# US 8,789,087 B2 · System, device, and method for receiver access control in an internet television system

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- Number: US 8,789,087 B2
- Document ID: US8789087B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/727,800
- Filed: 2012-12-27
- Published: 2013-05-09
- Granted: 2014-07-22
- Earliest claimed: 2000-09-13
- Assignees: Rockstar Consortium US LP
- Applicants: Rockstar Consortium US LP
- Inventors: Bradley Cain; Thomas P. Hardjono
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8789087B2

## CPC

- H04N 21/25816: {involving client authentication (restricting access to computer systems by authenticating users using a predetermined code G06F21/33; cryptographic authentication protocols H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08; authentication in wireless network security H04W12/06)}
- H04L 12/185: {with management of multicast group membership}
- H04N 21/43615: {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)}
- H04N 21/4384: {involving operations to reduce the access time, e.g. fast-tuning for reducing channel switching latency}
- H04N 21/4622: {Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet (web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859)}
- H04N 21/6405: Multicasting {(data broadcast and multicast in packet switching networks H04L12/18)}
- H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M)

## Abstract

A system, device, and method for receiver access control in an internet television system uses a push mechanism to distribute access control information froth a distribution device to an access device. The access device uses the access control information to make receiver access control decisions for a subsequently received request from a host to join a television channel multicast group.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An access control method for a multicast data service in which host devices request access to respective multicast groups to access corresponding streams of multicast packets, the access control method comprising:
distributing multicast group access control information from a distribution device to at least one access device for use by the at least one access device in authenticating subsequent requests by individual host devices to join multicast groups to access respective multicast data streams, each access device being connected between the distribution device and at least one respective host device;
receiving, by an access device, a subsequent request by one of the host devices to join a multicast group in order to access a respective stream of multicast packets;
determining, by the access device, whether the host device is authorized to join the multicast group based on the access control information distributed from the distribution device; and
admitting, by the access device, the host device to the multicast group if and only if the host device is determined to be authorized to join the multicast group.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, comprising storing, by the at least one access device, at least some of the multicast group access control information distributed from the distribution device.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein distributing the access control information from the distribution device to at least one access device comprises sending the access control information over at least one policy service connection established between the distribution device and the at least one access device.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein distributing the access control information from the distribution device to the at least one access device comprises pushing the access control information from the distribution device to the at least one access control device using a predetermined push mechanism.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The method of claim 4, wherein the predetermined push mechanism comprises a reliable multicast mechanism.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The method of claim 4, wherein the predetermined push mechanism comprises:
the access devices joining a predetermined multicast group;
the distribution device sending the access control information to the predetermined multicast group using a reliable multicast mechanism; and
the access devices in the multicast group receiving the access control information using the reliable multicast mechanism.

### Claim 7 (depends on 4)

The method of claim 4, wherein the predetermined push mechanism comprises a policy service.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7, wherein the policy service comprises Common Open Policy Service (COPS).

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7, wherein pushing the access control information from the distribution device to the at least one access control device using a predetermined push mechanism comprises sending the access control information from the distribution device to the at least one access control device in the form of policy information using the policy service.

### Claim 10 (depends on 4)

The method of claim 4, wherein the predetermined push mechanism comprises a management mechanism.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, wherein the management mechanism comprises a Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP).

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, wherein the management mechanism comprises a Command Line Interface (CLI).

### Claim 13 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, wherein pushing the access control information to the at least one access control device using a predetermined push mechanism comprises sending the access control information from the distribution device to the at least one access device in the form of management information using the management mechanism.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein distributing the access control information from the distribution device to the at least one access device occurs at a periodic interval.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein distributing the access control information from the distribution device to the at least one access device occurs when there is a change in the access control information.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein receiving, by one of the access devices, a subsequent request by one of the host devices to join a multicast group comprises receiving a multicast group management protocol request.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The method of claim 16, wherein the multicast group management protocol request is an Internet Group Management Protocol (IGMP) request.

### Claim 18 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether the host device is authorized to join the multicast group comprises authenticating the host device based on the access control information.

### Claim 19 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein admitting the host device to the multicast group comprises the access device joining the multicast group using a predetermined multicast routing protocol.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The method of claim 19, wherein the predetermined multicast routing protocol comprises a Protocol Independent Multicast (PIM) multicast routing protocol.

### Claim 21 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein admitting the host device to the multicast group comprises the access device adding the host device to an outgoing list in a forwarding table.

### Claim 22 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein at least some of the multicast groups comprise video channels.

### Claim 23 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein at least some of the multicast groups comprise television channels.