Descrambling of multiple television channels.

(54) Title: DESALEATORIZATION OF SEVERAL TV CHANNELS.

(54) Title: DESCRAMBLING OF MULTIPLE TELEVISION CHANNELS.

(57) Summary

Various provisions are presented to de-randomize various television channels concurrently. A converter-decoder box can receive a first plurality of television channels as scrambled data packets. A previously received locally stored network information table can be accessed that associates each of the various television channels with the same authorization control message, as indicated by a packet identifier. An authorization control message that has the same packet identifier can be received. A smart card can be used to decrypt the authorization control message having the same packet identifier to obtain a first control word and a second control word. The scrambled data packets corresponding to the various television channels can be descrambled using the first control word and the second control word. These television channels can be stored and / or produced for presentation by the set-top box.

(57) Abstract

Various arrangements for descrambling multiple television channels concurrently are presented. A set-top box may receive a first plurality of television channels as scrambled data packets. A previously-rece ived locally- stored networking Information table may be accessed that associates each of the multiple television channels with the same entitlement control message, as indicated by a packet identifier. An entitlement control message having the same packet identifier may be received. A smartcard may be used to decrypt the entitlement control message having the same packet identifier lo obtain a first control word and a second control word. Scrambled data packets corresponding to the multiple television channels may be descrambled using the first control word and the second control word. These television channels may be stored and / or output for presented by the set-top box.

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Institute

Mexican Property

Industrial

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PATENT TITLE NO. 337337

L ^x £ '4*» .&lt;·'

Headlines):

Home:

Denomination:

Classification:

Inventor (s):

ECHOSTAR TECHNOLOGIES LLC

> 100 Inverness Terrace East, Englewood, Colorado, 80112, USA DESALINATION OF SEVERAL TELEVISION CHANNELS. Int.CI.8: H04N21 / 45; H04N7 / 08; H04Ñ7 / 167

DAVID KUMMER; GERMAR SCHAEFER

REQUEST

Number:

MX / a / 2014/009919

Country:

US

US

US

Validity: Twenty years

International filing date:

March 2013

PRIORITY

Date:

March 2012 December 21, 2012 February 1, 2013

Number:

61/611,483

61/740,807

13/757,168

Expiration Date: March 14, 2033 É

The reference patent is granted based on toa articula · I^to Section V, 6th section III, and 59 of the Jplustrial Property Law.

In accordance with article 23 of the Industrial Property Law, this patent has a validity of twenty non-extendable years, counted from the fair of presentation of the intanwaeMt application -and will be subject to the payment of the fee to keep winds the . rights.

T

Whoever subscribes to this title does so based on the dtapuMMtPDf arifciSK 6 * fractionas lll and 7 ° bis 2 of the Industrial Property Law (Official Gazette cS la Federación (DOF) βΙΌ8 / 0β / 1β94, 10/25/1996, 26 / 12/1997, «/ 05/1999,

01/26/2004, 06/16/2005, * 05/01/20011) 06/05/2009,06 / 01/2010, 06/18/2010, 06/28/28 «, 27 / £ ΠΪ2012 and 09 / 04/2012); articles 1, attraction V of the Mexican Institute of Industrial Property (DOF 12/27/1999, amended on 10/10/2002, 07/29/2004, 08/04/2004 and 09/13/2007); 1, 3 and 5 subsection a) of the Agreement that delegates powers to the Deputy Directors General, Coordinator, Divisional Directors, Holders of the Regional Offices, Divisional Deputy Directors, Departmental Coordinators and other subordinates of the Mexican Institute of Industrial Property. (DOF 12/15/1999, amended on 02/04/2000, 07/29/2004, 08/04/2004 and 09/13/2007).

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Issue Date: February 26, 2016

DIVISIONAL DIRECTOR OF PATENTS

NAHANNY CANAL REYES

Arenal No. 550, Piso ',

Co·. Pueblo Santa María Tepepan, Xochmiiloo, CP 16020,

Mexico City

Tel (55) 53 34 07 00 www ¡mpi ooP.mx

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MX / 2016/15442

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v?

