back by the authorized main device.
In one embodiment, the validation comprises: determining an actual playback
time for the
audio signal; retrieving a given reference identifier for which a scheduled
playback time
substantially corresponds to the actual playback time; comparing the extracted
identifier to
the given reference identifier, a positive match between the extracted
identifier and the given
reference identifier corresponding to a successful validation.
In one embodiment, the actual playback time substantially corresponds to one
of: a first time
at which the extracted identifier is received; a second time at which the
extracted identifier is
extracted by the secondary device; and a third time at which the extracted
identifier is
transmitted by the secondary device.
In another embodiment, the validation comprises: determining a first
identification of an
actual audio signal being actually streamed or broadcasted; determining a
second
identification of the audio signal corresponding to the extracted identifier;
and comparing the
first and second identification, a positive match corresponding to a
successful validation.
In one embodiment, the audio signal corresponds to an audio track of a video.
In one embodiment, the authorization message comprises a security code to be
used to access
resources.
In accordance with a further broad aspect, there is provided an apparatus to
be authorized, the
apparatus comprising a processing unit, a communication unit, and a memory
having stored
thereon instructions that when executed by the processing unit performs the
steps of the
above method.
It should be understood that the term "broadcasting" refers to the
distribution of audio and/or
video content to a dispersed audience via any mass communications medium such
as radio
systems or TV broadcast systems.
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It should be understood that the term streaming refers to a method of
transmitting or
receiving data over a telecommunication network such as a computer network as
a steady,
continuous flow, allowing playback to proceed while subsequent data is being
received.
The expression "audio signal" refers to an electrical signal representative of
sound. An audio
signal may be analog or digital. The expression "acoustic signal" or "acoustic
wave" refers a
mechanical wave such as sound that propagates in gases such as air, liquids,
and/or solids.
An acoustic signal may representative of an audio signal. In this case, the
acoustic signal may
correspond to the mechanical wave representation of the audio signal.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Further features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent
from the
following detailed description, taken in combination with the appended
drawings, in which:
Fig. 1 is a flow chart illustrating a method of authorizing a user device, in
accordance with an
embodiment;
Fig. 2 is a flow chart illustrating a method of broadcasting a media content
having a reference
identifier embedded therein, in accordance with an embodiment; and
Fig. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a system for authorizing a user device,
in accordance
with an embodiment.
It will be noted that throughout the appended drawings, like features are
identified by like
reference numerals.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
There is described a method and system for authorizing a user device using an
audio signal.
A main device is already authenticated, authorized, and/or registered to
receive media
content. The media content contains a reference identifier that is previously
embedded in an
audio signal/track contained in the media content. The reference identifier
may be generated
as a function of the media content in which it is to be embedded, i.e. as a
function of an
identification of the media content, and/or a scheduled playback time for the
media content.
The audio signal/track is played back by the main device, thereby generating
an acoustic
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signal in which the reference identifier is also embedded, and the acoustic
signal is acquired
by the user device to be authorized which extracts the identifier from the
acquired acoustic
signal and transmits the extracted identifier to an authorization server. The
authorization
server compares the extracted identifier received from the user device to be
authorized to a
reference identifier that corresponds to an actual playback time. Upon
successful matching
between the extracted identifier and the reference identifier, the
authorization server
transmits a confirmation of authorization to the user device, thereby
confirming that the user
device is now authorized to access given resources or content.
In one embodiment, all data representative of the media content to be played
back by the
main device is sent concurrently at a discrete point in time. The scheduled
playback time
associated with the media content is also sent at a discrete point in time to
the main device. In
one embodiment, the scheduled playback time and the media content may be
concurrently
sent to the main device. In another embodiment, the media content may be first
sent to the
main device, and the scheduled playback time may be sent to the main device
subsequently
to the transmission of the media content, or vice-versa.
For example, the media content containing the reference identifier may be sent
as a computer
file to the main device over a telecommunication network such as a computer
network or a
wireless telecommunication network. The file may further contain the scheduled
playback
time associated with the media content. In this case, the main device is
adapted to play back
the received media content at the time/date indicated by the scheduled
playback time.
In another embodiment, the media content is transmitted via streaming over the
Internet. In
this case, the main device is adapted to play back the media content as it
receives it from the
Internet. In one embodiment, the media content is specific to the main device
that will
receive the media content and the reference identifier is also specific to the
main device that
will receive the streamed media content. The reference identifier is further
generated as a
function of an identification of the main device. In this case, two different
main devices may
receive different media contents. In another embodiment, the media content is
independent
from the main device that will receive the media content. In this case,
different main devices
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receive the same media content, and the transmission method of the media
content may be
seen as broadcasting over the Internet.
In a further embodiment, the media content is broadcasted. In this case, a
user is registered to
a broadcast service and has access to media content broadcasted by the company
offering the
broadcast service. The media being broadcasted may be a video such as a movie,
a television
(TV) show, etc., or an audio signal such as a song, a concert recording, or
the like. The
company offering the broadcast service, i.e. the broadcaster, may be the
creator of the media
content being broadcasted. Alternatively, the creator of the media content may
be an entity
different from the broadcaster. For example, the creator of the media content
may be a TV
channel or a radio channel that uses the services of the broadcaster to
broadcast the media
content that it creates. It should be understood that a video comprises an
audio track that
corresponds to an audio signal, and therefore the audio track/audio signal is
broadcasted.
