Patent Document

BACKGROUND  
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates generally to a set top box.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    Many dwellings including single homes, apartments, condominiums, town houses and lofts, have installed a media distribution system to improve the reception of audio and video content. Often, these distribution systems take the form of either a cable television system or a satellite television system. These systems receive a signal from a content supplier, such as a cable television company or a satellite television company. Generally, content suppliers offer a variety of services including different levels of subscriptions, pay channels and pay per view programs. Additionally, newer STBs, like Tivo, Replay TV and Ultimate TV, include computing resources including processors, hard disk drives, controllers, and operating systems.  
           [0003]    STBs are often connected to various communications networks. In some cases, STBs are connected to the Internet via a telecommunications network. Although access to the Internet and telecommunications networks provides benefits to STBs, there are risks associated with this level of access.  
           [0004]    One particular problem with permitting communication with telecommunications networks is the possibility that unauthorized users will gain access or send harmful messages to the STB. Viruses, commands, spam (excessive e-mail) and other forms of unwanted communications have the potential to cause problems and interfere with the operation of a set top box.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0005]    The present invention is directed to a set top box that uses two ports to communicate with two respective communications networks. The first port communicates with the first network to receive programming information and the second port communicates with the second network to receive additional information including programming. The invention also includes a tuner capable of selecting a program and a firewall in communication with the second port and capable of receiving information from the second port. The firewall is capable of analyzing the information received from the second communications network. The firewall helps to prevent harmful or unauthorized information from reaching other components of the set top box.  
           [0006]    In another aspect, the firewall receives communications from the second port before other components associated with the set top box.  
           [0007]    In another aspect, the firewall is disposed logically between the second port and other components associated with the set top box.  
           [0008]    In another aspect, the set top box further comprises a remote resource manager that is capable of receiving instructions from the second communications network.  
           [0009]    In another aspect, the firewall includes packet filtering.  
           [0010]    In another aspect, the firewall includes a proxy service.  
           [0011]    In another aspect, the firewall includes stateful inspection.  
           [0012]    In another aspect, the set top box further comprises a remote resource manager that is capable of receiving instructions from the second communications network.  
           [0013]    In another aspect, the remote resource manager is capable of receiving an instruction from the second communications network and the instruction is used by the remote resource manager to modify the configuration of the set top box.  
           [0014]    In another aspect, the remote resource manager is capable of sending information regarding resources associated with the set top box.  
           [0015]    Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objectives and advantages of the invention will be realized and attained by the structure and steps particularly pointed out in the written description, the claims and the drawings. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0016]    [0016]FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a preferred embodiment of a system in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a preferred embodiment of a set top box in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 3 is a flow diagram of a preferred embodiment of a method in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 4 is a flow diagram of a preferred embodiment of a method in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 5 is a flow diagram of a preferred embodiment of a method in accordance with the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0021]    [0021]FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram  100 , portions of which show a preferred embodiment of the present invention. A service provider  102 , which could be a network operator, is connected to network  104 . Network  104  could be cable, terrestrial broadcast, satellite broadcast, or a combination of those forms. At least one STB  106  is connected to network  104 . Usually, more than one STB  106  is connected to Network  104 . However, for purposes of clarity, this description focuses on a single STB  106 , keeping in mind that many more STBs could be connected to Network  104 .  
         [0022]    In addition to being connected to network  104 , STB  106  is also preferably connected to a television  108 . Preferably, service provider  102  distributes content through network  104  and STB  106  is adapted to receive that content and deliver it to television  108 . In some embodiments, a residential gateway  114 .  
         [0023]    Residential gateway (RG)  114  is generally a device for terminating an external connection and fanning it out to multiple devices within a dwelling. In some embodiments, residential gateway  114  is a STB. Typically residential gateway  114  serves more than one purposes such as a DHCP server or as a NAT server for connections to the internet through an ISP. Residential gateway  114  can include storage, and in some cases residential gateway  114  is a managed device by the network provider.  
         [0024]    In some cases, STB  106  includes a tuner that permits a user to access different programs or channels. In the preferred embodiment, STB  106  is connected to a second network  112 . Typically, second network  112  is a telecommunications network and in some embodiments, second network  112  is a public switched telecommunications network (“PSTN”). Preferably, this second network  112  is capable of supporting Internet Protocol (“IP”) communications. Preferably, network  112  supports two way communications between service provider  102  and STB  106 . In some embodiments, second network  112  is a “broadband” network, for example, DSL, cable modem, Ethernet, or some other network that supports high speed communications. While the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 shows STB  106  as a physically separate unit from associated television  108 , it is possible to integrate an STB with a television. In such integrated units, the STB can be built into the television.  
