Method for protecting the audio/visual data across the NRSS interface

• US 6,409,089 B1
• Filed: 03/13/2001
• Issued: 06/25/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: InterDigital Patent Holdings, Inc. (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Thomson Licensing SA (Vantiva SA)
• Inventors: Eskicioglu, Ahmet Mursit
• Primary Examiner(s): Frech, Karl D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kim, Ahshik
• Application Number:
  US09/581,276
• Time in Patent Office: 469 Days
• Field of Search: 235/382, 235/492, 380/10, 375/200, 455/2
• US Class Current: 235/492
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4181 for conditional access
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4367 Establishing a secure communication between the client and a peripheral device or smart card
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 by receiver means only

Abstract

A system for enhancing the security of the interface between a consumer electronic device and a removable security device is provided by protecting the audio/visual (A/V) stream descrambled in the removable security device. The protection involves dynamically computing a shared key followed by the rescrambling of the A/V stream.

Claims

1. A method for protecting the output audio/visual stream of a smart card comprises the steps of:

(a) receiving a scrambled signal from a source external to said smart card;

(b) generating a descrambling key in response to said received signal;

(c) descrambling said received signal using said descrambling key to generate a descrambled signal;

(d) receiving data from said external source;

(e) generating a scrambling key in response to said received data;

(f) scrambling said descrambled signal using said scrambling key to generate a rescrambled signal; and

,

(g) providing said rescrambled signal to said external source.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said received data is a scrambling key encrypted using a public key associated with said smart card and wherein the step of generating said scrambling key comprises decrypting said encrypted scrambling key using a private key associated with said smart card, said private key being stored in said smart card.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said scrambling key comprises a seed value and wherein the step of scrambling said descrambled signal comprises the steps of:

(a) generating a random sequence in response to said seed value; and

(b) generating said rescrambled signal by exclusive ORing said random sequence and said descrambled signal.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein said received scrambled signal comprises video, audio and control packets and said seed value is generated, in said external source, in a unique manner in response to said video, audio and control packets.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein said smart card verifies said seed value by comparing said seed value to a subsequent seed value generated in said unique manner in response to said video, audio and control packets.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein said seed value is generated utilizing said hash of video, audio and control packets.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein said seed value is generated by exclusive ORing said video, audio and control packets together.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said smart card has a card body having a plurality of terminals arranged on a surface of said card body in accordance with one of ISO 7816 and PCMCIA card standards.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of generating, in said smart card, a first seed value, and wherein said received data is a second seed value.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the step of generating said scrambling key comprises generating said scrambling key in response to said first and second seed values.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein said scrambling key comprises a seed value and wherein the step of scrambling said descrambled signal comprises the steps of:

(a) generating a random sequence in response to said seed value; and

(b) generating said rescrambled signal by exclusive ORing said random sequence and said descrambled signal.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein said received scrambled signal comprises video, audio and control packets and said first and second seed values are generated in a unique manner in response to said video, audio and control packets.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein said first and second seed values are generated utilizing said hash of video, audio and control packets.

14. The combination of claim 10 wherein said first and second seed values are generated by exclusive ORing said video, audio and control packets together.

15. A system for managing access between a service provider and a host device having a smart card coupled thereto, said host device performing the steps of:

(a) receiving a scrambled signal from said service provider;

(b) sending, to said smart card, a seed value generated in said host device and encrypted using a public key of said smart card;

(c) coupling said received signal to said smart card, said smart card having a means for access control processing, said access control processing means comprising means for generating a descrambling key in response to said received signal, means for descrambling said received signal using said descrambling key to generate a descrambled signal, means for decrypting said encrypted seed value using a private key of said smart card to provide said seed value, means for generating a random sequence in response to said seed value and means for scrambling said descrambled signal using said random sequence and said descrambled signal to generate a rescrambled signal; and

(d) receiving from said smart card said rescrambled signal.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein said public key is stored in said host device and said private key is stored in said smart card.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein said host device is one of a digital television, a digital video cassette recorder and a digital set-top box.

18. A system for managing access between a service provider and a host device having a smart card coupled thereto, said host device performing the steps of:

(a) receiving a scrambled signal from said service provider;

(b) sending, to said smart card, a second seed value;

(c) coupling said received signal to said smart card, said smart card having a means for access control processing, said access control processing means comprising means for generating a descrambling key in response to said received signal, means for descrambling said received signal using said descrambling key to generate a descrambled signal, means for generating a first seed value, means for generating a scrambling key in response to said first and second seed values, and means for scrambling said descrambled signal using said scrambling key to generate a rescrambled signal; and

(d) receiving from said smart card said rescrambled signal.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein said host device is one of a digital television, a digital video cassette recorder and a digital set-top box.