In order to receive broadcasted content, a main device is authenticated,
authorized, and/or
registered. This is usually performed at the beginning of the user
subscription to the
broadcast service. In an example of a TV broadcasting service, the authorized
main device
may comprise a TV and a broadcast terminal. The broadcast terminal is then
authenticated
and permitted to receive the TV broadcast. The broadcast terminal then
transmits the
received video signal to the TV to be displayed thereon. When the user wishes
to access the
broadcast service, another service, content, and/or resources offered by the
broadcasting
company on a secondary and different device, the secondary device has to be
authorized.
Once authorized, the secondary device may receive the same broadcast as the
one received
by the main device, access content, and/or resources via a mobile application
over a mobile
telecommunication network or the Internet, etc.
Figure 1 illustrates one embodiment of a method 10 for authorizing a secondary
device. A
first or main device is already authenticated, authorized and/or registered,
and is permitted to
have access to a given media content. In one embodiment, the main device and
the secondary
device to be authorized may belong to a same user or entity. In another
embodiment, the
main device belongs to a first user or entity, and the secondary device
belongs to a second
and different user or entity.
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At step 12, a given media content is transmitted and received by the main
device that is
already authorized to receive media content. The transmitted media content may
be
comprised in an analog signal. In this case, the media content may be
transmitted using radio
frequency telecommunications for example. In another example, the transmitted
media
content may be transmitted as a digital signal. In this case, the media
content may be
transmitted using fiber optics telecommunications for example. The media
content comprises
at least an audio signal in which a reference identifier is embedded. It
should be understood
that the reference identifier is embedded in the audio signal so that the
identifier is not
perceptible by a human being while listening to the audio signal or the
acoustic signal
corresponding to the audio signal. The media content may be a video comprising
an audio
track in which the identifier is embedded. The media content may also be an
audio file or
signal.
For example, the media content may be a broadcasted video comprising an audio
track in
which a reference identifier is embedded. The video is then received by a user
broadcast
terminal and displayed on a user TV that is connected to the broadcast
terminal while the
audio track of the video is played back by the user TV. In another example,
the media
content may be an audio signal such as the audio signal emitted by a radio
station, and the
main device may be an authorized, authenticated, and/or registered radio
receiver. In this
case, the radio receiver may be a car radio receiver for example. In another
example, the
radio receiver may be the same broadcast terminal as the one used for
receiving TV
broadcasted content, and the audio signal is played back by the TV that is
connected to the
broadcast terminal.
Figure 2 illustrates one embodiment of a computer-implemented method for
transmitting a
media content comprising an audio signal in which a reference identifier is
embedded. At
step 30, the media content to be transmitted is received on a server for
example. The server
may be the server of a broadcasting company, the server of a TV channel that
uses the
services of the broadcasting company to scatter its content, the server of a
radio station that
uses the services of the broadcasting company to scatter its content, the
server of the media
content company, or the like.
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At step 32, a reference identifier is generated for the media content to be
transmitted. In one
embodiment, the server is adapted to generate a reference identifier for the
media content to
be transmitted and played back by the main device using any adequate method.
In another
embodiment, the server is adapted to retrieve a reference identifier from a
database and
embed the retrieved reference identifier into the media content to be
transmitted. If the media
content to be transmitted is a video, the reference identifier is embedded
into the audio track
of the video. If the media content to be transmitted is an audio signal, the
identifier is directly
embedded into the media content.
In one embodiment, the reference identifier to be embedded into a given media
content is
generated as a function of a scheduled playback time for the given media
content, i.e. the
time at which the given media content is scheduled to be played back by the
main device. In
an embodiment in which the given media content is to be streamed or
broadcasted, the
scheduled playback time may correspond to the time at which the given media is
to be
streamed or broadcasted, respectively, since the transmission of the given
media by the
server and the reception and playback of the given media by the main device
may be seen as
occurring substantially concurrently. In the case of streaming or broadcasting
of the given
media, the scheduled playback time may correspond to a given scheduled period
of time of
which the start point in time corresponds to the time at which the server
starts streaming or
broadcasting the given media content, and of which the end point in time
corresponds to the
time at which the server stops streaming or broadcasting the given media
content. The
reference identifier is then associated with the given scheduled period of
time during which
the given media content is to be streamed or broadcasted. It should be
understood that the
scheduled playback time may comprise the time and/or date at which the given
media content
is scheduled to be played back or transmitted. The scheduled playback time may
be locally
stored. For example, a local database may have stored thereon a scheduled
playback time at
which a respective media content is scheduled to be played back or
transmitted, for each
media content to be transmitted. Alternatively, the scheduled playback time
may be received
from another server such as a broadcasting server, or an external database. In
this case, an
identification of the media content is sent to the other server or the
external database which
returns the scheduled playback time at which the media content is scheduled to
be played
back or transmitted.
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In one embodiment, a unique reference identifier is generated for each given
media content
as a function of the scheduled playback time at which the media content is to
be played back
or transmitted using any adequate identifier generation method known by the
person skilled
in the art. It should be understood that for each possible scheduled playback
time at which a
media content is to be played back or transmitted corresponds a unique
reference identifier so
that two different scheduled playback times may not share a same reference
identifier. In
another embodiment, the step of generating the reference identifier to be
embedded may
comprise a step of retrieving the reference identifier from a database. In
this case, the
database comprises a respective reference identifier for each scheduled
playback time at
which a respective media content is scheduled to be played back or transmitted
so that two
different scheduled playback times at which two different media contents or a
same media
content are/is to be played back or transmitted cannot share the same
reference identifier.
In another embodiment, the reference identifier to be embedded into a given
media content is
generated as a function of the given media content to be transmitted by the
main device. In
one embodiment, the reference identifier is generated as a function of an
identification of the
media content to be played using any adequate identifier generation method
known in the art.