         [0025]    In some embodiments, STB  106  includes various resources that assist STB  106  in providing services to users. Referring to an embodiment of STB  106  shown in FIG. 2. STB  106  can include several components including a fixed disk drive  202  that can be used to record content, and a second fixed disk drive  204  that could be used to provide increased storage capacity. A power supply  206  can be connected to a power source and to various components to provide power to those components. STB  106  can also include a first port  218 , also referred to as a network port, capable of communicating with first network  104  (see FIG. 1) and a second port  220 , also referred to as a communications port, capable of communicating with second network  112  (see FIG. 1).  
         [0026]    STB  106  can also include a motherboard  208  that supports various other components. For example, in some embodiments, motherboard  208  can include a tuner  210  that can assist a user in selecting programs. A decoder  212  could be provided to assist in converting images from a digital format to a format suitable for display on a television. In one embodiment, decoder  212  is an MPEG-2 (Motion Picture Experts Group) decoder.  
         [0027]    A remote resource manager (referred to as “RRM”)  214  could also be associated with STB  106 . In some embodiments, RRM  214  is attached to motherboard  208 , in other embodiments, RRM  214  is a separate component that is located within or on STB  106  and RRM  214  is in communication with motherboard  208 , and in other embodiments, RRM  214  is located outside STB  106  and is either attached or not attached to STB  106 , and is in communication with motherboard  208 .  
         [0028]    RRM  214  is designed to determine resources that are associated with a particular STB. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, RRM  214  is located within STB  106  and RRM  214  is designed to determine the resources associated with STB  106 . In some embodiments, RRM  214  is designed to determine the resources that are associated with STB  106  at predetermined times, in other embodiments, RRM  214  determines the associated resources in response to a signal. Exactly when RRM  214  determines the nature and quality of the resources associated with STB  106  can be tailored to suit particular preferences and needs.  
         [0029]    Some embodiments include an optional firewall  216 . In some embodiments, firewall  216  is attached to motherboard  208 . In some embodiments, firewall  216  is a software program that runs on STB  106 . In other embodiments, firewall  216  is a separate component that is located within or on STB  106  and is in communication with motherboard  208 , and in other embodiments, firewall  216  is located outside STB  106  and is either attached or not attached to STB  106 , and is in communication with motherboard  208 .  
         [0030]    Firewall  216  can be hardware, software or a combination of the two. Firewall  216  is designed to protect STB  106  from unauthorized access. Firewall  216  is in communication with communications port  218 . In some embodiments, communications port  218  is a modular port, for example, an RJ-11 or an RJ-45. Since STB  106  is connected to a communications network  112  (see FIG. 1) and because many different people have access to communications network  112 , STB  106  may be vulnerable to unauthorized access or hacker attack.  
         [0031]    To assist in preventing unauthorized access by third parties, firewall  216  is disposed logically between communications network  112  and other components of STB  106 . In other words, firewall  216  receives information from communications network  112  before other elements of STB  106  and information from communications network  112  is sent to other components of STB  106  after firewall  216  has reviewed, analyzed, and or processed the information.  
         [0032]    Firewall  216  can include filters, packet filtering, proxy service, and/or stateful inspection. Firewall  216  can process and/or analyze one or more communications protocols. Some examples of communications protocols that firewall  216  may be designed to process and/or analyze are: IP (Internet Protocol), TCP (Transport Control Protocol), HTTP (Hyper Text Transfer Protocol), FTP (File Transfer Protocol), UDP (User Datagram Protocol), ICMP (Internet Control Message Protocol), SMTP (Simple Mail Transport Protocol), SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol), and/or Telnet.  
         [0033]    Firewall  216  helps to stop and/or discourage outside influences such as “hackers” and “crackers” from gaining access to STB  106  and its components. For example, many of the new hacks to a STB for pirating programming is to have a replacement “smart” card and pirate software running in the STB. The pirate software periodically calls out using the STB modem to get updates of decryption keys. One way to counteract this attack is to change decryption keys so often that the pirate software can not call often enough to retrieve the latest keys since a dial up connection is relatively slow and a constant connection cannot be maintained. However, with a “broadband” connection like a DSL link and/or a Cable modem link that is generally “on at all times,” it is possible for the pirate software to keep up by a simple periodic access to a pirate web site for new decryption keys.  
         [0034]    Firewall  216  can be used to counter even these new pirating methods. Firewall can be used to prevent access to STB  106  in the first place, and secondly, in some embodiments, firewall  216  can be used to prevent any unauthorized access to the Internet from within STB  106 . For example, some piracy software programs including Trojan horse programs, automatically attempt to use the internet to retrieve information. Firewall  216  can be configured to prevent unauthorized access to the internet in general and/or to particular web sites.  
