Media Authentication System Using Segmented Authorization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional media services face limitations in managing user and device authentication, particularly in handling authentication and authorization across multiple disparate devices and service levels, leading to inefficiencies in content delivery and rights management.

Innovation Solution

The solution involves separating user authorization and device authentication, allowing users to access content on multiple devices with minimal impact by using geo-location services, infrared, radio frequency communications, and face recognition to identify authorized devices, and implementing a fragmented MPEG-4 framework for efficient media stream delivery, enabling seamless playback and quality adjustment across devices.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If conventional device or user authentication mechanisms are used, then access control is maintained, but the system cannot efficiently handle authentication across multiple disparate devices and service levels

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveauthentication across multiple devicesVSAvoidauthentication management complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments authentication into two independent components: device authentication (verifying the device is authorized) and user authentication (verifying the user is authorized on that device). This segmentation allows each component to be handled separately, improving versatility for multi-device access while reducing management complexity through standardized authentication tokens and sessions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an authentication server as an intermediary that manages both device and user authentication. This intermediary component handles the complexity of authentication management centrally, allowing client devices to authenticate without complex local logic, thereby enabling multi-device access while maintaining manageable system architecture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If traditional authentication methods are used, then security is maintained, but content delivery efficiency and rights management are insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontent delivery efficiencyVSAvoidrights management effectiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary device authentication before content delivery begins. By verifying device authorization in advance and establishing an authentication session, the system ensures rights management is established before content is transmitted, improving both delivery efficiency (by avoiding runtime authentication delays) and rights management effectiveness (by pre-verifying authorization levels).

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The authentication system incorporates feedback mechanisms where the authentication server continuously monitors authentication sessions and device status. This feedback loop allows the system to maintain reliable rights management by detecting unauthorized access attempts and adjusting content delivery accordingly, while maintaining efficient operation through automated session management.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This approach enables efficient content delivery across multiple devices with varying service levels, allowing users to access authorized content on different devices without excessive registration, while maintaining seamless playback and quality adjustment, even when devices move or change locations.

Implementation Method 1

using geo-location services, infrared, radio frequency communications, and face recognition to identify authorized devices

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGeo-location:

Implementation Method 2

using geo-location services, infrared, radio frequency communications, and face recognition to identify authorized devices

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectInfrared radiation: Infrared Radiation

Implementation Method 3

using geo-location services, infrared, radio frequency communications, and face recognition to identify authorized devices

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRadio frequency:

Data Source

PatentUS8719921B2User and device authentication for media services

Publication Date: 2014.05.06 ADEIA MEDIA HOLDINGS INC

AI summary

A user obtains access to particular services levels associated with media content. A user and devices associated with the user may be authenticated to access content at a particular service level such as a particular quality level, content level, resolution, limited viewing, unlimited simultaneous viewing, etc. When the user is authenticated at a device, content at an appropriate service level is selected and provided to the device. Authenticating the user at a device such as a set top box may involve receiving a manually entered login and password, a passcode transmitted from a mobile device, face detection, a mobile device authorization code sent using infrared or radio frequency transmission, or other mechanisms identifying that the user or the mobile device is in the vicinity or is periodically in the vicinity of the set top box.