It should be understood that, in this case two, different media contents may
not have the same
reference identifier. In another embodiment, the reference identifier is
retrieved from a
database that comprises a respective and unique reference identifier for each
possible media
content to be transmitted and played back. The database may be stored locally
or remotely. In
this case, an identification of the given media content to be transmitted is
inputted into the
database that returns the corresponding and unique reference identifier for
the given media
content. It should be understood that, in this embodiment, a given media
content will always
have the same reference identifier independently of the time at which it is
scheduled to be
played back or transmitted.
In this embodiment, a same media content to be played back at different
scheduled playback
times is provided with a same reference identifier. For example, a given song
to be
broadcasted at a first time on a first date and the same given song to be
broadcasted at a
second and different time on a second and different date are provided with a
same unique
identifier. In this case, the value of the identifier to be embedded depends
only on the media
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content to be played back by the main device, and is said to be media-
dependent only. For a
given media content, the value of the reference identifier to be embedded
therein is constant
independently of the time/date at which the content is to be played back by
the main device.
In a further embodiment, the reference identifier to be embedded into a given
media content
is generated as a function of the given media to be transmitted to the main
device and the
scheduled playback time at which the given media is scheduled to be played
back or
transmitted. In one embodiment, the reference identifier is generated as a
function of an
identification of the media content to be transmitted to the main device and
its corresponding
scheduled playback time at which the given media content is to be played back
or transmitted
using any adequate identifier generation method known in the art. It should be
understood
that two different media contents may not have the same reference identifier.
In another
embodiment, the reference identifier is retrieved from a database that
comprises a respective
reference identifier for each possible media content to be transmitted to the
main device and
for each respective scheduled playback time at which a media content is
scheduled to be
played back or transmitted. The database may be stored locally or remotely. In
this case, an
identification of the given media content to be transmitted to the main device
and its
respective scheduled playback time are inputted into the database that returns
the
corresponding and unique reference identifier for the given media content and
the given
scheduled playback time at which the given media content is scheduled to be
played back or
transmitted.
In this embodiment, two identical media contents to be played back at
different scheduled
playback times are provided with different reference identifiers. For example,
a given song to
be broadcasted at a first time on a first day and the same given song to be
provided at a
second and different time and/or on a second and different day are provided
with different
reference identifiers. In this case, the value of the reference identifier to
be embedded
depends on both the media to be broadcasted and its respective scheduled
playback time at
which the media is to be played back or transmitted. In this case, a database
may have stored
thereon a unique identifier for each media content to be played back by the
main device and
for the respective scheduled playback time at which the media content is to be
played back or
transmitted. In one embodiment, the scheduled playback time may correspond to
a period of
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time during which the media is to be streamed or broadcasted, as described
above. The
period of time may be defined by a starting time, i.e. the point in time at
which the
streaming/broadcasting of the given media content will start, and an end time,
i.e. the point in
time at which the streaming/broadcasting of the given media content will stop.
In another
example, the period of time may be defined by a start time and a time duration
which
corresponds to the duration of the given media content to be
streamed/broadcasted.
In a further embodiment, the reference identifier may be generated as a
function of an
identification of the main device in addition to be dependent of the media
content and/or the
scheduled playback time at which the media content is scheduled to be played
back or
transmitted. In this case, a given media content to be played back by a first
main device has a
reference identifier that is different from the reference identifier assigned
to the same media
content to be played back by a second and different main device. The
identification of the
main device may be its Global Positioning System (GPS) location, its Internet
Protocol (IP)
address, the name of the owner of the main device, a unique alpha-numerical
identifier, or the
like.
It should be understood that more than one reference identifier may be
determined for a same
media content to be played back at a given scheduled playback time. For
example, a given
media content may be divided into two or more portions to be played back
successively in
time. In this case, a respective reference identifier may be generated for
each portion of the
media to be played back by the main device.
At step 34, the reference identifier is embedded into the media content to be
played back, i.e.
in the audio signal contained in the media content to be played back by the
main device. For
example, the reference identifier may be embedded into the audio track of a
video to be
played back. In another example, the reference identifier may be embedded into
a song to be
played back. It should be understood that any adequate method for embedding an
identifier
into an audio signal or track may be used. It should be understood that the
reference identifier
is embedded into the audio signal/track such that the reference identifier is
not perceptible by
a human being while the human is listening to the audio signal/track or the
acoustic signal
corresponding to the audio signal.
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In one embodiment, the reference identifier that is embedded into the audio
signal is an audio
watermark such as a spread spectrum audio watermark. In this case, any
adequate method for
generating an audio watermark and any adequate method for embedding an audio
watermark
into an audio signal may be used.
Once the reference identifier has been embedded in the media content to be
played back, the
media content to be played is transmitted to the main device
In one embodiment, the media content comprising the embedded reference
identifier is
broadcasted at the scheduled playback time corresponding to the media content
to be played
back at step 36a, and subsequently received by the main device. The main
device then plays
back the media content as it is received. It should be understood that any
adequate method
for broadcasting a media content may be used. For example, amateur (ham) radio
broadcasting, amateur television (ATV) broadcasting, closed-circuit TV
broadcasting, public
radio broadcasting, community radio broadcasting, commercial radio
broadcasting, public
television broadcasting, commercial television broadcasting, and/or the like
may be used to
broadcast the media content having the reference identifier embedded therein.
In another embodiment, the whole media content comprising the embedded
reference
identifier is transmitted at a discrete point in time at step 36b. For
example, the media content
may be sent as a computer file. In this case, the scheduled playback time at
which the media
content is scheduled to be played back by the main device is also transmitted
to the main
device. It should be understood that the scheduled playback time may be sent
concurrently
with the transmission of the media content. Alternatively, the scheduled
playback time may
be sent to the main device prior or after the transmission of the media
content.
