Conditional access and content security method

• US 6,069,647 A
• Filed: 01/29/1998
• Issued: 05/30/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Acken, John M., Aucsmith, David W., Sullivan, Robert R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Grant, Chris
• Application Number:
  US09/015,409
• Time in Patent Office: 852 Days
• Field of Search: 348/5.5, 348/10, 348/12, 348/7, 348/13, 380/21, 380/42, 380/43, 380/46, 380/4, 380/49, 380/5, 380/23, 380/25, 380/57, 380/58
• US Class Current: 725/29
• 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 21/437 Interfacing the upstream path of the transmission network, e.g. for transmitting client requests to a VOD server flow control in data networks H04L47/10; streaming protocols, e.g. RTP or RTCP, H04L65/65; scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests in data packet switching networks H04L67/60
• 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 21/8193 dedicated tools, e.g. video decoder software or IPMP tool
• 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

A system featuring an interface unit connected to a programmable unit is described. The interface unit is capable of containing a time-sensitive key. The programmable unit is allowed to receive digital content from the interface unit upon establishing that the time-sensitive key is also contained therein.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

an interface unit to contain a time-sensitive key being a series of instructions distributed in space and able to be executed sequentially in time; and

a programmable unit coupled to the interface unit, the programmable unit to receive digital content from the interface unit upon establishing that the time-sensitive key is also contained within the programmable unit.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the time sensitive key comprises a plurality of bits forming a signal value in a binary format distributed in space and in time.

3. A system comprising:

an interface unit to contain a time sensitive key, the time-sensitive key is partitioned into a plurality of subparts, each subpart assigned to a subprogram of an authentication program able to be executed over time; and

a programmable unit coupled to the interface unit, the programmable unit to receive digital content from the interface unit upon establishing that the time-sensitive key is also contained within the programmable unit.

8. The system of claim 3, wherein the programmable unit includes a memory bank containing a program partitioned into a plurality of subroutines, each subpart of a plurality of subparts of the time-sensitive key corresponding to one of the plurality of subroutines.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the programmable unit further includes at least one memory bank to contain a digital certificate and a digital signature.

4. A system comprising:

an interface unit to contain a time-sensitive key; and

a programmable unit coupled to the interface unit, the programmable unit to receive digital content from the interface unit upon establishing that the time-sensitive key is also contained within the programmable unit, the digital content received by the programmable unit further includes a revocation list indicative of whether the programmable unit is authorized to receive the digital content.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the interface unit comprises one of a broadband receiver, a digital versatile disk player and a meter.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the programmable unit comprises one of a computer, a set-top box and a digital television.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the programmable unit includes a memory containing an executable program stored in a tamper-resistant format.

10. A method for hindering unauthorized access to digital content, the method comprising:

periodically transmitting a time sensitive key between an interface unit and a programmable unit; and

performing pre-transfer operations to ensure that the programmable unit is authorized to receive the digital content, the pre-transfer operations include verifying that a communication link between the interface unit and the programmable unit is secure.

11. A method for hindering unauthorized access to digital content, the method comprising:

periodically transmitting a time sensitive key between an interface unit and a programmable unit, the time sensitive key comprises a series of instructions periodically updated; and

performing pre-transfer operations to ensure that the programmable unit is authorized to receive the digital content.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the series of instructions provides revocation information to identify at least one programmable unit precluded from further using the time-sensitive key.

13. A method for hindering unauthorized access to digital content, the method comprising:

periodically transmitting a time sensitive key between an interface unit and a programmable unit; and

performing pre-transfer operations to ensure that the programmable unit is authorized to receive the digital content, the performing of the pre-transfer operations includes checking whether an authentication program loaded in the programmable unit has been modified.

14. A method for hindering unauthorized access to digital content, the method comprising:

periodically transmitting a time sensitive key between an interface unit and a programmable unit; and

performing pre-transfer operations to ensure that the programmable unit is authorized to receive the digital content, the performing of the pre-transfer operations includes authenticating the programming unit.