Patent Publication Number: US-9900638-B2

Title: Pay-per-view sharing

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates generally to pay-per-view television, and more particularly to the sharing of a purchased pay-per-view event across multiple set-top boxes. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Many satellite and digital cable systems provide pay-per-view television events to their customers for purchase. While most television providers supply television channels to their customers for a monthly fee, pay-per-view events are typically single television events that must be purchased by the customer prior to viewing. For example, a pay-per-view event may be a sporting event or a movie that a customer may wish to spend extra money to view. Upon purchasing, the pay-per-view event is usually viewed on the purchaser&#39;s television like any other program offered by the television provider. 
     A typical satellite or digital cable television system providing pay-per-view events to the users of the system may include a set-top box that receives and decrypts the television signal such that a television program, or pay-per-view event, may be viewed by the user. In a satellite television system, the television signal is broadcast by a satellite, collected by a satellite dish and transmitted to the set-top box. In a digital cable system, the television signal is typically transmitted to the user through a cable connected directly to the set-top box. 
     The set-top box may decrypt the television signal and provide the decrypted signal to a television for the user to view. As part of the decryption process, the set-top box may include a smart card associated with the set-top box. The smart card may store user account information used by the set-top box to assist in the decryption of the television signal such that the user&#39;s television may display the provided program. The smart card may also store decryption information provided by the television system to decrypt pay-per-view events once the pay-per-view event is purchased by the user. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY 
     One common problem with purchasing pay-per-view events through a set-top box is that the pay-per-view event often may only be watched on the set-top box from which the event is purchased. This may be inconvenient for households with several set-top boxes connected to several televisions. For example, a user may purchase a pay-per-view event from a set-top box located in the living room of the user&#39;s house. However, once the event is purchased on the living room set-top box, the event may generally not be viewed through a separate set-top box located in the bedroom. Thus, the user must complete viewing of the pay-per-view event in the living room. Therefore, what is needed is a method and apparatus for viewing a pay-per-view event on several set-top boxes registered to the purchaser. 
     One embodiment may comprise a method for providing data to a plurality of receivers. The method may include receiving a request for the data from a user and requesting user identifying information from a database. The method may also include, in response to the request for the data, transmitting a first decryption code to a first receiver over a network connection with the first decryption code configured to allow decryption of the data. Also in response to the request for the data, the method may transmit a second decryption code to a second receiver over a satellite, with the second decryption code configured to allow decryption of the data. 
     A second embodiment may comprise a system for providing data to a plurality of receivers. The system may include an authentication site configured to receive a request for the data from a user. The authorization site may be further configured to provide a decryption code to a first one of the plurality of receivers to decrypt the data. The system may also include a database in communication with the authentication site configured to store user information and a satellite configured to receive the decryption code from the authentication site. The satellite may be further configured to transmit the decryption code to the plurality of receivers. 
     A third embodiment may comprise an apparatus for providing data to a plurality of receivers. The apparatus may include a receiving module configured to receive a request for the data from a user and a database configured to store user identification information about the user. The apparatus may also include a transmission module configured to automatically, in response to the request for the data, transmit a first decryption code to a first one of the plurality of receivers and a second decryption code to a second one of the plurality of receivers to allow the first receiver and the second receiver to decrypt the data. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  depicts a first embodiment of a satellite television system permitting a pay-per-view event purchased over a satellite television system to be viewed on a plurality of set-top boxes. 
         FIG. 2  depicts a second embodiment of a satellite television system including a billing site and providing a pay-per-view option that allows a user to watch the pay-per-view event on a plurality of set-top boxes. 
         FIG. 3  depicts a flowchart of an embodiment that provides a pay-per-view event purchased through one set-top box to be viewed through several set-top boxes associated with the purchaser. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     One embodiment takes the form of a method and apparatus for sharing a purchased pay-per-view (PPV) event over a plurality of set-top boxes (STBs). Thus, a PPV event purchased through one set-top box (STB) may be viewed through every STB associated the purchaser, including a STB located in a separate location from the purchaser. This functionality may provide to the customer of the PPV service enhanced access to the purchased PPV event. 
     The embodiment may automatically provide the PPV event to several STBs associated with the purchaser by accessing a database containing customer information. The customer information may include a customer ID identifier and a list of each STB registered to the user. The embodiment may use this information to tailor a decryption signal to the specific STBs that are registered to the purchaser. The decryption code may be used to decrypt the PPV signal such that the purchaser may view the PPV event on several STBs. 
