CA2816673C - Tracking activation of licensable component in audio video device by unique product identification - Google Patents
Tracking activation of licensable component in audio video device by unique product identification Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- CA2816673C CA2816673C CA2816673A CA2816673A CA2816673C CA 2816673 C CA2816673 C CA 2816673C CA 2816673 A CA2816673 A CA 2816673A CA 2816673 A CA2816673 A CA 2816673A CA 2816673 C CA2816673 C CA 2816673C
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- licensable
- retail
- demonstration mode
- component
- vdd
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Active
Links
- 230000004913 activation Effects 0.000 title claims description 40
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 claims description 16
- 230000004044 response Effects 0.000 claims description 9
- 230000006870 function Effects 0.000 claims description 8
- 238000004891 communication Methods 0.000 claims description 5
- 230000003213 activating effect Effects 0.000 claims description 3
- 230000005236 sound signal Effects 0.000 claims 4
- 238000001994 activation Methods 0.000 description 33
- 229910003460 diamond Inorganic materials 0.000 description 15
- 239000010432 diamond Substances 0.000 description 15
- 239000003795 chemical substances by application Substances 0.000 description 13
- 238000012360 testing method Methods 0.000 description 11
- 238000005516 engineering process Methods 0.000 description 7
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 4
- 238000010586 diagram Methods 0.000 description 3
- 230000009849 deactivation Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000006837 decompression Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000007246 mechanism Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000005540 biological transmission Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000006835 compression Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000007906 compression Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000001276 controlling effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000002596 correlated effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000000875 corresponding effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000009977 dual effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000002452 interceptive effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000003287 optical effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000008569 process Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000007420 reactivation Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000007787 solid Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000001228 spectrum Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000001360 synchronised effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000012795 verification Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000000007 visual effect Effects 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G06Q30/00—Commerce
- G06Q30/018—Certifying business or products
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N17/00—Diagnosis, testing or measuring for television systems or their details
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
- G06F21/00—Security arrangements for protecting computers, components thereof, programs or data against unauthorised activity
- G06F21/10—Protecting distributed programs or content, e.g. vending or licensing of copyrighted material ; Digital rights management [DRM]
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
- G06F21/00—Security arrangements for protecting computers, components thereof, programs or data against unauthorised activity
- G06F21/10—Protecting distributed programs or content, e.g. vending or licensing of copyrighted material ; Digital rights management [DRM]
- G06F21/12—Protecting executable software
- G06F21/121—Restricting unauthorised execution of programs
- G06F21/125—Restricting unauthorised execution of programs by manipulating the program code, e.g. source code, compiled code, interpreted code, machine code
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G06Q20/00—Payment architectures, schemes or protocols
- G06Q20/08—Payment architectures
- G06Q20/20—Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G06Q20/00—Payment architectures, schemes or protocols
- G06Q20/30—Payment architectures, schemes or protocols characterised by the use of specific devices or networks
- G06Q20/306—Payment architectures, schemes or protocols characterised by the use of specific devices or networks using TV related infrastructures
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G06Q30/00—Commerce
- G06Q30/02—Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
- G06Q30/0241—Advertisements
- G06Q30/0251—Targeted advertisements
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G06Q30/00—Commerce
- G06Q30/02—Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
- G06Q30/0283—Price estimation or determination
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G06Q40/00—Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
- G06Q40/10—Tax strategies
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G06Q40/00—Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
- G06Q40/12—Accounting
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
- H04N21/20—Servers specifically adapted for the distribution of content, e.g. VOD servers; Operations thereof
- H04N21/25—Management operations performed by the server for facilitating the content distribution or administrating data related to end-users or client devices, e.g. end-user or client device authentication, learning user preferences for recommending movies
- H04N21/254—Management at additional data server, e.g. shopping server, rights management server
- H04N21/2541—Rights Management
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
- H04N21/20—Servers specifically adapted for the distribution of content, e.g. VOD servers; Operations thereof
- H04N21/25—Management operations performed by the server for facilitating the content distribution or administrating data related to end-users or client devices, e.g. end-user or client device authentication, learning user preferences for recommending movies
- H04N21/254—Management at additional data server, e.g. shopping server, rights management server
- H04N21/2543—Billing, e.g. for subscription services
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
- H04N21/20—Servers specifically adapted for the distribution of content, e.g. VOD servers; Operations thereof
- H04N21/25—Management operations performed by the server for facilitating the content distribution or administrating data related to end-users or client devices, e.g. end-user or client device authentication, learning user preferences for recommending movies
- H04N21/258—Client or end-user data management, e.g. managing client capabilities, user preferences or demographics, processing of multiple end-users preferences to derive collaborative data
- H04N21/25808—Management of client data
- H04N21/25816—Management of client data involving client authentication
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
- H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
- H04N21/41—Structure of client; Structure of client peripherals
- H04N21/426—Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
- H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
- H04N21/41—Structure of client; Structure of client peripherals
- H04N21/426—Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof
- H04N21/42607—Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof for processing the incoming bitstream
- H04N21/4263—Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof for processing the incoming bitstream involving specific tuning arrangements, e.g. two tuners
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
- H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
- H04N21/43—Processing of content or additional data, e.g. demultiplexing additional data from a digital video stream; Elementary client operations, e.g. monitoring of home network or synchronising decoder's clock; Client middleware
- H04N21/434—Disassembling of a multiplex stream, e.g. demultiplexing audio and video streams, extraction of additional data from a video stream; Remultiplexing of multiplex streams; Extraction or processing of SI; Disassembling of packetised elementary stream
- H04N21/4347—Demultiplexing of several video streams
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
- H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
- H04N21/43—Processing of content or additional data, e.g. demultiplexing additional data from a digital video stream; Elementary client operations, e.g. monitoring of home network or synchronising decoder's clock; Client middleware
- H04N21/438—Interfacing the downstream path of the transmission network originating from a server, e.g. retrieving MPEG packets from an IP network
- H04N21/4382—Demodulation or channel decoding, e.g. QPSK demodulation
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
- H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
- H04N21/45—Management operations performed by the client for facilitating the reception of or the interaction with the content or administrating data related to the end-user or to the client device itself, e.g. learning user preferences for recommending movies, resolving scheduling conflicts
- H04N21/462—Content or additional data management, e.g. creating a master electronic program guide from data received from the Internet and a Head-end, controlling the complexity of a video stream by scaling the resolution or bit-rate based on the client capabilities
- H04N21/4627—Rights management associated to the content
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
- H04N21/60—Network structure or processes for video distribution between server and client or between remote clients; Control signalling between clients, server and network components; Transmission of management data between server and client, e.g. sending from server to client commands for recording incoming content stream; Communication details between server and client
- H04N21/65—Transmission of management data between client and server
- H04N21/654—Transmission by server directed to the client
- H04N21/6547—Transmission by server directed to the client comprising parameters, e.g. for client setup
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
- H04N21/60—Network structure or processes for video distribution between server and client or between remote clients; Control signalling between clients, server and network components; Transmission of management data between server and client, e.g. sending from server to client commands for recording incoming content stream; Communication details between server and client
- H04N21/65—Transmission of management data between client and server
- H04N21/658—Transmission by the client directed to the server
- H04N21/6581—Reference data, e.g. a movie identifier for ordering a movie or a product identifier in a home shopping application
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N5/00—Details of television systems
- H04N5/44—Receiver circuitry for the reception of television signals according to analogue transmission standards
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N7/00—Television systems
- H04N7/16—Analogue secrecy systems; Analogue subscription systems
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N9/00—Details of colour television systems
- H04N9/64—Circuits for processing colour signals
- H04N9/641—Multi-purpose receivers, e.g. for auxiliary information
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N9/00—Details of colour television systems
- H04N9/64—Circuits for processing colour signals
- H04N9/642—Multi-standard receivers
Abstract
An audio-video display device (AVDD) (12) includes a licensable component (e.g., 58) providing a licensable function. The licensable function is available to present data on the AVDD without paying a license fee to exploit the licensable function when the AVDD is in a retail demonstration mode (206), whereas post-vending of the AVDD the licensable function is available to present data on the AVDD only pursuant to a license fee therefor being arranged (204).
Description
TRACKING ACTIVATION OF LICENSABLE COMPONENT IN AUDIO VIDEO
DEVICE BY UNIQUE PRODUCT IDENTIFICATION
This application claims priority to U.S. patent application serial no.
12/970,215, filed December 16, 2010 and to U.S. provisional patent application serial no, 61/412,552, filed. November 11, 2010.
I. FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present application relates generally to tracking activation of licensable components in audio video devices such as TVs using unique product identifications.
IL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Televisions incorporate a host of technologies to enable a viewer to watch programming from a variety of sources. These sources include terrestrial broadcast sources of analog (using National Television System Committee, or NTSC, format) and digital .(using Advanced. Television System Committee, or ATSC, foimat) TV
signals.
ATSC signals typically use video compression known as Motion Picture Experts Group (MPEG-2) and TVs must consequently support MPEG-2 decompression if they support _ATSC programming.
Cable-provided "basic" television programming can also be provided in NTSC or quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) format. Cable-provided "enhanced"
programming may also be provided using high definition multimedia interface (1-IDIVII) principles. Likewise, satellite-provided TV signals may be received in HDMI.
As well, video from the Internet can be displayed on many modern TVs in a. variety of formats, including data over cable service Internet specification (DOCSIS) format.
Furthermore, TVs are often configured to support multiple audio formats, including advanced audio coding (AAC), Audio code 3 (AC3), digital theater system (i)TS), and so on.
And as contemporary viewers know, TVs are expected to support the presentation of electronic program guides (EPGs).
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
As understood herein, various TV technologies require license fees to be paid.
As further understood herein, many technologies that must be built in to modern TVs to support various program sources may not be .used. Nonetheless, license fees for the unused technologies are still paid, unnecessarily cascading cost.
Accordingly, a method includes determining whether an audio video device is in a retail demonstration mode. Responsive to a determination that the device is not in the retail demonstration mode, the method includes enabling licensing fee triggering of a licensable component such that activation of the licensable component triggers a license fee associated with the licensable component. In contrast, responsive to a determination that the device is in the retail demonstration mode, the method includes enabling activation of the licensable component for demonstration purposes without enabling licensing fee triggering of the .licensable component such that activation of the licensable component .does not trigger the license fee associated with the licensable component.
A processor can be associated with the audio video device to activate the licensable component without contacting an activation server. In this embodiment, the processor may present an encryption element to unlock a license .code stored in a protected region of a local storage of the audio video device and that is inaccessible without the encryption element, the license code being used to activate the licensable component.
Alternatively, the processor can request a server to provide the license code needed to activate the licensable component in the retail demonstration mode at least i.n part by sending to the
DEVICE BY UNIQUE PRODUCT IDENTIFICATION
This application claims priority to U.S. patent application serial no.
12/970,215, filed December 16, 2010 and to U.S. provisional patent application serial no, 61/412,552, filed. November 11, 2010.
I. FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present application relates generally to tracking activation of licensable components in audio video devices such as TVs using unique product identifications.
IL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Televisions incorporate a host of technologies to enable a viewer to watch programming from a variety of sources. These sources include terrestrial broadcast sources of analog (using National Television System Committee, or NTSC, format) and digital .(using Advanced. Television System Committee, or ATSC, foimat) TV
signals.
ATSC signals typically use video compression known as Motion Picture Experts Group (MPEG-2) and TVs must consequently support MPEG-2 decompression if they support _ATSC programming.
Cable-provided "basic" television programming can also be provided in NTSC or quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) format. Cable-provided "enhanced"
programming may also be provided using high definition multimedia interface (1-IDIVII) principles. Likewise, satellite-provided TV signals may be received in HDMI.
As well, video from the Internet can be displayed on many modern TVs in a. variety of formats, including data over cable service Internet specification (DOCSIS) format.
Furthermore, TVs are often configured to support multiple audio formats, including advanced audio coding (AAC), Audio code 3 (AC3), digital theater system (i)TS), and so on.
And as contemporary viewers know, TVs are expected to support the presentation of electronic program guides (EPGs).
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
As understood herein, various TV technologies require license fees to be paid.
As further understood herein, many technologies that must be built in to modern TVs to support various program sources may not be .used. Nonetheless, license fees for the unused technologies are still paid, unnecessarily cascading cost.
Accordingly, a method includes determining whether an audio video device is in a retail demonstration mode. Responsive to a determination that the device is not in the retail demonstration mode, the method includes enabling licensing fee triggering of a licensable component such that activation of the licensable component triggers a license fee associated with the licensable component. In contrast, responsive to a determination that the device is in the retail demonstration mode, the method includes enabling activation of the licensable component for demonstration purposes without enabling licensing fee triggering of the .licensable component such that activation of the licensable component .does not trigger the license fee associated with the licensable component.
A processor can be associated with the audio video device to activate the licensable component without contacting an activation server. In this embodiment, the processor may present an encryption element to unlock a license .code stored in a protected region of a local storage of the audio video device and that is inaccessible without the encryption element, the license code being used to activate the licensable component.
Alternatively, the processor can request a server to provide the license code needed to activate the licensable component in the retail demonstration mode at least i.n part by sending to the
2' server a unique product ID along with the identity of the licensable component sought to be activated. The unique product ID may be a combination of a serial number of the audio video device and a model number of the audio video device. Additionally or in lieu thereof the unique product ID can be a unique encryption key in the audio video device.
If desired, the processor can present on the display a user interface (UI) configured for enabling a viewer to establish whether the audio video device is in the retail demonstration mode. The UT can present an option to select the retail demonstration mode. In some implementations a retail key must be entered by a viewer into a UT
presented on the display to enter the retail demonstration mode. The retail key is provided only to retail outlets such that only by entering the retail key is the audio video device placed in the retail demonstration mode. Failure to enter the retail key prevents the audio video device from being placed in the retail demonstration mode such that if the audio video device is never placed on display in a retail outlet but instead is vended directly out of the box, an end user cannot enter the retail demonstration mode and thereby avoid license fee triggering.
