Entitlement Cache Authorization for Secure Content Access

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current communication systems face challenges in securely authorizing user devices to access content from external sources, particularly during shared network events like Olympic broadcasts, where ensuring secure access and preventing unauthorized access to program guide data and metadata is crucial.

Innovation Solution

A system and method that involves receiving schedule data, generating formatted files, storing them in file share storage, and using an entitlement cache to authorize user devices based on comparison with authorized rights lists, ensuring secure access to content.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If access to content from external sources is provided during shared network events, then accessibility for content is improved, but security and unauthorized access prevention deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccessibility for contentVSAvoidunauthorized access

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by pre-generating formatted authorization files from schedule data before content access is needed. These files are stored in advance and compared against authorized rights lists when access requests occur, enabling rapid authorization decisions while maintaining security during shared network events

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system introduces an intermediary authorization mechanism that compares content identifiers from formatted files against authorized rights lists stored in memory. This intermediary comparison process acts as a mediator between content delivery and user access requests, ensuring that only authorized users can access content from external sources during shared network events

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If formatted files are generated and stored for authorization purposes, then authorization accuracy is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveauthorization accuracyVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the authorization process into distinct components: schedule data reception, formatted file generation, file storage, authorization comparison, and access decision. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently and simplifies the overall system architecture while maintaining high authorization accuracy through structured processing

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS8886674B1Method and system for entitling a user device to receive content from data from an external source

Publication Date: 2014.11.11 DIRECTV LLC

AI summary

An entitlement system and method of operating the same includes a file share storage and a file publisher that receives schedule data and generates a formatted file in a first format from the schedule data. The file publisher stores the formatted files in the file share storage. The entitlement system also includes an entitlement cache and a file processor communicating the formatted files from the file share storage to the entitlement cache. An authorization server receives an access request from a user device and accesses the formatted file. The authorization server compares a first content identifier from the formatted file to an authorized rights list for the user device and authorizes the user device to access the content in response to comparing.