Method and system for encrypting and storing content to a user

• US 7,069,449 B2
• Filed: 08/03/2001
• Issued: 06/27/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Itech Group Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Itech Group Incorporated
• Inventors: Leech, Douglas K., Weaver, J. Dewey III
• Primary Examiner(s): Vu, Kim
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRUONG, THANHNGA B
• Application Number:
  US09/921,620
• Publication Number:
  US 20020018568A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,789 Days
• Field of Search: 713/193, 455/4.2, 370/486, 370/535, 386/108, 386/34, 348/460, 348/473
• US Class Current: 713/193
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1836 with heterogeneous network architecture
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1859 adapted to provide push services, e.g. data channels
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/189 in combination with wireless systems selective distribution or broadcast in wireless communication networks H04W4/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2463/101 applying security measures for digital rights management data processing systems or methods, specially adapted for commerce, e.g. marketing, shopping, billing, auctions or e-commerce G06Q30/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0876 based on the identity of the terminal or configuration, e.g. MAC address, hardware or software configuration or device fingerprint
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/101 Access control lists [ACL]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/70 Media network packetisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/762 at the source reformatting of additional data in video distribution servers H04N21/2355
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/62 Establishing a time schedule for servicing the requests
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/75 Indicating network or usage conditions on the user display
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/22 Parsing or analysis of headers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/252 Processing of multiple end-users' preferences to derive collaborative data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25808 : Management of client data terminal profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/303
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25866 : Management of end-user data customer care in data networks H04L41/5077
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26283 : for associating distribution time parameters to content, e.g. to generate electronic program guide data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4334 : Recording operations recording of a television signal H04N5/76; arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43853 : involving multiplex stream decryption arrangements using cryptography for the use of broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/23
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4405 : involving video stream decryption
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4408 : involving video stream encryption, e.g. re-encrypting a decrypted video stream for redistribution in a home network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4516 : involving client characteristics, e.g. Set-Top-Box type, software version or amount of memory available
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4532 : involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/454 : Content or additional data filtering, e.g. blocking advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 : Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4627 : Rights management associated to the content security in data switching network management H04L41/28; security management or policies for network security H04L63/20; access security in wireless networks H04W12/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 : End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4781 : Games
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 : involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/63345 : by transmitting keys key distribution for secret or secure communication H04L9/08; network support of key management H04L63/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6543 : for forcing some client operations, e.g. recording remote booting in general G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6581 : Reference data, e.g. a movie identifier for ordering a movie or a product identifier in a home shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8166 : involving executable data, e.g. software arrangements for executing specific programs G06F9/44; broadcasting computer programmes in broadcast systems H04H20/91; involving the movement of software or configuration parameters H04L67/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8586 : by using a URL processing chained hypermedia data for information retrieval G06F16/94; information retrieval from the Internet by using URLs G06F16/955; URL in broadcast information H04H20/93; Web-based protocols H04L67/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/76 : Television signal recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/781 : on disks or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/782 : on tape
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/165 : Centralised control of user terminal subsequent to an upstream request signal H04N7/17345; Registering at central by two-way working H04N7/17309
• 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

Systems and methods are provided for encrypting content sent to a user. The user terminal is assigned a serial number. When content is received by the user terminal, it is encrypted and the serial number is embedded into the encrypted content. The content is decrypted if the serial number embedded in the encrypted content is the serial number associated with the user terminal. Content may also be simultaneously stored and displayed.

Claims

1. A method for encrypting content to a user, comprising:

receiving content at a user terminal, said content being a broadcast medial signal;

demodulating the broadcast signal and creating a downloadable bit stream;

at the user terminal, placing the downloaded bit stream into a wrapper;

before storage, randomly recovering bits according to a predetermined unique encryption algorithm with the user terminal assigned a unique identifier that dictates its unique encryption algorithm;

embedding the terminal identifier and encrypting it within the encryption algorithm and storing it within the content when stored; and

decrypting the content if the terminal identifier embedded in the encrypted content is the terminal identifier associated with the user terminal.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said encrypting further comprises:

wrapping the content.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said encrypting further comprises:

scrambling the content.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the content comprises bits.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing the content.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

simultaneously storing and displaying the content.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

simultaneously storing and displaying the content

receiving commands from a user, wherein the commands affect the time at which the content is displayed.

8. A method for staring and retrieving content to a user, comprising:

receiving content in the form of a digital media signal at a user terminal, said content being a broadcast signal;

demodulating the broadcast signal and creating a downloadable bit stream;

at the user terminal, placing the downloaded bit stream into a wrapper;

before storage, randomly removing bits according to a predetermined unique encryption algorithm with the user terminal assigned a unique identifier that dictates its unique encryption algorithm;

embedding the terminal identifier and encrypting it within the encryption algorithm and storing it within the content when stored;

simultaneously storing and displaying the content at a user terminal; and

receiving commands from a user, wherein the commands affect the time at which the content is displayed.

9. A system for storing and retrieving content to a user comprising:

a user terminal;

a tuner in communication in said user terminal configured for receiving content which is a broadcast media signal, in the form of a digital media signal;

a processor module in communication with said user terminal, wherein the processor module is configured to assign a unique identifier to said user terminal, receive said content, encrypt said content, embed the unique identifier in said content at the user terminal, and decrypt said content if the unique identifier embedded in the encrypted content is the unique identifier associated with the user terminal, said processor being further configured for prior to encrypting said content, demodulating the broadcast media signal and creating a downloadable bit stream, at the user terminal, placing the downloadable bit stream into a wrapper, before storage, randomly removing bits according to a predetermined unique encryption algorithm with the user terminal assigned the unique identifier that dictates its unique encryption algorithm, and embedding the terminal identifier and encrypting it, within the encryption algorithm and storing it within the content for storage therewith;

a storage device for in communication with said user terminal, for storing the content simultaneous to the displaying of the content;

a display in communication with said user terminal for displaying the content; and

wherein said user terminal is configured for receiving commands from a user, wherein the commands affect the time at which the content is displayed at the user terminal.

10. A system for encrypting content to a user, comprising:

a user terminal;

content which is a broadcast media signal receivable by said user terminal; and

a processor module in communication with said user terminal, wherein said processor module is configured to assign a unique identifier to said user terminal, receive said content, encrypt said content, embed the unique identifier in said content at the user terminal, and decrypt said content if the serial number embedded in the encrypted content is the serial number associated with the user terminal, said processor module further configured prior to encrypting said content, for demodulating the broadcast media signal and placing the downloadable bit stream into a wrapper, before storage, randomly removing bits according to a predetermined unique encryption algorithm with the user terminal assigned a unique identifier that dictates its unique encryption algorithm, and embedding the terminal identifier and encrypting it within the content for storage therewith.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein said processor module is further configured to wrap said content.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein said processor module is further configured to scramble said content.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein said content comprises bits.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein said user terminal further comprises:

a storage drive in communication with said processor module, wherein said processor module is further configured to store said content on said processor module.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein said processor module is further configured to simultaneously store and display said content.