1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to systems and methods for providing conditional access to media programs, and in particular to a system and method for providing for such conditional access between multiple independent broadcasters and a plurality of customers using a single conditional access system.
2. Description of the Related Art
For many years, media programs such as television and radio programs have been broadcast to viewers/listeners free of charge. More recently, this free-of-charge dissemination model has been augmented with a fee-for-service and/or fee-for-view model in which paying subscribers are provided access to a greater variety and number of media programs, including video programs, audio programs and the like, by cable, satellite and terrestrial broadcasts.
However, while subscriber-based services are readily available in some areas, they are not available on a world-wide basis. Further, in current media program subscription business models, subscribers are typically offered services from a small number of providers (e.g. DIRECTV or ECHOSTAR, or the approved local cable provider) each of which typically provide a large number of media channels from a variety of sources (e.g. ESPN, HBO, COURT TV, HISTORY CHANNEL). To assure that only subscribers receive the media programs, each service provider typically encrypts the program material and provides equipment necessary for the customer to decrypt them so that they can be viewed.
Since they provide a large number of programs and typically at a relatively high cost, the vast majority of customers subscribe to only one of the foregoing services (e.g. DIRECTV, ECHOSTAR, or the local cable provider), but not multiple providers. It is expected that future business models will evolve to the point where customers will subscribe to more than one media provider, each of which provides a smaller number of media channels. The foregoing is especially true in areas where subscriber-based services are in their infancy, including for example, large parts of Asia, Africa, and South America.
One of the roadblocks to the evolution of such services is the means by which the service provider assures that only paying customers receive their media programs. Existing conditional access systems are not compatible with each other, and it is thought to be prohibitively expensive for each provider of a limited number of media programs to produce and provide its own conditional access system to potential subscribers. Another problem is that customers would typically prefer to receive all media programs through a single device (and hence, a single conditional access system), rather than multiple such systems. Accordingly, there is a need in the art for a method and apparatus that allows multiple program providers (e.g. broadcasters) to transmit media programs to paying subscribers via a single conditional access system. The present invention satisfies that need.
To address the requirements described above, the present invention discloses a method, apparatus, article of manufacture for brokering the enabling of communication of encrypted media programs from a plurality of independent broadcasters to a plurality of receivers, each encrypted media program decryptable by a first receiver module securely communicating with a second receiver module according to a pairing key associated with one of the plurality of receivers. In one disclosed embodiment, the method comprises the steps of transmitting a service enabling request from one of the plurality of broadcasters to a broker independent from the one of the plurality of broadcasters, the request comprising an identification of the one of the plurality of receivers; receiving a first encrypted version of the pairing key ES
Referring now to the drawings in which like reference numbers represent corresponding parts throughout:
In the following description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and which is shown, by way of illustration, several embodiments of the present invention. It is understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.
The system 100 also comprises a plurality of subscriber stations 104A, 104B (alternatively referred to hereinafter as subscriber station 104), each providing service to one or more subscribers 112A, 112B (alternatively referred to hereinafter as subscribers 112). Each subscriber station 104A, 104B may include a satellite reception antenna 106A, 106B (alternatively referred to hereinafter as satellite reception antenna 104) and/or a terrestrial broadcast antenna 108A, 108B (alternatively referred to hereinafter as terrestrial broadcast antenna 108) communicatively coupled to a receiver 110A, 110B (alternatively referred to hereinafter as receiver 110), which is also known as a set top box (STB) or an integrated receiver/decoder (IRD).
As described above, in prior art systems, each receiver 110A, 110B (or at least, each conditional access system used with each receiver) is capable of receiving subscriber-based media programs from only one of the media program providers 102. Hence, if a subscriber 112 wanted to receive media programs from more than one media program provider 102 on a subscription basis, the subscriber may need not only to have a multiple receivers 110 at the subscriber station 104A, but also, will require multiple conditional access systems.
This can be accomplished by use of a web browser implemented in a computer 512 disposed at the subscriber station 104 and a web transaction module 502 implemented at the service provider 102. If desired, the subscriber's web browser can include the appropriate references to the URL where the request and STB ID and CAM ID should be transmitted. In one embodiment, in addition to the STB ID, the potential subscriber also transmits his/her credit card information (e.g. the account number) as well. This allows for services to be automatically billed for monthly subscription fees without further interaction. Credit card payment administration can be performed by the service provider 102 or by a third party such as PAYPAL. These functions can be performed by the subscriber administration module (SAM) 504. The SAM 504 can also comprise or be integrated with a customer relationship management (CRM) system or systems. If access is approved (e.g. if the supplied credit card information has been verified), the subscriber administration module 504 directs the web transaction module 502 to request a pairing key Kp from the pairing broker 304.
