System, method, and computer-readable recording medium of detecting wireless home digital interface devices and configuring parental control for each

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12323667-B2
Application number	US-202117155794-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 22, 2021
Priority date	Jan 24, 2020
Publication date	Jun 3, 2025
Grant date	Jun 3, 2025

Abstract

A system, method, and computer-readable recording media implementing detection of wireless home digital interface (WHDI) devices and the configuration of parental control for each. Authenticating through a set-top box (STB) at least one end device (ED), being a WHDI device, on a wireless network. The STB includes a database that provides access codes/set of pins for each ED that is added to the wireless network. When an identification of an ED is already in the database of the STB, and parental control is part of a content access request, a MAC address of the ED is authenticated and an access code/set of pins is obtained. The content access request is processed when the access code/set of pins obtained matches the access code/set of pins that is configured in the database of the STB.

First claim

We claim:

1. A method of a set-top box (STB) at a location for processing a content access request, the method comprising:
detecting an end device (ED) within range of a network connection within the location to the STB, wherein the ED is a wireless home digital interface (WHDI) device;
receiving, from the ED, the content access request for streaming content through a wireless high definition multimedia interface (WHDMI) of a plurality of WHDMIs of the STB;
checking that an ED identification of the ED is established and stored within a database of the STB, wherein the ED identification identifies a specific location of the ED within the location;
determining that parental control restrictions are indicated in the STB based on the content access request from the ED, with the ED identification, including the parental control restrictions controlled through the STB based on information in the STB associated with the ED;
mapping a media access control (MAC) address of the ED to the database within the STB based on the parental control restrictions being indicated;
determining if the parental control restrictions allow the content access request for the MAC address mapped;
obtaining an access code or set of pins, when it is determined that parental control restrictions disallow the content access request for the MAC address identified, and matching the access code or set of pins to an access code or set of pins associated with the MAC address stored for the ED identification in the database, wherein the access code or set of pins includes a plurality of parental controls split into a plurality of categories; and
processing the content access request with a positive determination that the access code or pin obtained is the same access code or pin that is configured in the database of the STB for the ED identification to provide content corresponding to the processed content access request.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein when the content access request does not include parental control restrictions, the request is processed, providing content corresponding to the processed request.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein when the parental control restrictions allow request from the ED based on the MAC address in the database, the content access request is processed, providing content corresponding to the processed request.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein when there is a negative determination that the access code or set of pins obtained is the same access code or set of pins that is configured in the database of the STB, an invalid key is transmitted to the ED.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein when there is an unsuccessful establishment of the ED identification, determining if the ED is a new authentic connection.

6. The method according to claim 5 , wherein when there is an unauthentic connection, the content access request is dropped.

7. The method according to claim 5 , wherein when there is new authentic connection, a new MAC address is added to the database of the STB.

8. The method according to claim 7 , wherein a new ED identification name is obtained and a new access code or set of pins is obtained, wherein each access code or set of pins includes unique pins for each parental category stored.

9. The method according to claim 8 , wherein a default ED identification name and access code or set of pins is set as a default.

10. The method according to claim 1 , wherein each ED is uniquely stored within the database in the STB.

11. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising at least a second ED, wherein the at least a second ED has a separate identification and access code or set of pins.

12. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising resetting the access code or set of pins by a multiple system operator (MSO) to a default access code or set of pins based on a user request, the access code or set of pins reset by a discretionary access control (DAC) of the MSO, the STB being registered in the DAC.

13. The method according to claim 1 , wherein all of the access code or set of pins for each ED are reset.

14. The method according to claim 13 , wherein the access code or set of pins for a specific ED is reset.

15. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the access code or set of pins for a specific ED is reset through a TR-069 protocol request to the STB through the MAC address of the ED or through the ED identification.

16. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium of a set-top box (STB), the non-transitory computer-readable recording medium storing one or more instructions for processing a content access request, which when executed by the processor perform the method according to claim 1 .

17. A system at a location for processing a content access request, the system comprising:
a memory storing one or more computer-readable instructions; and
a processor configured to execute the one or more computer-readable instructions to:
detect an end device (ED) within range of a network connection within the location to the system;
receive, from the ED, the content access request for streaming content through a wireless high definition multimedia interface (WHDMI) of a plurality of WHDMIs of the STB;
check that an ED identification of the ED is established and stored within a database of the system, wherein the ED identification identifies a specific location of the ED within the location;
determine that parental control restrictions are indicated in the system based on the content access required from the ED with the ED identification, including the parental control restrictions controlled through the system based on information in the STB associated with the ED;
map a media access control (MAC) address of the ED to the database within the system based on the parental control restrictions being indicated;
determine if the parental control restrictions allow the content access request for the MAC address mapped;
obtain an access code or set of pins, when it is determined that parental control restrictions disallow the content access request for the MAC address identified, and matching the access code or set of pins to an access code or set of pins associated with the MAC address stored for the ED identification in the database, wherein the access code or set of pins includes a plurality of parental controls split into a plurality of categories; and
processing the content access request with a positive determination that the access code or pin obtained is the same access code or pin that is configured in the database of the STB for the ED identification to provide content corresponding to the processed content access request.

Assignees

• Arris Entpr Llc

Inventors

• Singh Virendra
• Jatti Vinod

Classifications

• H04N21/454

  Content {or additional data} filtering, e.g. blocking advertisements · CPC title

• H04N21/42684

  Client identification by a unique number or address, e.g. serial number, MAC address, socket ID (network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming H04L61/00) · CPC title

• H04N21/4753

  for user identification, e.g. by entering a PIN or password (cryptographic authentication protocols H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08) · CPC title

• H04N21/4751 Primary

  for defining user accounts, e.g. accounts for children · CPC title

• H04N21/43615 Primary

  Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals (home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805) · CPC title