The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 25, 2004
Filed:
Jan. 24, 2000
Stephen G. Perlman, Palo Alto, CA (US);
Webtv Networks, Inc., Mountain View, CA (US);
Abstract
Methods, apparatus and computer program products for authenticating the right of a user to descramble and view scrambled television channels are provided. The set top box can use newer and faster technology to tune and descramble television channels and the right of the user to descramble those channels is authenticated by periodically examining all the television channels output by a cable box. If the cable box descrambles a particular channel, the right of the user to descramble that channel has been authenticated or verified and the set top box is enabled to descramble the same channel. As an additional security feature, the time base of the television channel output by the cable box can be compared to the time base of the same channel tuned and descrambled with the set top box. If the time bases match, then the right of the user to descramble and view that particular channel is authenticated. Once the right of the viewer to descramble a particular channel is authenticated, the channel is tuned and descrambled using the newer technology of the set top box. In this manner, the set top box can descramble and tune scrambled television channels without compromising the rights of the company supplying the scrambled television signal.