Patent Application
20060222330
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to digital recording, and more particularly, to a digital recording technique, which provides content protection through the use of digital keys that are unique to specific devices and/or to devices associated with specific household and/or business dwellings.
2. Background Information
Personal video recorders (PVRs) are digital recording apparatuses that provide various features such as allowing a user to select, by means of a graphical user interface (GUI) displayed on an associated television set, monitor, or other display device, a television program to be broadcast at a future time or which is currently being broadcast. Such apparatuses digitally record the selected program onto a storage module such as a hard disk, and upon user command, playback the stored program by retrieving it from storage, decompressing or decoding the program and outputting the video signal to an associated television set, monitor, or other display device. Apparatuses having such capabilities may currently be sold under trade names such as “TiVo,” “RePlayTV,” “Sky+,” and “Showstopper.”
With digital recording apparatuses such as PVRs, content protection is an important issue. In particular, content protection provides tools and/or methods that protect content such as digital content from being improperly copied, hacked, stolen, and/or reproduced. At present, the issue of content protection for digital recording is in a state of flux as several competing content protection techniques have been proposed. For example, the Electronics Industries Alliance (EIA) has proposed a number of different content protection techniques, which are disclosed in specifications such as EIA-761A, EIA-762, EIA-770, and EIA-775. Despite the existence of such content protection techniques, no single industry wide standard has yet been adopted. Accordingly, the present invention described herein provides yet additional techniques for enabling content protection for digital recording.
In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a signal receiving apparatus is disclosed. According to an exemplary embodiment, the signal receiving apparatus comprises input means for receiving signals including specific digital content, memory means for storing a digital key assigned to the signal receiving apparatus and the specific digital content, encryption means for encrypting the specific digital content using the digital key to generate encrypted digital data, and output means for outputting the encrypted digital data to a recording apparatus.
The assigned digital key is preferably unique to the signal receiving apparatus and the specific digital content, so that a recording should not be able to be played back by another apparatus having a different assigned digital key.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a method for enabling digital recording using a signal receiving apparatus and a recording apparatus is disclosed. According to an exemplary embodiment, the signal receiving apparatus performs steps comprising receiving a digital key assigned to specific digital content and the signal receiving apparatus, receiving signals including the specific digital content, encrypting the specific digital content using the digital key to generate encrypted digital data, and providing the encrypted digital data to the recording apparatus.
In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention, a digital recording apparatus is disclosed. According to an exemplary embodiment, the digital recording apparatus comprises an input terminal operative to receive encrypted digital data from an externally connected device. The encrypted digital data is encrypted by a digital key assigned to specific digital content corresponding to the encrypted digital data and one or more devices associated with a particular dwelling including the externally connected device. A memory is operative to record the encrypted digital data.
The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the invention will be better understood by reference to the following description of embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
The exemplifications set out herein illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention, and such exemplifications are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner. Throughout the drawings, like reference numbers may be used to represent the same or similar elements.
Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to
Signal receiving apparatus 10 is operative to perform various functions including signal receiving and encryption/decryption functions. As indicated in
Input terminal 12 is operative to receive signals including audio, video, and/or data signals provided from one or more signal sources such as satellite, cable, terrestrial and/or other broadcast sources via a signal receiving element such as an antenna. Memory 14 is operative to store data including one or more digital keys used by signal receiving apparatus 10 for data encryption and/or decryption functions. E/D module 16 is operative to perform data encryption and decryption functions of signal receiving apparatus 10 using the digital key(s) stored in memory 14 to thereby generate digitally encrypted and decrypted data, respectively. Input/output terminal 18 is operative to output and receive data including encrypted digital data to and from digital recording apparatus 30. As indicated in
According to an exemplary embodiment, the one or more digital keys stored in memory 14 are assigned to signal receiving apparatus 10. The assigned digital keys are preferably unique, so that digital data encrypted using the digital key(s) can only be decrypted using signal receiving apparatus 10. A particular digital key may be linked to specific content, such as a particular television broadcast program. For example, a particular digital key may be downloaded to signal receiving apparatus 10 and stored in memory 14 prior to when a particular television broadcast program is aired. E/D module 16 may then use the particular digital key to generate encrypted digital data corresponding to the particular television broadcast program which is output via input/output terminal 18 to digital recording apparatus 30 for recording. The encrypted digital data corresponding to the particular television broadcast program may later be retrieved from digital recording apparatus 30, and can only be decrypted by signal receiving apparatus 10. Such content-specific digital keys may be downloaded to signal receiving apparatus 10 on a periodic basis (e.g., to support a unidirectional broadcast environment), and/or may be consumed or disregarded by signal receiving apparatus 10 on an as needed basis.