This implementation reduces the support requirements for the service provider 102. In other embodiments, the potential customer 112 can contact the service provider 102 via telephone or other means and provide the service request, STB ID, and CAM ID. Further, if desired, the pairing broker 304 can receive the service request (preferably via an appropriate Internet interface) and forward the request for service and the appropriate identifying information to the service provider 102.
The service provider 102 receives the service request the identifying information, as shown in block 404. The service provider 102 then transmits an enabling service request and the STB ID to the pairing broker 304, as shown in block 408. In block 410, the pairing broker 304 receives the service enabling request and the STB ID. A first encrypted version of a pairing key Kp is then provided. The pairing key Kp was generated either in block by the service provider 102, as shown in block 406 or, preferably by the pairing broker 304, as shown in block 406′. The first encrypted version of the pairing key Kp is provided so as to be decryptable using first information S1 securely stored in a first receiver module such as the transport module 202 shown in
In block 414, the first encrypted version of the pairing key ES
The foregoing process can be used to request all services from a service provider with a single pairing key Kp or repeated to request other services from the service provider 102, with each service enabled and controlled via a different pairing key Kp. For example, the service provider 102 may provide both general services (e.g. access to a number of channels as a part of a baseline fee service) and pay-per-view services (e.g. access to a particular program or set of programs on a pay-per-view basis). Therefore, if the foregoing process was undertaken to subscribe to the general services and the potential subscriber 112 desires order ahead pay per view (OPPV) services or impulse pay per view (IPPV) services as well, the foregoing process can be repeated for those services, resulting in the provision of a first encrypted version of a different pairing key for each service. The system 200 has the ability to store credit information in the security module 204, CAM 206, or elsewhere, and can therefore limit the amount of IPPV events the subscriber can purchase prior to requesting additional credits. Finally, the potential subscriber 112 can repeat this process for each service provider 102 from which they wish to receive service.
Although the pairing broker 304 need not generate or store the pairing keys Kp, it may be desirable to do so.
In block 420, the service provider 102 receives the first encrypted version of the pairing key Kp, and generates a second encrypted version of the pairing key Kp such that it is decryptable by second information S2 securely stored in a second receiver module such as the conditional access module 206 (the second encrypted version of the pairing key Kp therefore described as ES
The service provider 102 can store a table or database relating STB IDs and the pairing keys Kp for each of the provided services.
In block 422, the service provider 102 transmits an entitlement control message (ECM) or an entitlement management message (EMM) to the subscriber station. The ECM is transmitted to the STB 110 in response to a subscriber request for access to general media programs from the service provider 102, while the EMM is transmitted in response to a subscriber request for a specific program (e.g. an impulse or order ahead pay-per-view). The ECM/EMM includes the first encrypted version of the applicable pairing key ES
Thereafter, the pairing key Kp is used to encrypt communications between the conditional access module 206 and the transport module 202. Henceforward, the conditional access module 206 cannot be used a different STB 110, although if desired, more than one STB 110 can be provided to a customer, each having the same first information the conditional access module to be used with different STBs 110 in the same household.
To begin service, the broadcast module 506 and/or the broadcast headend 516 encrypts media programs M 510 according to a control word (CW), encrypts the control word (Cw) itself, and broadcasts a program stream comprising the encrypted program material ECW[M] and the encrypted control word E[CW] to the STBs 100, as shown in blocks 450, 452 and 454. The program stream may also comprise program guide information from the program guide module 508.
The transport module 202 in the STB 110 receives the program stream, separates out the packets of information by channel (typically according to a packet ID), and provides the encrypted control word E[CW] to the conditional access module 206. The conditional access module 206 receives the encrypted control word E[CW] decrypts it to recover the control word (CW), encrypts the control word (CW) with the pairing key Kp, and provides the encrypted pairing key EK
The foregoing system can be used to modify or change the provision of services from the service provider 102 as well. This can be accomplished by the service provider 102 deleting, adding, or modifying the pairing keys Kp in cooperation with the pairing broker 304 in essentially the same way as described above. Such modification can occur at the subscriber's behest (e.g. the subscriber desires either more, less, or different services than previously), or that of the service provider 102 (e.g. if the offered services change or the subscriber's credit card is no longer valid).
