System and method for controlling access to broadcast services
US6637027B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 16, 2000 |
| Grant date | Oct 21, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 16, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04N5/50
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A multimedia system is described that is capable of presenting multimedia segments including television broadcasts, radio broadcasts, stored video information, stored audio information, and Web pages. The multimedia system includes a conditional access manager which is a common interface between the multimedia system and a number of conditional access providers even if the conditional access providers follow different interface standards. In order to access a multimedia segment such as a television program, a radio program, or Web page, the multimedia system receives a request to access the multimedia segment. While accessing the multimedia segment, each of the conditional access providers is notified of the request through the conditional access manager. Each conditional access provider then determines whether permission to access the multimedia segment should be denied, or whether the conditional access provider does not know of any reason why permission to access the multimedia segment should be denied. Based on the responses from the conditional access providers, the segment is either displayed or blocked from being displayed.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.