In a further embodiment, the media content comprising the embedded reference
identifier is
streamed over the Internet at step 36c. In this case, the main device plays
back the media
content as it receives it. It should be understood that any adequate method
for streaming
video and/or audio may be used.
Referring back to Figure 1, the transmitted media content is received at step
14. The received
media content comprises the audio signal having the reference identifier
embedded therein.
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The audio signal is then played back by the main device. The main device is
provided with
an audio signal playing unit such as an electroacoustic transducer that
converts the received
audio signal into a corresponding acoustic signal. For example, the main
device may
comprise a TV provided with a speaker and a broadcast terminal connected to
the TV. In this
case, the broadcast terminal receives a broadcasted video, movie, TV show or
the like which
is transmitted to the TV. The TV then extracts the audio track of the received
media content
and plays the audio track. The speaker of the TV then converts the audio track
into an
acoustic signal that propagates in the area surrounding the speaker. In
another example, the
main device may be radio emitter that receives a broadcasted song emitted by a
radio station,
i.e. the broadcasted audio signal. A reference identifier is embedded in the
broadcasted song.
The radio receiver then plays the received audio signal, i.e. the received
song, and a speaker
of the audio receiver converts the audio signal into an acoustic signal that
propagates in the
area surrounding the speaker. It should be understood that the main device may
be provided
with any adequate speaker such as a loudspeaker, a headphone, an earphone, or
the like. It
should also be understood that since the audio signal comprises the reference
identifier
embedded therein the acoustic signal corresponding to the audio signal also
comprises the
reference identifier embedded therein.
In an embodiment in which the whole media content is transmitted at a discrete
point in time
such as in a computer file, the main device is adapted to play back the media
content
according to the received scheduled playback time. The media content is then
stored until the
scheduled playback time at which the media content is scheduled to be played
back by the
main device.
In an embodiment in which the media content is streamed or broadcasted, the
main device is
adapted to play back the media content as it is received such that the
playback of the media
content and the reception of the media content are performed substantially
concurrently by
the main device.
At step 16, the acoustic signal emitted by the main device is acquired by the
secondary
device to be authorized. The secondary device is provided with an acoustic-to-
electric
transducer such as a microphone adapted to acquire the acoustic signal
corresponding to the
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audio signal and convert the acoustic signal into an audio signal. Since the
acoustic signal
comprises the identifier embedded therein, the acquired audio signal, i.e. the
audio signal
corresponding to the acoustic-to-electric conversion performed by the acoustic-
to-electric
transducer, also comprises the identifier embedded therein. The acquired audio
signal is then
stored locally on the secondary device such as in a cache memory.
At step 18, the secondary device extracts the identifier from the acquired
audio signal using
any adequate method. At step 20, the extracted identifier is sent by the
secondary device to a
server in charge of the authorization of the secondary device, i.e. the
authorization server. It
should be understood that the secondary device and the server may be connected
together
using any adequate communication means such as a wireless telecommunication
network, the
Internet, or the like in order to allow transmission of data between the
secondary device and
the server.
In one embodiment, the secondary device is further adapted to determine an
acquisition time
corresponding to the time at which the acoustic signal is acquired, and
transmit the
acquisition time to the authorization server along with the extracted
identifier. In one
embodiment, the acquisition time corresponds to the time at which the acoustic
signal is
actually acquired by the secondary device. In another embodiment, the
acquisition time
corresponds to the time at which the identifier is extracted from the sound
signal by the
secondary device. In a further embodiment, the acquisition time corresponds to
the time at
which the extracted identifier is sent to the authorization server.
In the same or another embodiment, the secondary device is further adapted to
determine its
local position using a GPS device for example, and to transmit the local
position to the
authorization.
After receiving the extracted identifier from the secondary device, the server
validates the
extracted identifier at step 22.
In an embodiment in which the media content is streamed or broadcasted and in
which the
reference identifier embedded into the given media content depends only on the
given media
content to be played back, the authorization server identifies an actual media
content being
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presently streamed or broadcasted, respectively. The actual media content
being presently
streamed or broadcasted corresponds to the given media content that is being
streamed or
broadcasted concurrently with the reception of the extracted identifier or
just after the
reception of the extracted identifier. For example, the authorization server
may send a request
to the streaming/broadcasting server that returns the identification of the
actual media content
being presently streamed or broadcasted. The authorization server then
retrieves the reference
identifier that corresponds to the actual media being presently streamed or
broadcasted, and
compares the received and extracted identifier to the reference identifier
associated with the
actual media being presently streamed or broadcasted by accessing a database
in which a
reference identifier is stored for each media content to be streamed or
broadcasted. If the
received and extracted identifier corresponds to the reference identifier,
then the
authorization server determines a positive match between the two identifiers,
and the
secondary device is then positively authorized.
In an embodiment in which the media content is streamed or broadcasted and in
which the
reference identifiers depend only on the time at which their given media
content is to be
broadcasted, the authorization server retrieves the reference identifier that
corresponds to an
actual playback time for the received extracted identifier. In one embodiment,
the actual
playback time corresponds to the time of arrival of the extracted identifier,
i.e. the time at
which the authorization server receives the extracted identifier from the
secondary device. In
an embodiment in which the secondary device is adapted to transmit an
acquisition time
along with the extracted identifier to the authorization server, the actual
playback time for the
extracted identifier may correspond to the acquisition time received from the
secondary
device. Using the actual playback time associated with the received extracted
identifier, the
authorization server retrieves the reference identifier that corresponds to
the actual playback
time using the database that contains the scheduled playback times for the
transmission of
media contents and the respective reference identifier for each scheduled
playback time, and
compares the received extracted identifier to the reference identifier. If the
received and
extracted identifier corresponds to the reference identifier, then the
authorization server
determines a positive match between the two identifiers, and the secondary
device is then
positively authorized.
