TV Everywhere Authentication via Unique Device Identifier
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Solution Overview
Problem
Cable television networks do not effectively allow users to access television content on mobile devices outside of their home or business environment, limiting the availability of subscribed channels beyond traditional set-top boxes.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a 'TV everywhere' service that uses a unique device identifier to confirm user subscriptions, allowing seamless access to multiple content providers via a single sign-in, enabling mobile devices to receive television content through a network service provider's TV everywhere database and content delivery networks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If cable television networks use traditional set-top box distribution systems, then content delivery is reliable and controlled, but user access is limited to home or business environments only
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables a single subscription to function across multiple devices and locations. The set-top box and mobile device both access content through the same subscription credentials, making the service universal across different platforms and environments (home, business, mobile).
Solution Approach 2:
The network service provider acts as an intermediary between the content delivery network and various user devices. The system uses a unified authentication mechanism where the provider verifies subscriptions and grants access rights, mediating between the content source and diverse access points without requiring separate systems for each device type.
2Ease of operation
If multiple separate sign-in systems are used for different content providers, then each provider's security is maintained, but user convenience deteriorates due to multiple credentials
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges multiple content provider authentication systems into a single unified sign-in process. Users provide one set of credentials to the network service provider, who then consolidates access rights across multiple content providers, eliminating the need for separate sign-ins while maintaining security through centralized verification.
Solution Approach 2:
The network service provider performs preliminary authentication and subscription verification before content access is attempted. By pre-validating user credentials and establishing access rights across multiple providers in advance, the system ensures security is maintained while enabling seamless subsequent access without repeated verification steps.
3Adaptability or versatility
If TV content is only delivered through home set-top boxes, then network control is maintained, but mobile access capability is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The system makes the cable TV subscription universally accessible across multiple device types including set-top boxes, mobile devices, tablets, and computers. The same subscription credentials enable content access on any authorized device, transforming a location-specific service into a multi-platform service without complicating the user experience.
Data Source
AI summary
A network device receives a unique device identifier (UDID) associated with a mobile device belonging to a user, and content channel subscription information associated with the user, and stores the UDID and the content channel subscription information in a database. The network device receives the UDID and a channel identifier (ID) from a content application executing at the mobile device, and accesses the database with the UDID and the channel ID to verify the user's subscription to a content channel identified by the channel ID. The network device sends, if the user's subscription to the content channel is verified, a channel permission and a timestamp, to the mobile device, such that the mobile device is able to access content at a content provider corresponding to the channel ID prior to an expiration time that is based on the timestamp.