Security arrangement for downloadable cable television converters
First Claim
1. Apparatus for preventing unauthorized receipt of programming in a downloadable cable television converter comprising:
- receiver means for receiving data downloaded via a cable televison network;
means for automatically tuning said receiver means to a dedicated booter channel for receipt of data comprising a booter image when said converter is powered up;
means for subsequently tuning said receiver means to a separate channel for receipt of additional data after receipt of said booter image;
means for computing a booter checksum from data contained in said booter image;
means, coupled to receive a program signal, for extracting a valid checksum from tag data associated with said signal;
means for comparing the booter checksum to said extracted valid checksum;
a descramber coupled to receive at least a portion of said program signal to be descrambled; and
means operatively associated with said descrambler for enabling the descrambler to operate only if said comparing means determines that the booter checksum matches the extracted valid checksum.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus prevent unauthorized programming viewing via a downloadable cable television converter. A booter checksum is computed from data contained in a downloaded booter image. A valid checksum is extracted from tag data associated with a scrambled program signal transmitted on the cable system. The booter checksum is compared to the extracted valid checksum. If the booter checksum and valid checksums match, a descrambler is enabled to descramble the scrambled program signal. If the checksums do not match, the descrambler is not enabled. In this manner, a pirate is prevented from downloading a false booter image to defeat the integrity of the converter.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. Apparatus for preventing unauthorized receipt of programming in a downloadable cable television converter comprising:
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receiver means for receiving data downloaded via a cable televison network; means for automatically tuning said receiver means to a dedicated booter channel for receipt of data comprising a booter image when said converter is powered up; means for subsequently tuning said receiver means to a separate channel for receipt of additional data after receipt of said booter image; means for computing a booter checksum from data contained in said booter image; means, coupled to receive a program signal, for extracting a valid checksum from tag data associated with said signal; means for comparing the booter checksum to said extracted valid checksum; a descramber coupled to receive at least a portion of said program signal to be descrambled; and means operatively associated with said descrambler for enabling the descrambler to operate only if said comparing means determines that the booter checksum matches the extracted valid checksum. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A television oommunication system comprising:
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a transmission path for carrying television signals from a headend to subscriber converters; means for downloading a booter image to a subscriber converter via said transmission path, said converter comprising receiver means for receiving downloaded data, means for automatically tuning said receiver means to a dedicated booter channel for receipt of said booter image when the converter is powered up, and means for subsequently tuning said receiver means to a separate channel for receipt of additional data after receipt of said booter image; means for computing a booter checksum from said booter image; means for extracting a valid checksum from tag data contained in a televison signal received at said converter; means for comparing the booter checksum to the extracted valid checksum; a descrambler operatively associated with said converter for descrambling television signals; and means operatively associated with said descrambler for enabling the descrambler to operate only if said comparing means determines that the booter checksum matches the extracted valid checksum. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6)
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7. A cable television converter comprising:
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first receiver means for receiving a booter image to be downloaded to the converter from a dedicated booter channel; second receiver means for receiving television signals; means for tuning said first receiver means upon power up to said booter channel to effect a booter image download; means for subsequently tuning said first receiver means to a separate channel for receipt of additional data after receipt of said booter image; means for computing a booter checksum from data contained in a downloaded booter image; means coupled to said second receiver means for extracting a valid checksum from data associated with a received television signal; means for comparing the booter checksum to the extracted valid checksum; and means for preventing a user from viewing a program to be reproduced from a received television signal if said comparing means determines that the booter checksum does not match the extracted valid checksum. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9)
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10. A method for preventing unauthorized parties from illegitimate access to cable television programs in a cable system in which a booter image is downloaded to subscriber converters, comprising the steps of:
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tuning a data receiver in a subscriber terminal to a booter channel to receive downloaded booter image data; re-tuning said data receive to a separate channel for receipt of additional data after receipt of said booter image data; computing a booter checksum from said booter image data; comparing the booter checksum to a valid checksum extracted from data associated with a television signal received by the subscriber converter via the cable system; and preventing a subscriber from viewing a program to be reproduced from a received television signal unless the checksum computed from the booter image matches the valid checksum. - View Dependent Claims (11)
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Specification