In another aspect, a TV includes a licensable component for which a license has not been obtained prior to vending the TV. The licensable component provides a licensable feature. A TV display and a processor in the TV controlling the display are also provided. The processor executes software code associated with the TV to actuate the licensable component to provide a presentation on the display in accordance with the licensable feature without implementing a license fee payment therefor at least in part responsive to the TV being in a retail demonstration mode. On the other hand, the processor executes software code associated with the TV to actuate the licensable component to provide a presentation on the display in accordance with the licensable
If desired, the processor can present on the display a user interface (UI) configured for enabling a viewer to establish whether the audio video device is in the retail demonstration mode. The UT can present an option to select the retail demonstration mode. In some implementations a retail key must be entered by a viewer into a UT
presented on the display to enter the retail demonstration mode. The retail key is provided only to retail outlets such that only by entering the retail key is the audio video device placed in the retail demonstration mode. Failure to enter the retail key prevents the audio video device from being placed in the retail demonstration mode such that if the audio video device is never placed on display in a retail outlet but instead is vended directly out of the box, an end user cannot enter the retail demonstration mode and thereby avoid license fee triggering.
In another aspect, a TV includes a licensable component for which a license has not been obtained prior to vending the TV. The licensable component provides a licensable feature. A TV display and a processor in the TV controlling the display are also provided. The processor executes software code associated with the TV to actuate the licensable component to provide a presentation on the display in accordance with the licensable feature without implementing a license fee payment therefor at least in part responsive to the TV being in a retail demonstration mode. On the other hand, the processor executes software code associated with the TV to actuate the licensable component to provide a presentation on the display in accordance with the licensable
3 feature and implementing a license fee payment therefor at least in part responsive to the TV being in a post-vending mode.
In another aspect, an audio video display device (AVDD) includes a licensable component providing a licensable function. The licensable function is available to present data on the AVDD without paying a license fee to exploit the licensable function when the AVDD is in a retail demonstration mode, whereas post-vending of the AVDD, the licensable function is available to present data on the AVDD only pursuant to a license fee transaction therefor being arranged.
The details of the present invention, both as to its structure and operation, can best be understood in reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals refer to like parts, and in which:
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a Nock diagram of a non-limiting example system in accordance with present principles;
Figure 2 is a block diagram of an example TV;
Figure 3 is a flow chart of non-limiting TV set up logic in accordance with present principles;
Figure 4 is a flow chart of non-limiting logic for automatically detecting whether an ATSC demodulator is required to be activated;
Figures 5-7 are schematic diagrams illustrating alternate methods for activating an ATSC demodulator;
Figure 8 is a flow chart of non-limiting logic for licensing a component in a TV;
Figure 9 is a flow chart of example logic for operating the audio video device in the retail mode so as not to trigger payment of a license fee; and Figure 10 is a screen shot of an example user interface (UTI) to support the retail mode, DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring initially to the non-limiting example embodiment show in Figure I, a system 10 includes an audio video device such as a TV 12 including a TV timer communicating with a TV processor 18 accessing a tangible computer readable storage medium 20 such as disk-based or solid state storage. The TV 12 can output audio on one or more speakers 22. The TV 12 can receive streaming video from the Internet using a built-in .wired or wireless modem 24 communicating with the processor 12 which may execute a software-implemented browser 26. Video is presented under control of the TV
processor 18 on .a TV display 28 such as but not limited to a high definition TV (HDTV) flat panel display. User commands to the processor 18 may be wirelessly received from a remote control (RC) 30 using, e.g., rf or infrared. Audio-video display devices other than.
a TV may be used, e.g., smart phones, game consoles, personal digital organizers, notebook computers and other types of computers, etc.
TV programming from one or more terrestrial TV broadcast sources 32 as received by a terrestrial broadcast antenna 34 which communicates with the TV 12 may be presented on the display 28 and speakers 22. The terrestrial broadcast programming may conform to digital ATSC standards and may carry within, it a. terrestrial broadcast EPG, although the terrestrial broadcast EPG may be received .from alternate sources, e.g., the Internet via Ethernet, or. Cable communication link, or satellite communication link.
TV programming from a cable TV head end 36 may also be received at the TV for presentation of TV signals on the display 28 and speakers 22. When basic cable only is desired, the cable from the wall typically carries TV signals in QAM or NTSC
format and is plugged directly into the IT-type connector" 38 on the TV chassis in the U.S., although the connector used for this purpose in other countries may vary. In contrast, when the user has an extended cable subscription for instance, the signals from the head end 36 are typically sent through a STB 40 which may be separate from or integrated within the TV
chassis but in any case which sends fiDMI basebancl signals to the TV, Similarly, IIDMI baseband signals transmitted from a satellite source 42 of TV
broadcast signals received by an integrated receiver/decoder (1RD) 44 associated with a home satellite dish may be input to the TV 12 for presentation on the display 28 and speakers 22. Also, streaming video may be received from the Internet 46 for presentation on the display 28 and speakers 22. The streaming video may be received at the computer modem 24 or it may be received at an in-home modem 48 that is external to the TV 12 and conveyed to the TV 12 over a wired or wireless Ethernet link and received at an R.145 or 802.11x antenna on the TV chassis.
Figure 2 shows details of an example TV 12, As shown, the terrestrial signal in ATSC format is input to the TV tuner 16, as is basic cable in NTSC or QAM
format in the event that basic cable is used and the wall cable plugged into the F-type connector 38. On the other hand, streaming Internet video may be received at a DOCSIS tuner 50 and demodulated/decoded at a DOCSIS decoder/demodulator 52. Typically, the DOCSIS
components are housed separately from the TV 12 but in some embodiments may be included in the chassis of the TV 12.
The output of the tuner 16, depending on the signal format received, may be sent to an NTSC decoder/demodulator 54, or a QAM decoder/demodulator 56, or an ATSC
decoder/demodulator 58. The output from the NTSC decoder/demodulator 54 can be sent directly to the display 28 and speakers 22 for presentation. On the other hand, the output from the digital decoder/demodulators 56, 58 typically is sent to a transport stream demultiplexer 60, which separates the desired program from other programs in the selected stream and sends the desired program to an MPEG video decoder 62, which in turn uncompre.sses the MPEG desired program and sends the uncompressed program to the TV
display 28 for presentation. Audio from the demultiplexer 60 may be sent to an audio decoder 64 which in turn sends the decoded audio to the speakers 22 for presentation.
In contrast to the sequence of decoder/demodulators, demultiplexer,. and MPEG
decoders discussed above, video from either the STB 40 or 'RD 44 is in baseband HDMI
when it is received by the TV 12. Accordingly, the signals from the STB 40 or IRD 44 are sent directly to the TV display 28 for presentation without further video decompression between the STB 40 or 1RD 44 and TV display 28. Audio from the STB 40 or 1RD
may still be in a format, e.g., AC3, that requires decoding prior to play on the speakers 22 so the audio may be sent through the audio decoder 64 as shown. Likewise, audio from the ATSC terrestrial source 32 may be in AC3 foi mat and so may be sent through the audio decoder 64. Internet video from the DOCSIS decoder/demodulator 52 may be sent through the de-multiplexer 60 and decoders 62, 64 as shown.
Now referring to Figure 3, at block 66 a user of the TV 12 can be conducted, using onscreen user interfaces (U1), through a set-up routine upon first power on or thereafter from a menu to set up various features of the TV. As an example, the user may be asked, for one or more licensable components within the TV, if the user desires to use that component. This may be done implicitly, e.g., by asking the user if the user wishes to automatically scan the broadcast spectrum to detect channels, in which case it may be inferred that the ATSC decoder/demodulator 58 and MPEG decoder 62 will be required and, hence, that licenses to use those components will be needed. Also, in this latter case it may be inferred that a license to the terrestrial broadcast EPG may be required, whereas such a license would not be required if terrestrial broadcast were not being used as an input source.
Or again, the user may be given the choice to receive Internet video through the built-in modem 24 or from an external modern 48 and if the latter is chosen, no license need be obtained for the internal browser 26; otherwise, a license may be required to use the internal browser 26.
Proceeding to block 68, for each license that is inferred to be required based on the user set-up selections at block 66, the TV 12 uploads a request for the license over the Internet, for example, or back through a two-way cable system, etc. Or, as explained further below the request may be made by telephone. Regardless of how made, the request typically identifies the component for which a license is required based on user input at block 66 along with a unique identification of the TV, e.g., a hash of the TV
model number and serial number, in some embodiments encrypted if desired. The request may be made at set-up time. Alternatively, the request may be cached for later upload when, e.g., an appropriate broadband connection is sensed. In any case, the request may be sent to an Internet server at a prestored Internet address or to a cable head end or to another appropriate licensing entity or agent.
Block 70 indicates that assuming it passes authentication the TV 12 receives back the license in the form of licensing infoimation, typically a code that must be input to the TV processor 18 to enable or unlock the associated component. The code may be automatically input to the appropriate internal components of the TV at block 72 or the code may be displayed on the TV and the user prompted by means of an onscreen Ul to enter the code using, e.g., the RC 30. Proper input of the code activates the related component within the TV. Block 74 simply indicates that license fee data is maintained and used to generate billing information from the licensing agency to the manufacturer of the TV, and may also be used to generate marketing data as discussed further below. The data may be kept in the TV until uploaded to a licensing entity/agent by means noted above.
Figure 4 shows that automatic license determinations may be made outside of a user set-up routine if desired. In the example shown in Figure 4, commencing at decision diamond 76 it is determined whether a predetermined physical condition exists in the TV, e.g., a particular kind of connection, from which it may be inferred what licensable components will be required. In the example of Figure 4, the physical condition is the presence of a voltage in the automatic gain control (AGC) circuitry of the tuner 16, which would occur when, for instance, a connection is made at the TV chassis to the terrestrial antenna 34 or when a cable from the wall is connected to the F-type connector 38.
When the tested-for physical condition exists, the logic flows to block 78, in this example to activate the NTSC demodulator 54. This is done recognizing that NTSC
demodulators typically require no licenses, so to avoid unnecessarily requesting licenses, the signal at the tuner 16 is first tested to determine if it is an NTSC
signal. Decision diamond 80 indicates that the test may be whether "noise", is present in the signal, If the test indicates that NTSC signals only are present the logic ends, but otherwise the logic flows to block 82 to activate the QAM decoder/demodulator 56. If QAM only is detected (by the QAM decoder/demodulator 56 recognizing QAM
signals and/or no noise) the logic ends, but if the QAM decoder/demodulator 56 does not recognize the signal, this indicates that the signal is neither QAM nor (from decision diamond 80) NTSC, with the inference thus being that the signal is ATSC
requiring use of the ATSC decoder/demodulator 58, Which is activated at block 86 to process the signal.
At. block 88 an uplink is obtained by the TV processor 18 to the above-described licensing entity/agent to obtain the license code discussed above using the unique ID of the TV, and at block 90 the code is received and .used as necessary to permit use of the ATSC
decoder/demodulator 58.
Or, the step at block 90 can be omitted and the .ATSC decoder/demodulator 58 immediately activated on the assumption that the processor 18 is programmed to send a message to the licensing entity/agent that licensing accounting is to be generated after activation of the ATSC decoder/demodulator 58.
Yet again, as shown in dashed lines in 'Figure 4 the logic may flow first from decision diamond 84 to blocks. 88 and 90 to obtain the licensing "unlock" code and then back to block 86 to activate the ATSC decoder/demodulator 58 using the code, to ensure that no use may be made of the ATSC decoder/demodulator 58 until such time as the licensing entity/agent has been informed of its use, has authenticated the TV
for the necessary ATSC license, and has determined that under business rules the license code should be downloaded to fulfill the request.
Additional example inference rules that may be employed pursuant to automatically obtaining needed component licenses after vending the TV to avoid paying for unnecessary licenses prior to sale of the TV include, if there is ATSC
present, it is less likely that QA.M will be found; if ATSC is present, the total number of ATSC
channels will be much smaller than the number for QAM channels. Also, when signals are received from an external modem 48, audio video programming does not require use of the built-in browser 26 and so receipt of video over an Ethernet link without receipt of signals at the internal modem 24 may be inferred to mean. that the browser 26 is not in use.
Figures 5-7 illustrate logic that may be used during setup to obtain licenses.
Using, the RC 30, a person may input 92 a request to conduct auto-scan of available terrestrial or cable or satellite channels from, e.g., an onscreen setup menu presented on an audio video display product 94 (which may be implemented by the TV 12). In response, the AV display product sends an activation request for, e.g,, the ATSC
decoder/demodulator 58 which may include the tuner ID and product 94 ID and/or the decoder/demodulator 58 ID/product 94 ID. Activation of the ATSC
decoder/demodulator 58 is executed at 96 using activation codes from one or more licensing entities/agents such as server 98, provided the licensing entities/agents determine, based on the information received from the product 94, that the product is entitled to a license for the requested component.
A log may be kept by the licensing entities/agents indicating what products and what components in those products have been activated and based on that log, licensing accounting data may be generated for purposes of presenting licensing invoices for activated components to the manufacturer of the product 94. In any case, 100 indicates that the product 94 receives the activation response, e.g., activation codes, to activate the demodulator /decoder 58 at 101, which converts the product 94 to an ATSC-capable device. The user may be notified using onscreen notification that ATSC
programming may now be viewed using the product 94.
