Patent Document

RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    Under provisions of 35 U.S.C. §119(e), the Applicants claim the benefit of U.S. provisional application No. 61/220,966, filed Jun. 26, 2009, which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This disclosure relates in general to providing monitoring of content, and more particularly to providing authorized control and monitoring of content provisioning at multiple locations over a network. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Broadband communications systems, such as satellite and cable television systems, are now capable of providing many services in addition to analog broadcast video. In implementing enhanced programming, the set-top terminal (STT), otherwise known as the set-top box (STB), has become an important computing device for accessing various video services. In addition to supporting traditional analog broadcast video functionality, many STTs now also provide other functionality, such as, for example, an interactive program guide (IPG), picture-in-picture (PIP) viewing, video-on-demand (VOD), subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) and functionality traditionally associated with a conventional computer, such as e-mail. Recently new functionality has been added to conventional STTs—namely the ability to record an incoming video stream in digitized form onto a mass storage device, such as a hard disk drive, play back that recorded video as desired by the user, and transfer the video to an archival or removable storage device possibly using a DVD recorder. This functionality has become known as a “digital video recorder” (DVR) or personal video recorder (PVR) and is viewed as a superior alternative to conventional video tape recorders for capture and subsequent playback of programming content. 
         [0004]    A STT is typically connected to a television set and located at the home of the cable or satellite system subscriber. Since the STT is located at a subscriber&#39;s premises, it typically may be used by two or more users (e.g., household members). Television has become so prevalent in the United States that the typical household may have two or more television sets, each television set requiring its own STT if the subscriber wishes to have access to enhanced functionality. 
         [0005]    A networked multimedia system (NMS) allows a plurality of remote devices in the premises to be locally networked (i.e., home-networked). One of the remote devices typically acts as the server or primary device (i.e., the primary set-top terminal (STT) or set-top-box (STB)) in the NMS. The primary device receives and forwards upon request broadband multimedia presentations (e.g., analog or digital television channels (i.e., audio/video signals), IP signals, video-on-demand (VOD) signals, administrative signals, etc.) throughout the local network to the plurality of remote devices (i.e., client devices). Furthermore, the remote devices are each capable of requesting and seamlessly receiving from the primary device resident presentations, such as a stored or recorded presentation, the interactive program guide, or the network guide, for example. 
         [0006]    STTs typically operate a set of features that affect the viewer experience. Some typical features include parental control settings that enable a customer (also referred herein as “supervisor”) to restrict the content that may be viewed at a customer location. Often, a customer may have several STTs, each controlling a separate television. Moreover, multiple users may be are operating discrete STTs within a networked premises to access programming and content received by and/or stored in another STT. Each STT typically has a separate identifier and may be controlled by a separate personal identifier number (PIN). 
         [0007]    However, the content available over the television networks includes a wide variety subject matter, such as content categorized not suitable for certain age groups, VoD, pay-per-view, sexually explicit content, etc. Customers may desire to control the viewing and recording of some of such content delivered to the customer devices, such as the STTs. In particular, parents are deeply concerned with the ways their children choose to spend their time. Many parents feel they are failing in the task of protecting their children from violent or sexually explicit content, in TV shows, videos, DVDs, songs, computer games, and in material downloaded from the Internet. A closely related concern is the large number of hours children spend absorbing electronic entertainment instead of engaging in more mentally or physically stimulating activities, such as reading, playing, or engaging in sports. 
         [0008]    Furthermore, parents do not currently have any convenient way of tracking the overall patters of entertainment consumption of their children. For example, a child may be wasting 20 hours a week watching TV, watching DVDs, playing computer games, and listening to obscene rap lyrics, without the parents being aware of the total amount of time involved. Accordingly, the need remains for a way to allow parents to monitor and control the viewing of content via STTs. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    To overcome the limitations described above, and to overcome other limitations that will become apparent upon reading and understanding the present specification, embodiments for providing control and monitoring of content provisioning at multiple locations over a network are disclosed. 
         [0010]    An embodiment includes device for controlling access to content. The device includes memory for storing data, a processor, coupled to the memory, for authorizing a user and presenting to the authorized user identification of access devices and information regarding the content being accessed by the access devices and a communications interface, coupled to the processor, for enabling data exchange between the processor and the access devices in the network, wherein the processor is configured to initiate a selected control function of a chosen access device upon receiving a command from the authorized user based on the identification of the chosen access device and the information regarding the content being accessed by the chosen access device. 
