Control of a conditional access mechanism
OwnerRichard Houldsworth, Immo Benjesinventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for enabling access to information services such as subscription television, by subscribers. Information services such as television or radio transmissions are provided to a receiver device over a first communication channel such as a satellite, terrestrial or cable broadcast network. Communication between the receiver device and one or more mobile communication devices is established using a local, short range, transient wireless network defining a second communication channel. The receiver device accesses control data stored on said one or more mobile communication devices within the local wireless network, the access control data enabling access to one or more information services received over the first communication channel.
Claims29
A method for enabling access to information services by subscribers comprising the steps of:
- delivering an information service over a first communication channel (11) to a receiver device (20);
- establishing communication between the receiver device (20) and one or more mobile communication devices (30, 31) within a local, short range, transient wireless network (40) using a second communication channel;
- and
- retrieving, by the receiver device (20), access control data (34) stored on said one or more mobile communication devices (30, 31) within the local wireless network, the access control data enabling access to one or more information services received over the first communication channel (11).
A service access control device (20) comprising:
- a receiver (20) for receiving information services from a service provider (10) over a first communication channel (11);
- a transmitter/receiver unit (24) for communicating with mobile communication devices (30, 31) within a local, short range, transient wireless network (40) using a second communication channel;
- and
- means (23, 24) for retrieving access control data (34) stored on one or more mobile communication devices (30, 31) within the local wireless network, and for using the access control data to enable access to the information services received over the first communication channel (11).
A method of operating a mobile telephone (30, 31) to enable access to information services delivered over a first communication channel (11) to a receiver device (20), comprising the steps of:
- storing access control data (34) on the mobile telephone, the access control data enabling access to one or more information services received by the receiver device over the first communication channel;
- establishing communication between the receiver device (20) and the mobile telephone (30) over a local, short range, transient wireless network using a second communication channel (40);
- and
- sending the access control data to the receiver device via the local wireless network to enable access to said one or more information services.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.