Figure 6 shows an alternative embodiment. Using, e.g., the RC 30, a person may input 102 a request to conduct auto-scan of available terrestrial or cable or satellite channels from, e.g., an onscreen setup menu presented on an audio video display product 94 (which may be implemented by the TV 12). In response, at 104 telephone information including a phone number to a licensing entity/agent is prepared and the user notified 106 of the information by means of, e.g,, a user interface or prompt presented on the product 94, The user enters 108 the information into a telephone, either by speaking the number or by holding the telephone adjacent a speaker on the product 94 for receiving dual tone rnultifrequency (DTMF) tones from the product that are detected by the telephone and used to automatically dial the number using, e.g., a voice response unit (VRLI) 110.
Other alternate embodiments involve sending short message service (SMS) messages to a server to send the above infoimation or scanning bar-type codes on the TV
or component to send the requisite information to the server to obtain the license. In any case, determining what licenses are needed may be accomplished upon start up and/or periodically during operation.
Tuner activation is generated at 112 by licensing entities/agents 114 such as Internet servers and the activation code discussed above sent 116 to the VRLI
110, which presents the code to the user to complete the activation process at 120.
Activation of the licensable component, e.g., the Al SC decoder/demodulator 58, is executed at 101, which converts the product 94 to an ATSC-capable device. The user may be notified using onscreen notification that ATSC programming may now be viewed using the product 94.
Figure 7 shows another alternative embodiment. Using, e.g., the RC 30, a person may input 122 a request to conduct auto-scan of available terrestrial or cable or satellite channels from, e.g., an onscreen setup menu presented on an audio video display product 94 (which may be implemented by the TV 12). In response, at 124 Internet information including an Internet address of a licensing entity/agent is prepared and the user notified 126 of the information by means of, e.g, a user interface or prompt presented on the product 94. The user enters 128 the information into, e.g., a home computer 127.
Tuner activation is generated at 130 by licensing entities/agents 132 such as Internet servers and the activation code discussed above sent 134 to the computer, which presents 136 the code to the user by means of, e.g., a web page or telephone to complete the activation process at 138. Activation of the licensable component, e.g, the ATSC
decoder/demodulator 58, is executed at 101, which converts the product 94 to an ATSC-capable device. The user may be notified using onscreen notification that ATSC
programming may now be viewed using the product 94.
Alternatively, licensing information may be exchanged using short message service (SMS) codes or by using bar codes. To use bar codes the TV can include a camera that images the bar codes on various components, which are interpreted by the processor 18 as identifying information.
In some instances, if only a limited number (e.g., two) NTSC channels are needed, a limited and less expensive license may be requested and granted to permit access to only those two channels through the NTSC demodulator with a license being requested and granted to any component such as a stereo audio decoder should the legacy device (typically, a VCR) use such audio.
Figure 8 shows logic that may be executed by a licensing entity/agent computer.
Commencing at block 140, a license request from e.g., the TV 12 is received at, e.g., any of the above-described servers or head ends, which are programmed with software to execute the logic shown in Figure 8. The unique ID discussed above is looked up at block 142 and the requesting device is authenticated at decision diamond 144 by, e.g., determining if the device is on a list of approved devices. If desired, it may be further determined whether a license for the particular licensable component that is the subject of the request has already been granted and if so, authentication fails. If the requesting device is approved and a license for the licensable component that is the subject of the request has not already been granted, the logic moves to block 146 to send license information, e.g., activation codes, to the requesting device.
Block 148 indicates that license accounting data is generated pursuant to sending the activation code to the requesting device. This accounting data can be used to effect remuneration from the manufacturer of the requesting device to the licensing authority for the component that is the subject of the request. At block 150 the authorized device database is modified to record the grant of the license.
Marketing data may be generated at block 152 based on the license grant. As an example, the total number of devices vended with the licensable component may be compared against the number of licenses granted to requesting devices to ascertain usage of the component compared to other components within the requesting device.
For instance, it might be noted that 30% of vended devices of a particular TV
model ever request activation of the ATSC tuner. This data can moreover be correlated to demographic data obtained during device registration so that, as an example, of the 30% of devices requesting activation of the TV tuner, it can be known which geographic region was more likely to request such activation, or which demographic age group, etc. It may be further ascertained, using device registration information submitted by purchasers, that of the devices requesting activation of the ATSC tuner, for example, 90% of those devices were second or third home TVs that consequently can be inferred to lack a cable or satellite hookup.
it is preferred that once a licensable component has been activated by obtaining a license for it, it cannot subsequently be deactivated by the user, to avoid multiple license payments for the same component. Accordingly, the TV processor 18 may be programmed to refuse deactivation commands from the user if any are input for any component that has been activated and licensed, at least insofar as deactivation would require another license to reactivate.
Verification of license may also be provided by the TV processor so that, for example, if a component license is requested by the TV but the corresponding feature never used within some period of time, the TV can retract the license request and any license fees refunded as a result.
Without limitation, the need for paying for licenses for the following technologies may be determined during TV set-up or subsequently by automatically detecting thether the technologies are being used:
VIDEO DECODERS
MPEG-2 video, MPEG-2 video with optical disk, MPEG4 advanced video coding (AVC), IV1PEG4 Visual, MPEG video eodec (VC) I
AUDIO DECODERS
unified AAC (MPEG 2&4 AAC) 2ch, unified AAC (MPEG 2&4 AAC) 3ch, Dolby Digital AC3 2ch, Dolby Digital AC3 5.1 (ill, Dolby Digital Plus (DD-9 2ch, ProLogia (Surround Sound), MPF.Cf audio 1&2 layer 1, 2, 3) MP3, DIS_Blueray disk (BD) (2CF1/2CH-F Digital Out), BBE Sound, sound retrieval system (SRS) sound EPGs Gemstar Guide EPG, non-Gemstar EPG (SI-EPG) DEMODULATORS
Association of Radio Industries and Businesses (ARM) (D+BS-I CS), ATSC, digital video broadcasting (terrestrial) (DVB-T) OTHER COMPONENTS INCLUDING DIGITAL RIGHTS
MANAGEMENT (DRM) Joint Photographic Expert Group (JPEG), digital transmission content protection (DTCP)/AACP/Open MG, HDMI, System Synchronized Brightness Control (contrast enhancement), Inverter controller integrated circuit (IC), IEEE 802A I
wireless license, IEEE 802.11(n), BD Pool (player), BD Pool (recorder), digital video disk (DVD) format, IEEE 802.11/16, IEEE 1394 S OFTWARE
JAVA, MHP/Ginga interactive TV software, JAVA-BD combination. DivX codee software, Windows Media Audio, Windows Media Video, Windows Media Network read, Windows Media digital rights management (DRM), audio watermark, Netfront, web browser software.
Additionally, production encryption keys and test encryption keys may be used to permit testing a licensable component in production, pre-sale, without triggering the above-described license request mechanisms. A TV may be placed in a test activation mode used only in the manufacturing or test phase, and if desired the test mode may have a hardwired time out. A test key or keys can he used to activate licensable components and the license request algorithm recognizes a test key and responsive to the recognition does not request a license. The test activation mode may be hardwired to deactivate after a single power cycle and the TV processor may not permit reactivation of the test mode thereafter. Activation of a licensable component thereafter requires a production key which is associated with a license request.
Figure 9 shows logic that may be executed to activate a licensable component of an audio video device in a retail store for demonstration purposes without triggering payment of a license fee. Commencing at block 200, the device 12 is energized and at decision diamond 202 .a processor such as the processor 18 determines whether the device 12 is in a retail demonstration mode. If not, the logic flows to block 204 to proceed as described above to implement activation of one or more licensable components, which typically entails licensing fee triggering.
On the other hand, if it is determined at decision diamond 202 that the device 12 is in the retail demonstration mode, the logic flows from decision diamond 202 to block 206 to activate one or more licensable components in thedevice 12 for demonstration purposes without triggering a license fee. In one embodiment, in the retail mode the processor 18 activates one or more licensable components without contacting an activation server by, e.g., .presenting an encryption element to unlock a license code that may be stored in a protected region of the local .storage 22 and that is otherwise inaccessible without the encryption element. The license code is then used to activate the licensable component.
Security is provided programmatically in such an embodiment, with the processor being programmed to not present the encryption element to unlock the license code unless the processor determines that the device 12 is in the retail demonstration mode.
Or, in another embodiment the license code may be stored at a remote server and not in local storage 22, and in the retail demonstration mode the processor 18 requests the license code as before by, e.g., sending, through the modem 24 or 48 or cable or other communications interface, the unique product ID mentioned above, along with the identity of the licensable component sought to be activated. The unique product ID may be a combination, e.g, a hash, of the device 12 serial number and device 12 model number.
Or, the unique product ID may be a unique encryption key in the device 12 such as a high definition content protection (HDCP) key selection vector (KSV) or DTCP
certificate.
The server compares the unique device 12 ID to a list of authorized device IDs and if a match is found, returns to the processor 18 the license code required to unlock the licensable component. If no match is found, and/or (in some embodiments) if a match is found but the license code has already been requested in the retail mode, the license code is not returned by the server to the device 12. In this way, the server and, hence, the licensor of the licensable component knows how many times the licensable component has been activated for demonstration purposes and can compare this against the actual fee-generating license request that may eventually be made by a purchaser subsequent to demonstration in accordance with principles above.
An alternative determination that the device 12 is in a retail demonstration mode may be made by the device 12 follows. The device 12 can receive audio through a microphone connected to the device 12 processor, and if the audio as determined by audio pattern recognition software indicates that multiple sources of audio are playing the same audio simultaneously (as is often the case with multiple TVs in a store being tuned to the same channel), a deteimination of "retail demonstration mode" at decision diamond 202 may be returned.
Another alternative determination that the device 12 is in a retail demonstration mode may be made by the device 12 follows. The device 12 can use connectivity, either ad-hoc (e.g., through a local area wireless Ethernet). AP, or mesh technology and discover other similar CE devices in the immediate vicinity and if several are discovered, the device 12 can infer it is in the retail demonstration mode at decision diamond 202.
In this ease, only a single brand of CE device need be set up and later-energized CE devices in the vicinity can then detect the first authorized retail CE device in making their own determinations at decision diamond 202. Yet a third alternative is to define (using, frequency, pulse characteristics, etc.) an industry standard short range RF or IR signal to be a "retail beacon- that is transmitted in retail outlets, When the CE device 12 detects the retail beacon, it determines it is in the retail demonstration mode at decision diamond 202.
Figure 10 illustrates an example non-limiting mechanism, in this case, a Ul that is presented on the display 28, that may be used to establish whether the device is in the retail demonstration mode. The UI 208 may be presented at power on or at some other point of operation, e.g.. when a licensable component is invoked by attempting to present data on the display 28 requiring use of the licensable component. In this latter case the Ul 208 may not be presented if a license to the licensable component has already been purchased but only if no license to the licensable component has been purchased but use of the component is desired or attempted.
As shown, a viewer is presented with the option of selecting "yes" or "no"
with respect to the retail mode, with "yes" meaning that the device 12 is to be determined to be in the retail mode at decision diamond 202 in Figure 9 and "no" meaning that the device 12 is to be determined not to be in the retail mode at decision diamond 202 in Figure 9.
The viewer may appropriately manipulate the RC 30 to navigate and make selections from the UI 208 in Figure 10. When "yes" is selected, the viewer may he prompted as shown to enter a retail mode key, which is provided only to retail outlets. Only by entering the retail key can the device 12 be placed in the retail mode at decision diamond 202/block 206. Failure to enter the key causes the device 12 to be placed in the normal mode at block 204 after, e.g., a predetermined timeout period during which no authorized key is received even if "yes" is selected from the Lir 208, In this way, in the event that the device 12 is never placed on display in the retail outlet but instead is vended directly out of the box, an end user cannot enter the retail mode and thereby avoid the license activation logic of Figures 1-8. Additionally, the example UI 208 in Figure 10 may further allow a retail store clerk to permanently disable the retail mode upon sale of the device 12, in which case the UI 208 is never presented again on the display 28 and the device 12 remains in the normal mode at block 204. Also, the retail mode may be permanently disabled automatically and the device 12 always thereafter remaining in the normal mode upon occurrence of a predetermined condition, e.g., the device 12 has been powered up and retail mode selected and entered by entering an authorized retail key more than a threshold number of times, e.g., twenty.
While the particular TRACKING ACTIVATION OF LICENSABLE
COMPONENT IN AUDIO VIDEO DEVICE BY UNIQUE PRODUCT
IDENTIFICATION is herein shown and described in detail, it is to be understood that the subject matter which is encompassed by the present invention is limited only by the claims.
In another aspect, an audio video display device (AVDD) includes a licensable component providing a licensable function. The licensable function is available to present data on the AVDD without paying a license fee to exploit the licensable function when the AVDD is in a retail demonstration mode, whereas post-vending of the AVDD, the licensable function is available to present data on the AVDD only pursuant to a license fee transaction therefor being arranged.
