Internet service provider callback for satellite systems

Abstract

A method, apparatus, article of manufacture, and a memory structure for delivering purchase information comprising storing purchase information for a purchase of a user in a set top box, wherein the set top box is configured to receive broadcast signals through a tuner; and enable a presentation device connected to the set top box to display the broadcast signals; automatically obtaining a connection to the Internet or a data paging network using a communication module of the set top box without the user requesting the connection, wherein the communication module is different than the tuner; establishing a secure electronic connection with a server through the connection to the Internet or data paging network; and transmitting the purchase information from the set top box through the secure electronic connection to the server.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of delivering purchase information comprising: 
 storing purchase information for a purchase of a user in a set top box, wherein the set top box is configured to: 
 receive broadcast signals through a tuner; and  
 enable a presentation device connected to the set top box to display the broadcast signals;  
   automatically obtaining a connection to the Internet using a communication module of the set top box without the user requesting the connection, wherein the communication module is different than the tuner;    establishing a secure electronic connection with a server through the connection to the Internet; and    transmitting the purchase information from the set top box through the secure electronic connection to the server.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the purchase information relates to a pay per view program.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the purchase information relates to an electronic commerce transaction.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the presentation device is a television.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the purchase information is stored in a smart card.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the purchase information is stored in a renewable security module.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the automatically obtaining a connection comprises: 
 receiving a local phone number in the set top box;    automatically dialing the local phone number, without a user requesting a connection, using the communication module, wherein the communication module is a modem; and    establishing a connection to the Internet through a computer that answers the dialed local phone number.    
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the local phone number is associated with an Internet service provider.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the automatically obtaining a connection comprises: 
 determining if an Internet connection is currently established;    if an Internet connection is currently established, automatically obtaining a new transmission control protocol/internet protocol (TCP/IP) connection through the communication module using the established Internet connection.    
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the secure electronic connection utilizes a secure socket layer (SSL) protocol.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the server is a broadcast satellite operator's Internet server.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising receiving additional information in the set top box through the secure electronic connection.  
     
     
         13 . A method of delivering purchase information comprising: 
 storing purchase information for a purchase of a user in a set top box, wherein the set top box is configured to: 
 receive broadcast signals through a tuner; and  
 enable a presentation device connected to the set top box to display the broadcast signals;  
   automatically obtaining a connection to a data paging network using a communication module of the set top box without the user requesting the connection, wherein the communication module is different than the tuner;    establishing a secure electronic connection with a server through the connection to the data paging network; and    transmitting the purchase information from the set top box through the secure electronic connection to the server.    
     
     
         14 . A system for delivering purchase information comprising: 
 purchase information for a purchase of a user;    a set top box configured to: 
 receive broadcast signals through a tuner;  
 enable a presentation device to display the broadcast signals;  
 store the purchase information;  
 automatically obtain a connection to the Internet using a communication module of the set top box without the user requesting the connection, wherein the communication module is different than the tuner;  
 establish a secure electronic connection with a server through the connection to the Internet; and  
 transmit the purchase information from the set top box through the secure electronic connection to the server.  
   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the purchase information relates to a pay per view program.  
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the purchase information relates to an electronic commerce transaction.  
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the presentation device is a television.  
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the purchase information is stored in a smart card.  
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the purchase information is stored in a renewable security module.  
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the set top box is configured to automatically obtain a connection by: 
 receiving a local phone number in the set top box;    automatically dialing the local phone number, without a user requesting a connection, using the communication module, wherein the communication module is a modem; and    establishing a connection to the Internet through a computer that answers the dialed local phone number.    
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the local phone number is associated with an Internet service provider.  
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the set top box is configured to automatically obtain a connection by: 
 determining if an Internet connection is currently established;    if the Internet connection is currently established, automatically obtaining a new transmission control protocol/internet protocol (TCP/IP) connection through the communication module using the established Internet connection.    
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the secure electronic connection utilizes a secure socket layer (SSL) protocol.  
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the server is a broadcast satellite operator's Internet server.  
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the set top box is further configured to receive additional information through the secure electronic connection.  
     
     
         26 . A system for delivering purchase information comprising: 
 purchase information for a purchase of a user;    a set top box configured to: 
 receive broadcast signals through a tuner;  
 enable a presentation device to display the broadcast signals;  
 store the purchase information;  
 automatically obtain a connection to a data paging network using a communication module of the set top box without the user requesting the connection, wherein the communication module is different than the tuner;  
 establish a secure electronic connection with a server through the connection to the data paging network; and  
 transmit the purchase information from the set top box through the secure electronic connection to the server.  
   
     
     
         27 . An article of manufacture for delivering purchase information comprising: 
 means for a set top box connectable to a presentation device to receive broadcast signals through a tuner;    means for the set top box to enable the presentation device to display the broadcast signals;    means for the set top box to store purchase information for a purchase of a user;    means for the set top box to automatically obtain a connection to the Internet using a communication module of the set top box without the user requesting the connection, wherein the communication module is different than the tuner;    means for the set top box to establish a secure electronic connection with a server through the connection to the Internet; and    means for the set top box to transmit the purchase information from the set top box through the secure electronic connection to the server.    
     
     
         28 . The article of manufacture of  claim 27 , wherein the purchase information relates to a pay per view program.  
     
     
         29 . The article of manufacture of  claim 27 , wherein the purchase information relates to an electronic commerce transaction.  
     
     
         30 . The article of manufacture of  claim 27 , wherein the presentation device is a television.  
     
     
         31 . The article of manufacture of  claim 27 , wherein the purchase information is stored in a smart card.  
     
     
         32 . The article of manufacture of  claim 27 , wherein the purchase information is stored in a renewable security module.  
     
     
         33 . The article of manufacture of  claim 27 , wherein the means for automatically obtaining a connection comprises: 
 means for the set top box to receive a local phone number in the set top box;    means for the set top box to automatically dial the local phone number, without a user requesting a connection, using the communication module, wherein the communication module is a modem; and    means for the set top box to establish a connection to the Internet through a computer that answers the dialed local phone number.    
     
     
         34 . The article of manufacture of  claim 33 , wherein the local phone number is associated with an Internet service provider.  
     
     
         35 . The article of manufacture of  claim 27 , wherein the means for the set top box to automatically obtain a connection comprises: 
 means for the set top box to determine if an Internet connection is currently established;    means for the set top box to automatically obtain a new transmission control protocol/internet protocol (TCP/IP) connection through the communication module using the established Internet connection if an Internet connection is currently established.    
     
     
         36 . The article of manufacture of  claim 35 , wherein the secure electronic connection utilizes a secure socket layer (SSL) protocol.  
     
     
         37 . The article of manufacture of  claim 27 , wherein the server is a broadcast satellite operator's Internet server.  
     
     
         38 . The article of manufacture of  claim 27 , further comprising means for receiving additional information through the secure electronic connection.  
     
     
         39 . An article of manufacture for delivering purchase information comprising: 
 means for a set top box connectable to a presentation device to receive broadcast signals through a tuner;    means for the set top box to enable the presentation device to display the broadcast signals;    means for the set top box to store purchase information for a purchase of a user;    means for the set top box to automatically obtain a connection to a data paging network using a communication module of the set top box without the user requesting the connection, wherein the communication module is different than the tuner;    means for the set top box to establish a secure electronic connection with a server through the connection to the data paging network; and    means for the set top box to transmit the purchase information from the set top box through the secure electronic connection to the server.