Patent · US Expired

Method of operating a conditional access system for broadcast applications

US7155611B2 · kind B2 · utility

8Cited by
9References
7Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 18, 2000
Grant dateDec 26, 2006
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 17, 2023

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04N21/4367
  • WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

In a method for operating a conditional access system for broadcast applications, the conditional access system comprising a number of subscribers and each subscriber having a terminal including a conditional access module and a secure device for storing entitlements, a source signal is encrypted using a first key (CW). The encrypted source signal is broadcasted for receipt by the terminals, wherein entitlement control messages (ECM's) are sent to the secure devices, the ECM's comprising the first keys (CW) encrypted using a service key (PT). Entitlement management messages (EMM's) are sent to the secure devices providing the service key (PT) required to decrypt encrypted first keys (CW). A cracked secure device which is used in an unauthorized manner is traced by sending different keys required to obtain the first keys to different terminals or groups of terminals and monitoring the key information provided by a pirate. To this end search EMM's are sent to at least a part of the terminals, the search EMM's providing at least the service key (PT) and a dummy key (PD1 or PD2). At least the search EMM's comprise identifiers identifying the keys (PT and PD1 or PD2), wherein first sear…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.