# US 9,883,240 B2 · Two-way television enabled therapeutic communication systems and methods

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- Number: US 9,883,240 B2
- Document ID: US9883240B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/837,526
- Filed: 2015-08-27
- Published: 2016-03-10
- Granted: 2018-01-30
- Earliest claimed: 2014-09-05
- Assignees: First Layer Health L.L.C.
- Applicants: First Layer Health L.L.C.
- Inventors: Paul Wessel
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9883240B2

## CPC

- H04N 21/4627: Rights management {associated to the content (security in data switching network management H04L41/28; security management or policies for network security H04L63/20; access security in wireless networks H04W12/08)}
- G06F 21/606: {by securing the transmission between two devices or processes}
- H04N 21/2541: {Rights Management (protecting software against unauthorised usage in a vending or licensing environment G06F21/10; security in data switching network management H04L41/28; security management or policies for network security H04L63/20; access security in wireless networks H04W12/08)}
- H04N 21/42204: {User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor (constructive details of casings for the remote control device H01H9/0235; user interfaces for controlling a tuning device of a television receiver through a remote control H03J9/00; remote control of peripheral devices connected to a television receiver through the remote control device of the television receiver H04B1/205)}
- H04N 21/42684: {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)}
- H04N 21/4788: communicating with other users, e.g. chatting {(arrangements for providing for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms, to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1813; distributed application using peer-to-peer [P2P] networks H04L67/104)}
- G06F 2221/2115: Third party
- H04L 51/04: Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
- H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)
- H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M)

## Abstract

A communication method and system for providing a secure communication pathway between a user and a third-party is described. The system uses a telecommunications provider which has a controller for distributing and controlling electronic communications between a database, a translation server, a third-party provider of content and public identification information (PII), and at least one television of a user. The at least one television has a set-top box (STB) and a remote control. The STB has a unique electronic identifier (STB-ID). The STB communicates with the controller and the at least one television utilizing the STB-ID to ensure secure communications between the user, the telecommunications provider and the third-party.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of providing a secure communication pathway integrated with a television network of a telecommunications provider between a telecom subscriber user and a third-party separate from the telecommunications provider, comprising:
electronically linking a telecommunications provider having a controller for distributing and controlling electronic communications between a database, a translation server, the third-party as a provider of content and public identification information (PII), and at least one television of the user, the at least one television having a set-top box (STB) and a remote control, the STB having a unique electronic identifier (STB-ID), the STB communicating with the controller and the at least one television,
receiving, at a translation server, the content combined with the PII from the third-party, the content intended for delivery to a STB of a specific user identified by the PII;
identifying, by the translation server, the STB-ID in the telecom subscriber database for the specific user based on the PII;
exchanging, by the translation server, the PII with the STB-ID to combine the content and the STB-ID;
sending, by the translation server, the combined content and STB-ID obtained from the database to the controller, causing the controller to route the combined content and STB-ID to the STB of the at least one television over the television network of the telecommunications provider, and
causing the content to be displayed on at least one television connected to the STB if the STB-ID associated with the content matches the STB-ID of the STB, and
receiving, at the translation server via the television network, a manual acceptance receipt of the content as indicated by the user with the remote control.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting the manual acceptance to the third party.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the content is an opt-in message requesting the user to opt-in to receive future communications and the manual acceptance is the user opting in to receive future communications.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3, further comprising:
receiving a subsequent communication from the third party intended for the user;
accessing the database to confirm that the STB-ID is active;
if the STB-ID is active, transmitting content in the subsequent message to the STB; and
causing the content to be displayed on the at least one television via the STB.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the PII includes registration information of the user with the telecommunications provider.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the third party is a healthcare provider.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6, wherein the content in the message is HIPAA compliant.

### Claim 8

A method for securely communicating to a television connected by a set top box associated with a telecom subscriber user to a telecommunications provider over a television network, comprising:
receiving, at a translation server, a communication from a third party separate from the telecommunications provider intended for a specific user, the message including content to be viewed by the user on the television connected to the set top box associated with the user and publicly available personal identification information for the user;
accessing, by the translation server, a telecom subscriber database maintained by the telecommunications provider;
utilizing, by the translation server, the publicly available personal identification information contained in the message sent by the third party to identify from the telecom subscriber database a unique identifier of the set top box associated with the user and utilized by the user and the telecommunications provider to deliver content to the television connected to the set top box associated with the user over the television network;
associating the content in the message with the unique identifier for the set top box associated with the user;
transmitting the content in the message to the set top box associated with the user over the television network of the telecommunications provider; and
causing the content to be displayed on the television via the set top box associated with the user.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, further comprising:
receiving at the translation server, via the television network, a user communication from the user transmitted through the set top box via a remote control associated with the television; and
transmitting the user communication to the third party.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, wherein the content in the communication from the third party communication is an opt-in message requesting the user to opt-in to receive future communications and the user communication is the user opting in or opting out of receiving future communications.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, where the user selects the user communication from a list of preprogrammed messages.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, further comprising:
receiving a subsequent communication from the third party intended for the user;
accessing the database to confirm that the set top box associated with the user is active;
if the set top box associated with the user is active, transmitting content in the subsequent message to the set top box associated with the user; and
causing the content to be displayed on the television via the set top box associated with the user.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, further comprising:
receiving acknowledgement of the content from the user transmitted through the set top box via the remote control; and
transmitting the acknowledgement to the third party.

### Claim 14 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein the publicly available personal identification information includes registration information of the user with the telecommunications provider.

### Claim 15 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, further comprising replacing the publicly available personal identification information in the message with the unique identifier of the set top box associated with the user.

### Claim 16 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein the third party is a healthcare provider.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The method of claim 16, wherein the content in the message is HIPAA compliant.

### Claim 18

A system for securely communicating with a television connected by a set top box associated with a telecom subscriber user to a telecommunications provider over a television network, comprising:
means for receiving a communication from a third party separate from the telecommunications provider intended for a specific user, the message including content to be viewed by the user on the television and publicly available personal identification information for the user;
means for accessing a telecom subscriber database maintained by the telecommunications provider;
means for utilizing the publicly available person identification information contained in the message sent by the third party to identify from the subscriber telecom database a unique identifier of the set top box associated with the user and utilized by the user and the telecommunications provider to deliver content to the television over the television network;
means for associating the content in the message with the unique identifier for the set top box associated with the user;
means for transmitting the content in the message to the set top box associated with the user over the television network; and
means for causing the content to be displayed on the television via the set top box associated with the user.