CLIENT-SIDE PROTECTION OF BROADCAST OR MULTICAST CONTENT FOR NON-REAL-TIME PLAYBACK

• US 20110170688A1
• Filed: 03/21/2011
• Published: 07/14/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Qurio Holdings Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Qurio Holdings Incorporated
• Inventors: Evans, Gregory Morgan, Roberts, Thomas A.
• Application Number:
  US13/052,705
• Publication Number:
  US 20110170688A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 380/210
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2541 Rights Management protecting software against unauthorised usage in a vending or licensing environment G06F21/10; security in data switching network management H04L41/28; security management or policies for network security H04L63/20; access security in wireless networks H04W12/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26613 for generating or managing keys in general key distribution for secret or secure communication involving central third party, e.g. key distribution center [KDC] or trusted third party [TTP] H04L9/083; network support of key management H04L63/06; key management for network security in communication control or processing H04W12/04
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4325 by playing back content from the storage medium reproduction of recorded television signals H04N5/76; reproduction of recorded television signals H04N9/79
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4334 Recording operations recording of a television signal H04N5/76; arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4408 involving video stream encryption, e.g. re-encrypting a decrypted video stream for redistribution in a home network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4627 Rights management associated to the content security in data switching network management H04L41/28; security management or policies for network security H04L63/20; access security in wireless networks H04W12/08

Abstract

A system and method are disclosed for providing client-side protection of broadcast or multicast multimedia content for non-real-time playback. A set-top box function receives a request to record multimedia content and determines whether recording of the multimedia content is restricted. Upon receiving the multimedia content, the set-top box decrypts the multimedia content for real-time playback. If recording of the multimedia content is restricted, the set-top box re-encrypts the multimedia content and generates a packaged file including the re-encrypted multimedia content and one or more of a content identifier, a set-top identifier, a network reference to a copyright policy server, and a record policy of the multimedia content. The packaged file is either stored locally or transferred to remote storage. A remote system having access to the packaged file obtains the packaged file and enforces a copyright policy of the multimedia content before releasing the multimedia content for non-real-time playback.

Claims

1. A method for providing client-side protection of multicast multimedia content for non-real-time playback comprising:

receiving a record request for content;

receiving the content over a network interface from a multicast network;

decrypting the content;

determining if non real-time playback of the content is restricted;

sending a request to a licensing server if non real-time playback is restricted;

receiving a record policy for the content identifying non real-time playback restrictions in response to the request;

receiving a unique encryption key for the content;

re-encrypting the content into a file using the encryption key, the file including a content ID, a set-top-box function ID, and a reference to a policy server; and

sending the file to a remote system.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the content is IPTV.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the policy server provides a copyright policy to the remote system.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the copyright policy is used to effect non-real-time playback of the content.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein the copyright policy includes a Digital Rights Management policy.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the record policy is included with the file.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the record policy reflects a watermarking requirement of the content.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the remote system watermarks the content.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein watermarking parameters are provided by the copyright policy server.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the watermarking parameters comprise at least one of a group consisting of:

the set-top box function ID, the content ID, and user specific information.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the content is compressed in a MPEG2, MPEG4, or H264 or the like.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein additional low-loss content is received with the compressed content.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the low-loss content is associated with at least one of a group consisting of:

I-Frames or I-Slices.

14. The method of claim 1, where the method is performed using a set top box having a set top function.

15. A system comprising:

a) a control system configured to;

i) receive a request to record content;

ii) determine if non real-time playback of the content is restricted;

iii) send a request to a licensing server if non real-time playback is restricted;

iv) receive a record policy for the content identifying non real-time playback restrictions in response to the request; and

v) receive a unique encryption key for the content;

b) a decryption function configured to decrypt the content to provide decrypted content for real-time playback;

c) an encryption function adapted to, if recording of the content is restricted, re-encrypt the decrypted content into a file, the file including a content ID, a set-top-box function ID, and a reference to a policy server; and

d) a network interface configured to;

i) receive the content from a content server; and

ii) send the re-encrypted file to a remote system.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the content is IPTV.

17. The system of claim 15 wherein the policy server provides a copyright policy.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein the copyright policy is used to effect nonreal-time playback of the content.

19. The system of claim 17 wherein the copyright policy includes a Digital Rights Management policy.

20. The system of claim 15 wherein the record policy is included with the file.

21. The system of claim 15 wherein the record policy reflects a watermarking requirement of the content.

22. The system of claim 21 wherein the system watermarks the content.

23. The system of claim 22 wherein watermarking parameters are provided by the copyright policy.

24. The system of claim 23 wherein the watermarking parameters comprise at least one of a group consisting of:

the set-top box function ID, the content ID, and user specific information.

25. A method of controlling playback of recorded content from a multimedia storage device comprising:

receiving a file having encrypted content, a set-top box function ID, a content ID, and a reference to a policy server;

requesting a copyright policy from the policy server using the reference to the policy server;

receiving the copyright policy from the policy server; and

effecting playback of the content in accordance with the copyright policy.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein controlled playback of the recorded content is effected at a remote system.

27. The method of claim 26 wherein the copyright policy reflects a watermarking requirement of the content.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein the remote system watermarks the content.

29. The method of claim 28 wherein watermarking parameters are provided by the policy server.

30. The method of claim 29 wherein the watermarking parameters comprise at least one of a group consisting of:

the set-top box function ID, the content ID, and user specific information.

31. The method of claim 25, wherein the encrypted multimedia content is generated by a set-top box function.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the set-top box function is coupled to a broadcast service.

33. The method of claim 31, wherein the set-top box function is coupled to a multicast service.

34. The method of claim 25, wherein the reference to the copyright policy server is a URL.

35. The method of claim 25 wherein the copyright policy includes a Digital Rights Management policy.