The modules described above can be implemented as one or more software modules comprising instructions being performed by one or more special or general purpose processors, or may be implemented with hardware modules having dedicated circuitry, or with both hardware and software modules. In one embodiment, for example, the pairing broker 304 is implemented by a pairing server, and the program guide module 508, broadcast module 506, subscriber administration module 504 and web transaction module 502 are all implemented as servers, the transport module 202 and security module 204 are implemented in a secure, tamperproof electronic circuit, and the conditional access module is implemented on a smart card.
Generally, the computer 702 operates under control of an operating system 708 stored in the memory 706, and interfaces with the user to accept inputs and commands and to present results through a graphical user interface (GUI) module 718A. Although the GUI module 718A is depicted as a separate module, the instructions performing the GUI functions can be resident or distributed in the operating system 708, the computer program 710, or implemented with special purpose memory and processors. The computer 702 also implements a compiler 712 which allows an application program 710 written in a programming language such as COBOL, C++, FORTRAN, or other language to be translated into processor 704 readable code. After completion, the application 710 accesses and manipulates data stored in the memory 706 of the computer 702 using the relationships and logic that was generated using the compiler 712. The computer 702 also optionally comprises an external communication device such as a modem, satellite link, Ethernet card, or other device for communicating with other computers.
In one embodiment, instructions implementing the operating system 108, the computer program 710, and the compiler 712 are tangibly embodied in a computer-readable medium, e.g., data storage device 720, which could include one or more fixed or removable data storage devices, such as a zip drive, floppy disc drive 724, hard drive, CD-ROM drive, tape drive, etc. Further, the operating system 708 and the computer program 710 are comprised of instructions which, when read and executed by the computer 702, causes the computer 702 to perform the steps necessary to implement and/or use the present invention. Computer program 710 and/or operating instructions may also be tangibly embodied in memory 706 and/or data communications devices 730, thereby making a computer program product or article of manufacture according to the invention. As such, the terms “article of manufacture,” “program storage device” and “computer program product” as used herein are intended to encompass a computer program accessible from any computer readable device or media.
Those skilled in the art will recognize many modifications may be made to this configuration without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, those skilled in the art will recognize that any combination of the above components, or any number of different components, peripherals, and other devices, may be used with the present invention.
This concludes the description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention. The foregoing description of the preferred embodiment of the invention has been presented for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. It is intended that the scope of the invention be limited not by this detailed description, but rather by the claims appended hereto. The above specification, examples and data provide a complete description of the manufacture and use of the composition of the invention. Since many embodiments of the invention can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, the invention resides in the claims hereinafter appended.
This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/541,492, entitled “METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SUPPORTING MULTIPLE BROADCASTERS INDEPENDENTLY USING A SINGLE CONDITIONAL ACCESS SYSTEM,” by Ronald P. Cocchi, Gregory J. Gagnon, and Dennis R. Flaharty, filed Jul. 3, 2012, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 9,014,375, which application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/795,272, entitled “METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SUPPORTING MULTIPLE BROADCASTERS INDEPENDENTLY USING A SINGLE CONDITIONAL ACCESS SYSTEM,” by Ronald P. Cocchi, Gregory J. Gagnon, and Dennis R. Flaharty, filed Jul. 13, 2007, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,243,925, which is a national phase application of International Patent Application No.: PCT/US2005/037197, entitled “METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SUPPORTING MULTIPLE BROADCASTERS INDEPENDENTLY USING A SINGLE CONDITIONAL ACCESS SYSTEM,” by Ronald P. Cocchi, Gregory J. Gagnon, and Dennis R. Flaharty, filed Oct. 18, 2005, which claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/619,663, entitled “METHOD OF SUPPORTING MULTIPLE BROADCASTERS INDEPENDENTLY USING A SINGLE CONDITIONAL ACCESS SYSTEM,” by Ronald P. Cocchi, Gregory J. Gagnon, and Dennis R. Flaharty, filed Oct. 18, 2004, all of which applications are hereby incorporated by reference herein.
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Parent | 11795272 | US | |
Child | 13541492 | US |