Systems and methods for detecting unauthorized use of a user equipment device

Abstract

Systems and methods for detecting unauthorized use of a user equipment device are provided. An instruction is transmitted, using communications circuitry of a handheld device, to the user equipment device directing the user equipment device to display a unique identifier associated with the user equipment simultaneously with media content. An image of the media content and unique identifier simultaneously displayed on a display screen coupled to the user equipment device is captured using camera equipment of the handheld device. The image is automatically processed with the handheld device to extract the unique identifier from the image. The extracted unique identifier is cross-referenced, using the handheld device, with user account information associated with the user equipment device to determine whether use of the user equipment device is unauthorized.

1 - 30 . (canceled) 
     
     
         31 . A method for detecting unauthorized use of a user equipment device, the method comprising:
 monitoring content currently being accessed by the user equipment device;   determining that the monitored content is associated with an identifier of the user equipment device;   retrieving the identifier from a memory of the user equipment device, wherein the identifier identifies the user equipment device to a service provider; and   transmitting the identifier to a device associated with the service provider, wherein the device is operable to determine whether the use of the user equipment device is unauthorized based on the identifier.   
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the user equipment device retrieves the identifier from the memory in response to receiving an instruction from the device associated with the service provider. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein transmitting the identifier comprises displaying the identifier on a display screen. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the identifier is displayed at a predetermined location on the display screen. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the identifier is displayed at a predetermined time interval unknown to a user of the user equipment device. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the user equipment device receives an indication from the device associated with the service provider indicating that the use of the user equipment device is unauthorized if the user equipment device is not authorized to access the content. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the identifier includes at least one of a unique numerical value and an image unique to the user equipment device. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein monitoring content currently being accessed by the user equipment device comprises extracting a title of the content. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein determining that the monitored content is associated with an identifier of the user equipment device comprises cross-referencing the content with a list of sources that are associated with the identifier. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein transmitting the identifier comprises generating an audio signal. 
     
     
         41 . A system for detecting unauthorized use of a user equipment device, the system comprising:
 control circuitry configured to:
 monitor content currently being accessed by the user equipment device; 
 determine that the monitored content is associated with an identifier of the user equipment device; 
 retrieve the identifier from a memory of the user equipment device, wherein the identifier identifies the user equipment device to a service provider; and 
 transmit the identifier to a device associated with the service provider, wherein the device is operable to determine whether the use of the user equipment device is unauthorized based on the identifier. 
   
     
     
         42 . The system of  claim 41 , wherein the user equipment device retrieves the identifier from the memory in response to receiving an instruction from the device associated with the service provider. 
     
     
         43 . The system of  claim 41 , wherein transmitting the identifier comprises displaying the identifier on a display screen. 
     
     
         44 . The system of  claim 43 , wherein the identifier is displayed at a predetermined location on the display screen. 
     
     
         45 . The system of  claim 43 , wherein the identifier is displayed at a predetermined time interval unknown to a user of the user equipment device. 
     
     
         46 . The system of  claim 41 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to receive an indication from the device associated with the service provider indicating that the use of the user equipment device is unauthorized if the user equipment device is not authorized to access the content. 
     
     
         47 . The system of  claim 41 , wherein the unique identifier includes at least one of a unique numerical value and an image unique to the user equipment device. 
     
     
         48 . The system of  claim 41 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to extract a title of the content. 
     
     
         49 . The system of  claim 41 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to cross-reference the content with a list of sources that are associated with the identifier. 
     
     
         50 . The system of  claim 41 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to generate an audio signal.