         [0011]    In another embodiment, a method for controlling access to content is provided. The method includes authorizing a user for an access control device, presenting to the authorized user identification of access devices and information regarding the content being accessed by the access devices, exchanging data between the processor and the access devices in the network, receiving a command from the authorized user based on identification of a chosen access device and information regarding the content being accessed by the chosen access device, and initiating a selected control function of the chosen access device upon receiving the command from the authorized user. 
         [0012]    In another embodiment, a computer readable medium including executable instructions which, when executed by a processor, controls access to content is provided. Access to content is controlled by authorizing a user for an access control device, presenting to the authorized user identification of access devices and information regarding the content being accessed by the access devices, exchanging data between the processor and the access devices in the network, receiving a command from the authorized user based on identification of a chosen access device and information regarding the content being accessed by the chosen access device, and initiating a selected control function of the chosen access device upon receiving the command from the authorized user. 
         [0013]    These and various other advantages and features of novelty are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed hereto and form a part hereof. However, for a better understanding of the disclosed embodiments, the advantages, and the objects obtained, reference should be made to the drawings which form a further part hereof, and to accompanying descriptive matter, in which there are illustrated and described specific examples of the disclosed embodiments. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]    Referring now to the drawings in which like reference numbers represent corresponding parts throughout: 
           [0015]      FIG. 1  is a diagram of a system for providing digital and analog video programming, information content, and interactive television services according to an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0016]      FIG. 2  is a diagram of a home having set-top boxes and a control monitoring device according to an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 3  is a control interface according to an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  is a block diagram of a monitoring device according to an embodiment of the invention; and 
           [0019]      FIG. 5  illustrates a method for providing access controls according to an embodiment of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0020]    Embodiments of the present invention are directed to providing control and monitoring of content provisioning at multiple locations over a network. 
         [0021]    Embodiments of the present invention may be implemented in a number of distributed computing environments where functionality is tailored for provision of customer support services. According to an actual embodiment, the present invention is implemented in a cable television/services system.  FIG. 1  is a simplified block diagram illustrating a cable television/services system  100  (hereafter referred to as “CATV”) architecture that serves as an exemplary operating environment for the present invention. 
         [0022]    Referring now to  FIG. 1 , digital and analog video programming, information content, and interactive television services are provided via a hybrid fiber coax (HFC) network  115  to a television set  120  for consumption by a cable television/services system customer. As is known to those skilled in the art, HFC networks  115  combine both optical fiber and coaxial cable lines. Typically, optical fiber runs from the cable head end  110  to neighborhoods of 500 to 2,000 customers. Coaxial cable runs from the optical fiber feeders to each customer. According to embodiments of the present invention, the functionality of the HFC network  115  allows for efficient bidirectional data flow between the client-side set-top box  105  and the server-side application server  140  of the present invention. 
         [0023]    According to embodiments of the present invention, the CATV system  100  is in the form of a distributed client-server computing system for providing video and data flow across the HFC network  115  between server-side services providers (e.g., cable television/services providers) via a server-side head end  110  and a client-side customer via a client-side set-top box (STB)  105  functionally connected to a customer receiving device, such as the television set  120 . As is understood by those skilled in the art, modem CATV systems  100  may provide a variety of services across the HFC network  115  including traditional digital and analog video programming, telephone services, high speed Internet access, video-on-demand, and information services. 
         [0024]    On the client side of the CATV system  100 , digital and analog video programming and digital and analog data are provided to the customer television set  120  via the set-top box (STB)  105 . Interactive television services that allow a customer to input data to the CATV system  100  likewise are provided by the STB  105 . As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the STB  105  is a multipurpose computing device having a computer processor, memory and an input/output mechanism. The input/output mechanism receives input from server-side processes via the HFC network  115  and from customers via input devices such as the remote control device  128  and the keyboard  130 . The remote control device  128  and the keyboard  130  may communicate with the STB  105  via a suitable communication transport such as the infrared connection  132 . The STB  105  also includes a video processor for processing and providing digital and analog video signaling to the television set  120  via a cable communication transport  134 . A multi-channel tuner is provided for processing video and data to and from the STB  105  and the server-side head end system  110 , described below. 
         [0025]    The STB  105  also includes an operating system  122  for directing the functions of the STB  105  in conjunction with a variety of client applications  126 . For example, if a client application  125  requires a news flash from a third-party news source to be displayed on the television  120 , the operating system  122  may cause the graphics functionality and video processor of the STB  105 , for example, to output the news flash to the television  120  at the direction of the client application  126  responsible for displaying news items. 