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In an embodiment in which the media content is streamed or broadcasted and in
which the
reference identifiers depend on both the media content in which they are
embedded and the
scheduled playback time at which they are to be played back, streamed or
broadcasted, the
authorization server retrieves the reference identifier that corresponds to
both the media
content that is being streamed or broadcasted and the actual playback time for
the received
extracted identifier. As described above, the identification of the actual
media content being
presently streamed or broadcasted may be received from the
streaming/broadcasting server,
and the actual playback time may be received from the secondary device or
locally
determined as being the time of arrival of the extracted identifier. Using the
actual playback
time associated with the received extracted identifier and the identification
of the actual
media content being presently streamed or broadcasted, the authorization
server retrieves the
reference identifier that corresponds to the actual media content and for
which the scheduled
playback time substantially corresponds to the actual playback time, and
compares the
received extracted identifier to the reference identifier. If the received
extracted identifier
corresponds to the reference identifier, then the authorization server
determines a positive
match between the two identifiers, and the secondary device is then positively
authorized.
In an embodiment in which the whole media content is sent at a discrete point
in time such as
in a computer file and played back by the secondary device at a time different
from the time
at which it is received by the secondary device according to a scheduled
playback time, the
authorization server receives the extracted identifier from the secondary
device. The actual
playback time may be locally determined by the authorization server.
Alternatively, the
authorization server may receive the acquisition time from the secondary
device, and the
actual playback time corresponds to the received acquisition time. The
authorization server
then retrieves the reference identifier of which the corresponding scheduled
playback time
corresponds to the received actual playback time using the database in which a
corresponding
reference identifier is stored for each possible scheduled playback time. The
authorization
server compares the received extracted identifier to the reference identifier
retrieved from the
database. If the received extracted identifier corresponds to the reference
identifier, then the
authorization server determines a positive match between the two identifiers,
and the
secondary device is then positively authorized.
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In an embodiment in which the reference identifier further depends on the main
device to
which the media content is to be transmitted and the secondary device is
adapted to further
transmit its GPS location, the authorization server receives the extracted
identifier and the
GPS location of the secondary device from the secondary device. The
authorization server
may optionally receive the acquisition time from the secondary device.
Alternatively, the
authorization server may determine the actual playback time as being the time
at which it
receives the extracted identifier and the GPS location. The authorization
server accesses a
database in which reference identifiers and corresponding scheduled playback
times and
main device GPS location are stored for each reference identifier. The
authorization server
then identifies the reference identifier for which the scheduled playback time
substantially
corresponds to the actual playback time and for which the corresponding main
device GPS
location substantially corresponds to the received GPS location of the
secondary device. The
authorization server compares the received extracted identifier to the
reference identifier
retrieved from the database. If the received extracted identifier corresponds
to the reference
identifier, then the authorization server determines a positive match between
the two
identifiers, and the secondary device is then positively authorized.
Upon successful authorization of the secondary device, i.e. when the received
extracted
identifier corresponds to the retrieved reference identifier, the
authorization server transmits a
confirmation of authorization to the secondary device. The confirmation may
have different
forms.
In one embodiment, the confirmation is a confirmation message to be displayed
on a display
unit of the secondary device and indicating that the secondary device has been
successfully
authorized.
In another embodiment, the confirmation corresponds to the transmission of a
media content
as a video, an audio signal such as a song, an image, a text, or the like to
the secondary
device from the authorization server. The media content may also be received
by the
secondary device from the media content server.
In a further embodiment, the confirmation corresponds to an access to
predefined resources
that is provided to the secondary device. The access to the predefined
resources may be
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permanent. Alternatively, the access to the predefined resources may be valid
for a
predetermined period of time.
In an embodiment in which a media content is broadcasted or streamed to the
main device,
the predefined resources may correspond to the broadcasted or streamed media
content so
that the secondary device may receive the same media content that is
broadcasted or
streamed to the main device.
In the same or another embodiment, the resources may be web content accessible
via a web
browser, an application, a mobile application, or the like. The resources may
comprise
images, videos, music, games, and/or the like that are accessible via a
telecommunication
network by the secondary device once authorized.
In one embodiment and upon successful validation of the secondary device, the
authorization
server generates a security code that permits the secondary device to access
the predefined
resources, and transmits the generated security code to the secondary device.
The security
code is also transmitted to the media content server. In another embodiment,
the
authorization server may retrieve the security code from a database, and
transmit the
retrieved security code to the authorized secondary device over the
telecommunication
network. In this case, the database containing the security code is also
accessible by the
media content server.
Upon receiving the security code, the secondary device stores the security
code locally on a
memory. The security code is then used by the secondary device to access the
predefined
resources. For example, the secondary device may be a mobile device such as a
smartphone
or a tablet. A mobile application may be stored on the secondary device and
the mobile
application may use the locally stored security code to access the predefined
resources over a
telecommunication network. The secondary device transmits the security code to
a media
content server in order access the predefined resources.
In one embodiment, a predetermined authorization period of time is associated
with the
security code so that the security code provides the secondary device with an
access to the
predefined resources only for the predetermined authorization period of time.
