Universal Content Access Locks for Multi-Device Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for controlling access to content from various sources lack the robustness to effectively restrict access based on multiple criteria across different devices and sources, such as time, content type, and user preferences, leading to inadequate protection for children and unauthorized access to premium content.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that utilize 'locks' to restrict access to content based on various criteria, including time, device, user, and content characteristics, allowing for multiple locks to be associated with devices and activated remotely, with password-based access control, enabling flexible and comprehensive content restriction across multiple devices and sources.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional lockout systems are used to restrict access to content, then access control is provided for single devices, but the system lacks robustness to effectively restrict access across multiple devices and sources based on multiple criteria
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal lockout system where a single lockout mechanism can be applied across multiple devices (set-top boxes, DVRs, personal computers, mobile devices) and multiple content sources (cable television, satellite television, internet content, digital video recordings). The system uses a centralized server that communicates with various devices through different protocols, allowing one lockout system to universally restrict access to content across diverse platforms and devices based on multiple criteria including time of day, content rating, and user authentication.
2Ease of operation
If simple password-based lockout is implemented, then ease of operation is maintained, but the system cannot provide comprehensive control based on multiple criteria such as time, content type, and user preferences
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the lockout control into multiple independent criteria that can be individually configured and applied. Each lockout rule can specify different combinations of criteria including time of day restrictions, content rating levels (PG, PG-13, R, NC-17), specific channel blocks, and user-specific permissions. This segmentation allows the system to maintain simple password entry for users while implementing complex multi-criteria restrictions in the background, as each criterion operates independently and can be combined through the centralized server's rule evaluation system.
3Device complexity
If access control is limited to single device, then device complexity is minimized, but the system cannot prevent unauthorized access to premium content across multiple devices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a centralized server as an intermediary between content sources and multiple user devices. This intermediary server receives lockout rules from content providers and distributes them to various devices (set-top boxes, DVRs, personal computers, mobile devices) through appropriate communication protocols. The server acts as a mediator that coordinates access control across the entire system, allowing each individual device to maintain relatively simple local lockout functionality while the intermediary server ensures comprehensive unauthorized access prevention by managing the centralized lockout rule database and coordinating enforcement across all devices.
Data Source
AI summary
The exemplary embodiments of the method and system according to the present invention provide a system and method for controlling access to audiovisual content such as television shows, video-on-demand services or streaming video which can be delivered by cable, satellite, wired or wireless networks, cell phones, the Internet, etc. More particularly, the present invention provides a capability to define certain criteria which can be used to restrict access to content based on combinations of various parameters including, but not limited to, time of day, day of the week, type of content, source of content, content display device, etc. These criteria may also be provided by data storage arrangements or a network, and access restrictions specified by such criteria can be associated with a plurality of display devices.