The details of the present invention, both as to its structure and operation, can best be understood in reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals refer to like parts, and in which:
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a Nock diagram of a non-limiting example system in accordance with present principles;
Figure 2 is a block diagram of an example TV;
Figure 3 is a flow chart of non-limiting TV set up logic in accordance with present principles;
Figure 4 is a flow chart of non-limiting logic for automatically detecting whether an ATSC demodulator is required to be activated;
Figures 5-7 are schematic diagrams illustrating alternate methods for activating an ATSC demodulator;
Figure 8 is a flow chart of non-limiting logic for licensing a component in a TV;
Figure 9 is a flow chart of example logic for operating the audio video device in the retail mode so as not to trigger payment of a license fee; and Figure 10 is a screen shot of an example user interface (UTI) to support the retail mode, DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring initially to the non-limiting example embodiment show in Figure I, a system 10 includes an audio video device such as a TV 12 including a TV timer communicating with a TV processor 18 accessing a tangible computer readable storage medium 20 such as disk-based or solid state storage. The TV 12 can output audio on one or more speakers 22. The TV 12 can receive streaming video from the Internet using a built-in .wired or wireless modem 24 communicating with the processor 12 which may execute a software-implemented browser 26. Video is presented under control of the TV
processor 18 on .a TV display 28 such as but not limited to a high definition TV (HDTV) flat panel display. User commands to the processor 18 may be wirelessly received from a remote control (RC) 30 using, e.g., rf or infrared. Audio-video display devices other than.
a TV may be used, e.g., smart phones, game consoles, personal digital organizers, notebook computers and other types of computers, etc.
TV programming from one or more terrestrial TV broadcast sources 32 as received by a terrestrial broadcast antenna 34 which communicates with the TV 12 may be presented on the display 28 and speakers 22. The terrestrial broadcast programming may conform to digital ATSC standards and may carry within, it a. terrestrial broadcast EPG, although the terrestrial broadcast EPG may be received .from alternate sources, e.g., the Internet via Ethernet, or. Cable communication link, or satellite communication link.
TV programming from a cable TV head end 36 may also be received at the TV for presentation of TV signals on the display 28 and speakers 22. When basic cable only is desired, the cable from the wall typically carries TV signals in QAM or NTSC
format and is plugged directly into the IT-type connector" 38 on the TV chassis in the U.S., although the connector used for this purpose in other countries may vary. In contrast, when the user has an extended cable subscription for instance, the signals from the head end 36 are typically sent through a STB 40 which may be separate from or integrated within the TV
chassis but in any case which sends fiDMI basebancl signals to the TV, Similarly, IIDMI baseband signals transmitted from a satellite source 42 of TV
broadcast signals received by an integrated receiver/decoder (1RD) 44 associated with a home satellite dish may be input to the TV 12 for presentation on the display 28 and speakers 22. Also, streaming video may be received from the Internet 46 for presentation on the display 28 and speakers 22. The streaming video may be received at the computer modem 24 or it may be received at an in-home modem 48 that is external to the TV 12 and conveyed to the TV 12 over a wired or wireless Ethernet link and received at an R.145 or 802.11x antenna on the TV chassis.
Figure 2 shows details of an example TV 12, As shown, the terrestrial signal in ATSC format is input to the TV tuner 16, as is basic cable in NTSC or QAM
format in the event that basic cable is used and the wall cable plugged into the F-type connector 38. On the other hand, streaming Internet video may be received at a DOCSIS tuner 50 and demodulated/decoded at a DOCSIS decoder/demodulator 52. Typically, the DOCSIS
components are housed separately from the TV 12 but in some embodiments may be included in the chassis of the TV 12.
The output of the tuner 16, depending on the signal format received, may be sent to an NTSC decoder/demodulator 54, or a QAM decoder/demodulator 56, or an ATSC
decoder/demodulator 58. The output from the NTSC decoder/demodulator 54 can be sent directly to the display 28 and speakers 22 for presentation. On the other hand, the output from the digital decoder/demodulators 56, 58 typically is sent to a transport stream demultiplexer 60, which separates the desired program from other programs in the selected stream and sends the desired program to an MPEG video decoder 62, which in turn uncompre.sses the MPEG desired program and sends the uncompressed program to the TV
display 28 for presentation. Audio from the demultiplexer 60 may be sent to an audio decoder 64 which in turn sends the decoded audio to the speakers 22 for presentation.
In contrast to the sequence of decoder/demodulators, demultiplexer,. and MPEG
decoders discussed above, video from either the STB 40 or 'RD 44 is in baseband HDMI
when it is received by the TV 12. Accordingly, the signals from the STB 40 or IRD 44 are sent directly to the TV display 28 for presentation without further video decompression between the STB 40 or 1RD 44 and TV display 28. Audio from the STB 40 or 1RD
may still be in a format, e.g., AC3, that requires decoding prior to play on the speakers 22 so the audio may be sent through the audio decoder 64 as shown. Likewise, audio from the ATSC terrestrial source 32 may be in AC3 foi mat and so may be sent through the audio decoder 64. Internet video from the DOCSIS decoder/demodulator 52 may be sent through the de-multiplexer 60 and decoders 62, 64 as shown.
Now referring to Figure 3, at block 66 a user of the TV 12 can be conducted, using onscreen user interfaces (U1), through a set-up routine upon first power on or thereafter from a menu to set up various features of the TV. As an example, the user may be asked, for one or more licensable components within the TV, if the user desires to use that component. This may be done implicitly, e.g., by asking the user if the user wishes to automatically scan the broadcast spectrum to detect channels, in which case it may be inferred that the ATSC decoder/demodulator 58 and MPEG decoder 62 will be required and, hence, that licenses to use those components will be needed. Also, in this latter case it may be inferred that a license to the terrestrial broadcast EPG may be required, whereas such a license would not be required if terrestrial broadcast were not being used as an input source.
Or again, the user may be given the choice to receive Internet video through the built-in modem 24 or from an external modern 48 and if the latter is chosen, no license need be obtained for the internal browser 26; otherwise, a license may be required to use the internal browser 26.
Proceeding to block 68, for each license that is inferred to be required based on the user set-up selections at block 66, the TV 12 uploads a request for the license over the Internet, for example, or back through a two-way cable system, etc. Or, as explained further below the request may be made by telephone. Regardless of how made, the request typically identifies the component for which a license is required based on user input at block 66 along with a unique identification of the TV, e.g., a hash of the TV
model number and serial number, in some embodiments encrypted if desired. The request may be made at set-up time. Alternatively, the request may be cached for later upload when, e.g., an appropriate broadband connection is sensed. In any case, the request may be sent to an Internet server at a prestored Internet address or to a cable head end or to another appropriate licensing entity or agent.
Block 70 indicates that assuming it passes authentication the TV 12 receives back the license in the form of licensing infoimation, typically a code that must be input to the TV processor 18 to enable or unlock the associated component. The code may be automatically input to the appropriate internal components of the TV at block 72 or the code may be displayed on the TV and the user prompted by means of an onscreen Ul to enter the code using, e.g., the RC 30. Proper input of the code activates the related component within the TV. Block 74 simply indicates that license fee data is maintained and used to generate billing information from the licensing agency to the manufacturer of the TV, and may also be used to generate marketing data as discussed further below. The data may be kept in the TV until uploaded to a licensing entity/agent by means noted above.
Figure 4 shows that automatic license determinations may be made outside of a user set-up routine if desired. In the example shown in Figure 4, commencing at decision diamond 76 it is determined whether a predetermined physical condition exists in the TV, e.g., a particular kind of connection, from which it may be inferred what licensable components will be required. In the example of Figure 4, the physical condition is the presence of a voltage in the automatic gain control (AGC) circuitry of the tuner 16, which would occur when, for instance, a connection is made at the TV chassis to the terrestrial antenna 34 or when a cable from the wall is connected to the F-type connector 38.
When the tested-for physical condition exists, the logic flows to block 78, in this example to activate the NTSC demodulator 54. This is done recognizing that NTSC
demodulators typically require no licenses, so to avoid unnecessarily requesting licenses, the signal at the tuner 16 is first tested to determine if it is an NTSC
signal. Decision diamond 80 indicates that the test may be whether "noise", is present in the signal, If the test indicates that NTSC signals only are present the logic ends, but otherwise the logic flows to block 82 to activate the QAM decoder/demodulator 56. If QAM only is detected (by the QAM decoder/demodulator 56 recognizing QAM
signals and/or no noise) the logic ends, but if the QAM decoder/demodulator 56 does not recognize the signal, this indicates that the signal is neither QAM nor (from decision diamond 80) NTSC, with the inference thus being that the signal is ATSC
requiring use of the ATSC decoder/demodulator 58, Which is activated at block 86 to process the signal.
At. block 88 an uplink is obtained by the TV processor 18 to the above-described licensing entity/agent to obtain the license code discussed above using the unique ID of the TV, and at block 90 the code is received and .used as necessary to permit use of the ATSC
decoder/demodulator 58.
Or, the step at block 90 can be omitted and the .ATSC decoder/demodulator 58 immediately activated on the assumption that the processor 18 is programmed to send a message to the licensing entity/agent that licensing accounting is to be generated after activation of the ATSC decoder/demodulator 58.
Yet again, as shown in dashed lines in 'Figure 4 the logic may flow first from decision diamond 84 to blocks. 88 and 90 to obtain the licensing "unlock" code and then back to block 86 to activate the ATSC decoder/demodulator 58 using the code, to ensure that no use may be made of the ATSC decoder/demodulator 58 until such time as the licensing entity/agent has been informed of its use, has authenticated the TV
for the necessary ATSC license, and has determined that under business rules the license code should be downloaded to fulfill the request.
Additional example inference rules that may be employed pursuant to automatically obtaining needed component licenses after vending the TV to avoid paying for unnecessary licenses prior to sale of the TV include, if there is ATSC
present, it is less likely that QA.M will be found; if ATSC is present, the total number of ATSC
channels will be much smaller than the number for QAM channels. Also, when signals are received from an external modem 48, audio video programming does not require use of the built-in browser 26 and so receipt of video over an Ethernet link without receipt of signals at the internal modem 24 may be inferred to mean. that the browser 26 is not in use.
Figures 5-7 illustrate logic that may be used during setup to obtain licenses.
Using, the RC 30, a person may input 92 a request to conduct auto-scan of available terrestrial or cable or satellite channels from, e.g., an onscreen setup menu presented on an audio video display product 94 (which may be implemented by the TV 12). In response, the AV display product sends an activation request for, e.g,, the ATSC
decoder/demodulator 58 which may include the tuner ID and product 94 ID and/or the decoder/demodulator 58 ID/product 94 ID. Activation of the ATSC
decoder/demodulator 58 is executed at 96 using activation codes from one or more licensing entities/agents such as server 98, provided the licensing entities/agents determine, based on the information received from the product 94, that the product is entitled to a license for the requested component.
A log may be kept by the licensing entities/agents indicating what products and what components in those products have been activated and based on that log, licensing accounting data may be generated for purposes of presenting licensing invoices for activated components to the manufacturer of the product 94. In any case, 100 indicates that the product 94 receives the activation response, e.g., activation codes, to activate the demodulator /decoder 58 at 101, which converts the product 94 to an ATSC-capable device. The user may be notified using onscreen notification that ATSC
programming may now be viewed using the product 94.
Figure 6 shows an alternative embodiment. Using, e.g., the RC 30, a person may input 102 a request to conduct auto-scan of available terrestrial or cable or satellite channels from, e.g., an onscreen setup menu presented on an audio video display product 94 (which may be implemented by the TV 12). In response, at 104 telephone information including a phone number to a licensing entity/agent is prepared and the user notified 106 of the information by means of, e.g,, a user interface or prompt presented on the product 94, The user enters 108 the information into a telephone, either by speaking the number or by holding the telephone adjacent a speaker on the product 94 for receiving dual tone rnultifrequency (DTMF) tones from the product that are detected by the telephone and used to automatically dial the number using, e.g., a voice response unit (VRLI) 110.
Other alternate embodiments involve sending short message service (SMS) messages to a server to send the above infoimation or scanning bar-type codes on the TV
or component to send the requisite information to the server to obtain the license. In any case, determining what licenses are needed may be accomplished upon start up and/or periodically during operation.
Tuner activation is generated at 112 by licensing entities/agents 114 such as Internet servers and the activation code discussed above sent 116 to the VRLI
110, which presents the code to the user to complete the activation process at 120.
Activation of the licensable component, e.g., the Al SC decoder/demodulator 58, is executed at 101, which converts the product 94 to an ATSC-capable device. The user may be notified using onscreen notification that ATSC programming may now be viewed using the product 94.
Figure 7 shows another alternative embodiment. Using, e.g., the RC 30, a person may input 122 a request to conduct auto-scan of available terrestrial or cable or satellite channels from, e.g., an onscreen setup menu presented on an audio video display product 94 (which may be implemented by the TV 12). In response, at 124 Internet information including an Internet address of a licensing entity/agent is prepared and the user notified 126 of the information by means of, e.g, a user interface or prompt presented on the product 94. The user enters 128 the information into, e.g., a home computer 127.
Tuner activation is generated at 130 by licensing entities/agents 132 such as Internet servers and the activation code discussed above sent 134 to the computer, which presents 136 the code to the user by means of, e.g., a web page or telephone to complete the activation process at 138. Activation of the licensable component, e.g, the ATSC
decoder/demodulator 58, is executed at 101, which converts the product 94 to an ATSC-capable device. The user may be notified using onscreen notification that ATSC
programming may now be viewed using the product 94.
Alternatively, licensing information may be exchanged using short message service (SMS) codes or by using bar codes. To use bar codes the TV can include a camera that images the bar codes on various components, which are interpreted by the processor 18 as identifying information.
In some instances, if only a limited number (e.g., two) NTSC channels are needed, a limited and less expensive license may be requested and granted to permit access to only those two channels through the NTSC demodulator with a license being requested and granted to any component such as a stereo audio decoder should the legacy device (typically, a VCR) use such audio.
Figure 8 shows logic that may be executed by a licensing entity/agent computer.
Commencing at block 140, a license request from e.g., the TV 12 is received at, e.g., any of the above-described servers or head ends, which are programmed with software to execute the logic shown in Figure 8. The unique ID discussed above is looked up at block 142 and the requesting device is authenticated at decision diamond 144 by, e.g., determining if the device is on a list of approved devices. If desired, it may be further determined whether a license for the particular licensable component that is the subject of the request has already been granted and if so, authentication fails. If the requesting device is approved and a license for the licensable component that is the subject of the request has not already been granted, the logic moves to block 146 to send license information, e.g., activation codes, to the requesting device.