         [0026]    According to an embodiment, the STB  105  may also be configured to implement a parental control application  123 . Parental control  123  allows an authorized user to view and control access to what is currently being watched or recorded on any device in a home networked environment. The access control  123  may be configured to allow the authorized user to terminate particular content viewing at another device. Access control  123  may also allow additional control parameters to be implemented at another device, such as recording of a program on a DVR located in an area of the home remote from STB  105 , download content from a remote storage device coupled to the STB  105 , etc. 
         [0027]    Because a variety of different operating systems  122  may be utilized by a variety of different brands and types of set-top boxes, a middleware layer  124  is provided to allow a given software application to be executed by a variety of different operating systems. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the middleware layer  124  may include a set of application programming interfaces (API) that are exposed to client applications  126  and operating systems  122  that allow the client applications to communicate with the operating systems through common data calls understood via the API set. As described below, a corresponding middleware layer is included on the server side of the CATV system  100  for facilitating communication between the server-side application server and the client-side STB  105 . According to one embodiment of the present invention, the middleware layer  142  of the server-side application server and the middleware layer  124  of the client-side STB  105  format data passed between the client side and server side according to the Extensible Markup Language (XML). 
         [0028]    The set-top box  105  passes digital and analog video and data signaling to the television  120  via a one-way communication transport  134 . The STB  105  may receive video and data from the server side of the CATV system  100  via the HFC network  115  through a video/data downlink and data via a data downlink. The STB  105  may transmit data from the client side of the CATV system  100  to the server side of the CATV system  100  via the HFC network  115  via one data uplink. The video/data downlink is an “in band” downlink that allows for digital and analog video and data signaling from the server side of the CATV system  100  through the HFC network  115  to the set-top box  105  for use by the STB  105  and for distribution to the television set  120 . As is understood by those skilled in the art, the “in band” signaling space operates at a frequency between 54 and 860 megahertz. The signaling space between 54 and 860 megahertz is generally divided into 6 megahertz channels in which may be transmitted a single analog signal or a greater number (e.g., up to ten) digital signals. 
         [0029]    The data downlink and the data uplink, illustrated in  FIG. 1 , between the HFC network  115  and the set-top box  105  comprise “out of band” data links. As is understand by those skilled in the art, the “out of band” frequency range generally lies between zero and 54 megahertz. According to embodiments of the present invention, data flow between the client-side set-top box  105  and the server-side application server  140  is typically passed through the “out of band” data links. Alternatively, an “in band” data carousel may be positioned in an “in band” channel into which a data feed may be processed from the server-side application server  140  through the HFC network  115  to the client-side STB  105 . Operation of data transport between components of the CATV system  100 , described with reference to  FIG. 1 , is well known to those skilled in the art. 
         [0030]    Referring still to  FIG. 1 , the head end  110  of the CATV system  100  is positioned on the server side of the CATV system and includes hardware and software systems responsible for originating and managing content for distributing through the HFC network  115  to client-side STBs  105  for presentation to customers via televisions  120 . As described above, a number of services may be provided by the CATV system  100 , including digital and analog video programming, interactive television services, telephone services, video-on-demand services, targeted advertising, and provision of information content. 
         [0031]    The application server  140  is a general-purpose computing system operative to assemble and manage data sent to and received from the client-side set-top box  105  via the HFC network  115 . As described above with reference to the set-top box  105 , the application server  140  includes a middleware layer  142  for processing and preparing data from the head end of the CATV system  100  for receipt and use by the client-side set-top box  105 . For example, the application server  140  via the middleware layer  142  may obtain data from third-party services  146  via the Internet  140  for transmitting to a customer through the HFC network  115  and the set-top box  105 . For example, a weather report from a third-party weather service may be downloaded by the application server via the Internet  144 . When the application server  140  receives the downloaded weather report, the middleware layer  142  may be utilized to format the weather report for receipt and use by the set-top box  105 . 
         [0032]    According to one embodiment of the present invention, data obtained and managed by the middleware layer  142  of the application server  140  may be formatted according to the Extensible Markup Language and passed to the set-top box  105  through the HFC network  115  where the XML-formatted data may be utilized by a client application  126  in concert with the middleware layer  124 , as described above. As should be appreciated by those skilled in the art, a variety of third-party services data, including news data, weather data, sports data and other information content may be obtained by the application server  140  via distributed computing environments such as the Internet  144  for provision to customers via the HFC network  115  and the set-top box  105 . 