When the
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predetermined authorization period of time has passed, the secondary device
has no longer
access to the predefined resources. For example, the security code may expire
after a
predefined period of time. In this case, the user may no longer have access
the resources via
the secondary device. If after the predefined period of time he wishes to have
access to the
predefined resources, the user has to repeat the method 10, i.e. acquiring a
new acoustic
signal emitted by his main device in order to extract an identifier therefrom
and send the
extracted identifier to the authorization server for validation in order to
receive a new
security code.
It should be understood that any adequate security code that allows the
secondary device to
access the predefined resources may be used. Examples of security codes
comprise security
tokens, decryption keys, session tokens, encrypted session tokens, cookies, or
the like.
Figure 3 illustrates one embodiment of a system 50 for authorizing a user
device using an
audio signal. The system 50 comprises a media content server 52, a
transmission server 54, a
main device 56, a secondary device 58 to be authorized, and an authorization
server 60.
The media content server 52 comprises at least a processing unit or processor,
a computer-
readable memory, and a communication unit for transmitting and receiving data
over a
telecommunication network. The memory has statements and instructions stored
thereon that
when executed by the processing unit perform the steps of the above-described
method for
generating and embedding a reference identifier in a media content such as in
the audio track
of a video or an audio signal. As described above, the media content server 52
is adapted to
receive a given media content to be transmitted and embed a reference
identifier in the audio
signal contained in the given media content. The reference identifier depends
on the media
content and/or the main device and/or the scheduled playback time at which the
media
content is scheduled to be played back by the main device 56. As described
above, the
scheduled playback time may correspond to the time at which the media content
is
transmitted when the media content is streamed or broadcasted.
In one embodiment, the media content server 52 is adapted to retrieve the
reference identifier
corresponding to the media content to be transmitted from a database using an
identification
of the media content to be transmitted and/or an identification of the main
device and/or the
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scheduled playback time at which the media content is to be played back by the
main device,
as described above. It should be understood that the database containing the
reference
identifiers may be accessed by the authorization server 60.
In another embodiment, the media content server 52 is adapted to generate the
reference
identifier using an identification of the media content to be transmitted
and/or an
identification of the main device and/or the scheduled playback time at which
the media
content is to be played back, as described above. In one embodiment, the media
content
server 52 is adapted to retrieve the scheduled playback time at which the
media content is to
be played from a database in which all media contents to be transmitted and at
least one
respective scheduled playback time at which the media content is to be played
back are
stored.
In an embodiment in which it is adapted to generate the reference identifiers,
the media
content server 52 is adapted to store the generated reference identifiers in a
database along
with an identification of the media content and/or an identification of the
main device 56
and/or a playback time at which the media content is scheduled to be played
back by the
main device 56, for each generated reference identifier. This database is then
accessible by
the authorization server 60.
In one embodiment, the media content server 52 is further adapted to transmit
the media
content having the reference identifier embedded therein directly to the main
device 56 over
a telecommunication network. The data representing the whole media content may
be
transmitted at a discrete point in time. In this case, the media content
server may be
transmitted as a computer file. The media content server also transmits the
scheduled
playback time associated with the media content to the main device 56 along
with the media
content. Alternatively, the media content server 52 may be adapted to stream
the media
content to the main device 56.
In another embodiment, the media content server 52 is adapted to transmit the
media content
to the transmission server 54. The transmission server 54 may be a
broadcasting server or a
streaming server. The transmission server 54 comprises at least a processing
unit or
processor, a computer-readable memory, and a communication unit. The memory
has
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CA 02873150 2014-12-01
statements and instructions stored thereon that when executed by the
processing unit or
processor perform the steps of the above-described method for receiving the
media content
having the reference identifier embedded therein from the media content server
52 and
broadcasting or streaming the media content. As described above, the
transmitted signal may
be an analog signal or a digital signal. It should be understood that any
adequate method for
broadcasting or streaming media content comprising an audio signal/track in
which a
reference identifier is embedded any be used. For example, radio frequencies
may be used for
broadcasting the media content. In another example, a fiber optic
telecommunication network
may be used for broadcasting or streaming the media content.
The main device 56 receives the media content that has been transmitted by the
media
content server 52 or the transmission server 54. The main device 56 comprises
a processor or
processing unit, a telecommunication unit for receiving the transmitted media
content from
the media content server 52 or the transmission server 54, and an electric-to-
acoustic
transducer for converting a received electrical signal into an acoustic
signal. The main
device 56 is already authenticated, authorized, and/or registered so as to be
permitted to
receive the content transmitted by the media content server 52 or the
transmission server 54.
The electric-to-acoustic transducer may be any adequate device or apparatus
adapted to
convert an electric audio signal into a corresponding acoustic signal.
Examples of electric-to-
acoustic transducers comprise a loudspeaker, a headphone, an earphone, or the
like.
In an embodiment in which the whole media content is received by the main
device 56 as a
discrete point in time, i.e. the whole media content is received as a file at
a given point in
time, along with the scheduled playback time associated with the media
content, the main
device 56 is adapted to store locally the received media content and
corresponding scheduled
playback time. The main device 56 is further adapted to play back the media
content at the
time/date indicated by the received scheduled playback time.
In an embodiment in which the media content is streamed or broadcasted over
time, the main
device 56 plays back the audio signal contained in the streamed or broadcasted
media content
upon reception of the media content. In one embodiment, the playback of the
audio signal
occurs in substantially real-time, i.e. the main device 56 plays back the
audio signal as soon
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as it receives the streamed/broadcasted media content, and the playback of the
audio signal
and the reception of the media content occurs substantially concurrently. In
an embodiment
in which the streamed/broadcasted media content contains an audio signal, the
electric-to-
acoustic transducer of the main device 56 converts the broadcasted audio
signal into an
acoustic signal. In an embodiment in which the streamed/broadcasted media
content contains
a video, the main device 56 first extracts the audio track of the video to
obtain an audio
signal, and the electric-to-acoustic transducer of the main device 56 converts
the extracted
audio signal into an acoustic signal.