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DESALEATORIZATION OF SEVERAL TELEVISION CHANNELS

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A television receiver may wish to watch and / or record multiple television channels at the same time. For example, during primetime during the week, many television programs can be broadcast simultaneously on different television channels so that the viewer wants to watch live or store it for later viewing. For many cable and satellite television distribution systems, a set-top box can be used to receive, store, and display television channels on a television (or other form of display device). Such converter-decoder boxes may have limited capabilities to concurrently display and / or store multiple television channels at the same time.

Modes of a television receiver are presented. The television receiver may include one or more processors. The television receiver may include memory communicatively coupled to and readable by one or more processors and stored in the same processor-readable instructions. Processor-readable instructions, when executed by one or more processors, may cause one or more processors to receive a first plurality of television channels such as

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randomized data packets. Processor-readable instructions can cause one or more processors to access a locally stored network information table. The network information table may include an entry for each television channel of a second plurality of television channels. Each input for each television channel of the second plurality of television channels may indicate at least: a first packet identifier for video packets corresponding to the television channel, a second packet identifier for audio packets corresponding to the television channel television, and a third packet identifier for authorization control message packets corresponding to the television channel. The second plurality of television channels may include the first plurality of television channels. For each television channel in the first plurality of television channels, the third packet identifier in the network information table may be the same packet identifier. Processor-readable instructions can cause one or more processors to receive an authorization control message that has the same packet identifier. Processor-readable instructions can cause one or more processors to decrypt the authorization control message that has the same packet identifier to obtain a first control word and a

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second control word. Processor-readable instructions may cause one or more processors to descramble scrambled data packets corresponding to the first plurality of television channels using the first control word and second control word decrypted from the authorization control message it has the same package identifier. Processor readable instructions may cause one or more processors to store and / or produce the presentation video and audio of each television channel on the first plurality of television channels.

The modalities of such a television receiver may include one or more of the following: Processor-readable instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, may further cause one or more processors to receive data to update the network information table, where the update modifies at least one of the first packet identifier, the second packet identifier, and the third packet identifier corresponding to at least one television channel of the second plurality of television channels. The television receiver can receive the scrambled data packets and the authorization control message via a satellite. The scrambled data packets for each television channel of the first plurality of

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Television channels and the authorization control message can be received by the television receiver from a single satellite transponder using a single tuner. Processor-readable instructions when executed by one or more processors also cause one or more processors to receive additional authorization control messages; and determine if each of the additional authorization control messages matches the authorization control message. Processor-readable instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, further cause one or more processors to ignore each additional authorization control message that matches the authorization control message so that the control message decryption Additional authorization does not occur.

In some embodiments, a method for descrambling multiple television channels is presented. The method may include receiving, by a television receiver, a first plurality of television channels as scrambled data packets. The method may include accessing, via the television receiver, a table of locally stored network information. The network information table may include an entry for each television channel of a second plurality of television channels. Each entry for each television channel of the second plurality of

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Television channels may indicate at least: a first packet identifier for video packets corresponding to the television channel, a second packet identifier for audio packets corresponding to the television channel, and a third packet identifier for a packet of authorization control message that corresponds to the television channel. The second plurality of television channels may include the first plurality of television channels. For each television channel in the first plurality of television channels, the third packet identifier in the network information table may be the same packet identifier. The method may include receiving, through the television receiver, an authorization control message having the same packet identifier. The method may include decrypting, by a television receiver smart card, the authorization control message having the same packet identifier to obtain a first control word and a second control word. The method may include descrambling, by the television receiver, the scrambled data packets corresponding to the first plurality of television channels using the first control word and the second control word decrypted from the authorization control message that it has the same package identifier. Furthermore, the

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'You?. MEXICAN L /. PROPERTY

INDUSTRIAL method may include storing and / or producing the presentation, through the television receiver, of video and audio of each television channel of the first plurality of television channels.

Modalities of such a method may include one or more of the following: The method may include receiving, via the television receiver, data to update the locally stored network information table, wherein the update modifies at least one of the first identifier packet, the second packet identifier, and the third packet identifier corresponding to at least one television channel of the second plurality of television channels. The television receiver can receive the scrambled data packets and the authorization control message via a satellite. The scrambled data packets for each television channel of the first plurality of television channels and the authorization control message may be received by the television receiver from a single satellite transponder using a single tuner. The method may include periodically receiving additional authorization control messages through the television receiver. The method may include determining, at the television receiver, whether each of the additional authorization control messages matches the security control message.

