Satellite Receiver Location Control via Terrestrial Signals
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current satellite broadcasting systems face challenges in controlling content access based on receiver location, particularly in border areas where signals from multiple countries can be received, leading to infringement of distribution contracts, and existing solutions like GPS-based systems are unreliable indoors and costly.
Innovation Solution
A receiver apparatus and method that estimates its location using stored geographic transmission information and tuning information, allowing or blocking content access without relying on GPS, by configuring the tuner and decoder to receive or decode specific signals based on determined location, and optionally using terrestrial signals for access key distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If GPS-based location determination is used to control content access, then location-based access control is achieved, but the receiver cost increases substantially and indoor reliability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary approach by using terrestrial broadcast signals as a mediator to convey location information. Instead of directly using GPS, the system embeds geographic transmission information in terrestrial broadcasts, which the receiver then uses to determine its location. This intermediary method avoids the high cost and reliability issues of GPS while maintaining location-based access control functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The receiver determines its own location autonomously by analyzing terrestrial broadcast signals that contain geographic transmission information. The system uses its existing tuner and decoder to extract location data from locally available terrestrial broadcasts, eliminating the need for external GPS hardware and making the receiver self-sufficient in location determination.
2Reliability
If GPS-based location determination is used to control content access, then location-based access control is achieved, but indoor reliability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary approach by using terrestrial broadcast signals as a mediator to convey location information. Instead of directly using GPS, the system embeds geographic transmission information in terrestrial broadcasts, which the receiver then uses to determine its location. This intermediary method avoids the high cost and reliability issues of GPS while maintaining location-based access control functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the GPS satellite-based electromagnetic system with a terrestrial broadcast-based system. By substituting the GPS mechanism with terrestrial signal analysis, the system achieves indoor location determination without relying on satellite signals that are blocked by buildings. The tuner and decoder existing in the receiver are used to extract location data from locally available terrestrial broadcasts.
3Reliability
If encryption systems like VideoGuard are used to control content access, then content protection is achieved, but the distribution network complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by implementing location-specific content access control. Instead of uniform encryption across all regions, the system tailors content availability to specific geographic locations determined through terrestrial signal analysis. Each receiver receives content authorization based on its locally determined position, allowing broadcasters to distribute content selectively by region without complex nationwide encryption key management.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the control parameter from encryption keys to geographic location information. Instead of managing complex encryption systems and key distribution, the system uses location parameters derived from terrestrial broadcasts to control content access. This parameter change simplifies the distribution network by replacing cryptographic complexity with geographic information processing.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a receiver apparatus (1) and a method for controlling the access to at least a portion of a content broadcasted via satellite, wherein said receiver apparatus (1) comprises means for receiving broadcast signals (14) configured for receiving at least a broadcast signal comprising at least a content, means for receiving terrestrial signals (15) configured for receiving at least a terrestrial signal, and processing means (11) configured for determining access information on the basis of at least said received terrestrial signal, and allowing or blocking, on the basis of at least said access information, the access to said at least one content of said broadcast signal.