Block 148 indicates that license accounting data is generated pursuant to sending the activation code to the requesting device. This accounting data can be used to effect remuneration from the manufacturer of the requesting device to the licensing authority for the component that is the subject of the request. At block 150 the authorized device database is modified to record the grant of the license.
Marketing data may be generated at block 152 based on the license grant. As an example, the total number of devices vended with the licensable component may be compared against the number of licenses granted to requesting devices to ascertain usage of the component compared to other components within the requesting device.
For instance, it might be noted that 30% of vended devices of a particular TV
model ever request activation of the ATSC tuner. This data can moreover be correlated to demographic data obtained during device registration so that, as an example, of the 30% of devices requesting activation of the TV tuner, it can be known which geographic region was more likely to request such activation, or which demographic age group, etc. It may be further ascertained, using device registration information submitted by purchasers, that of the devices requesting activation of the ATSC tuner, for example, 90% of those devices were second or third home TVs that consequently can be inferred to lack a cable or satellite hookup.
it is preferred that once a licensable component has been activated by obtaining a license for it, it cannot subsequently be deactivated by the user, to avoid multiple license payments for the same component. Accordingly, the TV processor 18 may be programmed to refuse deactivation commands from the user if any are input for any component that has been activated and licensed, at least insofar as deactivation would require another license to reactivate.
Verification of license may also be provided by the TV processor so that, for example, if a component license is requested by the TV but the corresponding feature never used within some period of time, the TV can retract the license request and any license fees refunded as a result.
Without limitation, the need for paying for licenses for the following technologies may be determined during TV set-up or subsequently by automatically detecting thether the technologies are being used:
VIDEO DECODERS
MPEG-2 video, MPEG-2 video with optical disk, MPEG4 advanced video coding (AVC), IV1PEG4 Visual, MPEG video eodec (VC) I
AUDIO DECODERS
unified AAC (MPEG 2&4 AAC) 2ch, unified AAC (MPEG 2&4 AAC) 3ch, Dolby Digital AC3 2ch, Dolby Digital AC3 5.1 (ill, Dolby Digital Plus (DD-9 2ch, ProLogia (Surround Sound), MPF.Cf audio 1&2 layer 1, 2, 3) MP3, DIS_Blueray disk (BD) (2CF1/2CH-F Digital Out), BBE Sound, sound retrieval system (SRS) sound EPGs Gemstar Guide EPG, non-Gemstar EPG (SI-EPG) DEMODULATORS
Association of Radio Industries and Businesses (ARM) (D+BS-I CS), ATSC, digital video broadcasting (terrestrial) (DVB-T) OTHER COMPONENTS INCLUDING DIGITAL RIGHTS
MANAGEMENT (DRM) Joint Photographic Expert Group (JPEG), digital transmission content protection (DTCP)/AACP/Open MG, HDMI, System Synchronized Brightness Control (contrast enhancement), Inverter controller integrated circuit (IC), IEEE 802A I
wireless license, IEEE 802.11(n), BD Pool (player), BD Pool (recorder), digital video disk (DVD) format, IEEE 802.11/16, IEEE 1394 S OFTWARE
JAVA, MHP/Ginga interactive TV software, JAVA-BD combination. DivX codee software, Windows Media Audio, Windows Media Video, Windows Media Network read, Windows Media digital rights management (DRM), audio watermark, Netfront, web browser software.
Additionally, production encryption keys and test encryption keys may be used to permit testing a licensable component in production, pre-sale, without triggering the above-described license request mechanisms. A TV may be placed in a test activation mode used only in the manufacturing or test phase, and if desired the test mode may have a hardwired time out. A test key or keys can he used to activate licensable components and the license request algorithm recognizes a test key and responsive to the recognition does not request a license. The test activation mode may be hardwired to deactivate after a single power cycle and the TV processor may not permit reactivation of the test mode thereafter. Activation of a licensable component thereafter requires a production key which is associated with a license request.
Figure 9 shows logic that may be executed to activate a licensable component of an audio video device in a retail store for demonstration purposes without triggering payment of a license fee. Commencing at block 200, the device 12 is energized and at decision diamond 202 .a processor such as the processor 18 determines whether the device 12 is in a retail demonstration mode. If not, the logic flows to block 204 to proceed as described above to implement activation of one or more licensable components, which typically entails licensing fee triggering.
On the other hand, if it is determined at decision diamond 202 that the device 12 is in the retail demonstration mode, the logic flows from decision diamond 202 to block 206 to activate one or more licensable components in thedevice 12 for demonstration purposes without triggering a license fee. In one embodiment, in the retail mode the processor 18 activates one or more licensable components without contacting an activation server by, e.g., .presenting an encryption element to unlock a license code that may be stored in a protected region of the local .storage 22 and that is otherwise inaccessible without the encryption element. The license code is then used to activate the licensable component.
Security is provided programmatically in such an embodiment, with the processor being programmed to not present the encryption element to unlock the license code unless the processor determines that the device 12 is in the retail demonstration mode.
Or, in another embodiment the license code may be stored at a remote server and not in local storage 22, and in the retail demonstration mode the processor 18 requests the license code as before by, e.g., sending, through the modem 24 or 48 or cable or other communications interface, the unique product ID mentioned above, along with the identity of the licensable component sought to be activated. The unique product ID may be a combination, e.g, a hash, of the device 12 serial number and device 12 model number.
Or, the unique product ID may be a unique encryption key in the device 12 such as a high definition content protection (HDCP) key selection vector (KSV) or DTCP
certificate.
The server compares the unique device 12 ID to a list of authorized device IDs and if a match is found, returns to the processor 18 the license code required to unlock the licensable component. If no match is found, and/or (in some embodiments) if a match is found but the license code has already been requested in the retail mode, the license code is not returned by the server to the device 12. In this way, the server and, hence, the licensor of the licensable component knows how many times the licensable component has been activated for demonstration purposes and can compare this against the actual fee-generating license request that may eventually be made by a purchaser subsequent to demonstration in accordance with principles above.
An alternative determination that the device 12 is in a retail demonstration mode may be made by the device 12 follows. The device 12 can receive audio through a microphone connected to the device 12 processor, and if the audio as determined by audio pattern recognition software indicates that multiple sources of audio are playing the same audio simultaneously (as is often the case with multiple TVs in a store being tuned to the same channel), a deteimination of "retail demonstration mode" at decision diamond 202 may be returned.
Another alternative determination that the device 12 is in a retail demonstration mode may be made by the device 12 follows. The device 12 can use connectivity, either ad-hoc (e.g., through a local area wireless Ethernet). AP, or mesh technology and discover other similar CE devices in the immediate vicinity and if several are discovered, the device 12 can infer it is in the retail demonstration mode at decision diamond 202.
In this ease, only a single brand of CE device need be set up and later-energized CE devices in the vicinity can then detect the first authorized retail CE device in making their own determinations at decision diamond 202. Yet a third alternative is to define (using, frequency, pulse characteristics, etc.) an industry standard short range RF or IR signal to be a "retail beacon- that is transmitted in retail outlets, When the CE device 12 detects the retail beacon, it determines it is in the retail demonstration mode at decision diamond 202.
Figure 10 illustrates an example non-limiting mechanism, in this case, a Ul that is presented on the display 28, that may be used to establish whether the device is in the retail demonstration mode. The UI 208 may be presented at power on or at some other point of operation, e.g.. when a licensable component is invoked by attempting to present data on the display 28 requiring use of the licensable component. In this latter case the Ul 208 may not be presented if a license to the licensable component has already been purchased but only if no license to the licensable component has been purchased but use of the component is desired or attempted.
As shown, a viewer is presented with the option of selecting "yes" or "no"
with respect to the retail mode, with "yes" meaning that the device 12 is to be determined to be in the retail mode at decision diamond 202 in Figure 9 and "no" meaning that the device 12 is to be determined not to be in the retail mode at decision diamond 202 in Figure 9.
The viewer may appropriately manipulate the RC 30 to navigate and make selections from the UI 208 in Figure 10. When "yes" is selected, the viewer may he prompted as shown to enter a retail mode key, which is provided only to retail outlets. Only by entering the retail key can the device 12 be placed in the retail mode at decision diamond 202/block 206. Failure to enter the key causes the device 12 to be placed in the normal mode at block 204 after, e.g., a predetermined timeout period during which no authorized key is received even if "yes" is selected from the Lir 208, In this way, in the event that the device 12 is never placed on display in the retail outlet but instead is vended directly out of the box, an end user cannot enter the retail mode and thereby avoid the license activation logic of Figures 1-8. Additionally, the example UI 208 in Figure 10 may further allow a retail store clerk to permanently disable the retail mode upon sale of the device 12, in which case the UI 208 is never presented again on the display 28 and the device 12 remains in the normal mode at block 204. Also, the retail mode may be permanently disabled automatically and the device 12 always thereafter remaining in the normal mode upon occurrence of a predetermined condition, e.g., the device 12 has been powered up and retail mode selected and entered by entering an authorized retail key more than a threshold number of times, e.g., twenty.
While the particular TRACKING ACTIVATION OF LICENSABLE
COMPONENT IN AUDIO VIDEO DEVICE BY UNIQUE PRODUCT
IDENTIFICATION is herein shown and described in detail, it is to be understood that the subject matter which is encompassed by the present invention is limited only by the claims.
Claims (30)
1. A method for licensing at least one licensable component providing a licensable feature for which a license has not been obtained prior to vending an audio video device, the method comprising:
determining whether the audio video device is in a retail demonstration mode;
responsive to a determination that the device is not in the retail demonstration mode, enabling licensing fee triggering of the licensable component such that activation of the licensable component triggers a license fee associated with the licensable component;
responsive to a determination that the device is in the retail demonstration mode, enabling activation of the licensable component for demonstration purposes without enabling licensing fee triggering of the licensable component such that activation of the licensable component does not trigger the license fee associated with the licensable component.
determining whether the audio video device is in a retail demonstration mode;
responsive to a determination that the device is not in the retail demonstration mode, enabling licensing fee triggering of the licensable component such that activation of the licensable component triggers a license fee associated with the licensable component;
responsive to a determination that the device is in the retail demonstration mode, enabling activation of the licensable component for demonstration purposes without enabling licensing fee triggering of the licensable component such that activation of the licensable component does not trigger the license fee associated with the licensable component.
2. The method of Claim 1, wherein a processor associated with the audio video device activates the licensable component without contacting an activation server.
3. The method of Claim 2, wherein the processor presents an encryption element to unlock a license code stored in a protected region of a local storage of the audio video device and that is inaccessible without the encryption element, the license code being used to activate the licensable component.
4. The method of Claim 1, wherein a processor associated with the audio video device requests a server to provide a license code needed to activate the licensable component in the retail demonstration mode at least in part by sending to the server a unique product ID along with the identity of the licensable component sought to be activated.
5. The method of Claim 4, wherein the unique product ID is a combination of a serial number of the audio video device and a model number of the audio video device.
6. The method of Claim 4, wherein the unique product ID is a unique encryption key in the audio video device.
7. The method of Claim 1, wherein a processor associated with the audio video device presents on a display of the audio video device a user interface (Ul) configured for enabling a viewer to establish whether the audio video device is in the retail demonstration mode, the Ul presenting an option to select the retail demonstration mode.
8. The method of Claim 7, wherein a retail key must be entered by a viewer into a Ul presented on the display to enter the retail demonstration mode, the retail key being provided only to retail outlets such that only by entering the retail key is the audio video device placed in the retail demonstration mode, failure to enter the retail key preventing the audio video device from being placed in the retail demonstration mode such that if the audio video device is never placed on display in a retail outlet but instead is vended directly out of the box, an end user cannot enter the retail demonstration mode and thereby avoid license fee triggering.
9. TV comprising:
at least one licensable component for which a license has not been obtained prior to vending the TV, the licensable component providing a licensable feature;
a TV display; and a processor in the TV controlling the display, the processor executing software code associated with the TV to actuate the licensable component to provide a presentation on the display in accordance with the licensable feature without implementing a license fee payment therefor at least in part responsive to the TV being in a retail demonstration mode, the processor executing software code associated with the TV to actuate the licensable component to provide a presentation on the display in accordance with the licensable feature and implementing a license fee payment therefore at least in part responsive to the TV being in a post-vending mode.
at least one licensable component for which a license has not been obtained prior to vending the TV, the licensable component providing a licensable feature;
a TV display; and a processor in the TV controlling the display, the processor executing software code associated with the TV to actuate the licensable component to provide a presentation on the display in accordance with the licensable feature without implementing a license fee payment therefor at least in part responsive to the TV being in a retail demonstration mode, the processor executing software code associated with the TV to actuate the licensable component to provide a presentation on the display in accordance with the licensable feature and implementing a license fee payment therefore at least in part responsive to the TV being in a post-vending mode.
10. The TV of Claim 9, wherein the licensable component is a terrestrial broadcast advanced television systems committee (ATSC) demodulator assembly. .
11. The TV of Claim 9, wherein the licensable component is a video decoder. .
12. The TV of Claim 9, wherein the licensable component is an audio decoder. .
13. The TV of Claim 9, wherein the licensable component is a digital rights management component.
14. The TV of Claim 9, wherein the licensable component is a web browser, ,
15. The TV of Claim 9, wherein the licensable component is an electronic program guide (EPG) component.
16. Audio video display device (AVDD) comprising:
a licensable component providing a licensable function, the licensable function being available to present data on the AVDD without paying a license fee to exploit the licensable function when the AVDD is in a retail demonstration mode, whereas post-vending of the AVDD, the licensable function is available to present data on the AVDD only pursuant to a license fee transaction therefore being arranged.
a licensable component providing a licensable function, the licensable function being available to present data on the AVDD without paying a license fee to exploit the licensable function when the AVDD is in a retail demonstration mode, whereas post-vending of the AVDD, the licensable function is available to present data on the AVDD only pursuant to a license fee transaction therefore being arranged.