       FIG. 1  depicts one embodiment of a satellite television system providing a pay-per-view option. A customer may purchase a PPV event through his STB, represented by STB A  110 . However, purchasing a PPV through the user&#39;s STB may only allow the user to view the PPV event on the STB the event was purchased through. Traditionally, the viewing of the event was limited to a single STB. To view the PPV event on multiple STBs generally required the user to contact an operator who would manually provide the decryption code to several STBs. By contrast,  FIG. 1  depicts a system permitting a PPV event purchased over a satellite television system to be viewed on a plurality of STBs automatically. The PPV event may be purchased through any manner that allows the user to communicate the intent to purchase the PPV to the satellite television system. 
     One way in which the user may purchase the PPV event may be by utilizing a remote control to communicate with STB A  110  to purchase the event. STB A  110  may include a smart card  140  that is connected to STB A  110  and aids in identifying the STB to the satellite system and decrypting the satellite signal received by STB A  110 . Smart card A  140  may store a unique identifier that may be used to identify the smart card. The unique smart card identifier, the STB that is associated with the card, and/or the customer account associated with the STB may be stored in the memory of STB A  110 . During the request to purchase the PPV event, the request and the smart card  140  unique identifier, among other information, may be sent by STB A  110  to an authorization site  120  over a network connection. The network connection may include, but is not limited to, a standard plain old telephone service (POTS) line, integrated services digital network (ISDN) or internet protocol (IP) connection that connects directly into STB A  110 . Alternatively, STB A  110  may connect to authorization site  120  wirelessly over a wireless network or cell phone network. Generally, the network connection may include any system of interconnected electronic components or circuits that allows STB A  110  to communicate to the authorization site  120 . 
     After the authorization site  120  receives the request to purchase the PPV event from STB A  110 , the authorization site may then access a database  130  containing subscriber information related to the satellite television system. The subscriber information may include, but is not limited to, the customer name, the customer billing address, customer ID number, the number of set-top boxes assigned to the customer and the unique smart card numbers for each STB assigned to the customer. The database  130  may be located in the same location as the authorization site  120  or it may be located remotely. The database  130  may be in communication with the authorization site  120  such that the authorization site may access and read customer information from the database. 
     The authentication site  120  may use the information gathered from the database  130  and the information provided to the authentication site by STB A  110  during the request to purchase the PPV event to provide a decryption code to STB A. The information may also be used by the authorization site  120  to provide separate decryption codes to STB B  150  and STB C  160 . The decryption codes provided by the authorization site  120  to each STB may be specific to the smart card associated with the STB. For example, the decryption code provided to STB B  150  may be specific to smart card B  180  such that smart card B  180  may assist in decrypting the PPV signal. By providing a unique decryption code to each STB and its associated smart card, the authorization site  120  may control which STBs are capable of decrypting the PPV event being broadcast by a satellite  170 . Without the decryption code supplied by the authorization site  120 , a user may not be able to decrypt and view the PPV event. 
     The authentication site  120  may send the authorization signal containing the decryption code to STB A  110  over the connection between the authorization site  120  and STB A  110 . Alternatively, the authorization signal may be transmitted to STB A  110  over a satellite or other wireless connection. STB A  110  may store the code for use in decrypting the PPV event being broadcast by the satellite  170 . The authentication signal may be made unique to STB A  110  by encrypting the signal with the unique smart card number provided by STB A  110 . Thus, smart card A  140  and STB A  110  may be the only STB that can decrypt the authentication signal, thereby preventing other STBs from inaccurately employing the authentication signal to decrypt content. When the encrypted PPV event is sent by the satellite  170  to STB A  110 , the decryption code may be used by STB A  110  to decrypt the PPV event such that the event may be displayed on the user&#39;s television. 
     Through the above operations, a PPV event purchased by a user may be viewed through STB A  110 . However, the authorization site  120  may not provide the decryption code to STB B  150  or STB C  160 . This may occur for several reasons. One reason is that STB B  150  and STB C  160  may not be directly connected to the authentication site  120  to receive the decryption code directly. Another reason may be that the authorization site  120  may not have the necessary information about the customer to provide the decryption code to the STB B  150  and STB C  160 , such as the unique smart card identifiers for each STB. Without receiving the authorization signal and decryption code provided by the authorization site  120 , STB B  150  and STB C  160  may be unable to decrypt the PPV event thereby preventing the user from viewing the PPV event from those STBs. 
     The purchasing of a PPV event described above may allow the purchaser to view the PPV event on the STB through which the purchase was made. However, the purchaser may also desire to view the PPV event on other STBs registered to the purchaser. For example, STB A  110  may be located in a living room of the house of the purchaser. STB B  150  may be located in the bedroom of the house. Thus, the purchaser of the PPV event may purchase the event from STB A  110  located in the living room but may desire to view the event on STB B  150  located in the bedroom. Unless STB B  150  receives the proper decryption code, the user may not view the PPV event through STB B  150 . It should be noted that it is not required that the STBs registered to the user be located in the same house. The plurality of STBs that may receive the decryption code to decrypt the PPV event may be located anywhere the satellite television system operates. For example, the user may have a STB located in a separate home than the primary STB. Thus, STB C  160  may be located remotely from STB A  110  and STB B  150  in a separate house. Thus, the user may purchase the PPV event from STB A  110  in the first house and may desire to view the event on STB C  160  in the second house. 