         [0035]    The FIGS. 4 and 5 show flow diagrams of preferred embodiments of processes that can be used in conjunction with firewall  216  to prevent unauthorized access to and from STB  106 .  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 4 is a flow diagram of a preferred embodiment of a process that can be used to prevent unauthorized entities and/or hackers from communicating with STB  106 . In step  402 , an outside entity attempts to communicate with STB  106 . In steps  404  and  406 , firewall  216  determines if the entity is authorized to communicate with STB  106  and determines if the communication protocol is an authorized. Both of these steps are optional, and none, one or both of the steps can be performed and in different order. If both the source and the protocol is acceptable, firewall  216  permits communication between the outside entity and STB  106 . If either the source of the communication or the form of communication protocol or both are unacceptable, then firewall  216  forbids communication with STB  106 . This occurs in step  410 . After the decision has been made to either permit or deny communications between outside entity and STB  106 , firewall  216  waits for the next communication in step  412 .  
         [0037]    [0037]FIG. 5 is a flow diagram of a preferred embodiment of a process that can be used to prevent STB  106  from communicating with unauthorized web sites and/or other resources in communication with the internet. In step  502 , STB  106  attempts to communicate with an outside entity. In steps  504  and  506 , firewall  216  determines if STB  106  is authorized to communicate with the outside entity and determines if the communication protocol is an authorized. In one embodiment, firewall  216  determines if communications are permitted with the outside entity in question by using the target address of the outside entity. Both of these steps are optional, and none, one or both of the steps can be performed and in different order. If both the target address and the protocol is acceptable, firewall  216  permits communication between STB  106  and the outside entity. If either the target address or the form of communication protocol or both are unacceptable, then firewall  216  forbids communication with the outside entity. This occurs in step  410 . After the decision has been made to either permit or deny communications between STB  106  and the outside entity, firewall  216  waits for the next communication in step  412 .  
         [0038]    [0038]FIG. 3 shows a flow diagram of a preferred embodiment of a method in accordance with the present invention. In Step  302 , communication is initiated between service provider  102  and STB  106 . Preferably this communications occurs over second network  112 . As noted above, communication can be initiated in many different ways.  
         [0039]    In one embodiment, communication is initiated by STB  106  at predefined intervals. For example, STB  106  initiates communications at a time when it is likely that users are not operating STB. In some embodiments, STB  106  initiates communications at 2:00 or 3:00 in the morning. STB  106  initiates communications by sending a signal over second network  112  to service provider  102 . After receiving the signal, service provider  102  and STB  106  begin communications.  
         [0040]    In other embodiments, service provider  102  initiates communications by sending the signal, preferably over second network  112 , to STB  106 . STB  106  responds to the signal from the service provider  102 , and two-way communications between STB  106  and service provider  102  commences. In this embodiment, service provider  102  can initiate communications at predetermined times or service provider  102  can initiate communications manually by having technicians or operators associated with service provider  102  initiating communications.  
         [0041]    After communications has been initiated, service provider  102  retrieves data from STB  106  in Step  304 . Preferably, RRM  110  participates in the transmission of data to service provider  102 . In one embodiment, RRM  110  receives a signal from service provider  102  and in response to that signal, RRM  110  retrieves data related to the various resources associated with STB  106 .  
         [0042]    This data can include information related to the resources associated with STB  106 . This information could include the number, nature, type, kind and/or quality of components connected to or associated with STB  106  as well as the capabilities of those components. For example, in one embodiment, STB  106  uses RRM  110  to send information to service provider  102  regarding the number and size of all of the fixed disk drives that are associated with STB  106 . RRM  110  can send the information automatically or in response to a second signal or request from service provider  102 .  
         [0043]    In Step  306 , service provider  102  analyzes the data received from STB  106 . In some embodiments, service provider  102  has access to a database or other storage facility that contains information related to STB  106 . The information contained in the database relates to the configuration that service provider  102  expects of STB  106 . For example, if the user of STB  106  has paid for a specific level of content and a specific size of an associated fixed disk drive  202 , this information would be recorded in the database. For example, if user of STB  106  paid for basic subscription content plus a 10 gigabyte fixed disk drive, that information would be captured and recorded in the database.  
         [0044]    Once the information related to the resources associated with STB  106  is received from STB  106 , that information is compared with the information in the database. All differences between the information received from STB  106  and information retrieved from the database are noted.  
         [0045]    For example, if the user has installed another fixed disk drive  204 , or has changed the first fixed disk drive  202  to a different capacity fixed disk drive, and none of these modifications were authorized by service provider  102 , service provider  102  can detect such unauthorized modifications in Step  306  where service provider  102  analyzes data from STB  106 .  
         [0046]    In step  308 , data is sent from service provider  102  to STB  106 . This is an optional step and need not be preformed. However, in some embodiments data could be sent to STB  106  that relates to programming content or information related to future programs. This can assist the user of STB  106  in selecting future programming for viewing and/or recording.  
