Methods and apparatus for distributing digital content

• US 7,369,660 B1
• Filed: 05/20/2003
• Issued: 05/06/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DIRECTV, LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kahn, Raynold M., Gagnon, Gregory J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Moise; Emmanuel
• Assistant Examiner(s): Abyaneh; Ali S
• Application Number:
  US10/441,505
• Time in Patent Office: 1,813 Days
• Field of Search: 380/200, 380/223, 380/278, 713/193
• US Class Current: 380/200
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/258 Client or end-user data management, e.g. managing client capabilities, user preferences or demographics, processing of multiple end-users preferences to derive collaborative data arrangements for services using the result on the distributing side of broadcast systems H04H60/66; profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/30
• 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 21/4135 external recorder interface circuits between an apparatus for recording television signals and a television receiver H04N5/775
• 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 21/4367 Establishing a secure communication between the client and a peripheral device or smart card
• 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 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• 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 21/6581 Reference data, e.g. a movie identifier for ordering a movie or a product identifier in a home shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/162 Authorising the user terminal, e.g. by paying; Registering the use of a subscription channel, e.g. billing
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17354 in an intermediate station common to a plurality of user terminals

Abstract

Methods and an apparatus for distributing digital content via a host receiver (e.g., direct-to-home satellite host receiver) are disclosed. The disclosed techniques include transmission of a host identifier and a client identifier from a host receiver and a client device to a satellite transmission station. The identifiers are used by the transmission station to lookup unique encryption keys associated with the host receiver and client device. The transmission station then transmits one or more encrypted keys to the host and/or client. In addition, the transmission station transmits encrypted content to the host. In turn, the host decrypts the content using one encryption key, re-encrypts the content using another encryption key, and passes the content along to the client device. By using the smart card, tuner, and/or storage device of the host receiver, the client device need not include a smart card, tuner, and/or storage device.

Claims

1. A method of distributing an encrypted digital content via a direct-to-home satellite host receiver, the method comprising:

receiving the digital content from a satellite;

storing the digital content in the host receiver;

determining that a client device should store the digital content at the host receiver;

decrypting the digital content using a first key associated with the host receiver;

encrypting the digital content using a second key associated with the client device; and

transmitting the digital content encrypted with the second key to the client device.

2. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein receiving the digital content from a satellite comprises receiving the digital content from a geostationary satellite via a direct-to-home satellite dish.

3. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein storing the digital content in the host receiver comprises storing digital content indicative of a video signal and an audio signal on a hard disk drive.

4. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein determining that a client device should store the digital content comprises receiving a request from the client device.

5. A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a unique identifier from the client device;

transmitting the unique identifier to a transmission station; and

receiving the second key from the transmission station.

6. A method as defined in claim 5, wherein receiving the second key from the transmission station comprises decrypting the second key using the first key.

7. A method as defined in claim 5, wherein receiving the second key from the transmission station comprises receiving the second key via the satellite.

8. A method as defined in claim 6, further comprising:

receiving a copy of the second key from the transmission station, wherein the copy of the second key is encrypted by a third key associated with the client device; and

transmitting the copy of the second key encrypted by the third key to the client device.

9. A method as defined in claim 8, wherein encrypting the digital content using a second key associated with the client device comprises encrypting the digital content using the second key and an identifier associated with the digital content.

10. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein encrypting the digital content using a second key associated with the client device comprises encrypting the digital content using the second key and an identifier associated with the digital content.

11. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the host receiver is located in a household and transmitting the digital content to the client device comprises transmitting the digital content within the household.

12. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the client device does not include a tuner.

13. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the client device does not include a conditional access smartcard.

14. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the client device does not include a satellite feed.

15. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the client device does not include a hard disk.

16. A direct-to-home satellite host receiver comprising:

a satellite tuner;

a controller operatively coupled to the satellite tuner;

a digital storage device operatively coupled to the controller; and

a client connection operatively coupled to the controller, the controller being structured to;

cause an encrypted digital content to be received using the satellite tuner;

cause the digital content to be stored on the digital storage device;

cause the digital content to be decrypted using a first key associated with the host receiver;

cause the digital content to be encrypted using a second key associated with a client device; and

cause the digital content to be transmitted via the client connection.

