Conditional access method and apparatus of a receiver system for controlling digital TV program start time

• US 20050198680A1
• Filed: 04/05/2005
• Published: 09/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ARRIS Enterprises LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: John Pickens, Michael Field, Paul Baran, Xu Duan Lin
• Inventors: Pickens, John, Field, Michael, Lin, Xu Duan, Baran, Paul
• Granted Patent: US 7,809,942 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/88
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/068 using time-dependent keys, e.g. periodically changing keys cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for controlling usage of secret information H04L9/088
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/612 for unicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2318 using striping
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2326 Scheduling disk or memory reading operations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23406 involving management of server-side video buffer
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2347 involving video stream encryption
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2362 Generation or processing of Service Information [SI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2365 Multiplexing of several video streams
• 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 21/4347 Demultiplexing of several video streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6405 Multicasting data broadcast and multicast in packet switching networks H04L12/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6587 Control parameters, e.g. trick play commands, viewpoint selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/0275 Security details, e.g. tampering prevention or detection
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/144 Stacked arrangements of planar printed circuit boards
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/185 Components encapsulated in the insulating substrate of the printed circuit or incorporated in internal layers of a multilayer circuit semiconductor chips encapsulated by interconnect and support structures H01L23/5389, H01L24/00
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/10151 Sensor

Abstract

A conditional access method and apparatus for use with a system for controlling of digital TV program start time. Subscriber access is authorized to digital program streams. Content are divided into a plurality of working periods. Each working period of the plurality of working periods is scrambled with a different working key. A working key of a given period is delivered ahead of the given period. The working key is synchronized with scrambling control bits in an header working keys are inserted into an entitlement control message (ECM) packet, and the ECM packet is encrypted using a service key. A time period is inserted into the ECM packet during which the service key is valid. A service key is inserted in an entitlement.

Claims

1-34. -34. (canceled)

35. A conditional access method for use with a system for controlling of digital TV program start time, for authorizing subscriber access to digital program streams, comprising the steps of:

dividing content into a plurality of working periods;

scrambling each working period of the plurality of working periods with a different working key, respectively, with a working key of a given period delivered ahead of the given period, with the working key synchronized with scrambling control bits in an header;

inserting working keys into an entitlement control message (ECM) packet;

encrypting the ECM packet using a service key;

inserting a time period into the ECM packet during which the service key is valid and authenticated thereby ensuring the ECM packet originated from a valid headend system;

inserting, in an entitlement management message (EMM) packet, a service key for decrypting the ECM packet;

encrypting the EMM packet using a key unique to a set top box to which the EMM packet is sent;

periodically sending EMM packets having new service keys to individual set top boxes; and

authorizing the EMM packet with a digital signature, for ensuring the EMM packet originated at a valid headend.

36. The method as set forth in claim 35, with the step of scrambling including the step of scrambling each working period of the plurality of working periods with a different working key, respectively, with a working key of a given period delivered ahead of the given period, with the working key synchronized with scrambling control bits in an MPEG header, indicating an odd or even period key.

37. The method as set forth in claim 35, further including the step of providing the ECM packet in-band with content for which the ECM packet provides the service key.

38. The method as set forth in claim 35, further including the step of delivering the EMM packet in-band.

39. The method as set forth in claim 35, further including the step of delivering the EMM packet out-of-band.

40. A conditional access apparatus for use with a system for controlling of digital TV program start time, with for authorizing subscriber access to digital program streams, comprising:

dividing means for dividing content into a plurality of working periods;

scrambling means for scrambling each working period of the plurality of working periods with a different working key, respectively, with a working key of a given period delivered ahead of the given period, with the working key synchronized with scrambling control bits in an header;

first inserting means for inserting working keys into an entitlement control message (ECM) packet;

first encrypting means for encrypting the ECM packet using a service key;

second inserting means for inserting a time period into the ECM packet during which the service key is valid and authenticated thereby ensuring the ECM packet originated from a valid headend system;

third inserting means inserting, in an entitlement management message (EMM) packet, a service key for decrypting the ECM packet;

second encrypting means for encrypting the EMM packet using a key unique to a set top box to which the EMM packet is sent;

transmitting means periodically sending EMM packets having new service keys to individual set top boxes; and

authenticating means for authorizing the EMM packet with a digital signature, for ensuring the EMM packet originated at a valid headend.

41. The apparatus as set forth in claim 40, with the scrambling means including means for scrambling each working period of the plurality of working periods with a different working key, respectively, with a working key of a given period delivered ahead of the given period, with the working key synchronized with scrambling control bits in an MPEG header, indicating an odd or even period key.

42. The apparatus as set forth in claim 40, further including means for providing the ECM packet in-band with content for which the ECM packet provides the service key.

43. The apparatus as set forth in claim 40, further including means for delivering the EMM packet in-band.

44. The apparatus as set forth in claim 40, further including means for delivering the EMM packet out-of-band.