17. The AVDD of Claim 16, wherein a processor associated with the AVDD
activates the licensable component without contacting an activation server.
activates the licensable component without contacting an activation server.
18. The AVDD of Claim 16, wherein a processor associated with the AVDD
requests a server to provide a license code needed to activate the licensable component in the retail demonstration mode at least in part by sending to the server a unique product ID along with the identity of the licensable component sought to be activated.
requests a server to provide a license code needed to activate the licensable component in the retail demonstration mode at least in part by sending to the server a unique product ID along with the identity of the licensable component sought to be activated.
19. The AVDD of Claim 18, wherein the unique product ID is a combination of a serial number of the AVDD and a model number of the AVDD and/or a unique encryption key in the AVDD.
20. The AVDD of Chum 16, wherein a processor associated with the audio video device presents on a display of the audio video device a user interface (Up configured for enabling a viewer to establish whether the audio video device is in the retail demonstration mode, the Ul presenting an option to select the retail demonstration mode.
21. Video display device (VDD) comprising:
at least one licensable component for which a license has not been obtained prior to vending the VDD, the licensable component providing a licensable feature;
a video display for displaying video signals; and a processor in the VDD for controlling the display; and at least one memory storing executable instructions that when executed by the processor cause the processor to perform a method, the method comprising:
determining that the VDD is in a retail demonstration mode and in response to a determination that the VDD is in a retail demonstration mode, activating the licensable component in accordance with the licensable feature without implementing a license fee payment, determining that the VDD is in a post-vending mode, wherein the post-vending mode is distinct from the retail demonstration mode, based on an activation code, and in response to the determination that the VDD
is in a post-vending mode, activating the licensable component in accordance with the licensable feature, wherein the determining that the VDD is in a retail demonstration mode is based on at least one of:
(i) determining via a communication connection to a plurality of devices within a retail outlet that a device of the plurality of devices is in retail demonstration mode;
(ii) receiving an audio signal and determining that the audio signal comprises audio from multiple VDDs within a retail outlet;
(iii) presenting a prompt on the display and receiving a retail demonstration mode key, wherein the retail demonstration mode key is distinct from the activation code, and further comprising that the VDD is in post-vending mode when a retail demonstration mode key was not received after a timeout period and in response, permanently disabling the retail demonstration mode.
at least one licensable component for which a license has not been obtained prior to vending the VDD, the licensable component providing a licensable feature;
a video display for displaying video signals; and a processor in the VDD for controlling the display; and at least one memory storing executable instructions that when executed by the processor cause the processor to perform a method, the method comprising:
determining that the VDD is in a retail demonstration mode and in response to a determination that the VDD is in a retail demonstration mode, activating the licensable component in accordance with the licensable feature without implementing a license fee payment, determining that the VDD is in a post-vending mode, wherein the post-vending mode is distinct from the retail demonstration mode, based on an activation code, and in response to the determination that the VDD
is in a post-vending mode, activating the licensable component in accordance with the licensable feature, wherein the determining that the VDD is in a retail demonstration mode is based on at least one of:
(i) determining via a communication connection to a plurality of devices within a retail outlet that a device of the plurality of devices is in retail demonstration mode;
(ii) receiving an audio signal and determining that the audio signal comprises audio from multiple VDDs within a retail outlet;
(iii) presenting a prompt on the display and receiving a retail demonstration mode key, wherein the retail demonstration mode key is distinct from the activation code, and further comprising that the VDD is in post-vending mode when a retail demonstration mode key was not received after a timeout period and in response, permanently disabling the retail demonstration mode.
22. The VDD of claim 21, wherein the licensable component is a terrestrial broadcast advanced television systems committee (ATSC) demodulator assembly.
23. The VDD of claim 21, wherein the licensable component is a video decoder.
24. The VDD of claim 21, wherein the licensable component is an audio decoder.
25. The VDD of claim 21, wherein the licensable component is a digital rights management component.
26. The VDD of claim 21, wherein the licensable component is a web browser.
27. The VDD of claim 21, wherein the licensable component is an electronic program guide (EPG) component.
28. The VDD of claim 21, wherein the determining that the VDD is in a retail demonstration mode is based on determining via a communication connection to a plurality of devices within a retail outlet that a device of the plurality of devices is in retail demonstration mode.
29. The VDD of claim 21, wherein the determining that the VDD is in a retail demonstration mode is based on receiving an audio signal and determining that the audio signal comprises audio from multiple VDDs within a retail outlet.
30. The VDD of claim 29, wherein the determining that the VDD is in a retail demonstration mode is based on presenting a prompt on the display and receiving a retail demonstration mode key, wherein the retail demonstration mode key is distinct from the activation code, and further comprising that the VDD is in post-vending mode when a retail demonstration mode key was not received after a timeout period and in response, permanently disabling the retail demonstration mode.
Applications Claiming Priority (7)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US41255210P | 2010-11-11 | 2010-11-11 | |
US61/412,552 | 2010-11-11 | ||
US12/970,215 | 2010-12-16 | ||
US12/970,215 US9449324B2 (en) | 2010-11-11 | 2010-12-16 | Reducing TV licensing costs |
US13/048,981 US8589305B2 (en) | 2010-11-11 | 2011-03-16 | Tracking activation of licensable component in audio video device by unique product identification |
US13/048,981 | 2011-03-16 | ||
PCT/US2011/046565 WO2012064388A1 (en) | 2010-11-11 | 2011-08-04 | Tracking activation of licensable component in audio video device by unique product identification |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
CA2816673A1 CA2816673A1 (en) | 2012-05-18 |
CA2816673C true CA2816673C (en) | 2016-10-18 |
Family
ID=46047416
Family Applications (6)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
CA2816673A Active CA2816673C (en) | 2010-11-11 | 2011-08-04 | Tracking activation of licensable component in audio video device by unique product identification |
CA 2816638 Abandoned CA2816638A1 (en) | 2010-11-11 | 2011-08-17 | Reducing tv licensing costs |
CA2922142A Active CA2922142C (en) | 2010-11-11 | 2011-10-06 | Activating licensable component provided by third party to audio video device |
CA2816694A Active CA2816694C (en) | 2010-11-11 | 2011-10-06 | Activating licensable component using aggregating device in home network |
CA2816703A Active CA2816703C (en) | 2010-11-11 | 2011-10-06 | Activating licensable component provided by third party to audio video device |
CA 2816706 Abandoned CA2816706A1 (en) | 2010-11-11 | 2011-10-11 | Supplying omitted critical code portion to activate licensable component in audio video device |
Family Applications After (5)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
CA 2816638 Abandoned CA2816638A1 (en) | 2010-11-11 | 2011-08-17 | Reducing tv licensing costs |
CA2922142A Active CA2922142C (en) | 2010-11-11 | 2011-10-06 | Activating licensable component provided by third party to audio video device |
CA2816694A Active CA2816694C (en) | 2010-11-11 | 2011-10-06 | Activating licensable component using aggregating device in home network |
CA2816703A Active CA2816703C (en) | 2010-11-11 | 2011-10-06 | Activating licensable component provided by third party to audio video device |
CA 2816706 Abandoned CA2816706A1 (en) | 2010-11-11 | 2011-10-11 | Supplying omitted critical code portion to activate licensable component in audio video device |
Country Status (8)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (15) | US9449324B2 (en) |
EP (5) | EP2638501B1 (en) |
JP (5) | JP5626551B2 (en) |
KR (5) | KR101442444B1 (en) |
CN (7) | CN103210659B (en) |
CA (6) | CA2816673C (en) |
TW (2) | TWI446785B (en) |
WO (5) | WO2012064388A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (50)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US9648372B2 (en) * | 2009-07-23 | 2017-05-09 | Fmr Llc | Inserting personalized information into digital content |
US8402555B2 (en) | 2010-03-21 | 2013-03-19 | William Grecia | Personalized digital media access system (PDMAS) |
US9449324B2 (en) | 2010-11-11 | 2016-09-20 | Sony Corporation | Reducing TV licensing costs |
US8831981B2 (en) * | 2011-01-18 | 2014-09-09 | Proximiant, Inc. | Electronic transaction record distribution system |
US9141616B2 (en) | 2011-05-06 | 2015-09-22 | Google Inc. | Physical confirmation for network-provided content |
US8918641B2 (en) * | 2011-05-26 | 2014-12-23 | Intel Corporation | Dynamic platform reconfiguration by multi-tenant service providers |
US9715581B1 (en) * | 2011-11-04 | 2017-07-25 | Christopher Estes | Digital media reproduction and licensing |
US9530121B2 (en) * | 2011-12-19 | 2016-12-27 | Hunter Engineering Company | Vehicle service procedures |
TW201327370A (en) * | 2011-12-28 | 2013-07-01 | Amtran Technology Co Ltd | System and method for resource sharing and broadcasting device thereof |
US9549024B2 (en) | 2012-12-07 | 2017-01-17 | Remote Media, Llc | Routing and synchronization system, method, and manager |
CN103118080B (en) * | 2013-01-18 | 2016-09-21 | 深圳市酷开网络科技有限公司 | Downloading management method based on Android browser and device |
US20140211091A1 (en) * | 2013-01-31 | 2014-07-31 | Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba | Image display device and display control method |
US20140247941A1 (en) * | 2013-03-01 | 2014-09-04 | Oplink Communications, Inc. | Self-configuring wireless network |
CN104050165B (en) * | 2013-03-11 | 2018-04-20 | 中兴通讯股份有限公司 | A kind of webpage initial focus method for selecting and device based on IPTV |
US9203832B2 (en) | 2013-03-12 | 2015-12-01 | Cable Television Laboratories, Inc. | DTCP certificate authentication over TLS protocol |
WO2014144936A1 (en) | 2013-03-15 | 2014-09-18 | Videri Inc. | Systems and methods for displaying, distributing, viewing and controlling digital art and imaging |
JP2014179939A (en) * | 2013-03-15 | 2014-09-25 | Sony Corp | Signal processing device, and signal processing method |
US9864405B2 (en) * | 2013-03-15 | 2018-01-09 | Videri Inc. | Smart frame for a mobile display device |
WO2015005708A1 (en) * | 2013-07-10 | 2015-01-15 | 엘지전자(주) | Content reproduction method and device |
JP2015075902A (en) * | 2013-10-08 | 2015-04-20 | キヤノン株式会社 | Image formation device, control method thereof, and program |
KR102234792B1 (en) * | 2014-09-03 | 2021-04-01 | 삼성전자주식회사 | Digital television and control method thereof |
JP2016177417A (en) * | 2015-03-19 | 2016-10-06 | Nttエレクトロニクス株式会社 | Processing apparatus and remote management system |
US9930394B2 (en) | 2015-06-01 | 2018-03-27 | Bby Solutions, Inc. | Display component activation |
EP3326371A4 (en) | 2015-07-24 | 2019-05-22 | VideoAmp, Inc. | Cross-screen optimization of advertising placement |
WO2017019643A1 (en) * | 2015-07-24 | 2017-02-02 | Videoamp, Inc. | Targeting tv advertising slots based on consumer online behavior |
US10136174B2 (en) | 2015-07-24 | 2018-11-20 | Videoamp, Inc. | Programmatic TV advertising placement using cross-screen consumer data |
EP3326136A4 (en) | 2015-07-24 | 2019-03-13 | Videoamp, Inc. | Sequential delivery of advertising content across media devices |
EP3326070A4 (en) | 2015-07-24 | 2019-03-13 | Videoamp, Inc. | Cross-screen measurement accuracy in advertising performance |
US10812870B2 (en) | 2016-01-14 | 2020-10-20 | Videoamp, Inc. | Yield optimization of cross-screen advertising placement |
CN105182933A (en) * | 2015-08-27 | 2015-12-23 | 无锡市崇安区科技创业服务中心 | Control method for intelligent home system |