17. A host receiver as defined in claim 16, wherein the controller comprises at least one of a microprocessor, a memory, a logic circuit, an encryption circuit, and a decryption circuit.

18. A host receiver as defined in claim 16, wherein the controller is structured to receive a request for the digital content from the client device.

19. A host receiver as defined in claim 16, wherein the controller is structured to:

receive a unique identifier from the client device;

transmit the unique identifier to a transmission station; and

receive the second key from the transmission station.

20. A host receiver as defined in claim 19, wherein the controller is structured to decrypt the second key using the first key.

21. A host receiver as defined in claim 20, wherein the controller is structured to:

receive a copy of the second key from the transmission station, wherein the copy of the second key is encrypted by a third key associated with the client device; and

transmit the copy of the second key encrypted by the third key to the client device.

22. A host receiver as defined in claim 21, wherein the controller is structured to encrypt the digital content using an identifier associated with the digital content.

23. A method of distributing digital content from a transmission station, the method comprising:

receiving a first unique identifier associated with a host receiver at the transmission station;

determining a first key associated with the host receiver using the first unique identifier;

encrypting the digital content using the first key;

transmitting the digital content encrypted using the first key to the host receiver;

receiving a second unique identifier associated with a client device;

determining a second key associated with the client device using the second unique identifier, the second key being different than the first key;

encrypting the second key associated with a client device using the first key associated with the host receiver; and

transmitting the second key encrypted using the first key to the host receiver.

24. A method as defined in claim 23, further comprising

encrypting the digital content using the second key;

and

transmitting the digital content encrypted using the second key to the host receiver.

25. A method as defined in claim 24, wherein encrypting the digital content using the second key comprises encrypting the digital content using the second key and an identifier associated with the digital content.

26. A method as defined in claim 23, wherein a transmitting the second key to the host receiver comprises transmitting the second key from a geostationary satellite to a direct-to-home satellite dish.

27. A transmission station comprising:

a control station;

a network connection operatively coupled to the control station;

a transmitter operatively coupled to the control station; and

an audio/video program source operatively coupled to the control station, the audio/video program source storing digital content, the control station being structured to;

receive a first unique identifier associated with a host receiver via the network connection;

determine a first key associated with the host receiver using the first unique identifier;

encrypt the digital content using the first key;

transmit the digital content encrypted using the first key to the host receiver via the transmitter;

receive a second unique identifier associated with a client device via the network connection;

determine a second key associated with the client device using the second unique identifier, the second key being different than the first key;

encrypt the second key associated with a client device using the first key associated with the host receiver; and

transmit the second key encrypted using the first key to the host receiver via the transmitter.

28. A transmission station as defined in claim 27, wherein the transmitter comprises a direct-to-home satellite transmitter.

29. A transmission station as defined in claim 27, wherein the control station comprises at least one of a microprocessor, a memory, a logic circuit, an encryption circuit, and a decryption circuit.

30. A transmission station as defined in claim 27, wherein the control station is structured to:

encrypt the digital content using the second key; and

transmit the digital content encrypted using the second key to the host receiver via the transmitter.

31. A transmission station as defined in claim 30, wherein the control station is structured to encrypt the digital content using the second key and an identifier associated with the digital content.

32. A method of displaying digital content via a client device, the method comprising:

transmitting a request for digital content to a host receiver;

receiving an encrypted digital content at the client device from the host receiver;

decrypting the digital content using a first key associated with the client device and an identifier associated with digital content; and

transmitting the digital content to a display device;

wherein the client device does not include a satellite feed.

33. A method as defined in claim 32, wherein transmitting a request for digital content to a host receiver comprises transmitting a request for digital content to a direct-to-home satellite host receiver.

