Signal security in a satellite signal distribution environment

• US 8,953,802 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2009
• Issued: 02/10/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BCE Incorporated
• Original Assignee: BCE Incorporated
• Inventors: Popa, Ovidiu Octavian, Scrivens, Wayne, Ishankov, Alexander, Dagenais, Alan, Dinesen, Tim, Marusich, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Benoit, Esther
• Application Number:
  US12/643,400
• Publication Number:
  US 20110013774A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,877 Days
• Field of Search: 380/259
• US Class Current: 380/259
• 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: 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 21/6143 involving transmission via a satellite
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/913 for scrambling ; for copy protection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/162 Authorising the user terminal, e.g. by paying; Registering the use of a subscription channel, e.g. billing

Abstract

Certain embodiments provide a set top box, comprising: a processing entity configured to obtain data for a channel stacking switch, to obtain a security data element and to formulate a message for the channel stacking switch by combining the security data element with the data; a communications interface configured to send the message to channel stacking switch. Other embodiments provide a channel stacking switch, comprising: a communication interface configured to receive a message from a set top box; a processing entity configured to determine whether or not the message is legitimate and to take an action that depends on whether or not the message is legitimate. Still further embodiments provide a satellite signal receiving system comprising a channel stacking switch and at least one set top box in secure communication with the channel stacking switch.

Claims

1. A method implemented by a set top box, the method comprising:

receiving a trigger command to secure communication between a channel stacking switch and the set top box;

in response to receiving the trigger command, obtaining a security data element;

obtaining a tuning request from a user of the set top box;

combining the security data element with the tuning request to formulate a message for the channel stacking switch;

releasing the message towards the channel stacking switch; and

receiving from the channel stacking switch a signal responsive to the tuning request when the set top box is an authorized set top box.

2. The method defined in claim 1, wherein obtaining the security data element comprises retrieving the security data element from a memory.

3. The method defined in claim 1, wherein obtaining the security data element comprises receiving the security data element from the channel stacking switch.

4. The method defined in claim 3, wherein receiving the security data element from the channel stacking switch occurs in response to sending to the channel stacking switch a request for the security data element.

5. The method defined in claim 3, wherein the security data element is received in an encrypted form, the method further comprising extracting the security data element by way of decryption using a decryption key.

6. The method defined in claim 5, wherein the decryption key is a private key of the set top box.

7. The method defined in claim 1, wherein obtaining the security data element comprises receiving an index from the channel stacking switch and consulting a memory on a basis of the index in order to retrieve from the memory a data element associated with the index, the data element being the security data element.

8. The method defined in claim 1, wherein obtaining the trigger command comprises receiving the trigger command from the channel stacking switch.

9. The method defined in claim 8, wherein the trigger command is received by the channel stacking switch over a satellite link from a head end unit.

10. The method defined in claim 1, wherein obtaining the trigger command comprises receiving a command from a viewer of a display set connected to the set top box.

11. The method defined in claim 1, wherein the trigger command is generated by the set top box.

12. The method defined in claim 1, wherein combining the security data element with the data to formulate the message comprises including the security data element in the message together with the data.

13. The method defined in claim 12, wherein the security data element comprises an identifier of the set top box.

14. The method defined in claim 1, wherein combining the security data element with the data to formulate the message comprises encrypting the data with the security data element.

15. The method defined in claim 14, wherein the security data element is a symmetric encryption key.

16. The method defined in claim 15, wherein the symmetric encryption key comprises an identifier of the channel stacking switch.

17. The method defined in claim 14, wherein the security data element is an asymmetric encryption key.

18. The method defined in claim 17, wherein the asymmetric encryption key is a public key of the channel stacking switch.

19. A set top box, comprising:

a processor configured to receive a trigger command to secure communication between a channel stacking switch and the set to box, the processor further configured for;

obtaining a tuning request from a user of the set top box, to obtain a security data element in response to receiving the trigger command; and

formulating a message for the channel stacking switch by combining the security data element with the tuning request;

a communications interface configured to send the message to the channel stacking switch and to receive, responsive to the tuning request, a signal from the channel stacking switch when the set top box is an authorized set top box.

20. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions for execution by a set top box (STB), wherein execution of the instructions by the STB causes the STB to:

receive a trigger command to secure communication between a channel stacking switch and the set top box;

obtain a security data element in response to receiving the trigger command;

obtain a tuning request from a user of the set top box;

combine the security data element with the tuning request to formulate a message for the channel stacking switch;

release the message towards the channel stacking switch;

receive from the channel stacking switch a signal responsive to the tuning request when the STB is an authorized STB.