Set-Top Box Location Authorization via GPS and Residential Gateway

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Solution Overview

Problem

Wireless transmission of media content to set-top box devices poses a challenge as unauthorized devices within the broadcast range can receive the content, leading to security and subscription management issues.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a system that uses GPS positioning data to authenticate authorized set-top box devices, where a residential gateway and authorization server collaborate to determine device location and subscription status, allowing or blocking content transmission based on authorization, and offering payment options for unauthorized devices.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If wireless transmission is used to enable set-top box devices to receive media content without cable coupling, then ease of operation and device mobility are improved, but security and authorization control deteriorate as unauthorized devices within broadcast range can receive content

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of operationVSAvoidsecurity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary authorization verification before media content transmission begins. The residential gateway checks whether the set-top box device is authorized to receive content at its current location before allowing wireless transmission, preventing unauthorized access in advance

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors the location of the set-top box device using GPS positioning data and provides feedback to the authorization module. When the device moves to an unauthorized location, the system detects this change and terminates or prevents transmission accordingly

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If location-based authorization is implemented using GPS positioning data, then security and subscription management are improved, but device complexity and system requirements worsen due to GPS receiver requirements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesubscription managementVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The authorization capability is implemented selectively only in mobile set-top box devices that require location-based service management. Fixed installations can operate without GPS receivers, maintaining simple architecture while enabling location-based control where needed

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The residential gateway serves as an intermediary that consolidates the authorization logic and GPS data processing. This centralizes the complexity in the gateway infrastructure rather than requiring complex processing in each set-top box device

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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

Ensures secure and authorized media content delivery to only permitted set-top box devices, enhancing subscription management and preventing unauthorized access while offering purchase options for unauthorized users.

Implementation Method 1

determining, at a set-top box device, positioning data associated with a location of the set-top box device

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGPS positioning:

Data Source

PatentUS9191624B2System and method to determine an authorization of a wireless set-top box device to receive media content

Publication Date: 2015.11.17 AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I L P

AI summary

A computer-implemented method includes determining, at a set-top box device, positioning data associated with a location of the set-top box device. The computer-implemented method includes determining whether the set-top box device is authorized to receive media content at the location. The computer-implemented method also includes receiving the media content via a wireless transmission from a residential gateway when the set-top box device is authorized to receive the media content at the location.