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Method and apparatus for geographically limiting service in a conditional access system

  • US 6,560,340 B1
  • Filed: 01/28/2000
  • Issued: 05/06/2003
  • Est. Priority Date: 04/03/1995
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A receiver located at a geographic location for receiving and selectively displaying a service instance, the receiver comprising:

  • a port for receiving an encrypted service instance and entitlement information associated therewith, wherein at least a portion of the entitlement information includes geographic reception information and a blackout/spotlight indicator;

    a first microprocessor for activating display of the service instance;

    a secure element coupled to the first microprocessor, the secure element comprising;

    a memory for storing a geographic location indicator indicative of the geographic location of the receiver;

    a second microprocessor for processing the geographic reception information to define a geographic reception area and for using the processed geographic reception information and the blackout/spotlight indicator with the geographic location indicator to determine whether the receiver is entitled to the service instance, wherein responsive to both the geographic location indicator being inside of the defined geographic reception area and the blackout/spotlight indicator being a blackout, the receiver is not entitled to the service instance, and responsive to both the geographic location indicator being inside of the defined geographic reception area and the blackout/spotlight indicator being a spotlight, the receiver is entitled to the service instance; and

    wherein the first microprocessor activates display of the service instance responsive to the secure element determining that the receiver is entitled to the service instance.

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