     To provide the decryption code to STB B  150  and STB C  160  so that the user may view the PPV event from those STBs, the authorization site  120  may send a decryption code unique to those STBs to a satellite  170  of the satellite television system  100 . The satellite  170  may then re-broadcast the codes to STB B  150  and STB C  160  embedded in a standard transponder signal. For example, because STB B  150  is not directly connected to the authorization site  120 , STB B may not receive a decryption code directly from the authorization site. Instead, the authorization site  120  may transmit a decryption code unique to STB B  150  for a PPV movie to the satellite  170 . The satellite  170  may embed the decryption code within an entitlement management message (EMM) signal already being sent by the satellite  170  to the STB B  150 . STB B  150  may receive the EMM signal containing the decryption code through a standard satellite dish connected to STB B. The decryption code may be removed from the EMM by associating the EMM signal with smart card B  180  linked to STB B  150 . Thus, the EMM signal may be unique to smart card B  180 , such that only a STB associated with smart card B  180  may decode the EMM signal. Once the decryption code for the PPV event is received, the code may be stored by STB B  150  on smart card B  180  for use in decryption of the PPV event. 
     When the encrypted PPV movie is sent from the satellite  170  to STB B  150 , the stored decryption code may decrypt the signal such that the user may view the PPV movie. In a similar manner, a decryption code may also be sent to STB C  160  using smart card C  190  associated with STB C. Thus, the purchaser of the PPV movie may then watch the PPV event on either STB A  110 , STB B  150  or STB C  160 , since all three STBs may have a correct decryption code. 
     To prevent just any STB from receiving the decryption code for the PPV event from the satellite  170 , the system  100  may identify which customer is purchasing the PPV event and which STBs are registered to that customer such only the STBs associated with the customer may receive the correct decryption codes. This may be done by accessing a database  130  containing customer information and providing one or more decryption codes over the satellite  170  in such a way as to allow the customer&#39;s STBs receive the decryption code. The decryption codes sent over the satellite  170  may be specific to the smart cards associated with the customer&#39;s STBs such that each STB may use the code and the smart card to decrypt the PPV event signal. 
     As stated above, each STB may include a smart card associated with each box, with each smart card including a unique ID number. The smart card ID number and the STB associated with the smart card may be maintained in a database  130  by the satellite television system  100 . The database  130  may also include information about each customer to the satellite television system  100 . The customer information may include a customer number for each customer or household. When a customer purchases satellite service, a customer ID number may be assigned to that customer. This ID number may also be associated with each STB and each smart card assigned to the customer. Thus, a customer may have several STBs and smart card IDs associated with one customer ID number. Similar to the smart card number above, the customer ID number may be stored in a database  130  that is maintained by the authorization site  120 . 
     Upon receiving a request to purchase a PPV event from STB A  110 , the authorization site  120  may retrieve the customer ID number associated with that customer. The authorization site  120  may also retrieve from the database  130  all other STBs and smart card numbers associated with that customer ID number. Once all of the STBs and smart card numbers are retrieved, the authorization site  120  may transmit the proper decryption codes to each of the user&#39;s STBs, either over the network connection or through a satellite  170 . The decryption code may be unique to the STBs and smart cards associated with the customer ID number. Thus, only those STBs associated with the customer ID number will be able to employ the decryption code from the authorization site upon the purchase of the PPV event. It should also be noted that not every STB associated with the customer ID number may receive a decryption code. The embodiment may limit the number and type of STBs that receive a code. 
     Upon receiving the decryption code from the authorization site  120 , the satellite  170  may include the decryption code to STB B  150  and STB C  160  as part of the signal being broadcast by the satellite  170 . When the PPV event is broadcast by the satellite  170 , STB B  150  and STB C  160  may use the stored decryption code to decrypt and watch the event. Thus, the PPV event purchased through STB A  110  may be viewed through either STB A  110 , STB B  150  or STB C  160 . 
       FIG. 2  depicts a second embodiment of a satellite television system  200  including a billing site  235  and providing a pay-per-view option that allows a user to watch the pay-per-view event on a plurality of set-top boxes. Similar to the embodiment described above with reference to  FIG. 1 , this embodiment may automatically provide the PPV event to a plurality of STBs even if the STBs are not directly connected to the authorization site  220 . 