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authorization. The method may include ignoring, through the television receiver, each additional authorization control message that matches the authorization control message so that decryption of the additional authorization control message does not occur. The method may include randomizing, through a television service provider, each television channel in the first plurality of television channels using the first control word and the second control word. The method may include providing, through the television service provider, the first control word and the second control word in a security system. The method may include receiving, from the security system via the television service provider, the authorization control message corresponding to the first control word and the second control word. The method may include transmitting the authorization control message to the television receiver.

In some embodiments, an apparatus for descrambling various television channels is presented. The apparatus may include means for receiving a first plurality of television channels as scrambled data packets. The apparatus may include means for accessing a locally stored network information table. The network information table can include as input for

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MEXICAN INSTITUTE OF PROPERTY

INDUSTRIAL each television channel of a second plurality of television channels. Each input for each television channel of the second plurality of television channels may indicate at least: a first packet identifier for video packets corresponding to the television channel, a second packet identifier for audio packets corresponding to the television channel television, and a third packet identifier for an authorization control message packet corresponding to the television channel. The second plurality of television channels may include the first plurality of television channels. For each television channel in the first plurality of television channels, the third packet identifier in the network information table may be the same packet identifier. The apparatus may include means for receiving an authorization control message having the same packet identifier. The apparatus may include means for decrypting the authorization control message having the same packet identifier to obtain a first control word and a second control word. The apparatus may include means for descrambling the scrambled data packets corresponding to the first plurality of television channels using the first control word and the second decrypted control word from the authorization control message having the

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INSTÍT

£., Same package identifier. The apparatus may include means for storing video and audio from each television channel of the first plurality of television channels.

Modalities of such an apparatus may include one or more of the following: The apparatus may include means for receiving data to update the locally stored network information table, wherein the update modifies at least one of the first packet identifier, the second packet identifier. packet, and the third packet identifier corresponding to at least one television channel of the second plurality of television channels. The apparatus can receive the scrambled data packets and the authorization control message via a satellite. The scrambled data packets for each television channel of the first plurality of television channels and the authorization control message may be received by the single transponder apparatus of the satellite using a single tuner.

In some embodiments, a method for descrambling multiple television channels is presented. The method may include receiving, via a television receiver, a first plurality of television channels as scrambled data packets. The method may include receiving, through the television receiver, a first authorization control message for a first channel of

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IÑS i JTl / TO MtXIf-ANO Di LA iRÓfMLtJAO

INDUSTRIAL

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television of the first plurality of television channels. The method may include decrypting, by a television receiver smart card, the first authorization control message to obtain a first control word and a second control word. The method may include receiving, via the television receiver, a second authorization control message for a second television channel from the first plurality of television channels. The method may include determining, by the television receiver, that the second authorization control message for the second television channel matches the first authorization control message for the first television channel. television channel. The method may include, based on the determination of the second authorization control message for the second television channel matching the first authorization control message for the first television channel, ignoring, by the television receiver, the second authorization control so that decryption of the second authorization control message does not occur. The method may include descrambling, by the television receiver, the scrambled data packets corresponding to the first plurality of television channels using the first control word and the second control word decrypted from the first authorization control message. The method

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INSTITUTO TI I¡ \ '¿can include storing, through the television receiver, video and audio of each television channel of the first plurality of television channels. In some embodiments, the television receiver receives the scrambled data packets, the first authorization control message, and the second authorization control message via satellite.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A further understanding of the nature and advantages of various embodiments can be made by reference to the following figures. In the attached figures, similar components or features may have the same reference label. In addition, several components of the same type can be distinguished by following the reference label with a hyphen and a second label that distinguishes between similar components. If only the first reference label is used in the specification, the description can be applied to any of the similar components that have the same first reference label regardless of the second reference label.

FIGURE 1 illustrates one embodiment of a satellite television distribution system.

Figure 2 illustrates one embodiment of a converter-decoder box (STB).

Figure 3 illustrates one embodiment of a

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randomization of television service provider.

Figure 4 illustrates one embodiment of a data transmission and scrambling scheme for satellite television channel distribution.

FIGURE 5 illustrates one embodiment of a method for using a simple authorization control message to control concurrent access to various television channels.

FIGURE 6 illustrates one embodiment of a method for using multiple matching authorization control messages to control concurrent access to various television channels.

