Adaptive decoding system for processing encrypted and non-encrypted broadcast, cable or satellite video data

• US 5,933,500 A
• Filed: 11/27/1996
• Issued: 08/03/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Thomson Consumer Electronics Incorporated (Vantiva SA)
• Original Assignee: Thomson Consumer Electronics Incorporated (Vantiva SA)
• Inventors: Horlander, Thomas Edward, Deiss, Michael Scott, Bridgewater, Kevin Elliott, Blatter, Harold
• Primary Examiner(s): Barron, Jr., Gilberto
• Application Number:
  US08/761,517
• Time in Patent Office: 979 Days
• Field of Search: 380/20, 380/16
• US Class Current: 380/200
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/213 Read-only discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2545 CDs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2562 DVDs [digital versatile discs]; Digital video discs; MMCDs; HDCDs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2579 HD-DVDs [high definition DVDs]; AODs [advanced optical discs]
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/90 Tape-like record carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/031 Electronic editing of digitised analogue information signals, e.g. audio or video signals
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/034 on discs G11B27/036, G11B27/038 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/102 Programmed access in sequence to addressed parts of tracks of operating record carriers access by moving the head G11B3/08, G11B5/54, G11B7/085, G11B21/022; by moving the record carrier G11B15/005, G11B17/005, by driving of both record carrier and head G11B15/1816
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/105 of operating discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/107 of operating tapes
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/3027 used signal is digitally coded
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/327 Table of contents
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/328 on a tape [TTOC]
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/329 on a disc [VTOC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4147 PVR [Personal Video Recorder] H04N5/76 takes precedence ; arrangements for broadcast with accumulation-type receivers H04H20/40
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/434 Disassembling of a multiplex stream, e.g. demultiplexing audio and video streams, extraction of additional data from a video stream; Remultiplexing of multiplex streams; Extraction or processing of SI; Disassembling of packetised elementary stream demultiplexing of data packets for data networks, e.g. RTP/UDP H04L65/00
• 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 7/1675 Providing digital key or authorisation information for generation or regeneration of the scrambling sequence pseudo-random number generators in general G06F7/58

Abstract

An adaptive decoder generates a program representative datastream, in selectable, encrypted or decrypted form. A method for adaptively processing input encrypted program data with an associated encryption code provides either an encrypted or a decrypted program output. In an encrypted mode, encrypted program data and an associated encryption code is exported to an output port. In a decrypted mode, input encrypted program data is decrypted using an encryption key derived from the encryption code to provide decrypted program data. The decrypted program data is exported to the output port. Non-encrypted program data is exported to an output port in a selectable non-encrypted mode.

Claims

1. In a video decoder, a method for adaptively processing input encrypted program data with an associated encryption code to provide either an encrypted or a decrypted program output, comprising the steps of:

receiving mode selection information for selecting one of (a) a decrypted program output mode and (b) an encrypted program output mode;

(a) in encrypted mode selected in response to said mode selection information;

exporting encrypted program data and an associated encryption code to an output port;

(b) in decrypted mode selected in response to said mode selection information;

decrypting said input encrypted program data using an encryption key derived from said encryption code to provide decrypted program data; and

exporting said decrypted program data to an output port.

2. A method according to claim 1, further including the step of

decrypting said encryption code to provide said encryption key.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein said decoder is a host device for receiving an insertable electronic device;

and said step of decrypting said encryption code includes the step of

using a decryption algorithm contained in said electronic device in decrypting said encryption code.

4. A method according to claim 2, wherein different decryption algorithms are used for decrypting said input encrypted program data and for decrypting said encryption code.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein

said mode selection information is conveyed in a datastream including said input encrypted program data.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein

said mode selection information comprises at least one of (a) information in an ancillary data field including a header data field, (b) information derived from program specific information including channel map, program map, network and conditional access information, (c) information pre-stored in said decoder, (d) user generated information, and (e) information derived from copy protection or use limitation information.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein

said mode selection information is provided by one of, (a) a service provider or broadcaster, and (b) a user of said decoder.

8. A method according to claim 1, further including the encrypted mode step of

forming data into a datastream including said encrypted program data for limiting subsequent use of said encrypted program data by inhibiting subsequent decryption of said encrypted program data.

9. A method according to claim 8, wherein said encoding step further includes the step of

including data into said datastream for limiting the number of subsequent copies that may be made of said encrypted program data.

10. A method for further processing said encrypted or decrypted program output according to claim 1, further including the step of

storing data exported to said output port on a storage medium.

11. In a video decoder, a method for adaptively processing a plurality of programs including encrypted program data with an associated encryption code and non-encrypted program data, to provide either encrypted, non-encrypted or decrypted output program data, comprising the steps of:

receiving mode selection information for selecting one of (a) a decrypted program output mode and (b) an encrypted program output mode;

(a) in non-encrypted mode;

exporting non-encrypted program data to an output port;

(b) in encrypted mode selected in response to said mode selection information;

exporting encrypted program data to an output port;

(c) in decrypted mode selected in response to said mode selection information;

decrypting said encrypted program data using an encryption key derived from said encryption code to provide decrypted program data; and

exporting said decrypted program data to an output port.

12. A method according to claim 11, further including the step of

decrypting said encryption code to provide said encryption key.

13. A method according to claim 12, wherein said decoder is a host device for receiving an insertable electronic device;

and said step of decrypting said encryption code includes the step of

using a decryption algorithm contained in said electronic device in decrypting said encryption code.

14. A method according to claim 12, wherein in decrypting said encrypted program data and in decrypting said encryption code different decryption algorithms are used.

15. A method according to claim 11, wherein

said mode selection information is conveyed in a datastream including said encrypted program data.

16. A method according to claim 11, wherein

said mode selection information comprises at least one of, (a) information in an ancillary data field including a header data field, (b) information derived from program specific information including channel map, program map, network and conditional access information, (c) information pre-stored in said decoder, (d) user generated information, and (e) information derived from copy protection or use limitation information.

17. A method according to claim 11, wherein

said mode selection information is provided by one of, (a) a service provider or broadcaster, and (b) a user of said decoder.

18. A method according to claim 11, further including the encrypted mode step of

forming data into a datastream including said encrypted program data for limiting subsequent use of said encrypted program data by inhibiting subsequent decryption of said encrypted program data.

19. A method according to claim 18, wherein said encoding step further includes the step of

including data into said datastream for limiting the number of subsequent copies that may be made of said encrypted program data.

20. A method for further processing said encrypted, non-encrypted or decrypted output program data, according to claim 11, further including the step of

storing data exported to said output port on a storage medium.