         [0033]    According to embodiments of the present invention, the application server  140  may obtain customer support services data, including billing data, information on customer work order status, answers to frequently asked questions, services provider contact information, and the like from data services  160  for provision to the customer via an interactive television session. As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the services provider data services  160  include a number of services operated by the services provider of the CATV system  100  which may include data on a given customer. 
         [0034]    A billing system  162  may include information such as a customer&#39;s name, street address, business identification number, Social Security number, credit history, and information regarding services and products subscribed to by the customer. According to embodiments of the present invention, the billing system  162  may also include billing data for services and products subscribed to by the customer for bill processing billing presentment and payment receipt. 
         [0035]    A customer information database  168  may include general information about customers such as place of employment, business address, business telephone number and demographic information such as age, gender, educational level, and the like. The customer information database  168  may also include information on pending work orders for services or products ordered by the customer. The customer information database  168  may also include general customer information such as answers to frequently asked customer questions and contact information for various service provider offices/departments. As should be understood, this information may be stored in a variety of disparate databases operated by the cable services provider. 
         [0036]    An electronic mail system  164  may contain information such as electronic mail addresses, high-speed Internet access subscription information and electronic mail usage data. An authentication system  166  may include information such as secure user names and passwords utilized by customers for access to network services. As should be understood by those skilled in the art, the disparate data services systems  162 ,  164 ,  166 ,  168  are illustrated as a collection of data services for purposes of example only. The example data services systems comprising the data services  160  may operate as separate data services systems, which communicate with a web services system (described below) along a number of different communication paths and according to a number of different communication protocols. 
         [0037]    Referring still to  FIG. 1 , a web services system  150  is illustrated between the application server  140  and the data services  160 . According to embodiments of the present invention, the web services system  150  serves as a collection point for data requested from each of the disparate data services systems comprising the data services  160 . According to embodiments of the present invention, when the application server  140  requires customer services data from one or more of the data services  160 , the application server  140  passes a data query to the web services system  150 . The web services system formulates a data query to each of the available data services systems for obtaining any required data for a requesting customer as identified by a set-top box identification associated with the customer. The web services system  150  serves as an abstraction layer between the various data services systems and the application server  140 . That is, the application server  140  is not required to communicate with the disparate data services systems, nor is the application server  140  required to understand the data structures or data types utilized by the disparate data services systems. The web services system  150  is operative to communicate with each of the disparate data services systems for obtaining necessary customer data. The customer data obtained by the web services system is assembled and is returned to the application server  140  for ultimate processing via the middleware layer  142 , as described above. 
         [0038]      FIG. 2  is a diagram  200  of a home having set-top boxes and a monitoring device according to an embodiment of the invention. In  FIG. 2  a communications system  210  provides content to a communications network  220  for deliver to subscribers. One such subscriber may be a single-family residence, an apartment complex, a condominium complex, etc. In  FIG. 2 , a single-family residence  230  is shown coupled to the communications network  220 . Content is provided to the single-family residence  230  via signal path  232 . The single-family residence  230  includes 4 set-top boxes (STBs)  240 ,  242 ,  244 ,  246  for processing content signals delivered to the single-family residence  230  via signal path  232 . Signal path  232  is coupled to STB 1  240 , STB 2  242  and STB 3  244 . STB 3  244  is coupled to a wireless device  282 . Thus, STB 4  246  may receive content signals from wireless device  282  via wireless device  284 . STB 1  240 , STB 3  244  and STB 4  246  are coupled to televisions  250 ,  254 ,  256 , respectively. STB 2  242  is coupled to a computer  262  for accessing the Internet. 
         [0039]    Monitoring device  270  may also be coupled to the signal path  232 . Monitoring device  270  implements the access controls. Monitoring device  270  may be a master set-top box or may be a dedicated device for providing monitoring functionality. Monitoring device  270  may also be coupled to wireless device  280  to provide communications and control to STB 3  244  and STB 4  246  via wireless devices  282 ,  284 . Monitoring device  270  may also communicate with STB 1  240 , STB 2  242  and STB 3  244  via signal path  232 . Accordingly, monitoring device  270  may be configured with a parental control application that allows an authorized user to view and control access to what is currently being watched or recorded on any device in a home networked environment, i.e., television  250 , television  254 , television  256  and computer  262 . The parental control application implemented on monitoring device  270  may be configured to allow the authorized user to terminate particular content viewing at such other devices. Monitoring device may also allow additional control parameters to be implemented at another device, such as recording of a program on a DVR  272 , download content from a remote storage device, such as DVR  272 , etc. 
