US 11,677,564 B2
System and method using distributed blockchain database
Christofer Hardy, Cheyenne, WY (US); and David Abraham, Cheyenne, WY (US)
Assigned to DISH NETWORK L.L.C., Englewood, CO (US)
Filed by DISH Network L.L.C., Englewood, CO (US)
Filed on Jul. 15, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/930,058.
Application 16/930,058 is a continuation of application No. 15/856,939, filed on Dec. 28, 2017, granted, now 10,756,902.
Prior Publication US 2020/0351103 A1, Nov. 5, 2020
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. H04L 9/00 (2022.01); H04L 9/32 (2006.01); H04L 9/40 (2022.01); H04L 9/08 (2006.01); H04L 9/06 (2006.01)
CPC H04L 9/3242 (2013.01) [H04L 9/0618 (2013.01); H04L 9/0897 (2013.01); H04L 63/0281 (2013.01); H04L 63/0823 (2013.01); H04L 63/0853 (2013.01); H04L 63/123 (2013.01); H04L 9/50 (2022.05)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A content distribution method comprising:
transmitting, by a content distribution system, a first record;
receiving, by a first set-top box, the first record from the content distribution system;
storing, by the first set-top box, the first record in a first block of data of a first blockchain database;
encrypting, by a second set-top box, a second record that includes a cryptographic hash value that identifies the second set-top box and an identifier of a first content item;
after the encrypting, transmitting, by the second set-top box, the second record;
receiving, by the first set-top box, the second record transmitted by the second set-top box;
obtaining, by the first set-top box, a cryptographic hash value using the first record;
storing, by the first set-top box, the second record in a second block of data of the first blockchain database, the second block of data including the cryptographic hash value obtained by the first set-top box using the first record;
receiving, by the content distribution system, the first blockchain database from the first set-top box;
obtaining, by the content distribution system, a cryptographic hash value using the first record;
comparing, by the content distribution system, the cryptographic hash value obtained by the content distribution system using the first record to the cryptographic hash value included in the second block of first blockchain database;
after determining, based on the comparing of the cryptographic hash value obtained by the content distribution system using the first record to the cryptographic hash value included in the second block of first blockchain database, that the cryptographic hash value obtained by the content distribution system using the first record matches the cryptographic hash value included in the second block of first blockchain database:
decrypting, by the content distribution system, the second record;
obtaining, by the content distribution system, an address of the second set-top box using the cryptographic hash value included in the second record; and
transmitting, by the content distribution system, a first message to the second set-top box, the first message including information that enables the second set-top box to descramble a signal that is based on the first content item identified in the second record, using the address of the second set-top box obtained using the cryptographic hash value included in the second record.