According to another exemplary embodiment, a unique digital key may be assigned to one or more devices associated with a particular household and/or business dwelling such that digital data encrypted using the digital key can only be decrypted by the one or more devices. In
According to an exemplary embodiment, the digital key(s) may be provided to signal receiving apparatus 10 in various different ways. As previously indicated herein, the digital key(s) may be downloaded to signal receiving apparatus 10. For example, the digital key(s) may be provided from a broadcast source, such as a satellite, cable, terrestrial and/or other broadcast source. With this example, the digital key(s) may be embodied as addressable signals and included with received broadcast signals, and/or may be provided to signal receiving apparatus 10 separately from received broadcast signals. As another example, the digital key may be programmed into memory 14 of signal receiving apparatus 10 during the manufacturing process. As referred to herein, the term “digital key” may refer to an encryption key and/or a decryption key. In particular, if the digital key is a symmetrical key, one key may be used for both encryption and decryption functions. Alternatively, if the digital key is an asymmetrical key, a separate encryption key and decryption key may be required.
In one embodiment, the signal receiving apparatus 10 does not provide a user interface for a user of the signal receiving apparatus 10 to read, enter or modify any digital key. Thus, if a user makes a copy a recording recorded using the signal receiving apparatus 10, the user should not be able to play back the copy using a playback device other than the signal receiving apparatus 10 because the playback device may not have decrypting capability or may have a different digital key assigned to it.
Digital recording apparatus 30 is operative to perform various digital data recording functions. As indicated in
According to an exemplary embodiment, digital recording apparatus 30 receives encrypted digital data from signal receiving apparatus 10 via input/output terminal 32, and records the encrypted digital data to memory module 34. Upon user command, the recorded encrypted digital data may be retrieved from memory module 34 and provided to signal receiving apparatus 10 for decryption, and ultimately reproduction. As previously indicated herein, the encrypted digital data recorded by digital recording apparatus 30 may be encrypted by a digital key that is unique to signal receiving apparatus 10. In this case, the encrypted digital data can only be decrypted using signal receiving apparatus 10. The digital key may also be shared with one or more devices associated with a particular household and/or business dwelling such that digital data encrypted using the digital key can only be decrypted by the one or more devices. In this case, digital recording apparatus 30 may be moved throughout the particular dwelling and used with other devices provided such devices have received the applicable digital key.
Digital recording apparatus 30 may also provide various other features such as a commercial skip/elimination feature, a pre-loaded content feature that enables a user to view such content multiple times at his/her convenience, a data archival feature that allows a user to store content on an archived device for later use while still protecting the content owner's rights, a subscription-free feature, and/or other features.
Referring to
Hub 20 is operative to perform various functions including signal receiving and routing functions. As indicated in
Input terminal 22 is operative to receive signals including audio, video, and/or data signals provided from one or more signal sources such as satellite, cable, terrestrial and/or other broadcast sources via a signal receiving element such as an antenna. First input/output terminal 23 is operative to output and receive data such as encrypted digital data to and from signal receiving apparatus 10. Memory 24 is operative to store data including one or more digital keys used by hub 20 for data encryption and/or decryption functions. E/D module 26 is operative to perform data encryption and decryption functions of hub 20 using the digital key(s) stored in memory 24 to thereby generate digitally encrypted and decrypted data, respectively. Second input/output terminal 28 is operative to output and receive encrypted digital data to and from digital recording apparatus 30. As indicated in
According to an exemplary embodiment, hub 20 is also operative to perform the previously described functions of signal receiving apparatus 10. Accordingly, hub 20 is operative to receive signals such as audio, video and/or data signals from one or more signal sources such as satellite, cable, and/or terrestrial broadcast sources via a signal receiving element such as an antenna, and encrypt the received signals using one or more digital keys unique to hub 20 to thereby generate encrypted digital data which may be stored in digital recording apparatus 30. Like the embodiment of
Referring to
In
To facilitate a better understanding of the inventive concepts of the present invention, an example will now be provided. Referring to
At step 410, signal receiving apparatus 10 receives a digital key and stores the digital key in memory 14. As previously indicated herein, signal receiving apparatus 10 may receive the digital key at step 410 in various different ways such as from a broadcast source, and/or by programming the digital key into memory 14 during the manufacturing process. The digital key is unique to signal receiving apparatus 10 and/or one or more other devices associated with a particular dwelling. The digital key may also be linked to specific content, such as a particular television broadcast program.
