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EP0506435B1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Independent external security module for a digitally upgradeable television signal decoder
Assignee: Scientific Atlanta LLC
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Filing: 1992-03-27
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Granted: 1996-10-23
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Expires: 2012-03-27
Abstract
Abstract Upgrade circuitry (1390) is provided so as to adapt a reception system (1306) for analog signals to accept both analog and digital signals. The upgrade circuitry (1390) selects (1392) a predetermined digital signal from a number of received digital signals, and decompresses (1393) the selected digital signal. The reception system (1306) includes a switch (1367) for selectively coupling to a decoder (1368) either an analog signal processing demodulator (1366) or the upgrade circuitry (1390).
Inventors
- 👤 Keith Gammie
- 👤 Robert K. Yoneda
- 👤 Arthur Woo
- 👤 Wayne c/o Scientific-Atlanta Inc. Sheldrick
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 07:19
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N21/00; H04N21/40; H04N21/43; H04N21/44; H04N21/4405; H04N21/45; H04N21/462; H04N21/4623; H04N7/00; H04N7/16; H04N7/162; H04N7/163; H04N7/167; H04N7/1675; H04N7/20; H04N21/41; H04N21/426; H04N5/00; H04N5/44; H04N5/46
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 39
Claim 1
Independent Claim
149 words
A decoder for receiving and descrambling a signal which has been scrambled using a key, the key having been selectively encrypted using at least one of a first confidential serial number and a second confidential serial number, said decoder comprising: first key decryptor means (713) operative when the selectively encrypted key has been encrypted using the first confidential serial number; second key decryptor means (718) operative when the selectively encrypted key has been encrypted using the second confidential serial number, one of the first and second key decryptor means being incorporated in a replaceable security module [714] removably attached to the decoder while the other is incorporated in a fixed security element [719] of the decoder; and control means (708) for operating at least one of the first and second key decryptor means to generate a decrypted key, the decrypted key being the key used to descramble the signal.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
27 words
A decoder according to claim 1, wherein the control means operates the first key decryptor means to decrypt the selectively encrypted key and generate the decrypted key.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
A decoder according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the control means operates the second key decryptor means to decrypt the selectively encrypted key and generate the decrypted key.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
52 words
A decoder according to any of claims 1, 2 or 3, wherein the control means operates the first key decryptor means to decrypt the selectively encrypted key and generate a partially decrypted key and then operates the second key decryptor means to decrypt the partially decrypted key and generate the decrypted key.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
125 words
A decoder according to any preceding claim, wherein: the control means operates in one of a first mode, a second mode mode, and a third mode while operating in the first mode, the control means operates the first key decryptor means to decrypt the selectively encrypted key and generate the decrypted key; while operating in the second mode, the control means operates the second key decryptor means to decrypt the selectively encrypted key and generate the decrypted key; and while operating in the third mode, the control means operates the first key decryptor means to decrypt the selectively encrypted key and generate a partially decrypted key and then operates the second key decryptor means to decrypt the partially decrypted key and generate the decrypted key.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
A decoder according to any preceding claim, wherein the decoder further includes signal descrambling means (708) for descrambling signal using the decrypted key.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
A decoder according to any preceding claim, further comprising first and second key memory means (707, 720) respectively coupled to said first and second key decryptor means (713, 718), for storing said decrypted key.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
39 words
A decoder according to any preceding claim, further comprising first and second confidential serial number memory means (712, 717) respectively coupled to said first and second key decryptor means (713, 718), for storing first and second confidential serial numbers.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
64 words
A decoder according to claim 8, wherein in the replaceable security module (714) and in the fixed security element (719), said first and second confidential serial number memory means further comprise security means for allowing the contents of said first and second confidential serial number memory means (712, 717) to be read only by said respective first and second key decryptor means (713, 718).
