Methods and apparatus to conditionally authorize content delivery at content servers in pay delivery systems

• US 20070265968A1
• Filed: 05/15/2006
• Published: 11/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DIRECTV, LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Basse, Hanno, Kahn, Raynold, Klauss, Peter, Popoli, Maria, Kidd, Deanna, Dulac, Stephen
• Granted Patent: US 8,095,466 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/51
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/382 insuring higher security of transaction
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions

Abstract

Methods and apparatus to conditionally authorize content delivery at content servers in pay delivery systems are disclosed. An example method comprises receiving an authorization for a program download, receiving a request to download the program from a receiver, wherein the receiver is configured to receive a broadcast signal, and transmitting the program to the receiver via point-to-point communication signal.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving an authorization from a broadcast system headend to download a program to a receiver, wherein the receiver is configured to receive a satellite broadcast signal from the broadcast system headend via a satellite communication path;

receiving a request for the program download from the receiver, and

transmitting the program to the receiver via a terrestial communication paths.

2. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein transmitting the program to the receiver via the terrestial communication path comprises transmitting an electrical signal via a wired communication link.

3. A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an encryption secret; and

encrypting the program with the encryption secret.

4. A method as defined in claim 3, wherein the authorization includes the encryption secret.

5. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the authorization is signed, and wherein the authorization is received from the broadcast system headend via the receiver.

6. A method as defined in claim 5, wherein the signature is used to verify the authorization.

7. A method as defined in claim 5, wherein the signature may be verified with at least one of a secret key or a public checking key.

8. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the satellite broadcast signal is receivable by one or more additional receivers, and the program is transmitted to the receiver via the terrestrial communication path as an Internet protocol (IP) based signal.

9. A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising receiving a file containing encrypted data packets that represent the program.

10. A method as defined in claim 9, wherein transmitting the program comprises transmitting Internet protocol (IP) packets each containing at least one of the encrypted data packets.

11. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the authorization expires.

12. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the authorization includes at least one of a timestamp or a changing number received by the receiver via the satellite broadcast signal.

13. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the request is cryptographically enhanced.

14. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein cryptographically enhancing the request comprises scrambling the request with an Internet protocol (IP) address.

15. An article of manufacture storing machine readable instructions which, when executed, cause a machine to:

receive an asset download authorization from a broadcast system headend;

receive a request to download an asset from a receiver, wherein the receiver station is configured to receive a satellite broadcast signal from the broadcast system headend via a satellite communication link; and

transmit the asset to the receiver via a terrestrial communication link.

16. An article of manufacture as defined in claim 15, wherein the machine readable instructions, when executed, cause the machine to transmit the asset to the receiver via the terrestrial communication link by transmitting an electrical signal via a wired communication.

17. An article of manufacture as defined in claim 15, wherein the machine readable instructions, when executed, cause the machine to:

receive an encryption secret; and

encrypt the asset with the encryption secret.

18. An article of manufacture as defined in claim 17, wherein the authorization includes the encryption secret.

19. An article of manufacture as defined in claim 15, wherein the authorization is signed, and wherein the authorization is received from the broadcast system headend via the receiver.

20. An article of manufacture as defined in claim 19, wherein the signature is used to, verify the authorization.

21. An article of manufacture as defined in claim 15, wherein the satellite broadcast signal is receivable by one or more additional receivers, and wherein the machine readable instructions, when executed, cause the machine to transmit the program to the receiver via the terrestrial communication link as an Internet protocol (IP) based signal.

22. An article of manufacture as defined in claim 15, wherein the machine readable instructions, when executed, cause the machine to receive a file containing encrypted data packets that represent the asset

23. An article of manufacture as defined in claim 22, wherein the machine readable instructions, when executed, cause the machine to transmit the asset as Internet protocol (IP) packets each containing at least one of the encrypted data packets.

24. An apparatus comprising:

a storage device to store an asset file; and

an interface to receive a download authorization from a broadcast system headend, to receive a download request from a receiver, and to transmit the asset to the receiver via an terrestrial communication network, wherein the receiver is configured to receive a satellite broadcast signal from the broadcast system headend via a satellite communication path.

25. An apparatus as defined in claim 24, wherein the satellite broadcast signal is receivable by one or more additional receivers;

and the program is transmitted to the receiver via the terrestrial communication network as an Internet protocol (IP) based signal.

26. An apparatus as defined in claim 24, wherein the apparatus is to:

receive an encryption secret, wherein the authorization includes the encryption secret; and

encrypting the program with the encryption secret.

27. An apparatus as defined in claim 24, wherein the authorization is signed, wherein the authorization is received from the broadcast system headend via the receiver, and wherein the signature is used to verify the authorization.

28. An apparatus as defined in claim 25, wherein the IP based signal is addressed to the receiver.

29. An apparatus as defined in claim 24, wherein the asset file contains encrypted data packets that represent a program.

30. An apparatus as defined in claim 24, wherein transmitting the asset file comprises transmitting Internet protocol (IP) packets each containing at least one of the encrypted data packets.