# US 8,789,149 B2 · Method and apparatus for communicating between a user device and a user device locating module to allow a partner service to be provided to a user device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,789,149 B2 - Document ID: US8789149B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/960,951 - Filed: 2007-12-20 - Published: 2009-06-25 - Granted: 2014-07-22 - Earliest claimed: 2007-12-20 - Assignees: The DIRECTV Group, Inc. - Applicants: Kapil Chaudhry - Inventors: Kapil Chaudhry - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8789149B2 ## CPC - H04L 63/08: {for authentication of entities (cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32)} - H04L 63/166: {at the transport layer} - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) ## Abstract A system and method for communicating between a user device locator module and a user receiving device includes forming a secure connection with the user device locator module. The user receiving device communicates user identifier data and port data to the user device locator module. An authentication module authenticates the user data from the user device locator module and generates an authentication signal. The user device locator module registers the port data at the user device locator module in response to the authentication signal. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method comprising: forming a secure connection between a user audio and video receiving device and a user device locator module; communicating user identifier data to the user device locator module from the user audio and video receiving device through the secure connection; communicating port data from the user audio and video receiving device to the user device locator module through the secure connection; subsequent to communicating the user identifier data to the user device locator module, communicating the user identifier data from the user device locator module to an authentication server; thereafter, authenticating the user identifier data received from the user device locator module at the authentication server to generate an authentication response; communicating the authentication response from the authentication server to the user device locator module; thereafter, registering the port data at the user device locator module in response to the authentication response; thereafter, communicating partner service data from a first service provider to the user audio and video receiving device; and communicating primary service data from a second service provider to the user audio and video receiving device. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising prior to the forming of the secure connection, configuring a port of a gateway device so that the user audio and video receiving device listens thereto. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the forming of the secure connection comprises forming a secure sockets layer connection between the user audio and video receiving device and the user device locator module. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the communicating of the user identifier data comprises transmitting the user identifier data to the user device locator module from a television receiving device. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the communicating of the user identifier data comprises transmitting the user identifier data to the user device locator module from a satellite television receiving device. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the authenticating of the user identifier data comprises communicating between the user device locator module and the authentication server of a primary service provider. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the communicating of the port data comprises communicating an IP address from the user audio and video receiving device to the user device locator module. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the communicating of the port data comprises communicating an IP address, forwarding port data and an access card identifier from the user audio and video receiving device to the user device locator module. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the communicating of the port data comprises communicating an IP address, forwarding port data, an access card identifier and a receiver identifier from the user audio and video receiving device to the user device locator module. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the communicating of the port data comprises communicating an IP address, forwarding port data, an access card identifier, a receiver identifier and a service description from the user audio and video receiving device to the user device locator module. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the authenticating comprises: communicating a request for authentication from the user device locator module to the authentication server; generating authentication data at the authentication server based on the user identifier data; communicating the authentication data to the user device locator module; and registering the user audio and video receiving device at the user device locator module based on the authentication data. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method as recited in claim 11 wherein the communicating of the request for authentication comprises communicating a user device identifier from the user device locator module to the authentication server. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The method as recited in claim 11 wherein the communicating of the request for authentication comprises communicating a site identifier from the user device locator module to the authentication server. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The method as recited in claim 11 wherein the communicating of the request for authentication comprises communicating a site identifier and a user device identifier from the user device locator module to the authentication server. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The method as recited in claim 11 wherein the communicating of the request for authentication comprises communicating an encrypted token from the user device locator module to the authentication server. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The method as recited in claim 11 wherein the communicating of the request for authentication comprises communicating an encrypted token, a site identifier and a user device identifier from the user device locator module to the authentication server. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further comprising: authenticating the user identifier data and the port data via an authentication server at a service provider; cross-referencing user identifier data and the port data with a database at the authentication server to verify the user identifier data and the port data; determining whether the user audio and video receiving device is associated with a valid customer; determining whether an account of the user audio and video receiving device is in good standing; and registering the port data when the user identifier data and the port data are verified, the user audio and video receiving device is associated with a valid customer, and the account is in good standing. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the port data includes an IP address of the user audio and video receiving device, a port identifier of the user audio and video receiving device, a service provided from a service provider to the user audio and video receiving device, and an encryption key of the user audio and video receiving device. ### Claim 19 A system comprising: a user device locator module; a user audio and video receiving device forming a secure connection with the user device locator module and communicating user identifier data and port data to the user device locator module through the secure connection; and an authentication server subsequent to the user identifier data being communicated to the user device locator module, receiving the user identifier data from the user device locator module, authenticating the user identifier data, generating an authentication response based on the authentication of the user identifier data, and communicating the authentication response to the user device locator module, wherein said user device locator module registers the port data at the user device locator module in response to the authentication response, wherein a first service provider communicates partner service data to the user audio and video receiving device; and wherein a second service provider communicates primary service data to the user audio and video receiving device. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The system as recited in claim 19 wherein the port data comprises an IP address. ### Claim 21 (depends on 19) The system as recited in claim 19 wherein the port data comprises an IP address, forwarding port data and an access card identifier. ### Claim 22 (depends on 19) The system as recited in claim 19 wherein the port data comprises an IP address, forwarding port data, an access card identifier and a receiver identifier. ### Claim 23 (depends on 19) The system as recited in claim 19 wherein the port data comprises an IP address, forwarding port data, an access card identifier, a receiver identifier and a service description. ### Claim 24 (depends on 19) The system as recited in claim 19 wherein: the user device locator module communicates a request for authentication to the authentication server; and the authentication server generates authentication data and communicates the authentication data to the user device locator module; and the user device locator module registers the user audio and video receiving device based on the authentication data. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The system as recited in claim 24 wherein the request for authentication comprises a user device identifier. ### Claim 26 (depends on 24) The system as recited in claim 24 wherein the request for authentication comprises a site identifier. ### Claim 27 (depends on 24) The system as recited in claim 24 wherein the request for authentication comprises a site identifier and a user device identifier. ### Claim 28 (depends on 24) The system as recited in claim 24 wherein the request for authentication comprises an encrypted token. ### Claim 29 (depends on 24) The system as recited in claim 24 wherein the request for authentication comprises an encrypted token, a site identifier and a user device identifier. ### Claim 30 (depends on 19) The system as recited in claim 19 wherein the user audio and video receiving device comprises a television receiving device. ### Claim 31 (depends on 19) The system as recited in claim 19 wherein the user audio and video receiving device comprises a satellite television receiving device. ### Claim 32 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further comprising subsequent to the registering of the port data: terminating the secure connection; and transmitting services from a service provider to the user device. ### Claim 33 (depends on 32) The method of claim 32 wherein: the user identifier data and port data are transmitted from the user audio and video receiving device to the user device locator module via a network; the services are transmitted from the service provider to the user device via the network; and the services include television programs. ### Claim 34 (depends on 33) The method of claim 33, wherein the network is between: the user audio and video receiving device and the user device locator module; the user audio and video receiving device and the service provider; and the user device locator module and the service provider.