In one embodiment, the telecommunication unit of the main device 56 comprises
a modem
adapted to receive data via a telephone circuit, a broadband over coaxial
cable, a fiber optic
or copper wires, a Wi-Fi network, a satellite telecommunication link, a
cellular
telecommunication network, and/or the like.
In another embodiment, the telecommunication unit of the main device 56
comprises an
antenna adapted to receive broadcasted content transmitted over radio
frequencies.
It should be understood that the main device 56 may comprise more than one
modules or
units. For example, the main device 56 may comprise a TV and a terminal. The
terminal is
adapted to receive the streamed/broadcasted content from the media content
server 52 or the
transmission server 54 and transmit it to the TV. The TV is provided with a
display for
displaying images of a broadcasted video for example, and an electric-to-
acoustic transducer
for playing back the audio track of the broadcasted video.
Examples of main devices comprise a TV associated with a terminal, a desktop
personal
computer connectable to a communication network, a laptop connectable to a
communication
network, a tablet connectable to a communication network, a smartphone
connectable to a
communication network, etc.
Referring back to Figure 3, the secondary device to be authorized 58 comprises
a processor
or processing unit, a memory, a telecommunication unit for receiving and
transmitting data
over a telecommunication network, and an acoustic-to-electric transducer such
as a
microphone for acquiring and converting the acoustic signal emitted by the
main device 56
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into an electric audio signal. The memory of the secondary device 58 has
statements and/or
instructions stored therein that when executed by its processing unit perform
the steps of the
above-described method for acquiring the acoustic signal to obtain an acquired
audio signal,
extract the identifier embedded in the acquired audio signal, and transmit the
extracted
identifier to the authorization server 60 over a telecommunication network, as
described
above.
In one embodiment, the secondary device 56 is further adapted to determine and
transmit an
acquisition time to the authorization server 60. As described above, the
acquisition time may
be the time at which the acoustic signal is acquired, the time at which the
identifier is
extracted from the acquired audio signal, the time at which the extracted
identifier is sent to
the authorization server 60, or the like.
In the same or another embodiment, the secondary device 56 further comprises a
GPS device
and is further adapted to transmit its GPS location along with the extracted
identifier and
optionally the acquisition time.
Examples of secondary device comprise a desktop personal computer connectable
to a
communication network, a laptop connectable to a communication network, a
tablet
connectable to a communication network, a smartphone connectable to a
communication
network, etc.
Referring back to Figure 3, the authorization server 60 is connected to the
secondary
device 58 over a telecommunication network and comprises at least a processing
unit or
processor, a computer-readable memory, and a communication unit. The memory
has
statements and/or instructions stored thereon that when executed by the
processing unit
perform the steps of the above-described method for receiving and validating
the extracted
identifier, and transmitting an authorization confirmation to the secondary
device 58 upon
successful validation of the extracted identifier.
In an embodiment in which the reference identifier depends only on the media
content to be
streamed/broadcasted, the authorization server 60 is adapted to determine the
actual media
content being presently streamed/broadcasted concurrently with the validation
of the received
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extracted identifier. As described above, the authorization server 60 is
further adapted to
retrieve the reference identifier that corresponds to the actual media being
presently
streamed/broadcasted from the database, and compares the received and
extracted identifier
to the reference identifier. If the received and extracted identifier
corresponds to the reference
identifier, then the authorization server 60 determines a positive match
between the two
identifiers, and the secondary device 58 is then positively authorized.
In one embodiment, upon unsuccessful validation of the extracted identifier,
the
authorization server 60 is further adapted to compare the extracted identifier
for a given
media content to the identifier of the media content that is scheduled to be
played back by the
main device 56 just after the given media content, and/or to the identifier of
the media
content that is scheduled to be played back by the main device 56 just before
the given media
content. In this case, the authorization server 60 is adapted to transmit a
request to the media
content server 52 or the transmission server 54 to receive an identification
of the further
media content, i.e. the media content to be played back just after and/or just
prior to the given
media content. Upon reception of the identification of the further media
content, the
authorization server 60 is adapted to retrieve the reference identifier that
corresponds to the
further media content and compare it to the extracted identifier. Upon
successful comparison
between the extracted identifier and the identifier of the further media
content, the
authorization server 60 then positively authenticates the secondary device 58.
In this case, the
system allows for a flexible identification that takes into account possible
time delay between
the actual streaming/broadcasting of a media content and the scheduled
playback time at
which the media content was supposed to be played back. It may also take into
account
possible delay in time due to the transmission, acquisition, and/or processing
of data that may
occur along the process.
In an embodiment in which the reference identifier depends only on the
scheduled playback
time at which its respective media content is to be played back, the
authorization server 60 is
adapted to determine an actual playback time associated with the received
extracted identifier
and retrieve the reference identifier that corresponds to the actual playback
time from the
database that contains the reference identifiers and their respective playback
time. The
retrieved identifier corresponds to the reference identifier for which the
corresponding
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scheduled playback time corresponds to the actual playback time. As described
above, the
actual playback time may correspond to the time at which the extracted
identifier is received
by the authorization server 60 or the above-described acquisition time. The
authorization
server 60 is adapted to compare the received extracted identifier to the
compares the received
extracted identifier to the retrieved reference identifier. If the received
and extracted
identifier corresponds to the reference identifier, then the authorization
server 60 determines
a positive match between the two identifiers, and the secondary device 58 is
then positively
authorized.
