Method and apparatus for transmitting and receiving encrypted signals

• US 5,920,625 A
• Filed: 02/18/1997
• Issued: 07/06/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Irdeto B.V. (MultiChoice Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Irdeto B.V. (MultiChoice Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: Davies, Donald Watts
• Primary Examiner(s): CAIN, DAVID C
• Application Number:
  US08/722,255
• Time in Patent Office: 868 Days
• Field of Search: 380/9, 380/10, 380/49
• US Class Current: 380/210
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 by receiver means only
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/1696 by changing or reversing the order of active picture signal portions

Abstract

An encrypted signal compatible with first and second encryption systems is generated by producing encryption data signals relating to each encryption system. A difference signal is derived from the two encryption data signals and the signal to be encrypted is encrypted in accordance with one of the encryption systems. At an output the encrypted signal, the two encryption signals, and the difference signal are made available. At a decoder compatible with, for example, the first encryption system, the encrypted data, the second encryption data signal, and the different signal are received. The decoder can then derive the first encryption data signal from the second encryption data signal and the difference signal and can then decode the encrypted signal.

Claims

1. A method of transmitting a signal compatible with a first and a second encryption system, comprising the steps of:

receiving a picture signal to be transmitted;

generating a first signal set at a first signal generator in dependence on a first data packet;

generating a second signal set at a second signal generator in dependence on a second data packet;

obtaining a difference signal from a comparison between the first and second signalsets;

encrypting the picture signal in dependence on the first signal set to generate an encrypted picture signal;

supplying for transmission the following signals, compatible with a first encryption system;

the encrypted picture signal, the first data packet; and

supplying for transmission the following signals, compatible with a second encryption system;

the second data packet and the difference signal.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the first data packet is transmitted in one set of vertical blanking interval lines and the second data packet is transmitted on another set of vertical blanking interval lines.

4. The method claimed in claim 1 or 3 wherein the first signal set comprises seeds generated by a first hashing algorithm operating on the first data packet and the first signal generator comprises a hashing algorithm program, which generates the seeds.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the second signal set comprises different seeds generated by a second hashing algorithm operating on the second data packet and the second signal generator comprises a hashing algorithm program which generates such seeds.

6. The method as claimed in claim 4 or 5 wherein the difference signal is obtained by comparing the seeds of the first and second control signal sets.

2. An apparatus for transmitting a signal compatible with a first and second encryption system comprising:

an input for receiving a picture signal to be transmitted;

a first signal generator to generate a first signal set in dependence a first data packet;

a second signal generator to generate a second signal set in dependence on a second data packet;

a comparison device for obtaining a difference signal from a comparison between the first and second signal sets;

a encrypter to encrypt the picture signal in dependence on the first signal set to generate an encrypted picture signal;

an output to supply for transmission the following signals, compatible with a first encryption system;

the encrypted rambled picture signal, the first data packet;

an output to supply for transmission the following signals, compatible with a second encryption system;

the second data packet and the difference signal.

7. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the first data packet is transmitted in one set of vertical blanking interval lines and the second data packet is transmitted on another set of vertical blanking interval lines.

8. The apparatus of claim 2 or 6 wherein the first signal set comprises seeds generated by a first hashing algorithm operating on the first data packet and the first signal generator comprises a hashing algorithm program, which generates the seeds.

9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein the second signal set comprises different seeds generated by a second hashing algorithm operating on the second data packet and the second signal generator comprises a hashing algorithm program which generates such seeds.

10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein the difference signal is obtained by comparing the seeds of the first and second control signal sets.

11. A smart card comprising a first and/or second signal generator of the apparatus as claimed in any of claims 2, 7 or 10.

14. An apparatus as claimed in claim 9 where in the signal generator comprises a hashing algorithm specific to a second encryption system such that when the second control signals are fed to such a hashing algorithm, a seed sequence is generated.

23. A smart card comprising a first and/or second signal generator of the apparatus as claimed in claim 8.

24. A smart card comprising a first and/or second signal generator of the apparatus as claimed in claim 9.

12. A method of receiving a signal from a transmitter, encrypted in accordance with a first encryption system with a first signal set derived from a first data packet, comprising the steps of:

receiving an encrypted picture signal, a second data packet and a difference signal related to the difference between the first and second data packets;

generating a signal set from the second data packet and the difference signal, where such a signal set is identical to the first signal set, derived in accordance with the first encryption system and used to encrypt the picture signal prior to the transmission by the transmitter;

decrypting the encrypted picture signal in dependence on the said signal set equipment to the first signal set.

15. An apparatus as claimed in claim 12 wherein the signal generator is operable to combine the seed sequence generated by the hashing algorithm specific to the second encryption system with the difference signal to result in further seeds that are identical to a seed sequence of the first signal set, and is further operable to feed such further seeds to a pseudo-binary sequence generator to generate a cut-point sequence identical to a cut-point sequence of the first signal set.

16. A smart card comprising the signal generator of the apparatus as claimed in claim 15 wherein the signal generator is adapted to generate seeds using a hashing algorithm program and combine such seeds with the difference signal to result in further seeds that are identical to a seed sequence of the first signal set.

13. An apparatus for receiving a signal from a transmitter, encrypted in accordance with a first encryption system with a first signal set derived from a first data packet, comprising:

an input to receive an encrypted picture signal, a second data packet and a difference signal relating to the difference between the first and second data packets;

a signal generator adapted to generate a signal set from the second data packet and the difference signal, where such a signal set matches the first signal set, derived in accordance with the first encryption system and used to encrypt the picture prior to transmission by the transmitter;

a encrypter adapted to decrypt the encrypted picture signal in dependence on the said signal set which matches the first signal set.

17. A method for encrypting a signal to be compatible with first and second encryption/decryption systems comprising the steps of:

receiving a signal to be transmitted;

generating first and second encryption data signals relating to the first and second encryption/decryption systems;

encrypting the signal in dependence on the first encryption data;

deriving a difference signal from the first and second encryption data signals; and

providing at an output the encrypted signal, the first and second encryption data signals and the difference signal.

18. A method for receiving and decrypting a signal encrypted in a first encryption/decryption system comprising the steps of:

receiving the encrypted signal;

receiving encryption data relating to a second encryption/decryption system;

receiving a difference signal;

deriving encryption data relating to the first encryption/decryption system from the received encryption data and difference signal; and

decrypting the encrypted signal in dependence on the thus derived encryption data.

19. Apparatus for receiving and decrypting a signal encrypted in a first encryption/decryption system comprising:

means for receiving the encrypted signal;

means for receiving encryption data relating to a second encryption/decryption system and a difference signal;

means for deriving encryption data relating to the first encryption/decryption system from the received encryption data and the difference signal; and

means for decrypting the encrypted signal in dependence on the thus derived encryption data.

20. Apparatus for encrypting a signal to be compatible with first and second encryption/decryption systems comprising:

means for generating first and second encryption data signals relating to the first and second encryption/decryption systems;

means for encrypting a signal in dependence on the first encryption data signal;

means for deriving a difference signal from the first and second encryption data signals; and

output means for the encrypted signal, the first and second encryption data signals and the difference signal.

21. A portable electronic device for use in apparatus for receiving and decrypting signals encrypted in a first encryption/decryption system comprising

means for receiving encryption data relating to a second encryption/decryption system and for receiving a difference signal;

and

means for deriving encryption data relating to the first encryption/decryption system from the received encryption data and the difference signal.

22. A smart card comprising apparatus according to claim 21.