Distribution of video content using a trusted network key for sharing content

• US 7,599,494 B2
• Filed: 01/16/2004
• Issued: 10/06/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DIRECTV, LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: James, Thomas H., Kahn, Raynold M., Gagnon, Gregory J., Curren, Christopher P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Parthasarathy; Pramila
• Application Number:
  US10/758,811
• Publication Number:
  US 20070242825A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,090 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 380/201
• 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 21/26613 for generating or managing keys in general key distribution for secret or secure communication involving central third party, e.g. key distribution center [KDC] or trusted third party [TTP] H04L9/083; network support of key management H04L63/06; key management for network security in communication control or processing H04W12/04
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43615 Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• 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 21/4623 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 21/63345 by transmitting keys key distribution for secret or secure communication H04L9/08; network support of key management H04L63/06
• 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 method and apparatus for distributing video content from a direct broadcast satellite system between a host receiver and a client receiver. A family pairing key is transmitted from the direct broadcast satellite system to both the host and client receivers. The family pairing key received by the host and client receivers is decrypted using receiver keys uniquely associated with the host and client receivers, respectively. Decrypted program materials are then encrypted at the host receiver using a copy protection key generated by the host receiver using content information decrypted by the family pairing key. The encrypted program materials are transferred from the host receiver to the client receiver. The encrypted program materials are decrypted at the client receiver using the copy protection key. Like the host receiver, the copy protection key is generated by the client receiver using content information decrypted by the family pairing key.

Claims

1. A method of distributing video content from a broadcast system between a host receiver and a client receiver, comprising:

(a) transmitting a family pairing key from the broadcast system to both the host receiver and the client receiver;

(b) decrypting program materials received by the host receiver from the broadcast systems;

(c) generating a copy protection key at the host receiver using the family pairing key;

(d) encrypting the decrypted program materials at the host receiver using the copy protection key;

(e) transferring the encrypted program materials from the host receiver to the client receiver;

(f) generating the copy protection key at the client receiver using the family pairing key; and

(g) decrypting the transferred program materials at the client receiver using the copy protection key.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the program materials received by the host receiver are encrypted using a media encryption key and the host receiver uses the media encryption key to decrypt the program materials.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising decrypting the family pairing key at the host receiver using a receiver key uniquely associated with the host receiver.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the copy protection key is generated by the host receiver using content information decrypted by the family pairing key.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the content information comprises a content identifier.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the content identifier is obtained from the program materials.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising decrypting the family pairing key at the client receiver using a receiver key uniquely associated with the client receiver.

8. An apparatus for distributing video content from a broadcast system between a host receiver and a client receiver, comprising:

(a) means for transmitting a family pairing key from the broadcast system to both the host receiver and the client receiver;

(b) means for decrypting program materials received by the host receiver from the broadcast system;

(c) means for generating a copy protection key at the host receiver using the family pairing key;

(d) means for encrypting the decrypted program materials at the host receiver using the copy protection key;

(e) means for transferring the encrypted program materials from the host receiver to the client receiver;

(f) means for generating the copy protection key at the client receiver using the family pairing key; and

(g) means for decrypting the transferred program materials at the client receiver using the copy protection key.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the program materials received by the host receiver are encrypted using a media encryption key and the host receiver uses the media encryption key to decrypt the program materials.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising means for decrypting the family pairing key at the host receiver using a receiver key uniquely associated with the host receiver.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the copy protection key is generated by the host receiver using content information decrypted by the family pairing key.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the content information comprises a content identifier.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the content identifier is obtained from the program materials.

14. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising means for decrypting the family pairing key at the client receiver using a receiver key uniquely associated with the client receiver.

15. An article of manufacture embodying logic for performing a method of distributing video content from a broadcast system between a host receiver and a client receiver, comprising:

(a) transmitting a family pairing key from the broadcast system to both the host receiver and the client receiver;

(b) decrypting program materials received by the host receiver from the broadcast system;

(c) generating a copy protection key at the host receiver using the family pairing key;

(d) encrypting the decrypted program materials at the host receiver using the copy protection key;

(e) transferring the encrypted program materials from the host receiver to the client receiver;

(f) generating the copy protection key at the client receiver using the family pairing key; and

(g) decrypting the transferred program materials at the client receiver using the copy protection key.

16. The article of claim 15, wherein the program materials received by the host receiver are encrypted using a media encryption key and the host receiver uses the media encryption key to decrypt the program materials.

17. The article of claim 15, further comprising decrypting the family pairing key at the host receiver using a receiver key uniquely associated with the host receiver.

18. The article of claim 15, wherein the copy protection key is generated by the host receiver using content information decrypted by the family pairing key.

19. The article of claim 18, wherein the content information comprises a content identifier.

20. The article of claim 19, wherein the content identifier is obtained from the program materials.

21. The article of claim 15, further comprising decrypting the family pairing key at the client receiver using a receiver key uniquely associated with the client receiver.