At step 420, signal receiving apparatus 10 receives signals such as audio, video, and/or data signals from one or more signal sources such as satellite, cable, terrestrial and/or other broadcast sources via a signal receiving element such as an antenna and input terminal 12.
At step 430, E/D module 16 of signal receiving apparatus 10 encrypts the signals received at step 420 using the digital key received at step 410 to thereby generate encrypted digital data. Since the digital key is unique to signal receiving apparatus 10 and/or one or more other devices associated with a particular dwelling, the encrypted digital data generated at step 430 can only be later decrypted by signal receiving apparatus 10 and/or the one or more other devices.
At step 440, signal receiving apparatus 10 provides the encrypted digital data generated at step 430 to digital recording apparatus 30 for recording via input/output terminal 18. According to an exemplary embodiment, the encrypted digital data may be provided to digital recording apparatus 30 at step 440 using a digital serial bus, such as any version of the USB and/or other type of connection.
Referring now to
At step 510, digital recording apparatus 30 receives the encrypted digital data from signal receiving apparatus 10. According to an exemplary embodiment, the encrypted digital data received at step 510 is the encrypted digital data provided by signal receiving apparatus 10 at step 440 of
At step 520, digital recording apparatus 30 records the encrypted digital data to memory module 34. According to an exemplary embodiment, the microcontroller of memory module 34 enables the encrypted digital data to be recorded to the HDD of memory module 34 at step 520, and may perform functions including data error detection and correction functions.
At step 530, digital recording apparatus 30 retrieves the encrypted digital data from memory module 34. According to an exemplary embodiment, the microcontroller of memory module 34 enables the encrypted digital data to be retrieved from the HDD of memory module 34 at step 530, and may again perform functions including data error detection and correction functions. Step 530 may for example be performed responsive to a user input to signal receiving apparatus 10. This user input may cause signal receiving apparatus 10 to output a retrieval command to digital recording apparatus 30 which initiates step 530.
At step 540, digital recording apparatus 30 provides the encrypted digital data to signal receiving apparatus 10 for decryption via E/D module 16, and subsequent reproduction. According to an exemplary embodiment, the encrypted digital data may be provided to signal receiving apparatus 10 at step 540 via a digital serial bus, such as any version of the USB and/or other type of connection.
As described herein, the present invention provides a digital recording technique, which provides content protection through the use of digital keys that are unique to specific devices and/or to devices associated with specific household and/or business dwellings. The present invention may be applicable to various apparatuses, either with or without a display device. Accordingly, the phrases “signal receiving apparatus” and “television signal receiver” as used herein may refer to various different systems or apparatuses including, but not limited to, television sets, computers and/or monitors that include a display device, and systems or apparatuses such as set-top boxes, video cassette recorders (VCRs), digital versatile disk (DVD) players, video game boxes, computers or other apparatuses that may not include a display device.
While this invention has been described as having a preferred design, the present invention can be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains and which fall within the limits of the appended claims.
This application claims priority to and all benefits accruing from two (2) provisional applications filed in the United States Patent and Trademark Office on Mar. 11, 2003, and having assigned Ser. Nos. 60/453,662 and 60/453,764.
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/US04/07276 | 3/10/2004 | WO | 9/9/2005 |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60453764 | Mar 2003 | US | |
| 60453662 | Mar 2003 | US |
