Method and system for securing content in media systems

• US 8,099,369 B2
• Filed: 12/08/2004
• Issued: 01/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ngna LLC
• Original Assignee: Ngna LLC
• Inventors: Fahrny, James William, Helms, William, Carlucci, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Badii, Behrang
• Application Number:
  US11/006,864
• Publication Number:
  US 20060122946A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,596 Days
• Field of Search: 713/176, 713/168, 380/211, 380/277, 380/216, 380/241, 380/31, 380/210, 380/232, 380/200, 380/201, 725/31
• US Class Current: 705/71
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3829 involving key management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/60 Digital content management, e.g. content distribution
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/0825 using asymmetric-key encryption or public key infrastructure [PKI], e.g. key signature or public key certificates
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/0894 Escrow, recovery or storing of secret information, e.g. secret key escrow or cryptographic key storage

Abstract

A method and system for securing transfer, storage, and playback of media content. The method and system relate to securing transfer, storage, and playback of all types of media content, including television, music, electronic games, and other types of electronic data.

Claims

1. A method for locally securing television signals for subsequent playback, the method comprising:

descrambling a scrambled television signal in a set-top box (STB);

encrypting the descrambled television signal in the STB with a content key;

encrypting the content key in the STB with an encryption key to create a secured content key;

storing the encryption key in the STB;

destroying the unencrypted content key in the STB thereby making the content key unavailable unless recovered from the secured content key; and

storing the encrypted television signal and the secured content key on a media recorder thereby making the television signal available for subsequent playback.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the encryption key is a public asymmetric key.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the public asymmetric key is part of an encryption key pair also including a corresponding private key, the method further comprising storing the encryption key pair in the STB.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the encryption key is a symmetric key.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising;

decrypting the secured content key to retrieve the content key;

re-encrypting the content key with a second device public key associated with a second device, the second device in communication with the STB through a home network; and

transmitting the re-encrypted content key and the encrypted television signal to the second device.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising decrypting the re-encrypted content key at the second device with a second device private key and decrypting the encrypted television signal at the second device using the decrypted content key.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein the encryption key used to encrypt the content key is a public key with a corresponding private key and wherein decrypting the secured content key to retrieve the content key comprises decrypting the secured content key with the corresponding private key.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving usage rights for the television signal at the STB and creating a package based on the usage rights and the secured content key.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising storing the package on the media recorder in association with the encrypted television signal.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein storing the package on the media recorder in association with the encrypted television signal comprises binding the package to the encrypted television signal.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein the package is a first package, the method further comprising:

decrypting the secured content key to retrieve the content key;

re-encrypting the content key with a second device public key associated with a second device, the second device in communication with the STB through a home network;

creating a second package based on the usage rights and the re-encrypted content key; and

sending the second package and the encrypted television signal to the second device.