Conditional access filter as for a packet video signal inverse transport system

• US 5,802,063 A
• Filed: 10/08/1996
• Issued: 09/01/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Thomson Consumer Electronics Incorporated (Vantiva SA)
• Original Assignee: Thomson Consumer Electronics Incorporated (Vantiva SA)
• Inventors: Deiss, Michael Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Wellington
• Assistant Examiner(s): VU, HUY DUY
• Application Number:
  US08/727,689
• Time in Patent Office: 693 Days
• Field of Search: 370/474, 370/475, 370/476, 370/392, 370/469, 370/470, 370/471, 370/393, 348/5.5, 348/6, 348/7, 348/8, 348/9, 348/10, 348/461, 348/467, 348/465, 348/469, 348/473, 348/426, 455/3.1, 455/4.1, 455/4.2, 380/9, 380/10, 380/19, 380/20, 380/21, 380/23, 380/28, 380/29, 380/30, 380/42, 380/43, 380/44, 380/45, 380/46, 380/47, 380/49, 380/50, 340/825.36
• US Class Current: 370/476
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26606 for generating or managing entitlement messages, e.g. Entitlement Control Message [ECM] or Entitlement Management Message [EMM] arrangements for conditional access to broadcast information or to broadcast-related services H04H60/14
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4181 for conditional access
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/426 Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42623 involving specific decryption arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4405 involving video stream decryption
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4623 Processing of entitlement messages, e.g. ECM [Entitlement Control Message] or EMM [Entitlement Management Message] arrangements for conditional access to broadcast information or to broadcast-related services H04H60/14
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 by receiver means only
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/165 Centralised control of user terminal subsequent to an upstream request signal H04N7/17345; Registering at central by two-way working H04N7/17309
• 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

Abstract

Apparatus in a receiver, for processing transmitted entitlement control information, includes a packet transport processor for selecting signal packets having payloads containing a conditional access payload header and a remaining payload of entitlement data. Respective payload headers include groups of bytes which are coded in a manner to allow or disallow the respective receiver from processing the entitlement data. A conditional access filter preprogrammed with a subscriber specific conditional access codeword examines respective byte groupings of the conditional access header for a match with the subscriber specific conditional access codeword. Only if a match occurs is the processor permitted to process the entitlement data. The entitlement data is thereafter utilized to generate decryption keys for descrambling portions of the transmitted signal.

Claims

1. A method of transmitting conditional access information including entitlement management and control data comprising:

forming N-byte conditional access codes of like type, each of which is equal in length to an MPEG start code;

concatenating M different of said like type N-byte conditional access codes, N an integer and M an integer greater than one;

selecting one of said N-byte conditional access codes of like type or a special N-byte conditional access code of like type having a predetermined logic state;

forming a payload including a) said selected one of said N-byte conditional access codes or said special N-byte code, b) concatenating the selected code with concatenated said M different N-byte conditional access codes to form M+1 concatenated N-byte conditional access codes of like type and c) concatenating the concatenated codes with said entitlement management and control data; and

forming a transport packet having a) a header identifying such transport packet as containing entitlement data, and b) said payload.

2. The method set forth in claim 1 further including:

providing an (M+1) times N byte code in which R groups of N-bytes all have bits in a predetermined logic state (R, M, N all integers and R times N is less than or equal to (M+1) times N), and wherein the step of forming a payload comprises;

a) selecting one of said N-byte conditional access codes or an N-byte code of all one logic state, b) concatenating the selected code with said M different N-byte conditional access codes and c) selecting said (M+1) times N byte code or the concatenated code and d) concatenating the last selected code with said entitlement management and control data.

3. A method of transmitting conditional access information including entitlement management data comprising:

providing R concatenated N-byte conditional access codes, where R and N are integers and respective said N-byte conditional access codes are equal in bit-length to an MPEG start code;

providing said entitlement management data;

providing transport header data;

forming a transport packet including said transport header and including a payload including said R concatenated N-byte conditional access codes and said entitlement management data.

4. A method of transmitting conditional access information comprising:

providing entitlement management data;

providing a plurality of N-byte conditional access codes N an integer and each said conditional access code being equal in Length to an MPEG start code, and one of said N-byte conditional access codes is defined by all bits having a like logic state;

concatenating an integer number, greater than one, of N-byte conditional access codes;

forming a transport packet having a header and a payload including concatenated said integer number of N-byte conditional access codes and said entitlement management data.