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.

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.

Techniques for a smartphone-based conditional access (CA) system are described. In some embodiments, a headend in the CA system obtains a security profile associated with a pair of receiving devices used by a user, e.g., a first device (e.g., a smartphone) and a second device (e.g., a set-top-box or a TV). The headend dynamically regulates user access to requested media content during each entitlement period by assigning and distributing separate keys to the first and second device based on the security profile. The headend also uses the distributed keys to protect the media content before broadcasting. On the receiving end, one receiving device receives the media content and determines whether it is decryptable by the device. If decryptable, the receiving device (e.g., the set-top-box/TV) decrypts the media content using the keys assigned by the headend. Otherwise, the receiving device forwards the media content to the pairing device for decryption.

A method is provided for generating a key ladder for securely communicating between a first device and a second device using a first device symmetric key and a chip-unique private key. The method includes generating a second processor-specific first device symmetric key from a first processor-specific first device symmetric key and a first identifier (CPU_ID), generating a chip-unique first device application private key (CUAPrK) from a second identifier and the second processor-specific first device symmetric key, generating a chip-unique first device application public key (CUAPuK) from the chip-unique first device application private key (CUAPrK), and transmitting the chip-unique first device application public key (CUAPuK) and an identifier of the processor to the second device.

An adaptor is provided for a games console which allows users to gain access to interactive television services through the games console. The adaptor includes a television tuner for receiving broadcast television channels, a communications controller which controls communications between the adaptor and the games console and an interface for interfacing the adaptor to the games console. In a preferred embodiment, the adaptor also includes a hard disc for storing video data and for storing game history data. The adaptor may also include a modem via which the user can gain access to remote servers connected to a data network.

Described herein are systems and methods for hardware enforcement of hardware functionality in a client television receiver. An activation message containing an activation code for a specific hardware component within the client television receiver can be transmitted from a television service provider system to a host television receiver having an associated smart card. The smart card can decrypt the activation message, identify the client television receiver as the destination of the activation message, security check the activation message, encrypt the activation message with a local key, and transmit the activation message to a security processor on the client television receiver. The security processor can decrypt the activation message, security check the activation message to ensure it is from the smart card and has not been tampered with, and enable the hardware component within the client television receiver based on the activation code within the activation message.

Systems and methods for implementing a Transport I/O system are described. Network encrypted content may be received by a device. The device may provide the network encrypted content to a secure processor, such as, for example, a smart card. The secure processor obtains a network control word that may be used to decrypt the network encrypted content. The secure processor may decrypt the network encrypted content to produce clear content. In embodiments, the secure processor may then use a local control word to generate locally encrypted content specific to the device. The device may then receive the locally encrypted content from the secure processor and proceed to decrypt the locally encrypted content using a shared local encryption key. The Transport I/O system ensures the protection of the network control word by maintaining the network control word on the secure processor.

A method and a system relates to a cellular-network assisted Pay-Per-View (PPV). An issue arises in reconciling PPV purchase balance data when a Set-top Box (STB) lacks a communication link to the PPV headend server. The present disclosure addresses the issue by using a mobile computing device for delivering the PPV balance data from the STB to the PPV headend server over a cellular-network. The mobile computing device receives the PPV balance data from the Conditional Access Module (CAM) on STB through near-field communications. The mobile computing device, when it is moved to inside a service coverage area of a cellular or Wi-Fi-network, transmits the PPV balance data to the PPV headend server. The PPV headend server updates the PPV balance data and transmits the updated PPV balance data to the CAM on STB via the satellite broadcasting network.

Tools are provided for distributing access-restricted content in an internet protocol television (“IPTV”) environment based on portable entitlement keys. Such tools can include a decoder, an encoder, and a network entitlement handler. The decoder may be configured to receive a key associated with entitlement information, and transmit the entitlement information over a network. The encoder may be configured to receive content from content providers, and to encode the content to create IP-compatible content, with access restrictions based on entitlement. The network entitlement handler may be configured to receive a request for requested content from the decoder; receive the access-restricted content (including the requested content) from the encoder; and transmit the requested content over the network to the decoder using IP, when the decoder is entitled to receive the requested content.