         [0047]    In some cases, service provider  102  will send operating instructions to STB  106 . In those cases where service provider  102  sends operating instructions to STB  106 , the service provider  102  has detected an unauthorized resource on STB  106  or service provider  102  would like to modify the configuration of STB  106 .  
         [0048]    In step  308 , service provider  102  can send information and operating instructions to STB  106  to reconfigure STB  106  in such a way that the modified STB  106  will again conform to the expected configuration in accordance with the data retrieved from the database. Unauthorized modifications are generally rare, and therefore, these operating instructions are generally infrequently sent to STB  106 .  
         [0049]    In Step  310 , STB  106  determines if an operating instruction has been sent from the service provider. If an operating instruction has been sent from the service provider  102 , then STB  106  performs the operating instruction in Step  312 . The operating instruction can include instructions that tell STB  106  to modify, disable, fail to address, or fail to use unauthorized resources. In addition, the operating command can also be used to allow or enable additional services, for example, permitting addressing of more HD space for extending record times or allowing extended EPG data, or allocate resources for new services, for example, electronic magazine or games, and/or repartioning the fixed disk drive for more or less space for PVR or other services.  
         [0050]    Continuing with the example, if the expected resource is a 10-gigabyte hard drive, and the user of STB  106  has installed a 20-gigabyte hard drive without authorization, STB  106  would receive an instruction to either disable the 20-gigabyte hard drive or instruct STB  106  to only access 10-gigabytes of the new fixed disk drive.  
         [0051]    In some cases, users purchase STBs with more resources than they have initially paid, and as they pay additional money to service provider  102 , service provider  102  enables those additional resources already associated with STB  106 . In those cases where users have purchased an STB with more capabilities than their subscription level, the operating instruction would instruct STB  106  to use existing resources that it was previously not authorize to use.  
         [0052]    For example, a service provider  102  could sell all of their STBs with large hard drives for example, a 200 gigabyte hard drive, and only permit access to certain portions depending on the level of subscription payment. As users pay additional money, they are permitted to access greater and greater portions of their fixed disk drives. An operating instruction from service provider  102  can permit STB  106  to access additional portions of the fixed disk drive.  
         [0053]    The operating instructions could be used to instruct STB  106  to receive or decode additional content. This feature could permit a service provider  102  to increase or decrease the level of content or the amount of content that STB  106  is authorized to receive. The operating instructions could also include information related to decrypting keys. By sending certain decrypting keys to STB  106 , service provider  102  can control which programs STB  106  can successfully decode and consequently which programs the user of STB  106  can view.  
         [0054]    In addition, the operating instructions can be used to determine if additional resources are available, for example, if additional fixed disk resources are available or if the correct processor to support MPEG 4 and/or MPEG 7 decoding in hardware or software is present. The operating instruction could also be used to diagnose software or hardware on an interactive basis with a technician from a remote location.  
         [0055]    After the operating instructions have been performed in Step  312 , an optional confirmation Step  314  can be performed. In this optional confirmation step, service provider  102  can retrieve information from STB  106  after STB  106  has been instructed to perform the operating instruction. In the confirm modification Step  314 , service provider  102  can interrogate STB  106  after the operating instruction has been sent and retrieve information a second time and retrieve the information related to the new configuration, or the resources associated with STB  106 . This information could be compared with an expected configuration, thus permitting service provider  102  to determine if the operating instruction was successfully executed by STB  106 .  
         [0056]    In this way, service provider  102  can confirm whether the modification has been made or not. If the modification was not made, service provider  102  can retransmit the operating instructions to STB  106  or take other corrective action. If the modification has been successful and an appropriate response has been received from STB  106 , the process moves to Step  316  where the system waits for the next communications with the STB to occur.  
         [0057]    After communications are initiated at the next appropriate interval, the process then moves to Step  302 . Using this preferred method, service provider  102  can determined the amount of resources associated with an STB  106 , compare those resources with expected resources, and take any necessary corrective action.  
         [0058]    The foregoing disclosure of the preferred embodiments of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Many variations and modifications of the embodiments described herein will be obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art in light of the above disclosure. The scope of the invention is to be defined only by the claims appended hereto, and by their equivalents.  
         [0059]    Further, in describing representative embodiments of the present invention, the specification may have presented the method and/or process of the present invention as a particular sequence of steps. However, to the extent that the method or process does not rely on the particular order of steps set forth herein, the method or process should not be limited to the particular sequence of steps described. As one of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate, other sequences of steps may be possible. Therefore, the particular order of the steps set forth in the specification should not be construed as limitations on the claims. In addition, the claims directed to the method and/or process of the present invention should not be limited to the performance of their steps in the order written, and one skilled in the art can readily appreciate that the sequences may be varied and still remain within the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Technology Category: 5