Method and device for updating reception rights in a multiple operator system

• US 20030147531A1
• Filed: 12/13/2002
• Published: 08/07/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nagravision SA (Kudelski SA)
• Original Assignee: Nagravision SA (Kudelski SA)
• Inventors: Stransky, Philippe, Sasselli, Marco, Bussy, Jean-Luc
• Granted Patent: US 7,913,272 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 380/210
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4436 Power management, e.g. shutting down unused components of the receiver power management in computer systems G06F1/3203; hibernate or awake process in computer systems G06F9/4418
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4623 Processing of entitlement messages, e.g. ECM [Entitlement Control Message] or EMM [Entitlement Management Message] arrangements for conditional access to broadcast information or to broadcast-related services H04H60/14
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 by receiver means only
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/165 Centralised control of user terminal subsequent to an upstream request signal H04N7/17345; Registering at central by two-way working H04N7/17309
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/1675 Providing digital key or authorisation information for generation or regeneration of the scrambling sequence pseudo-random number generators in general G06F7/58
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0229 where the received signal is a wanted signal
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

The invention refers to a method of updating a multi-operator reception system by administration (EMM) and updating messages between a subscriber management system and one or several decoders of pay television, being the functioning of the decoder dependent on the reception of administration (EMM) and updating messages of at least one preferential operator, this decoder having to pass into stand-by state under certain conditions.

If the subscriber uses mostly an operator that does not require subscription rights, the decoder does not receive any more the necessary updating.

To switch this decoder into the stand-by state, the method according to the invention carries out the following operations:

switching of the reception to one or several preferential operators,

receiving and processing of the messages of management of rights (EMM),

determining of the end of a complete cycle of reception messages,

switching to the stand-by state.

Claims

1. A method of updating a multi-operator reception system by administration and updating messages (EMM) between a subscriber management system and one or several pay television decoders, said messages (EMM) are aimed to update rights and parameters in a security module associated with the decoder, the functioning of the decoder being dependant on the reception of administration (EMM) and updating messages from at least one preferential operator, this decoder having to pass into stand-by state under certain conditions, characterised in that it comprises the following steps when activating the stand-by mode:

switching of the reception to the preferential operator or operators,

receiving and processing of the administration (EMM) and updating messages,

determining of the end of a complete cycle of reception of these messages,

switching to the stand-by state.

2. A method of updating according to claim 1 when the decoder is connected to more than one preferential operator, characterised in that it consists in repeating the operations of switching, receiving, processing, and determining of the end of the cycle for each operator.

3. A method according to claim 1, characterised in that the determination of the end of a complete cycle is defined according to pre-defined duration.

4. A method according to claim 3, characterised in that this duration is determined by the subscriber management system and transmitted to the decoder.

5. A method according to claim 1, characterised in that the determination of the end of a complete cycle is defined according to the following stages:

reception of a first message of management of rights,

reception of messages until the repetition of the first message.

6. A method according to claim 5, characterised in that the switching to the stand-by state is activated when the duration of waiting for the repetition of the first message exceeds a pre-defined period.

7. A method according to claim 1, characterised in that the determination of the end of a complete cycle is defined according to the duration during which the decoder has been connected to the preferential operator previously to the activation of the stand-by mode.

8. A decoder of pay television comprising a stand-by device that can be activated by the user, a reception unit capable of receiving a plurality of channels, of which at least one part contains administration and updating messages (EMM), which are intended to a security module associated with the reception unit, characterised in that it comprises means that, when activating the stand-by, switches the reception unit on the channel that contains the administration and updating messages (EMM), means for receiving and processing the administration and updating messages, means for determining the end of a complete cycle of reception of these messages, and means for the switching into the stand-by state.

9. A decoder of pay television according to claim 8, characterised in that the means for determining the end of a complete cycle of reception comprise a clock.

10. A decoder of pay television according to claim 8, characterised in that the means for determining the end of a complete cycle comprise means for memorising a first updating message, and means for detecting the repetition of this first message of the end of updating.