     The process of purchasing a PPV event through the embodiment of  FIG. 2  is similar to the process described in  FIG. 1 . The user may use a remote control that communicates with STB A  210  to purchase the PPV event. STB A  210  may communicate the request and other information to an authorization site  220 . The authorization site  220  may retrieve information about the purchasing customer from a database  230  and use the customer information to generate decryption codes to be sent to the various STBs assigned to the customer. The authorization site  220  may provide a decryption code to STB A  210  directly and decryption codes to STB B  250  and STB C  260  through a satellite  270 . Once the STBs have received the decryption codes, each STB may present the PPV event to the user. 
     The satellite television system  200  of  FIG. 2  may also include a billing site  235 . The billing site  235  may be used by the satellite system  200  to track billing and provide billing statements to the customers of the system. The billing site  235  may be maintained by the satellite provider or may be a third party hired by the satellite provider to perform the billing activities of the system. Furthermore, the billing site  235  may also provide the satellite system  200  with information about a PPV purchasing customer. 
     As described above, the authorization site  220  may access a database  230  containing information about the customer purchasing a PPV event to generate the correct decryption codes. Alternatively, the authorization site  220  may access a billing site  235  associated with the satellite television system  200  to retrieve customer information about the purchasing customer. As part of the billing services provided by the billing site  235 , the billing site  235  may create, store and provide customer information to the satellite television system  200 . For example, the billing site  235  may create a customer ID number for each customer billing address. The billing site  235  may also link several smart card numbers assigned to a single customer to that customer&#39;s ID number. Thus, any customer information needed by the satellite system  200  may be created and stored by the billing site  235 . 
     Upon a request by the authorization site  220 , the billing site  235  may provide the customer information directly to the authorization site  235 . Alternatively, the billing site  235  may provide the customer information to a database  230  maintained by the satellite television system  200  to be stored for future use. This information may be used as described above by the system during a PPV event purchase by a user. 
     The billing site  235  may provide the customer information when the authorization site  220  provides the PPV event purchase request to the billing site  235 . The billing site  235  may first be responsible for charging the customer&#39;s account with the PPV purchase. Further, in response to the request, the billing site  235  may provide to the authorization site  220  a signal indicating that the customer&#39;s account has been charged for the PPV event and information concerning the customer&#39;s account. The authorization site  220  may then automatically provide the decryption code for the PPV event to any of the customer&#39;s STBs, either through a direct connection between the STB and the authorization site or through a satellite  270  of the satellite system  200  using the customer information provided by the billing site  235 . Thus, each STB associated with the customer&#39;s account may be used to view the PPV event. 
       FIG. 3  depicts a flowchart of one embodiment that provides a pay-per-view event purchased through one STB to be viewed on several STBs associated with the purchaser. The embodiment may provide to the customer enhanced access to the purchased PPV event rather than limiting the viewing of the PPV event to a single STB. 
     The embodiment begins in operation  310  when the user purchases a PPV event through a first STB. As explained above, one way that a user may purchase the PPV event is by using a remote control to access the first STB. In operation  320 , an authorization site may receive the request for the PPV purchase through a network connection to the first STB. Upon receiving the PPV purchase, the authorization site may access a database containing information about the user in operation  320 . The information retrieved by the authorization site may include the customer&#39;s ID number, as well as all STBs associated with the customer and the related smart card numbers. As explained above, this information may be stored within the authorization site or it may be provided by a billing site. Alternatively, the authorization site may access the billing site directly to retrieve the customer information. 
     Once the authorization site receives the customer information, the authorization site may provide a code, or information to generate a code, to decrypt the PPV event to the first STB through the network connection in operation  330 . This code may be stored by the first STB for use in decrypting the PPV event when the event is broadcast by the satellite television system. In operation  340 , the authorization site may also automatically broadcast decryption codes for the other STBs associated with the purchaser of the PPV to a satellite for transmission. 
     The satellite may then transmit the codes to the other STBs associated with the user′ account on an encrypted signal in operation  350 . This signal may then be decrypted by the other STBs using the smart card associated with each STB. Once decrypted, the STBs may store the decryption codes to decrypt the PPV event when the event is broadcast by the satellite. In operation  360 , the satellite may broadcast the PPV event to each STB. The STBs may use the codes provided by the authorization site to decrypt the event so the user may view the PPV event on any of the STBs. 
     It should be noted that the flowchart of  FIG. 3  is illustrative only. Alternative embodiments of the present invention may add operations, omit operations, or change the order of operations without affecting the spirit or scope of the present invention. 
     The foregoing merely illustrates the principles of the invention. Various modifications and alterations to the described embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art in view of the teachings herein. It will thus be appreciated that those skilled in the art will be able to devise numerous systems, arrangements and methods which, although not explicitly shown or described herein, embody the principles of the invention and are thus within the spirit and scope of the present invention. From the above description and drawings, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the particular embodiments shown and described are for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. References to details of particular embodiments are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.