         [0040]      FIG. 3  is a control interface  300  according to an embodiment of the invention. In  FIG. 3 , the control interface  300  presents to an authorized user information regarding users  310  and active content information  320 . The control interface  300  may also be configured to provide a data input and control panel  330 . The data input and control panel  330  may be configured to provide a window or dialog box  332  for entering a pass code for authorizing a user. A command button  334  may be presented to trigger termination of access to content. A navigation window  336  may also be provided to allow the user to navigate within the system. For example, the user may highlight a cursor over STB 1  312 . The navigation button  336  may then be used to view the content provided to STB 1  312 . The command button  334  may be selected to terminate access to the content currently being provided to STB 1  312  if the user desires. 
         [0041]    Accordingly, the control interface  300  allows an authorized user to control access to content by other users within the content network. A specific example may include a parent terminating content to STB 1 because the parent considers the content inappropriate, because it is time for Mike to retire for the evening, etc. Those skilled in the art will recognize that additional dialog boxes and/or command buttons may be provided on the control interface  300 . For example, a command button may be provided to download content on STB 1  312  for viewing at a different location, e.g., STB 3  314 . 
         [0042]      FIG. 4  is a block diagram of a monitoring device  400  according to an embodiment of the invention. In  FIG. 4 , the monitoring device  400  is coupled to the network  410 . As described above, the monitoring device  400  may be coupled to the network  410  by a wireless connections or a wired connection. The monitoring device  400  includes a communications interface  420  for enabling data exchange between the monitoring device  400  and the network  410 . A processor  430  is provided for processing data. The processor is coupled to a display  440 , memory  450  and communications interface  420 . The processor  430  is configured to presents to an authorized user information identifying other devices and active content information. The processor  430  may be configured to present on display  440  a data input and control panel that allows a user to enter a pass code for authorizing a user, a command button for triggering termination of access to content at a particular device within the network and a navigation window for allowing a user to navigate within the system. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the processor  430  may also be configured to provide additional dialog boxes and/or command buttons on a control interface provided on display  440 . Memory  450  may store program information for implementing access controls. Memory  450  may also store authorization codes, security programs, device data, viewing logs, etc. 
         [0043]      FIG. 5  illustrates a method  500  for providing access controls according to an embodiment of the invention. In  FIG. 5 , a user powers on the device  510 . The user then navigates to the monitoring section  520 . The device presents a dialog box for the user to enter an authorization code that will authorize the user to monitor and control access to content throughout the network  530 . The system maintains a log of content access by all devices in the network  540 . A display of content currently being accessed and the location where such content is being access will be presented to the authorized user  550 . A decision may be made whether to terminate access to particular content or by a particular device  560 . If the decision is made to terminate access to particular content or by a particular device  562 , the user issues a command that satisfies the decision  570 . If not  564 , a decision is made whether to log off of the device  580 . If yes  582 , the process ends. If not  584 , monitoring of the network continues. 
         [0044]      FIG. 6  is a block diagram  600  illustrating an access control and monitoring device (ACMD) according to an embodiment of the invention. In  FIG. 6 , the ACMD  610  monitors what is being recorded and/or watched by any networked attached device  620 - 624 . The ACMD  610  authenticates and authorizes a user  630  to access content according to predetermined policies. Moreover, the ACMD  610  allows an authenticated and authorized user  630  to set policies to control and manage what others are watching on the network  640 . Content may be stored on a network attached storage device  650 . The ACMD  610  is aware of content and metadata  660  provided via the Outside Plant (OSP) network  670 . The ACMD  610  is also separate from any access device  620 - 624  and storage device  650 . 
         [0045]    The ACMD  610  sits on the home network and may be configured as a gateway or part thereof. The ACMD  610  may perform deep packet inspection of home network traffic and can access a list of content from an access device  620 - 624 . The ACMD  610  securely holds user settable policies. However, the ACMD  610  is not reliant on any type of CA or parental control implemented in a STB. The configuration for the ACMD  610  securely persists a database, e.g., user, device, content type, rating, etc. 
         [0046]    Thus, control and monitoring of content provisioning is provided at multiple locations over a network. This allows a user to monitor and control the viewing of content via STBs and access devices through the ACMD  610 . Control and monitoring of content provisioning may thus be implemented in a number of distributed computing environments where functionality is tailored for provision of customer support services. 
         [0047]    The foregoing description of the exemplary embodiment of the invention has been presented for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. It is intended that the scope of the invention be limited not with this detailed description, but rather by the claims appended hereto.

Technology Category: 3