AR106776A1 (en) * | 2015-12-01 | 2018-02-14 | Colgate Palmolive Co | ORAL CARE COMPOSITIONS |
US10044710B2 (en) | 2016-02-22 | 2018-08-07 | Bpip Limited Liability Company | Device and method for validating a user using an intelligent voice print |
US20170272795A1 (en) * | 2016-03-16 | 2017-09-21 | Sony Corporation | Mode management of content playback device |
US11062383B2 (en) | 2016-05-10 | 2021-07-13 | Lowe's Companies, Inc. | Systems and methods for displaying a simulated room and portions thereof |
JP6729122B2 (en) * | 2016-07-19 | 2020-07-22 | 富士通株式会社 | Information processing device, program, and information processing system |
US10452870B2 (en) | 2016-12-06 | 2019-10-22 | Dish Technologies Llc | Smart card authenticated download |
US10325077B2 (en) | 2016-12-23 | 2019-06-18 | DISH Technologies L.L.C. | Strong authentication of client set-top boxes |
US10484752B2 (en) | 2016-12-23 | 2019-11-19 | DISH Technologies L.L.C. | Securely paired delivery of activation codes from smart card to host set-top box |
US10484753B2 (en) | 2016-12-23 | 2019-11-19 | DISH Tchnologies L.L.C. | Securely paired delivery of activation codes from smart card to remote client set-top box |
US10171870B2 (en) | 2016-12-28 | 2019-01-01 | DISH Technologies L.L.C. | Forced execution of authenticated code |
US10904600B2 (en) | 2017-05-30 | 2021-01-26 | Sony Corporation | Activating audio video device (AVD) functionality after point of sale |
CN107820128B (en) * | 2017-11-10 | 2019-12-27 | 深圳创维-Rgb电子有限公司 | USB recording function customizing method and device and computer readable storage medium |
CN108304735A (en) * | 2017-12-28 | 2018-07-20 | 山东浪潮通软信息科技有限公司 | A kind of authorization sequence application method, system and delivery of cargo system, application server |
US10693662B2 (en) * | 2018-02-22 | 2020-06-23 | Idlogiq Inc. | Methods for secure serialization of supply chain product units |
CN108322786A (en) * | 2018-02-28 | 2018-07-24 | 北京酷我科技有限公司 | A kind of audio play in audio transmission strategy |
US11288662B2 (en) | 2018-03-19 | 2022-03-29 | Chng Weng WAH | Security systems and methods for electronic devices |
US10700868B2 (en) | 2018-03-19 | 2020-06-30 | Chng Weng WAH | Security systems and methods for electronic devices |
US20190320037A1 (en) * | 2018-04-17 | 2019-10-17 | Paypal, Inc. | Content linking and aggregation |
WO2020261152A1 (en) * | 2019-06-24 | 2020-12-30 | Wincor Nixdorf International Gmbh | Remotely upgradable automated banking machine |
US11366879B2 (en) * | 2019-07-08 | 2022-06-21 | Microsoft Technology Licensing, Llc | Server-side audio rendering licensing |
Family Cites Families (147)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3827260A (en) | 1971-09-25 | 1974-08-06 | T Kato | Shaft-coupling device preventable from over-torque transmission |
US5634012A (en) | 1994-11-23 | 1997-05-27 | Xerox Corporation | System for controlling the distribution and use of digital works having a fee reporting mechanism |
US5794052A (en) | 1995-02-27 | 1998-08-11 | Ast Research, Inc. | Method of software installation and setup |
US5737035A (en) * | 1995-04-21 | 1998-04-07 | Microtune, Inc. | Highly integrated television tuner on a single microcircuit |
JP3486043B2 (en) | 1996-03-11 | 2004-01-13 | 株式会社東芝 | Operating method of software distribution system and software system |
JP3540506B2 (en) | 1996-05-29 | 2004-07-07 | 三洋電機株式会社 | Software license management system |
US5894516A (en) | 1996-07-10 | 1999-04-13 | Ncr Corporation | Broadcast software distribution |
DE19652629A1 (en) | 1996-12-18 | 1998-06-25 | Philips Patentverwaltung | Software exchange system |
EP0968585A1 (en) * | 1997-03-14 | 2000-01-05 | Cryptoworks Inc. | Digital product rights management technique |
US6199044B1 (en) | 1998-05-27 | 2001-03-06 | Intermec Ip Corp. | Universal data input and processing device, such as universal point-of-sale device for inputting and processing bar code symbols, document images, and other data |
US6226618B1 (en) | 1998-08-13 | 2001-05-01 | International Business Machines Corporation | Electronic content delivery system |
US20030191650A1 (en) | 1998-09-25 | 2003-10-09 | Philips Electronics North America Corporation | Customized upgrading of internet-enabled devices based on user-profile |
CN100385940C (en) * | 1998-11-13 | 2008-04-30 | 赛德娜专利服务有限责任公司 | Digital broadcast program ordering |
GB9827831D0 (en) | 1998-12-17 | 1999-02-10 | Tribeka Ltd | Method and apparatus for the distribution of digitised information on demand |
US6827260B2 (en) | 1999-08-09 | 2004-12-07 | First Data Corporation | Systems and methods for utilizing a point-of-sale system |
US7343321B1 (en) | 1999-09-01 | 2008-03-11 | Keith Ryan Hill | Method of administering licensing of use of copyright works |
US20010034846A1 (en) | 2000-02-28 | 2001-10-25 | Peter Beery | Digital data and software security protection |
US6658663B1 (en) | 2000-03-08 | 2003-12-02 | Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. | Business model for leasing storage on a digital recorder |
US20010039514A1 (en) | 2000-04-04 | 2001-11-08 | Barenbaum Rachel L. | System and method for managing excess capacity for events of natural expiration via wireless devices |
US20020049717A1 (en) | 2000-05-10 | 2002-04-25 | Routtenberg Michael D. | Digital content distribution system and method |
JP2001331228A (en) | 2000-05-22 | 2001-11-30 | Sony Corp | Information processing method and information processor and recording medium and download method |
US20020003884A1 (en) | 2000-05-26 | 2002-01-10 | Sprunk Eric J. | Authentication and/or authorization launch |
US7146338B2 (en) | 2001-06-28 | 2006-12-05 | Checkfree Services Corporation | Inter-network financial service |
WO2002027528A1 (en) | 2000-09-25 | 2002-04-04 | Metaedge Corporation | Method and system for managing event attributes |
US7062567B2 (en) | 2000-11-06 | 2006-06-13 | Endeavors Technology, Inc. | Intelligent network streaming and execution system for conventionally coded applications |
US6959436B2 (en) | 2000-12-15 | 2005-10-25 | Innopath Software, Inc. | Apparatus and methods for intelligently providing applications and data on a mobile device system |
EP1243998B1 (en) | 2001-03-21 | 2017-04-19 | Excalibur IP, LLC | A technique for license management and online software license enforcement |
JP3889234B2 (en) * | 2001-03-27 | 2007-03-07 | シャープ株式会社 | TRIAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, PROGRAM, AND COMPUTER-READABLE RECORDING MEDIUM CONTAINING THE PROGRAM |
WO2002101494A2 (en) | 2001-06-07 | 2002-12-19 | Contentguard Holdings, Inc. | Protected content distribution system |
JP4612246B2 (en) | 2001-08-06 | 2011-01-12 | 三菱電機株式会社 | Human resource auction system and human resource auction server |
US7313828B2 (en) * | 2001-09-04 | 2007-12-25 | Nokia Corporation | Method and apparatus for protecting software against unauthorized use |
US7162733B2 (en) | 2001-10-02 | 2007-01-09 | General Instrument Corporation | Method and apparatus for automatic set-up of electronic devices |
US7404202B2 (en) | 2001-11-21 | 2008-07-22 | Line 6, Inc. | System, device, and method for providing secure electronic commerce transactions |
US7620583B2 (en) * | 2001-11-30 | 2009-11-17 | Worldpack, Inc. | Method and apparatus for facilitating shipment of packages |
WO2003081519A2 (en) | 2002-03-19 | 2003-10-02 | Chameleon Network Inc. | Portable electronic authorization system and method |
JP4057832B2 (en) | 2002-04-10 | 2008-03-05 | シャープ株式会社 | System for updating software on digital television receivers |
WO2003089084A1 (en) * | 2002-04-19 | 2003-10-30 | Walker Digital, Llc | Managing features on a gaming device |
AU2003239385A1 (en) | 2002-05-10 | 2003-11-11 | Richard R. Reisman | Method and apparatus for browsing using multiple coordinated device |
US20040039916A1 (en) | 2002-05-10 | 2004-02-26 | David Aldis | System and method for multi-tiered license management and distribution using networked clearinghouses |
JP2004062561A (en) | 2002-07-30 | 2004-02-26 | Dainippon Printing Co Ltd | Software management system, software management server, client, program, and record medium |
MXPA05001480A (en) | 2002-08-07 | 2005-06-06 | Thomson Licensing Sa | Method and apparatus for performing channel detection. |
WO2004019182A2 (en) | 2002-08-24 | 2004-03-04 | Ingrian Networks, Inc. | Selective feature activation |
JP4047124B2 (en) | 2002-10-08 | 2008-02-13 | キヤノン株式会社 | Receiving apparatus and receiving method |
WO2004049704A1 (en) * | 2002-11-26 | 2004-06-10 | Thomson Licensing S.A. | An ntsc signal detector |
JP2004252931A (en) | 2002-12-26 | 2004-09-09 | Sony Corp | Electronic device, device function control method and server |
US7426484B2 (en) * | 2003-02-04 | 2008-09-16 | United Parcel Service Of America, Inc. | Consolidated shipping and distribution of multiple orders with returns |
US20040181310A1 (en) * | 2003-02-10 | 2004-09-16 | Stashluk Edward J. | Merchandise return system with value added returns processing (data communications) |
JP4176502B2 (en) | 2003-02-14 | 2008-11-05 | シャープ株式会社 | Digital broadcast receiver and tuner module device |
US7292692B2 (en) | 2003-03-25 | 2007-11-06 | Sony Corporation | Content scrambling with minimal impact on legacy devices |
JP2004303111A (en) * | 2003-04-01 | 2004-10-28 | Hitachi Ltd | Portable terminal with license management function |
KR20040107602A (en) * | 2003-06-05 | 2004-12-23 | 삼성전자주식회사 | License Management System And Method for Playing Contents in Home Network |
JP2005004304A (en) * | 2003-06-10 | 2005-01-06 | Matsushita Electric Ind Co Ltd | License distribution method, and license distribution system |
US7900041B2 (en) | 2003-07-22 | 2011-03-01 | Irdeto Canada Corporation | Software conditional access system |
US8351914B2 (en) * | 2003-08-29 | 2013-01-08 | Sony Mobile Communications Ab | Method and system for registration of licensed modules in mobile devices |
US7222206B2 (en) | 2003-09-18 | 2007-05-22 | Vulcan Portals, Inc. | Removable module for a portable electronic device having stand-alone and system functionality |
US7671758B1 (en) * | 2003-10-02 | 2010-03-02 | Tivo Inc. | Remote control programming system |
JP4397205B2 (en) * | 2003-10-02 | 2010-01-13 | 三洋電機株式会社 | Broadcast receiver |
US8898657B2 (en) * | 2003-10-03 | 2014-11-25 | Cyberlink Corp. | System and method for licensing software |
US8223967B2 (en) | 2003-10-16 | 2012-07-17 | Stmicroelectronics Limited | Security integrated circuit |
ATE388568T1 (en) | 2003-11-07 | 2008-03-15 | Harman Becker Automotive Sys | METHOD AND DEVICES FOR ACCESS CONTROL TO ENCRYPTED DATA SERVICES FOR AN ENTERTAINMENT AND INFORMATION PROCESSING DEVICE IN A VEHICLE |
US8655309B2 (en) | 2003-11-14 | 2014-02-18 | E2Interactive, Inc. | Systems and methods for electronic device point-of-sale activation |
US20050130633A1 (en) * | 2003-12-15 | 2005-06-16 | Lee Hill | Methods, systems and computer program products for controlling usage of a mobile terminal |
US20050138387A1 (en) | 2003-12-19 | 2005-06-23 | Lam Wai T. | System and method for authorizing software use |
JP2005284506A (en) * | 2004-03-29 | 2005-10-13 | Matsushita Electric Ind Co Ltd | Download system, apparatus constituting download system, management station, and removable medium |
JP4446047B2 (en) * | 2004-06-02 | 2010-04-07 | ケイティー コーポレーション | Application and management service provision, and user interface change system and method |
US8713702B2 (en) | 2004-06-21 | 2014-04-29 | Intel Corporation | Digital media content distribution |
US7281657B2 (en) | 2004-07-29 | 2007-10-16 | Symbol Technologies, Inc. | Device for digitizing and processing checks in accordance with the Check 21 Act and for reading and decoding optical codes |
JP2006042181A (en) * | 2004-07-29 | 2006-02-09 | Funai Electric Co Ltd | Broadcast receiver and television equipped therewith |
US8266710B2 (en) | 2004-08-09 | 2012-09-11 | Jasim Saleh Al-Azzawi | Methods for preventing software piracy |
US7552341B2 (en) | 2004-09-01 | 2009-06-23 | Microsoft Corporation | Licensing the use of software on a particular CPU |
US20060064756A1 (en) | 2004-09-17 | 2006-03-23 | Ebert Robert F | Digital rights management system based on hardware identification |
US7239624B2 (en) | 2004-10-26 | 2007-07-03 | Motorola, Inc. | Method and apparatus for allowing communication units to utilize non-licensed title spectrum |
US20060111920A1 (en) | 2004-11-05 | 2006-05-25 | Jacobs Paul E | Method of generating post-delivery revenue and recording post-delivery activity associated with preloaded inactivated resident applications |
US20060106726A1 (en) | 2004-11-18 | 2006-05-18 | Contentguard Holdings, Inc. | Method, system, and device for license-centric content consumption |
US7325163B2 (en) | 2005-01-04 | 2008-01-29 | International Business Machines Corporation | Error monitoring of partitions in a computer system using supervisor partitions |
US7340769B2 (en) | 2005-01-07 | 2008-03-04 | Cisco Technology, Inc. | System and method for localizing data and devices |