In one embodiment, upon unsuccessful validation of the extracted identifier,
the
authorization server 60 is further adapted to compare the extracted identifier
for a given
media content to be played back at a given time to the identifier
corresponding to the next or
previous time schedule. In this case, the database comprises different
scheduled playback
times for different media contents, and a respective reference identifier for
each scheduled
playback time. The authorization server 60 is adapted to retrieve from the
database the
further identifier that correspond to a further scheduled playback time, i.e.
the next scheduled
playback time or the previous scheduled playback time relative to the
scheduled playback
time associated with the given media content is to be played back. The
authorization
server 60 is then adapted to compare the extracted identifier to the reference
identifier
associated with the further scheduled playback time. Upon successful
comparison, the
authorization server 60 then positively authenticates the secondary device 58.
In an embodiment in which the reference identifier is generated as a function
of an
identification of the main device 56, the authorization server 60 further
receives the GPS
location of the secondary device 58 along with the extracted identifier and
optionally the
acquisition time. The authorization server 60 is further adapted to retrieve
the identification
of the main device that corresponds to the received GPS location. Using the
retrieved
identification of the main device and optionally the actual playback time, the
authorization
server 60 retrieves the corresponding reference identifier, and compares the
received
identifier to the reference identifier. If the received and extracted
identifier corresponds to the
reference identifier, then the authorization server 60 determines a positive
match between the
two identifiers, and the secondary device 58 is then positively authorized.
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In one embodiment, the generation of a reference identifier as a function of
the location of
the main device allows for determining from which main device a given
extracted identifier
is received.
Upon successful authorization of the secondary device 58, the authorization
server 60 is
adapted to transmit a confirmation of authorization to the secondary device
58. As described
above, the authorization confirmation may have different forms. The memory of
the
authorization server 60 further comprises statements and/or instructions that
when executed
by the processor of the authorization server 60 performs the steps of the
above-described
method of transmitting a confirmation of authorization to the secondary device
58. For
example, the memory of the authorization further comprises statements and/or
instructions
that when executed by the processor of the authorization server 60 performs
the steps of
determining and sending a security code to the secondary device 58 over the
telecommunication network. In one embodiment, the authorization server 60 is
adapted to
retrieve a previously generated security code from a database. In another
embodiment, the
authorization server 60 is adapted to generate the security code. In this
case, the generated
security code is transmitted to the media content server 52 or stored in a
database that is
accessible by the media content server 52.
In one embodiment, the authorization server 52 is adapted to transmit a
confirmation
message to be displayed on a display unit of the secondary device 58 and
indicating that the
secondary device 58 has been successfully authorized.
In another embodiment, the confirmation corresponds to the transmission of a
media content
as a video, an audio signal such as a song, an image, a text, or the like to
the secondary
device from the authorization server. The media content is sent to the
secondary device 58
from the authorization server 60 or the media content server 52.
In an embodiment in which it receives a security code from the authorization
server 60, the
secondary device 58 stores it locally on its memory. The security code is then
used by the
secondary device 58 to access the predefined resources. The predefined
resources may be
stored on the media content server 52 for example. In this case, the secondary
device 58
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transmits the security code to the media content server 52 that validates the
security code to
provide the secondary device 58 with an access to the predefined resources.
In one embodiment, the reference identifier is embedded substantially
continuously through
the entire audio signal. For example, the reference identifier may be repeated
substantially
continuously within the media content in which it is embedded.
In another embodiment, the reference identifier is embedded within the audio
signal at
different and distinct points in time or locations separated by portions of
the audio signal in
which the reference identifier is not embedded. In this case, the secondary
device 58 is
adapted to acquire the acoustic signal during a period of time that is
sufficiently long to
ensure that the reference identifier will be present in the acquired portion
of the acoustic
signal.
In one embodiment, more than one reference identifier may be associated with a
same media
content. For example, a given media content having a given time duration may
be divided in
time into a first portion having a first time duration, and a second portion
having a second
time so that the sum of the first and second time durations correspond to the
given duration
of the given media content. In this case, a first reference identifier may be
associated and
embedded into the first portion of the given media content while a second and
different
reference identifier may be associated and embedded into the second portion of
the given
media content. The above-described method for authorizing a user device
applies. When the
first portion of the given media content is played back by the main device,
the secondary
device acquires the first portion and extracts the first identifier. The first
extracted identifier
is then transmitted to the authorization server. When the second portion of
the given media
content is played back by the main device, the secondary device acquires the
second portion
of the given media content and extracts the second identifier. The second
extracted identifier
is then transmitted by the secondary device to the authorization server.
The authorization server accesses a database in which a respective reference
identifier and a
respective scheduled playback time are stored for each media content portion.
The
authorization server retrieves the reference identifier that corresponds the
actual playback
time for the portion of the given media content, and compares the reference
identifier to the
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CA 02873150 2014-12-01
received identifier, as described above. Upon successful match between the
reference
identifier and the received identifier, the authorization server transmits a
confirmation of
authorization to the secondary device.
While in the above example the given media content is divided into two
portions, the person
skilled in the art will understand that the given media content may be divided
into more than
two portions. The time durations of the different media content portions may
be substantially
identical. Alternatively, the time duration of a media content potion may vary
from one
portion to another.
The embodiments of the invention described above are intended to be exemplary
only. The
scope of the invention is therefore intended to be limited solely by the scope
of the appended
claims.
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