FIGURE 7 illustrates one embodiment of a computer system.

It may be beneficial for a set top box to receive, store and / or review multiple television channels simultaneously. For example, during primetime hours in the afternoon, a television subscriber (named as a user) may wish to view and / or store various television programs that are broadcast concurrently on different television channels. As such, despite the fact that television programs appear on different television channels simultaneously, the user may wish to store and / or watch both television programs. In some situations, a user may want

V- 'r.'

TA / · '· --IΜ Γ i

INSTITUTO MEXICANO DE 1.Λ PROf '.' TOAD INTUSTTUaL store even greater amounts of programming that appear on several television channels simultaneously. For example, a user may wish to store all primetime television that is broadcast concurrently by major television networks (eg ABC, NBC, CBS, and FOX). Other situations may occur where a user may wish to store and / or view multiple television channels simultaneously, such as while multiple concurrent sporting events occur (eg soccer on a Saturday or Sunday in fall, or multiple Games events Olympics broadcast simultaneously). Another situation may be where the user's favorite television programs are broadcast concurrently on different television channels.

Although a user may want to record (and / or watch) multiple television channels simultaneously, to do so, the user may need to dedicate television receiver hardware to the task. Typically, a single television tuner may be able to tune to one television channel at a time for viewing and / or recording. As such, if the user wants to record four television channels simultaneously, the user's television receiver (eg, set-top box (STB)) may conventionally need to use a separate tuner to tune each channel.

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of TV. However, in certain television distribution arrangements, such as in a satellite television broadcasting arrangement, a single transponder stream can be used to transmit scrambled data corresponding to various television channels. Since each of these television channels is transmitted using the same transponder (eg, on the same transmission frequency), a single tuner on a television receiver can be used to receive multiple television channels. As such, if a user wants to record four television channels that are broadcast on the same satellite transponder, a single tuner on the user's television receiver can be used for all four television channels.

Although a single tuner can be used to tune into multiple television channels that are broadcast by a transponder on a television distribution satellite, these television channels can be scrambled to prevent non-subscribers from accessing television programming. As such, in addition to receiving multiple television channels that are transmitted concurrently by a transponder, a converter-decoder box may need to descramble each television channel that is received simultaneously. Transmitting television channels concurrently or simultaneously refers to

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INSTITUTE ΜΕ, ANOICANO OF PROPERTY industrial data packets corresponding to television channels that are transmitted during the same period of time. For example, two television programs on different television channels can be broadcast simultaneously for a specified period of time (for example, from 8 PM to 8:30 PM). The individual data packets for the television channels may be received at different times during this time period, as part of a transponder stream. This can be accomplished by several factors, such as television receiver hardware may have limited resources available to decrypt the control words (CW) used to scramble audio and video. In some arrangements, a smart card, which can be inserted into a set-top box, can provide decryption services. When the smart card receives an authorization control message (ECM), the ECM can be decrypted to obtain two control words (CWS) used to descramble audio and video packets corresponding to a television channel. The CW used to descramble a television channel may change periodically, such as

<td colspan="2">every ten seconds. As such,</td><td colspan="4">new ECMs may need</td>

<td colspan="2">periodically decrypt,</td><td>such</td><td>how</td><td>a</td><td>time every ten</td>

<td>seconds,</td><td>to allow</td><td>than</td><td>the</td><td>STB</td><td>discourage</td>

continuously the television channel. The new decryption of

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MFXiCANO INSTITUTE OF PROPERTY

INDUSTRlAl

ECM periodically, such as once every ten seconds, may be possible using the limited processing power available on a smart card. However, if multiple television channels are to be descrambled simultaneously, then multiple ECMs may also need to be decrypted simultaneously. The requirements for such processing may exceed the specifications of the smart card. Furthermore, it may not be desirable to use a more capable smart card because the possibility of such additional processing being used by non-subscribers to gain unauthorized access to television programming.

Rather than possibly adding additional smart cards to the decoder converter box (which can increase the price and hardware complexity), modalities detailed herein are directed to using a single smart card to handle the decryption of multiple ECMs to extract the CW. used to descramble multiple television channels that are captured by a single tuner simultaneously. In some embodiments, a network information table (NIT) stored by a set top box can be used to associate multiple television channels with the same ECM stream (each stream ECM having the same PID). As such, only one

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/; .ι Simple ECM stream is transmitted to the STB and the Simple ECM stream is decrypted to obtain control words for various television channels. Consequently, the various television channels can be scrambled using the same control words.