TW200704183A (en) | 2005-01-27 | 2007-01-16 | Matrix Tv | Dynamic mosaic extended electronic programming guide for television program selection and display |
US20060179058A1 (en) | 2005-02-04 | 2006-08-10 | Charles Bram | Methods and systems for licensing computer software |
JP2006215890A (en) | 2005-02-04 | 2006-08-17 | Cyberlink Corp | Software licensing system and method |
US7966072B2 (en) | 2005-02-18 | 2011-06-21 | Palo Alto Investors | Methods and compositions for treating obesity-hypoventilation syndrome |
JP4590282B2 (en) | 2005-02-24 | 2010-12-01 | キヤノン株式会社 | License management apparatus, control method, and program |
WO2006092840A1 (en) | 2005-02-28 | 2006-09-08 | Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha | Content distribution system |
KR101197365B1 (en) | 2005-04-06 | 2012-11-05 | 삼성전자주식회사 | Multimedia message service method and apparatus |
US8494966B2 (en) * | 2005-06-03 | 2013-07-23 | Adobe Systems Incorporated | Method and apparatus for facilitating the transfer of a software license between computer systems |
US7831539B2 (en) | 2005-06-21 | 2010-11-09 | Microsoft Corporation | Dynamically filtering aggregate reports based on values resulting from one or more previously applied filters |
US7716662B2 (en) | 2005-06-22 | 2010-05-11 | Comcast Cable Holdings, Llc | System and method for generating a set top box code download step sequence |
US20090307757A1 (en) | 2005-07-05 | 2009-12-10 | Koninklijke Kpn N.V. | Method and System for Centralized Access Authorization To Online Streaming Content |
US7747533B2 (en) | 2005-07-14 | 2010-06-29 | Microsoft Corporation | Digital application operating according to aggregation of plurality of licenses |
US20070027815A1 (en) | 2005-07-29 | 2007-02-01 | Symantec Corporation | Systems and methods for centralized subscription and license management in a small networking environment |
US7678984B1 (en) | 2005-10-13 | 2010-03-16 | Sun Microsystems, Inc. | Method and apparatus for programmatically generating audio file playlists |
US9202210B2 (en) | 2005-11-23 | 2015-12-01 | Sandisk Il Ltd. | Digital rights management device and method |
CN101632276A (en) * | 2005-11-23 | 2010-01-20 | 晟碟以色列有限公司 | A digital rights management device and method |
US7747474B2 (en) | 2005-12-13 | 2010-06-29 | Equatrax | Shared royalty platform for content royalty management |
US7809583B2 (en) | 2005-12-22 | 2010-10-05 | Dell Products L.P. | License activation for preloaded software |
US8417641B1 (en) | 2006-01-31 | 2013-04-09 | Kyocera Corporation | System for licensing mobile applications, features, and devices |
JP4575324B2 (en) * | 2006-03-29 | 2010-11-04 | 株式会社東芝 | AV apparatus and control method thereof |
CN101432782B (en) * | 2006-04-11 | 2011-09-14 | 皇家飞利浦电子股份有限公司 | Method and apparatus for setting the state of operation of an appliance |
JP2007295255A (en) | 2006-04-25 | 2007-11-08 | Sharp Corp | Broadcasting receiver |
AU2007253725A1 (en) * | 2006-05-18 | 2007-11-29 | Andrews Mcmeel Publishing, Inc. | Electronic calendar |
CN100415025C (en) * | 2006-05-29 | 2008-08-27 | 中国移动通信集团公司 | Method for getting applied service by mobile terminal |
JP4950594B2 (en) * | 2006-08-11 | 2012-06-13 | 株式会社東芝 | Content distribution system |
US8156545B2 (en) * | 2007-02-09 | 2012-04-10 | Sony Corporation | Method and apparatus for authorizing a communication interface |
US7996869B2 (en) * | 2006-08-18 | 2011-08-09 | Sony Corporation | Automatically reconfigurable multimedia system with interchangeable personality adapters |
CN102413374A (en) | 2006-08-18 | 2012-04-11 | 索尼株式会社 | Automatically reconfigurable multimedia system with interchangeable personality adapters |
US20080065551A1 (en) | 2006-09-07 | 2008-03-13 | Cadence Design Systems, Inc. | Auto-detecting and downloading licensed computer products |
US20080083040A1 (en) | 2006-09-29 | 2008-04-03 | Microsoft Corporation | Aggregated resource license |
WO2008054392A1 (en) * | 2006-11-01 | 2008-05-08 | Thomson Licensing | A co-channel interference detector |
US20100250400A1 (en) | 2006-11-10 | 2010-09-30 | Media Patents, S.L. | Apparatus and methods for the sale of software products |
US8239274B2 (en) * | 2007-01-11 | 2012-08-07 | Microsoft Corporation | Purchasing of individual features of a software product |
JP4914489B2 (en) | 2007-02-28 | 2012-04-11 | パナソニック株式会社 | Display device |
US7769693B2 (en) | 2007-03-30 | 2010-08-03 | Cisco Technology, Inc. | Mechanism for secure rehosting of licenses |
US20080250443A1 (en) * | 2007-04-05 | 2008-10-09 | At&T Knowledge Ventures, Lp | System and method for providing communication services |
CN101291477A (en) * | 2007-04-16 | 2008-10-22 | 中兴通讯股份有限公司 | System and method for authorizing internal software for mobile phone terminal |
US8266648B2 (en) | 2007-04-20 | 2012-09-11 | United Video Properties, Inc. | Systems and methods for determining subscription data |
US8046590B2 (en) | 2007-06-12 | 2011-10-25 | Mikhail Milgramm | System and method for protection of creative works |
US8117094B2 (en) | 2007-06-29 | 2012-02-14 | Microsoft Corporation | Distribution channels and monetizing |
US8590028B2 (en) | 2007-07-09 | 2013-11-19 | Infosys Limited | Content licensing and conditional access using a mobile device |
US9098840B2 (en) | 2007-08-22 | 2015-08-04 | Siemens Aktiengesellschaft | System and method for providing and activating software licenses |
JP4460593B2 (en) | 2007-09-19 | 2010-05-12 | 本田技研工業株式会社 | Vehicle wheel |
JP2009104221A (en) | 2007-10-19 | 2009-05-14 | Fujitsu Ltd | Information system |
US20090171747A1 (en) | 2007-12-26 | 2009-07-02 | Microsoft Corporation | Product activation/registration and offer eligibility |
US20090198618A1 (en) * | 2008-01-15 | 2009-08-06 | Yuen Wah Eva Chan | Device and method for loading managing and using smartcard authentication token and digital certificates in e-commerce |
US20090183000A1 (en) | 2008-01-16 | 2009-07-16 | Scott Krig | Method And System For Dynamically Granting A DRM License Using A URL |
TW200934237A (en) | 2008-01-31 | 2009-08-01 | Yuan High Tech Dev Co Ltd | Encryptable multiple video transmission/reception device |
US8655785B2 (en) * | 2008-02-10 | 2014-02-18 | Safenet Data Security (Israel) Ltd. | Computer data product license installation / update confirmation |
JP4979616B2 (en) * | 2008-03-05 | 2012-07-18 | 株式会社日立製作所 | Software licensing system |
JP2009223383A (en) * | 2008-03-13 | 2009-10-01 | Canon Inc | License management system |
US20090254482A1 (en) | 2008-04-07 | 2009-10-08 | Microsoft Corporation | Time-based licenses |
JP2009288853A (en) | 2008-05-27 | 2009-12-10 | Sanyo Electric Co Ltd | Electronic apparatus having antitheft function and method of preventing theft of electronic apparatus |
US8924855B2 (en) | 2008-06-19 | 2014-12-30 | Sony Corporation | Retail outlet TV feature display system |
US20100026912A1 (en) | 2008-07-31 | 2010-02-04 | Solomon Ho | Multifunction display system |
CN101340527B (en) * | 2008-08-15 | 2010-10-27 | 北京创毅视讯科技有限公司 | Signal driving method and apparatus of digital television receiving device |
US8812012B2 (en) | 2008-12-16 | 2014-08-19 | The Nielsen Company (Us), Llc | Methods and apparatus for associating media devices with a demographic composition of a geographic area |
US8487739B2 (en) | 2008-12-22 | 2013-07-16 | Zenith Electronics Llc | Television theft deterrence |
US20100161383A1 (en) | 2008-12-23 | 2010-06-24 | Glen Ores Butler | Profit optimizer |
US8217753B2 (en) | 2008-12-30 | 2012-07-10 | Harris Technology, Inc. | Electronics antitheft authorizing unit |
JP2010200163A (en) | 2009-02-26 | 2010-09-09 | Sharp Corp | Demodulation device, demodulation method, demodulation program, and computer-readable recording medium |
JP2012523051A (en) | 2009-04-02 | 2012-09-27 | アルテア エンジニアリング,インコーポレイテッド | Hardware unit-based license management method |
US8564672B2 (en) | 2009-06-02 | 2013-10-22 | Dell Products L.P. | Methods and systems for selecting image capturing devices |
US20110015968A1 (en) | 2009-07-17 | 2011-01-20 | Carlson Alan L | Automated media and content reporting system for broadcast media |
US20110047540A1 (en) | 2009-08-24 | 2011-02-24 | Embarcadero Technologies Inc. | System and Methodology for Automating Delivery, Licensing, and Availability of Software Products |
US20110166968A1 (en) * | 2010-01-06 | 2011-07-07 | Richard Yin-Ching Houng | System and method for activating display device feature |
US20100185868A1 (en) | 2010-03-21 | 2010-07-22 | William Grecia | Personilized digital media access system |
US20110295843A1 (en) | 2010-05-26 | 2011-12-01 | Apple Inc. | Dynamic generation of contextually aware playlists |
JP4968366B2 (en) | 2010-06-01 | 2012-07-04 | 富士通株式会社 | Information processing apparatus, program, and control method for information processing apparatus |
US9594886B2 (en) | 2010-06-02 | 2017-03-14 | Avaya Inc. | Application and open source information technology policy filter |
US9449324B2 (en) | 2010-11-11 | 2016-09-20 | Sony Corporation | Reducing TV licensing costs |
-
2010
- 2010-12-16 US US12/970,215 patent/US9449324B2/en active Active
-
2011
- 2011-02-24 US US13/034,093 patent/US9691071B2/en active Active
- 2011-02-24 US US13/034,179 patent/US8544111B2/en active Active
- 2011-03-11 US US13/045,835 patent/US20120120321A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2011-03-16 US US13/049,021 patent/US8396748B2/en active Active
- 2011-03-16 US US13/048,981 patent/US8589305B2/en active Active
- 2011-03-28 US US13/073,222 patent/US20120120323A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2011-03-28 US US13/073,047 patent/US8401935B2/en active Active
- 2011-03-28 US US13/072,941 patent/US20120124610A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2011-03-28 US US13/072,978 patent/US8543513B2/en active Active
- 2011-08-04 EP EP11840212.2A patent/EP2638501B1/en active Active
- 2011-08-04 KR KR1020137011689A patent/KR101442444B1/en active IP Right Grant
- 2011-08-04 CN CN201180046680.5A patent/CN103210659B/en active Active
- 2011-08-04 WO PCT/US2011/046565 patent/WO2012064388A1/en active Application Filing
- 2011-08-04 JP JP2013538712A patent/JP5626551B2/en active Active
- 2011-08-04 CA CA2816673A patent/CA2816673C/en active Active
- 2011-08-16 TW TW100129197A patent/TWI446785B/en active
- 2011-08-17 WO PCT/US2011/048050 patent/WO2012064393A2/en active Application Filing
- 2011-08-17 CN CN201180046676.9A patent/CN103583049A/en active Pending
- 2011-08-17 CA CA 2816638 patent/CA2816638A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2011-08-17 EP EP20110839050 patent/EP2625850A2/en not_active Withdrawn
- 2011-08-17 JP JP2013538714A patent/JP2014506024A/en active Pending
- 2011-08-17 KR KR1020137012078A patent/KR101420069B1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 2011-10-06 WO PCT/US2011/055027 patent/WO2012064430A1/en active Application Filing
- 2011-10-06 CA CA2922142A patent/CA2922142C/en active Active
- 2011-10-06 CA CA2816694A patent/CA2816694C/en active Active
- 2011-10-06 KR KR1020137011690A patent/KR101508081B1/en active IP Right Grant
- 2011-10-06 WO PCT/US2011/055043 patent/WO2012064432A2/en active Application Filing
- 2011-10-06 CA CA2816703A patent/CA2816703C/en active Active
- 2011-10-06 EP EP11839163.0A patent/EP2625851A4/en active Pending
- 2011-10-06 CN CN201180046674.XA patent/CN103535042A/en active Pending
- 2011-10-06 JP JP2013538728A patent/JP5725314B2/en active Active
- 2011-10-06 JP JP2013538727A patent/JP5692552B2/en active Active
- 2011-10-06 KR KR1020137011680A patent/KR101614995B1/en active IP Right Grant
- 2011-10-06 EP EP11839227.3A patent/EP2638497B1/en active Active
- 2011-10-06 CN CN201180046670.1A patent/CN103154984B/en active Active
- 2011-10-11 JP JP2013538734A patent/JP5721063B2/en active Active
- 2011-10-11 CA CA 2816706 patent/CA2816706A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2011-10-11 CN CN2011800466735A patent/CN103154985A/en active Pending
- 2011-10-11 WO PCT/US2011/055710 patent/WO2012064449A1/en active Application Filing
- 2011-10-11 EP EP11839933.6A patent/EP2638499B1/en active Active
- 2011-10-11 KR KR1020137012077A patent/KR101519769B1/en active IP Right Grant
- 2011-10-12 TW TW100136966A patent/TWI520594B/en active
- 2011-10-13 CN CN201110317510.8A patent/CN102469371B/en active Active
- 2011-10-13 CN CN2011103172398A patent/CN102469354A/en active Pending
-
2012
- 2012-10-18 US US13/654,657 patent/US10049366B2/en active Active
- 2012-12-11 US US13/711,028 patent/US20160048843A9/en not_active Abandoned
-
2013
- 2013-02-12 US US13/764,930 patent/US8595136B2/en active Active
- 2013-06-26 US US13/927,337 patent/US8973159B2/en active Active
- 2013-08-30 US US14/015,409 patent/US10528954B2/en active Active
Also Published As
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
CA2816673C (en) | Tracking activation of licensable component in audio video device by unique product identification |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
EEER | Examination request |
Effective date: 20130501 |