A method for determining an identifier of a conditional access card used in a conditional access system, in which the conditional access card autonomously modulates the timing of data packets sent by the conditional access card, to form a timing sequence that corresponds to the identifier of the card. The sequence is generated by a predefined non-linear function stored on the conditional access card, and the predefined non-linear function depends on both the identifier of the conditional access card and a non-linear random sequence that is known to the conditional access card and a monitoring station that receives transmissions from the conditional access card.

A communication system 10 including a host device 14 in communication with an external device 40 through a pair of interfaces 48/50. The external device has an application code image module 42 therein. The host device 14 includes an application execution area 66 and a resource application programming interface (API) 60. The host device 14 stores the application code image in the application execution area 66. The application code image controls a function in the host device 14 using the resource application interface. When the function is performed, the application code image may be removed from the host device 14.

A method for determining an identifier of a conditional access card used in a conditional access system, in which the conditional access card autonomously modulates the timing of data packets sent by the conditional access card, according to a sequence that depends on the identifier of the card. The sequence is generated by a predefined non-linear function stored on the conditional access card, and the predefined non-linear function depends on both the identifier of the conditional access card and a non-linear random sequence that is known to the conditional access card and a monitoring station that receives transmissions from the conditional access card.

A universal serial bus (USB) dongle device includes a USB interface for receiving a video signal in a first format and for sending a processed video signal in a second format wherein the first format differs from the second format. An encoding module generates the processed video signal based on the video signal. In a further embodiment, A video card includes a video receiver for receiving a video signal in a first format, based on a selection command. An encoding module generates a processed video signal in a second format based on the video signal, wherein the first format differs from the second format. A USB interface transfers the processed video signal to the host device, receives the selection command from the host device and receives a power signal from the host device to power the video receiver and the encoding module.

The present invention aims to address the issue of deploying costly hardware by proposing a content protection layer with an easy distribution capability to clients. The aim is achieved by an network device for descrambling an access controlled audio/video content stream, said network device being configured to be connected to a network router comprises a memory to store a unique address UA specific to the network device, an network input/output interface, a descrambler to descramble the audio/video content stream, and a watermark engine configured to watermark the descrambled audio/video content stream by applying the unique address. A further object of the invention is a method to access scrambled audio/video content stream in a local or roaming mode by a multimedia reception device connected via an IP network to a network router having an IP port connected to the network device.

A broadcast reception device is provided. The broadcast reception device includes a communication interface unit receiving, from a CAM, a first data unit including a request for diagnostic information for representing a status of the broadcast reception device; and a control unit generating a second data unit including a reply to the first data unit to transmit the second data unit to the CAM through the communication interface unit, wherein the second data unit includes information representing that the broadcast reception device does not implement displaying of a diagnostic information related screen.

Systems and methods are provided reducing storage space occupied by a media asset by adjusting quality levels of the media asset downward over time. This may be accomplished by a media guidance application that store, at a given time, the media asset in a first format having a first quality level. The media guidance application retrieves, from a database, a data entry corresponding to the media asset and determines, based on the data entry, a threshold period of time for storing the media asset in the first format. The media guidance application detects whether the threshold period of time since the given time has passed and responds by altering a first portion of the media asset from the first format having the first quality level to a second format having a second quality level that is inferior to the first quality level.

A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a gateway comprising a controller to receive from a communication device a request for media content, receive a key and a record associated with the communications device from an interactive television system, wherein the record comprises a list of entitled media content, determine whether the requested media content is in the list of entitled media content, retrieve the requested media content from the interactive television system when the requested media content is determined to be in the list of entitled media content, encrypt the retrieved media content utilizing the key, and transmit the encrypted media content to the communications device. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Systems, methods, devices, and non-transitory media of the various embodiments facilitate real time playback of a digital broadcast by enabling reduction of the amount of time a receiver device's low power mode interface with a separate computing device operates in an operational/high power mode. The receiver device may associate a stream of media packets of a digital broadcast with system time clock timestamps indicating when the media packets were received, and store the media packets in a temporary packet buffer. Periodically, a media packet burst stored in the temporary packet buffer may be sent to the separate computing device via a low power mode interface operating in an operational/high-power mode different than a low power mode. The low power mode interface may be returned to the low-power mode until the next burst of packets is sent to the separate computing device.

A technique to manage members of a group of decoders having access to broadcast data, each group member sharing a common broadcast encryption scheme (BES) comprising the steps of, in a stage for a decoder to become a group member, receiving keys pertaining to the position in the group according to the BES, receiving a current group access data comprising a current group access key, and in a stage of accessing broadcast data, using the current group access data to access the broadcast data, and in a stage of renewing the current group access key, sending a first group message comprising at lease a next group access key encrypted so that only non-revoked decoders can access it, said group message being further encrypted by the current group access key, updating the current group access key with the next group access key.