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
A decoder according to any preceding claim, wherein said signal is a television signal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
A decoder according to claim 10, wherein said signal is a B-MAC type television signal.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
A decoder according to any preceding claim, further comprising telephone interface means (875) for transmitting and receiving data to and from a television signal provider.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
A decoder according to claim 12, in which subscriber input data is transmitted by the replaceable security module (714) via said telephone interface means (875).
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
A decoder according to any preceding claim, wherein said first confidential serial number is assigned to the fixed security element (719) of said decoder (706).
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
A decoder according to any preceding claim, wherein said second confidential serial number is assigned to said replaceable security module (714).
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
71 words
A decoder according to any preceding claim, wherein: the selectively encrypted key has been encrypted under either a first confidential serial number, a second confidential serial number, or both; and the decoder further comprises means for actively switching (708), in response to a detected signal, between the fixed security element (719) and the replaceable security module (714) so as to effectively decrypt the selectively encrypted key to generate the decrypted key.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
61 words
A decoder according to any preceding claim, wherein: the selectively encrypted key has been encrypted under either a first confidential serial number, a second confidential serial number, or both; and the decoder further comprises means for actively switching (708), in response to a received signal, between first and second key decryptor means (713, 718) so as to effectively decrypt the key.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
88 words
A decoder according to any preceding claim operative to receive a composite data packet addressed to a single decoder or group of decoders, the composite data packet comprising: a first data packet (9a) containing unencrypted data for addressing the individual or group of decoders; a second data packet (9c) containing unencrypted data for determining whether at least one of first and second key decryptor means (714, 719) in the decoder are to be enabled; and, a third data packet (9d) containing encrypted data for use by the decoder.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
51 words
A decoder according to claim 18, in which the composite data packet further comprises a fourth data packet (9b) containing unencrypted data for determining the order of decrypting the third data packet by the first and second key decryptor means (714, 719) if the third data packet had been twice encrypted.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
93 words
The decoder according to any preceding claim, further comprising: decoder circuitry (1368), the first and second key decryptor means (1314, 1319) being incorporated therein; a demodulator (1366); means for receiving (1391) a plurality of compressed digital signals with a plurality of addresses, each address corresponding to a particular digital signal; means for selecting (1392) a particular digital signal by identifying the particular address; means for decompressing (1393) the selected digital signal; and means for selectively coupling (1397) to the decoder circuity (1368) one of the means for decompressing (1393) and the demodulator (1366).
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
28 words
A decoder according to claim 20, further comprising means, coupled between the means for selecting (1392) and the means for decompressing (1393), for decrypting (1399) the digital signal.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
73 words
A decoder according to any preceding claim wherein the replaceable security module includes: the second key decryptor means; means, coupled to the second key decryptor means, for generating decoder control information from the decrypted key, the decoder control information useable for descrambling the scrambled signal; and security means to ensure that the decrypted key generated by the second key decryptor means is only useable by the means for generating the decoder control information.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
136 words
A method for decoding a signal in a decoder comprising first and second key decryptor means, one of the first and second key decryptor means being incorporated in a replaceable security module while the other is incorporated in a fixed security element, the method comprising steps of: selectively operating the first key decryptor means to process a selectively encrypted key based on a first confidential serial number when the selectively encrypted key has been encrypted under the first confidential serial number; selectively operating the second key decryptor means to process the selectively encrypted key based on a second confidential serial number when the selectively encrypted key has been encrypted under the second confidential serial number; and controlling the operation of at least one of the first and second key decryptor means to generate a decrypted key.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
136 words
A method according to claim 23, wherein the step of controlling controls the decoder to operate in one of a first mode, a second mode and a third mode, the step of controlling including a step of: while the decoder is operating in the first mode, operating the first key decryptor means to decrypt the selectively encrypted key and generate the decrypted key; while the decoder is operating in the second mode, operating the second key decryptor means to decrypt the selectively encrypted key and generate the decrypted key; and while the decoder is operating in the third mode, operating the first key decryptor means to decrypt the selectively encrypted key and generate a partially decrypted key and then operating the second key decryptor means to decrypt the partially decrypted key and generate the decrypted key.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method according to claim 23 or claim 24, further comprising a step of generating decoder control information based on the decrypted key, the decoder control information useable for descrambling scrambled signals.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
