Living Room Device Activation via Encoded Representation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for activating living room devices for media program delivery services are time-consuming and inconvenient, particularly due to the lack of full alpha-numeric keyboards on remote controls and the need for manual input of unique IDs.
Innovation Solution
A method where a second device captures an encoded representation of a unique ID from a first device, allowing the second device to associate the ID with a user account and automatically activate the first device for service access, using either visual or audio encodings that can be scanned or recognized.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a user manually inputs the unique ID using a remote control, then the activation process can be completed, but the process becomes time-consuming and difficult due to the lack of full alpha-numeric keyboard
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a visual representation (such as a QR code or barcode) that contains the unique ID as a copy of the identifier. Instead of requiring manual typing of the unique ID, the system displays this visual copy on the living room device and captures it using a mobile device camera, thereby eliminating the need for manual input while maintaining the activation process
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical input method (typing on a remote control with limited keyboard) with an optical capture method. The visual representation is captured using a camera on a mobile device, and the unique ID is automatically extracted and transmitted to the media program delivery service, substituting the mechanical typing process with an automated optical recognition process
2Ease of operation
If the user logs in manually on the living room device, then the device can be activated, but the process is inconvenient and requires repeated login procedures
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service activation by having the living room device automatically display the visual representation containing its unique ID. The mobile device captures this representation and automatically transmits the unique ID to the media program delivery service without requiring manual intervention for ID input, making the activation process autonomous and convenient
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a mobile device as an intermediary between the living room device and the media program delivery service. The mobile device captures the visual representation from the living room device and facilitates the transmission of the unique ID to the service provider, simplifying the overall activation process by mediating between the two other components
Data Source
AI summary
In one embodiment, a method activates a first device for using a service. A second device receives, from a third device, a user identifier for a user and a unique identifier for the first device. The user identifier originates from the third device and the unique identifier originates from the first device in a representation outputted by the first device. The second device determines a user account for the service, the user account being associated with the user identifier for the user. The second device associates the unique identifier for the first device with the user account. Then, the second device communicates with the first device to activate the first device to use the service in response to receiving the user identifier and the unique identifier. The second device allows access to the service from an application running on the first device.