Method and apparatus for limiting access to signals delivered via the internet

US 20010011008A1

(54) METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR LIMITING ACCESS TO SIGNALS DELIVERED VIA THE INTERNET

(76) Inventors: Jack Perry, Cedar Rapids, IA (US);

David J. Cechota, Cedar Rapids, IA
(US); Kenneth A. Franken, Iowa City,
IA (US); Touflc T. Moubarak, Iowa
City, IA (US)

Correspondence Address:

SIMMONS PERRINE ALBRIGHT &

ELLWOOD, PLC

115 THIRD STREET SE

SUITE 1200

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA 52401 (US)

(21) Appl. No.: 09/803,797

(22) Filed: Mar. 12, 2001

Related U.S. Application Data

(63) Continuation of application No. 09/538,215, filed on Mar. 30, 2000, now Pat. No. 6,252,547, which is a continuation-in-part of application No. 09/092,128, filed on Jun. 5, 1998, now Pat. No. 6,147,642.

An apparatus for controlling the reception of electronic digital signals, which could include internet signals as a function of the location of a receiver for receiving said internet signals and further as a function of the signal strength of a terrestrially broadcast television signal at said location of the internet receiver is disclosed. In one embodiment, a GPS receiver and a radio receiver are utilized to control the reception at the location. In another embodiment, a distributed approach is utilized which uses at least two separated servers in which one is used for inputting information relating to a location of the internet receiver, and another server is utilized for determining the relationship of the signal strength of that position to a predetermined threshold and either directly through a hardware connection or indirectly through a display terminal providing for manipulation of the internet receiver and internet transmitter combination so as to restrict access to signal reception by said internet receiver at the location if a strength of a terrestrially broadcast television signal exceeds a predetermined threshold.

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR LIMITING
ACCESS TO SIGNALS DELIVERED VIA THE
INTERNET

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to satellite communication, and more particularly relates to regulation of access to satellite communication signals via electronic means responsive to geographic reference signals.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] In the past, network television signals were only receivable by viewers receiving signals broadcast from terrestrial transmitters at distributed network affiliate stations. As a result, in years past, many remote and rural areas of the U.S. had either no, or very limited, access to network television service. With the advent of satellite communications, many of these remote viewers are now able to receive network programming; however, many of the networks would like to restrict the availability of these signals to only those customers in locations which are unable to receive signals broadcast from network affiliate stations. The difficulty in meeting the networks' desires is increased by the fact that today, more and more homes and business are located in remote areas and further, by the use of television satellite receivers on recreational vehicles which are able to move in and out of remote areas.

[0003] Consequently, there exists a need for improved methods and apparatuses for determining and regulating the availability of access to satellite communication signals.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] It is an object of the present invention to provide enhanced abilities to quickly and easily regulate access to satellite communication signals.

[0005] It is a feature of the present invention to include an apparatus for determining a geographic reference point for a particular satellite customer.

[0006] It is an advantage of the present invention to achieve a more accurate assessment of the quality of terrestrial broadcast signals at a particular location.

[0007] It is another object of the present invention to provide a real time determination of access to satellite communication signals.

[0008] It is another feature of the present invention to include a geographic reference point for a particular location.

[0009] It is another feature of the present invention to include a GPS receiver for generating geographic reference points for a mobile satellite receiver.

[0010] It is another object of the present invention to provide low cost determination of the availability of access to satellite communication signals.

[0011] It is yet another feature of the present invention to include a distributed processing system.

[0012] It is another advantage of the present invention to reduce cost by using existing computing resources and a central location for application specific resources.

[0013] It is another object of the present invention to provide wide accessibility to resources for determining access to satellite communication signals.

[0014] It is another feature of the invention to utilize computer networks, such as the Internet, for interconnecting several components of a distributed system.

[0015] The present invention is a method and apparatus for determining and regulating the access to satellite communication signals based upon a determination of a geographic position for a potential satellite signal receiver, which is designed to satisfy the aforementioned needs, provide the previously stated objects, include the abovelisted features and achieve the already articulated advantages. In the present invention, the time required, the difficulty and the expense associated with accurately regulating access to satellite communication signals have been reduced.

[0016] Accordingly, the present invention is a method and apparatus for determining and regulating access to satellite communication signals by reference to a geographic determination of the location of a potential satellite receiver and a generation of a signal representative of a signal strength of terrestrially broadcast television signals at a particular location.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] The invention may be more fully understood by reading the following description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, in conjunction with the appended drawings wherein:

[0018] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the major functional components of a system of the present invention.

[0019] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the major functional components of a system of the present invention in which the dashed lines encircle portions of the system coupled to the satellite receiver.

[0020] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the major functional components of a system of the present invention in which the dashed lines encircle portions of the system located at a satellite signal control station.

[0021] FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the major functional components of a system of the present invention in which the dashed lines encircle portions of the system located at a satellite signal control station.

[0022] FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the major functional components of a system of the present invention in which the dashed lines encircle portions of the system implemented on a single server and the dotted and dashed lines represent portions of the system implemented on a separate server.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] Now referring to the drawings, wherein like numerals refer to like matter throughout, and more specifically to FIG. 1, there is shown a satellite communication regulating system of the present invention generally designated 100, having a geodetection system 102, a signal strength assessment system 104 and an access regulating system 106.