57 words
A method according to any of claims 23 to 25, further comprising a step of securing data access to at least one (1) ensure that the first confidential serial numbers is readable only by the first key decryptor means, and (2) ensure that the second confidential serial numbers is readable only by the second key decryptor means.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
17 words
A method according to any of claims 23 to 26, wherein said signal is a television signal.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method according to claim 27, wherein said signal is a B-MAC type television signal.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
29 words
A method according to any of claims 23 to 28, further comprising a step of transmitting, via telephone interface means (875), data to and from a television signal provider.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method according to claim 29, further comprising the step of: preparing subscriber input data in the replaceable security module (714) to be transmitted via the telephone interface means.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
50 words
A method according to any of claims 23 to 30, further comprising a step of actively switching (708), in response to a detected signal, between the fixed security element (719) and the replaceable security module (714) so as to effectively decrypt the selectively encrypted key to generate the decrypted key.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
48 words
A method according to any of claims 23 to 31, further comprising a step of actively switching (708), in response to a detected signal, between the first and second key decryptor means (713, 718) so as to effectively decrypt the selectively encrypted key to generate the decrypted key.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
74 words
A method according to any of claims 23 to 32, further comprising steps of: providing subscriber information including said selectively encrypted key and said first and second confidential serial numbers at a first source; providing a plurality of program signals at a plurality of second sources; transmitting the subscriber information to the second sources; combining the subscriber information with the program signals to produce combined signals; and, transmitting the combined signals to said decoder.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
85 words
A method according to any of claims 23 to 33 further comprising a step of receiving a composite data packet, the composite data packet comprising: a first data packet (9a) containing unencrypted data for addressing the individual or group of decoders; a second data packet (9c) containing unencrypted data for determining whether at least one of first and second key decryptor means (714, 719) in the decoder are to be enabled; and, a third data packet (9d) containing encrypted data for use by the decoder.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
50 words
A method according to claim 34, wherein the composite data packet further comprises a fourth data packet (9b) containing unencrypted data for determining the order of decrypting the third data packet by the first and second key decryptor means (714, 719) if the third data packet had been twice encrypted.
Claim 36
Independent Claim
91 words
A method according to any of claims 23 to 35, wherein the decoder further includes decoder circuitry (1368), the first and second key decryptor means being incorporated therein, the method further comprising steps of: receiving (1391) a plurality of compressed digital signals with a plurality of addresses, each address corresponding to a particular digital signal; selecting (1392) a particular digital signal by identifying the particular address; decompressing (1393) the selected digital signal; and selectively coupling (1367) to decoder circuity (1368) one of the decompressed signal (1393) and a demodulated signal (1366).
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method according to claim 36, further comprising a step of decrypting (1399) the selected digital signal.
Claim 38
Independent Claim
54 words
A method according to any of claims 23 to 37, further comprising steps of: generating decoder control information from the decrypted key, the decoder control information useable for descrambling the scrambled signal; and ensuring that the decrypted key generated by the second key decryptor means is only useable for generating the decoder control information.
Claim 39
Independent Claim
158 words
A method according to any claims 23 to 38, wherein the second key decryptor means is incorporated in the replaceable security module, and initially the step of controlling operates only the first key decryptor means, and a headend encrypts a new key under an alternate first confidential serial number and then under the second confidential serial number to produce a new selectively encrypted key, and the method further includes steps of: decrypting the new selectively encrypted key in the first key decryptor means using the alternate first confidential serial number to produce a partially decrypted key; and decrypting the partially decrypted key in the second key decryptor means using the second confidential serial number to recover the new key, each subsequent new key being encrypted under only the second confidential serial number thereafter, the step of controlling operating only the second key decryptor means when a subsequent new key is encrypted under only the second confidential serial number.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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