Abstract:
Firewall ports are opened automatically and randomly by using signals received from a digital TV device such as an Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC) broadcast source.

Description:
I. FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    Present principles are directed to opening computer firewall ports automatically and randomly by using signals received from a digital TV. 
       II. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    A firewall blocks unauthorized access to a computer network or system while permitting authorized communications to devices outside the network it protects. A firewall may be implemented in software, hardware, or both, and it manages communication between the network it protects and other computers based on desired rules and other criteria. 
         [0003]    As understood herein, certain firewall ports should be manually opened for some applications to be able to work properly. Examples are voice-over-Internet (VoIP) applications, peer-to-peer file transfers, and video on demand. As also understood herein, there is a security compromise at a system level once ports are open because this exposes the system to attacks. Consequently, current solutions seek to open as few ports as possible to minimize the risks. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    Mobile and fixed networked devices that are equipped with an ATSC tuner enjoy increased system security and maximal application performance by receiving information about firewall port opening over the air from an ATSC broadcast tower without requiring a TV user to manually open any firewall ports. Recognizing that, in the case of ATSC tuner-equipped devices, firewall ports do not have to be statically to be open for long periods of time, encrypted information is broadcast over the air that instructs specific devices of which ports need to open and when. Thus, TVs monitor the broadcast signals and implement port control automatically as commanded by the ATSC broadcast tower to ensure maximal performance of applications. 
         [0005]    Accordingly, a TV includes a TV tuner, a processor communicating with the TV tuner, and a display presenting signals from the TV tuner under control of the processor. A firewall is provided through which information is exchanged between the TV and a computing component external to the TV. The firewall is characterized by at least first and second ports each having an open configuration to permit communication through the port between the processor and the computing component and a closed configuration to prevent communication through the port between the processor and the computing component. As intended in embodiments below, the processor, responsive to port commands received from the TV tuner, selectively establishes the configuration of both the ports. 
         [0006]    The TV tuner may be an Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC) tuner that can receive the port commands from an ATSC broadcast tower. As an example, a first port command received by the TV tuner and provided to the processor may cause the processor to cause the first port to assume the open configuration and the second port to assume the closed configuration. A second port command received by the TV tuner can cause the processor to cause the first port to assume the open configuration and the second port to assume the open configuration, while yet another port command received by the TV tuner can cause the processor to cause both ports to assume the closed configuration. 
         [0007]    In some implementations the port commands are received in response to a request from the TV for a network service. The network service may be, e.g., voice over Internet (VOIP), peer to peer computer file sharing, and video on demand (VOD). 
         [0008]    In another aspect, a method includes receiving port configuration commands at a digital TV tuner from a source of commands external to a network having a firewall communicatively behind which the TV is disposed. The method also includes, responsive to the port configuration commands, configuring plural ports of the firewall. 
         [0009]    In another aspect, an apparatus includes a protected computer component behind a firewall having plural ports, and a processor establishing open and closed configurations of the ports responsive to port commands received from outside the firewall. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a system block diagram showing an example connection between a TV and a network harboring video databases and other systems, and 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a flow chart demonstrating the sequence of events occurring in order to establish specific firewall port configurations. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0012]      FIG. 1  presents a block diagram of an example networked TV  10  containing a TV display  12  held in a bezel casing  14 . The TV  10  also comes equipped with a/some speaker(s)  16  and a microphone  18 . A microprocessor  20 , a storage medium  22 , and a TV tuner  24  are commonly integrated into a given TV  12  and have the capacity for processing electrical signals, storing media files, and receiving information and network service downloads through a broadcast tower  26 , respectively. The tower  26  may broadcast digital TV signals such as Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC) signals. 
         [0013]    The processor  20  communicates instructions to the tuner  24 , for example an ATSC tuner, which then signals to the display  12  to display images. 
         [0014]    The ATSC tower  26  may be connected to a group of network services  28 , including voice over Internet (VOIP)  30 , video on demand (VOD)  32 , and peer to peer computer file sharing  34 . A network service can be selected via input through a remote control  36  wirelessly communicating with a signal receiver  38 . 
         [0015]    The TV  10  also comes equipped with a network interface  40  whose function is integrated along with a network firewall  42  to protect against unwanted outside sources hacking into the TV  10  and its components. A first port  44  and a second port  46  act as channels through which information received external computing components travels. Any such TV  10  may come outfitted with multiple firewall ports, not necessarily being limited to two ports. Regardless of quantity, all ports have an open configuration permitting communication between the processor  20  and external computing component as well as a closed configuration that prevents communication. 
         [0016]    The TV tuner  24  receives port commands from an ATSC tower  26  and sends them to the processor  20  whose function is to selectively establish the configuration of all ports. Due to the selective nature of port configuration, the first port  44  may be open and the second port  46  may be closed and vice versa. As alternative port configurations, all ports may be closed or all ports may be open. The port commands are received in response to a request from the TV  10  for a network service, e.g., VOD  32  inputted by the user via remote control  36 . 
         [0017]    Moving in reference to  FIG. 2 , the sequence of events occurring in order to establish specific firewall port configurations is displayed. At block  48 , the user establishes a desired network service request by means of pressing buttons on a remote control  36 . That request is exported through the firewall to the ATSC tower  26  at block  50 . The ATSC tower  26  responds by sending a port configuration command, as in block  52 , back to the TV, which then establishes the configuration of all ports in block  54 . 
         [0018]    For purposes of the invention, the processor does not have to be a TV processor  20 , but may be a generic personal computer with an ATSC tuner  24 . The firewall can be implemented in a software as well as hardware and would be between a home computer cable router and a personal computer. Alternatively, the router may be embedded into the personal computer. 
         [0019]    While the particular FIREWALL PORT SELECTION USING ATSC TUNER SIGNALS is herein shown and described in detail, it is to be understood that the subject matter which is encompassed by the present invention is limited only by the claims.