Media storage and playback of encrypted content

• US 9,419,947 B2
• Filed: 06/01/2011
• Issued: 08/16/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Inventors: Garcia, Maurice
• Primary Examiner(s): TRAN, ELLEN C
• Application Number:
  US13/150,934
• Publication Number:
  US 20120308005A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,903 Days
• Field of Search: 380/200, 380/202, 380/255
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0485 Networking architectures for enhanced packet encryption processing, e.g. offloading of IPsec packet processing or efficient security association look-up

Abstract

A content distribution system is disclosed that supports verification of transmission. In some embodiments, a remote probe device captures content and sends the content to a decrypting device so that decryption may be performed. The decrypting device may archive the content and may subsequently send the content to the probe device or to a playback device so that the content may be displayed. Consequently, the content distribution system can verify that specified content (e.g., an advertisement) was correctly distributed according to scheduled information.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, by a computing device, instructions from a first device for capturing a scheduled transmission, wherein the scheduled transmission comprises encrypted content;

based on the instructions, capturing first encrypted content, wherein the first encrypted content is received from a second device via a network;

sending the first encrypted content to a decryption device to be decrypted, wherein the decryption device is remotely located from the computing device;

retrieving first decrypted content from the decryption device, wherein the first decrypted content comprises a decrypted representation of the first encrypted content; and

verifying the scheduled transmission by comparing the first decrypted content to expected content.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein verifying the scheduled transmission further comprises outputting for display the first decrypted content.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the instructions from the first device enable capture of the first encrypted content in accordance with schedule information.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the capturing the first encrypted content comprises capturing the first encrypted content in accordance with the schedule information.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the verifying comprises determining that the first encrypted content comprises an expected size and was captured within a scheduled time duration.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the instructions specify a channel or a packet identifier (PID) for use by the computing device in capturing the first encrypted content.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the scheduled transmission comprises an advertisement or video on demand (VOD) content.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the sending the first encrypted content to the decryption device further comprises sending instructions to the decryption device to cause decrypting of the first encrypted content.

9. A method comprising:

receiving, by a computing device, instructions from a first device for capturing a scheduled transmission, wherein the scheduled transmission comprises encrypted content;

capturing first encrypted content received from a second device via a network;

sending the first encrypted content to a decryption device to be decrypted;

retrieving first decrypted content from the decryption device, wherein the first decrypted content comprises a decrypted representation of the first encrypted content; and

verifying the scheduled transmission by outputting for display at least a portion of the first decrypted content.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

storing the first encrypted content; and

capturing second encrypted content received from the second device;

wherein the sending the first encrypted content is responsive to capturing the second encrypted content and the sending further comprises sending the second encrypted content to the decryption device.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the verifying further comprises determining that the encrypted content comprises an expected size and was captured within a scheduled time duration.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the instructions specify a channel or a packet identifier (PID) for use by the computing device in capturing the first encrypted content.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the scheduled transmission comprises an advertisement or video on demand (VOD) content.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the sending the first encrypted content to the decryption device further comprises sending instructions to the decryption device to cause decrypting of the first encrypted content.

15. A method comprising:

capturing, by a computing device, a scheduled transmission comprising first encrypted content, wherein the scheduled transmission is received from a first device via a network and wherein the capturing is based on a schedule;

casing conversion of the first encrypted content into first decrypted content by sending the first encrypted content to a decryption device;

retrieving, by the computing device, the first decrypted content; and

verifying the scheduled transmission by outputting for display at least a portion of the first decrypted content.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the schedule comprises a start time and locating information.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the locating information comprises a channel or a packet identifier (PID).

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the scheduled transmission comprises an advertisement or video on demand (VOD) content.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the sending the first encrypted content to the decryption device further comprises sending instructions to the decryption device to cause decrypting of the first encrypted content.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the verifying further comprises determining that the first encrypted content comprises an expected size and was captured within a scheduled time duration.