34. A method as defined in claim 32, further comprising transmitting a unique identifier to the host receiver.

35. A method as defined in claim 32, wherein the client device does not include conditional access smartcard.

36. A method as defined in claim 35, wherein the client device does not include a hard disk.

37. A method as defined in claim 36, wherein the client device does not include a tuner.

38. A method as defined in claim 32, further comprising:

receiving the digital content at the host receiver from a satellite;

storing the digital content in the host receiver;

decrypting the digital content at the host receiver using a second key associated with the host receiver;

encrypting the digital content at the host receiver using the first key associated with the client device; and

transmitting the digital content encrypted with the first key to the client device.

39. A method as defined in claim 38, further comprising:

receiving a first unique identifier associated with the host receiver at a transmission station;

determining the second key associated with the host receiver using the first unique identifier;

encrypting the digital content using the second key;

transmitting the digital content encrypted using the second key to the host receiver;

receiving a second unique identifier associated with the client device;

determining the first key associated with the client device using the second unique identifier;

encrypting the first key associated with the client device using the second key associated with the host receiver; and

transmitting the first key encrypted using the second key to the host receiver.

40. A direct-to-home satellite client device comprising:

a digital input;

an audio output;

a video output; and

a first controller operatively coupled to the digital input, the audio output, and the video output, the first controller being structured to cause an encrypted digital content to be received from the digital input, the first controller being structured to cause the digital content to be decrypted, the first controller being structured to cause an audio signal based on the digital content to be transmitted via the audio output, the first controller being structured to cause a video signal based on the digital content to be transmitted via the video output;

the client device lacking a satellite feed and a conditional access smartcard.

41. A client device as defined in claim 40, wherein the first controller comprises at least one of a microprocessor, a memory, a logic circuit, an encryption circuit, and a decryption circuit.

42. A client device as defined in claim 40, wherein the video output comprises the audio output.

43. A client device as defined in claim 42, wherein the first controller is structured to cause a request for the digital content to be transmitted to a direct-to-home satellite host receiver.

44. A client device as defined in claim 42, wherein the first controller is structured to:

cause a first encryption key to be decrypted using a second encryption key; and

cause the digital content to be decrypted using the first encryption key.

45. A client device as defined in claim 40, wherein the first controller is structured to cause the digital content to be decrypted using an identifier of the digital content.

46. A client device as defined in claim 40, wherein the first controller is structured to cause a unique identifier associated with the client device to be transmitted to a direct-to-home satellite host receiver.

47. A client device as defined in claim 40, lacking a satellite tuner and a hard disk drive.

48. A client device as defined in claim 42, further comprising a direct-to-home satellite host receiver, the host receiver comprising:

a satellite tuner;

a second controller operatively coupled to the satellite tuner;

a digital storage device operatively coupled to the second controller; and

a client connection operatively coupled to the second controller, the second controller being structured to;

cause digital content to be received using the satellite tuner;

cause the digital content to be stored on the digital storage device;

cause the digital content to be decrypted using a first key associated with the host receiver;

cause the digital content to be encrypted using a second key associated with the client device; and

cause the digital content to be transmitted via the client connection.

49. A client device as defined in claim 48, further comprising a digital content providing apparatus, the digital content providing apparatus comprising:

a third controller,

a receiver operatively coupled to the third controller;

a direct-to-home satellite transmitter operatively coupled to the third controller; and

a digital storage device operatively coupled to the third controller, the digital storage device storing digital content, the third controller being structured to;

receive a first unique identifier associated with the host receiver via the receiver;

determine a first key associated with the host receiver using the first unique identifier;

encrypt the digital content using the first key;

transmit the digital content encrypted using the first key to the host receiver via the direct-to-home satellite transmitter;

receive a second unique identifier associated with the client device via the receiver;

determine a second key associated with the client device using the second unique identifier, the second key being different than the first key;

encrypt the second key associated with a client device using the first key associated with the host receiver; and

transmit the second key encrypted using the first key to the host receiver via the direct-to-home satellite transmitter.