Composite session-based encryption of Video On Demand content

• US 20050129233A1
• Filed: 04/13/2004
• Published: 06/16/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Pedlow, Leo M. Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 7,343,013 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 380/239
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23473 by pre-encrypting
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23897 by partially encrypting, e.g. encrypting only the ending portion of a movie
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 by receiver means only
• 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: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

A Video On Demand (VOD) method consistent with certain embodiments involves processing content by selecting first portions of the content for encryption under a selective encryption system and selecting second portions of the content to remain unencrypted. The first and second portions are stored on the VOD server. If a request is received from the a device having decryption capabilities associated with a first decryption method only the first portions are routed to the encryption device and the second portions are routed around it. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.

Claims

1. A Video On Demand (VOD) method, comprising:

processing content by selecting first portions of the content for encryption under a selective encryption system and selecting second portions of the content to remain unencrypted;

storing the first portions;

storing second portions;

receiving a request for delivery of the content;

determining if the request is from a terminal having decryption capabilities associated with a first decryption method or a second decryption method;

if the request is from a terminal having decryption capabilities associated with the first decryption method, then;

routing the first portions to a first encryption device;

routing the second portions around the first encryption device;

encrypting the first portions using a first encryption process at the first encryption device to produce encrypted first portions; and

assembling a stream of selectively encrypted content from the encrypted first portions and the second portions.

2. The VOD method according to claim 1, wherein the first portions are stored in a first file and the second portions are stored in a second file.

3. The VOD method according to claim 2, wherein the first and second files are stored in a VOD server.

4. The VOD method according to claim 1, further comprising streaming the selectively encrypted content to the terminal.

5. The VOD method according to claim 1, wherein the first decryption method comprises a legacy encryption method.

6. The VOD method according to claim 1, wherein the assembled stream is passed through a second encryption device that is not provisioned to carry out encryption processing on the stream.

7. The VOD method according to claim 1, further comprising:

if the request is from a terminal having decryption capabilities associated with the second decryption method, then;

assembling a stream of content from the first portion and the second portion;

routing the stream to a second encryption device; and

encrypting the first portions using a second encryption process at the second encryption device to produce a selectively encrypted stream.

8. The VOD method according to claim 7, wherein the second decryption method comprises a non-legacy encryption method.

9. The VOD method according to claim 1, carried out under control of a programmed processor.

10. A computer readable storage medium storing instructions which, when executed on a programmed processor, carry out a process according to claim 1.

11. A Video On Demand (VOD) method, comprising:

processing content by selecting first portions of the content for encryption under a selective encryption system and selecting second portions of the content to remain unencrypted;

storing the first portions;

storing second portions;

receiving a request for delivery of the content;

determining if the request is from a terminal having decryption capabilities associated with a first decryption method or a second decryption method;

if the request is from a terminal having decryption capabilities associated with the first decryption method, then;

routing the first portions to a first encryption device;

routing the second portions around the first encryption device;

encrypting the first portions using a first encryption process at the first encryption device to produce encrypted first portions; and

assembling a stream of selectively encrypted content from the encrypted first portions and the second portions;

if the request is from a terminal having decryption capabilities associated with the second decryption method, then;

assembling a stream of content from the first portion and the second portion;

routing the stream to a second encryption device; and

encrypting the first portions using a second encryption process at the second encryption device to produce a selectively encrypted stream.

12. The VOD method according to claim 11, wherein the first and second files are stored in a VOD server.

13. The VOD method according to claim 11, further comprising sending the selectively encrypted content to the terminal.

14. The VOD method according to claim 11, wherein the first decryption method comprises a legacy encryption method.

15. The VOD method according to claim 11, wherein the second decryption method comprises a non-legacy encryption method.

16. The VOD method according to claim 11, carried out under control of a programmed processor.

17. A computer readable storage medium storing instructions which, when executed on a programmed processor, carry out a process according to claim 11.

18. A Video On Demand (VOD) server arrangement, comprising:

means for receiving content from a selective encryption processor that processes content to be delivered in a VOD method by selecting first portions of the content for encryption under a selective encryption system and selecting second portions of the content to remain unencrypted;

at least one computer readable storage device;

a processor that;

stores the first and second portions in the at least one computer readable storage device;

receives a request for delivery of the content, the request being from a terminal having decryption capabilities associated with either a first decryption method or a second decryption method;

determines if the request is from a terminal having decryption capabilities associated with a first decryption method or a second decryption method;

if the request is from a terminal having decryption capabilities associated with the first decryption method, then;

a router that routes the first portions to a first encryption device;

a router that routes the second portions around the first encryption device;

a first encryption device that encrypts the first portions using a first encryption process to produce encrypted first portions; and

means for assembling a stream of selectively encrypted content from the encrypted first portions and the second portions.

19. The server arrangement according to claim 18, wherein:

if the request is from a terminal having decryption capabilities associated with the second decryption method;

the means for assembling assembles a stream of content from the first portion and the second portion;

the first router routes the stream to a second encryption device; and

further comprising;

a second encryption device for encrypting the first portions using a second encryption process to produce a selectively encrypted stream.

20. The VOD server according to claim 18, wherein the first portions are stored in a first file and the second portions are stored in a second file.

21. The VOD server according to claim 18, further comprising means for streaming the selectively encrypted content to the terminal.

22. The VOD server according to claim 18, wherein the first encryption device encrypts using a legacy encryption method.

23. The VOD server according to claim 19, wherein the second encryption device encrypts using a non-legacy encryption method.

24. A Video On Demand (VOD) method, comprising:

receiving a request for delivery of content;

retrieving the content from a storage medium;

processing the retrieved content by selecting first portions of the content for encryption under a selective encryption system and selecting second portions of the content to remain unencrypted;

determining if the request is from a terminal having decryption capabilities associated with a first decryption method or a second decryption method;

if the request is from a terminal having decryption capabilities associated with the first decryption method, then;

routing the first portions to a first encryption device;

routing the second portions around the first encryption device;

encrypting the first portions using a first encryption process at the first encryption device to produce encrypted first portions; and

assembling a stream of selectively encrypted content from the encrypted first portions and the second portions.

25. The VOD method according to claim 24, wherein the first portions and the second portions are stored in a computer readable file.

26. The VOD method according to claim 25, wherein the computer readable file is stored in a VOD server.

27. The VOD method according to claim 25, further comprising streaming the selectively encrypted content to the terminal.

28. The VOD method according to claim 25, wherein the first decryption method comprises a legacy encryption method.

29. The VOD method according to claim 25, wherein the assembled stream is passed through a second encryption device that is not provisioned to carry out encryption processing on the stream.

30. The VOD method according to claim 25, further comprising:

if the request is from a terminal having decryption capabilities associated with the second decryption method, then;

assembling a stream of content from the first portion and the second portion;

routing the stream to a second encryption device; and

encrypting the first portions using a second encryption process at the second encryption device to produce a selectively encrypted stream.

31. The VOD method according to claim 25, wherein the second decryption method comprises a non-legacy encryption method.

32. The VOD method according to claim 25, carried out under control of a programmed processor.

33. A computer readable storage medium storing instructions which, when executed on a programmed processor, carry out a process according to claim 25.