Method and system for detecting unauthorized use of a set top box using weather profiles

1. A method comprising:

receiving a profile of weather conditions in a geographic area at a set top box based on weather conditions in the geographic area compiled from a plurality of set top boxes in the geographical area;

generating a weather log at the set top box;

comparing the profile to the weather log; and

disabling the set top box from receiving signals in response to comparing.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein receiving the profile of weather conditions comprises generating weather condition data at a plurality of set top boxes and communicating the weather condition data to a head end.

3. The method as recited in claim 2 wherein receiving the profile of weather conditions comprises generating the profile of weather conditions at the head end from the weather condition data.

4. The method as recited in claim 2 wherein receiving the profile of weather conditions comprises generating the profile of weather conditions at the head end from the weather condition data and geographic data for the plurality of set top boxes.

5. The method as recited in claim 2 wherein generating weather condition data comprises generating weather condition data from signal strength data.

6. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein generating weather condition data comprises generating weather condition data from signal strength data of signals received from a satellite or a plurality of satellites.

7. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein receiving the profile comprises receiving the profile of weather conditions at the set top box from a satellite.

8. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein generating a weather log comprises determining the weather log at the set top box in response to signal strengths from a plurality of satellites.

9. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising generating a screen display in response to comparing.

10. A method comprising:

communicating signal strengths from a plurality of set top boxes to a head end;

generating a profile of the signal strengths in a geographic area;

communicating the profile to a first set top box;

generating a signal strength log at the first set top box;

comparing the signal strength log and the profile; and

disabling the set top box from receiving signals in response to comparing.

11. The method as recited in claim 10 wherein communicating the profile to the first set top box comprises communicating the profile to the first set top box through a satellite.

12. The method as recited in claim 10 further comprising generating a screen display in response to comparing.

13. A system comprising:

a set top box receiving a profile of weather conditions in a geographic area compiled from a plurality of set top boxes in the geographic area, generating a weather log, comparing the weather log and the profile and disabling the set top box from receiving signals in response to comparing.

14. The system of claim 13 further comprising a head end communicating the profile of weather conditions to a set top box.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein the head end generates the profile from set top box weather condition data from the plurality of set top boxes.

16. The system of claim 14 wherein the head end generates the profile of weather conditions and communicates the profile to the set top box.

17. The system of claim 14 wherein the head end generates the profile of weather conditions and communicates the profile of weather conditions to the set top box through a satellite.

18. The system of claim 13 wherein the weather log comprises a signal strength log and the profile comprises a signal strength profile.

19. The system of claim 13 wherein the set top box generates a screen display in response to comparing.