Media Storage and Playback of Encrypted Content

• US 20120308005A1
• Filed: 06/01/2011
• Published: 12/06/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Inventors: Garcia, Maurice
• Granted Patent: US 9,419,947 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 380/255
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0485 Networking architectures for enhanced packet encryption processing, e.g. offloading of IPsec packet processing or efficient security association look-up

Abstract

A content distribution system is disclosed that supports verification of transmission. In some embodiments, a remote probe device captures content and sends the content to a decrypting device so that decryption may be performed. The decrypting device may archive the content and may subsequently send the content to the probe device or to a playback device so that the content may be displayed. Consequently, the content distribution system can verify that specified content (e.g., an advertisement) was correctly distributed according to scheduled information.

Claims

1. A method for managing content, the method comprising:

receiving first encrypted content from a first media device through a network;

decrypting, by a decryption device, the first encrypted content into first decrypted content;

receiving second encrypted content from a second media device different from said first media device through the network;

decrypting, by the decryption device, the second encrypted content into second decrypted content; and

sending data representative of said first or second decrypted content to a probe device to verify transmission of the content.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

sending the first decrypted content to one of a plurality of media devices.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said one of the plurality of media devices is different from the first media device.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing the first decrypted content;

receiving a request from one of a plurality of media devices;

in response to the request, retrieving the stored first decrypted content; and

sending the stored decrypted content to said one of the plurality of media devices.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a first decryption key for decrypting the first encryption content and a second decryption key for decrypting the second encryption content, wherein the first and second decryption keys are different.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

sending the first decryption content to the second media device.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

reconfiguring decryption to support another encryption scheme that is different from an encryption scheme that is used by the first media device.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

instructing the first media device to receive the first encrypted content in accordance with schedule information.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, by the first media device, the first encrypted content in accordance with the schedule information.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

requesting, by one of a plurality of media devices, the decrypted content; and

displaying, by said one of the plurality of media devices, the decrypted content.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said one of the plurality of media devices is different from the first media device.

12. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory having stored therein machine executable instructions, the at least one memory and stored instructions configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to;

receive first encrypted content from a first media device through a network;

decrypt the first encrypted content into first decrypted content;

receive a request for the first decrypted content from another media device different from the first media device; and

send data representative of the first decrypted content to the other media device to verify transmission of the content.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the at least one memory and the stored instructions further cause the apparatus to:

receive second encrypted content from a second media device through the network, wherein the first media device and the second media device are located at different locations along the network; and

decrypt the second encrypted content into second decrypted content.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the at least one memory and the stored instructions further cause the apparatus to:

store the first decrypted content;

receive a request from one of a plurality of media devices;

in response to the request, retrieve the stored first decrypted content; and

send the stored decrypted content to said one of the plurality of media devices.

15. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the at least one memory and the stored instructions further cause the apparatus to:

receive first decryption key for decrypting the first encryption content and a second decryption key for decrypting the second encryption content, wherein the first and second decryption keys are different.

16. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the at least one memory and the stored instructions further cause the apparatus to:

reconfigure decryption to support another encryption scheme that is different from an encryption scheme that is used by the first media device.

17. A computer-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions that when executed cause an apparatus to perform:

receiving first encrypted content from a first media device through a network;

decrypting the first encrypted content into first decrypted content;

receiving second encrypted content from a second media device different from the first media device through the network;

decrypting the second encrypted content into second decrypted content; and

sending data representative of the first decrypted content to one of a plurality of media devices to verify transmission of the content.

18. A computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein said one of the plurality of media devices is different from the first media device.

19. A computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the computer-executable instructions further cause the apparatus to perform:

storing the first decrypted content;

receiving a request from one of a plurality of media devices;

in response to the request, retrieving the stored first decrypted content; and

sending the stored decrypted content to said one of the plurality of media devices.

20. A computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the computer-executable instructions further cause the apparatus to perform:

receiving a first decryption key for decrypting the first encryption content and a second decryption key for decrypting the second encryption content, wherein the first and second decryption keys are different.