In some embodiments, instead of transmitting a single ECM stream to multiple television channels that are broadcast on a single transponder, each television channel is associated with its own ECM stream, as indicated by a packet identifier (PID ). Each of these ECM streams can contain the same data, and thus can be decrypted to produce the same CWs. When an ECM is provided to the smart card that is the same as the previous ECM, the smart card can recognize that the ECMs match and may not process the second ECM to produce the same CWs. Alternatively, the second ECM may be processed, but the result may not be affected because the same CWs that were previously produced may occur again. Therefore, although each television channel may simultaneously have its own ECM streams, these ECM streams may contain the same ECMs, thereby allowing only a single ECM to be decrypted by the smart card at one time and the same CWs are used for each television channel received simultaneously. Such provision

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It can be useful for flexibility if some television channels are going to have different randomization on a temporary basis, such as during a sporting event or during a free preview time.

FIGURE 1 illustrates one embodiment of a satellite television distribution system 100. Satellite television distribution system 100 may include: television service provider system 110, satellite transmitter equipment 120, satellites 130, satellite dish antenna 140, set-top box 150, and television 160. Alternative modes of Satellite television distribution system 100 may include fewer or more component numbers. Although only a satellite dish antenna 140, converter box 150, and television 160 (collectively referred to as user equipment) are illustrated, it should be understood that various instances (eg, tens, thousands, millions) of user equipment may receiving television signals from satellites 130.

The television service provider system 110 and the satellite transmitter equipment 120 can be operated by a television service provider. A television service provider may distribute television channels, on-demand programming, programming information, and / or other services to users. The television service provider system 110 can receive

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powering one or more television channels from various sources. Such television channels may include multiple television channels that contain the same content (but may have different formats, such as high definition and standard definition). To distribute such television channels to users, the feeds of the television channels may be retransmitted to the user equipment by one or more satellites by transponder currents. Satellite transmission equipment 120 can be used to transmit a feed of one or more television channels from television service provider system 110 to one or more satellites 130. Although a single television service provider system 110 and satellite transmitter equipment 120 are illustrated as part of satellite television distribution system 100, it should be understood that multiple instances of transmission equipment can be used, possibly geographically dispersed to communicate via satellites 130. Such multiple instances of satellite transmission equipment may communicate with the same or with different satellites. Different television channels can be transmitted to satellites 130 of different instances of transmission equipment. For example, a different satellite dish antenna from satellite transmitter equipment 120 can be used for communication with satellites in different

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Í.S'DU ^ TrU / U.

orbit intervals.

Satellites 130 can be configured to receive signals, such as television channel currents, from one or more satellite uplinks, such as satellite transmitter equipment 120. Satellites 130 can retransmit signals received from satellite transmitter equipment 120 (and / or other satellite transmission equipment) to various instances of user equipment using transponder currents. Different frequencies can be used for uplink signals 170 for transponder current 180. Satellites 130 can be in geosynchronous orbit. Each satellite 130 can be in a different orbit interval, so that the signal path between each satellite, the transmitting equipment, and the user equipment vary. The various satellites 130 can be used to transmit television channels from the television service provider system 110 to the satellite disk antenna 140. Different television channels can be carried using different satellites. Different television channels can also be transported using different transponders from the same satellite; in this way, such television channels can be transmitted on different frequencies and / or different frequency ranges. As an example, a first and second television channels can

IMPI ί ^^ςΤΠυΤΠ Mt.XlCANO ¿2 IND'.ISTSÍAL PROPERTY transported in a first satellite transponder 130-1. A third, fourth, and fifth television channel can be transported using a different satellite or a different transponder from the same satellite that transmits it in the transponder stream on a different frequency. A transponder stream transmitted by a particular transponder on a particular satellite may include a finite number of television channels, such as seven. Accordingly, if many television channels are to be made available for viewing and recording, various transponder streams may be necessary to transmit all television channels to instances of user equipment.

Satellite disk antenna 140 may be a piece of user equipment that is used to receive transponder currents from one or more satellites, such as satellites 130. Satellite disk antenna 140 may be provided to a user for use in a subscription base to receive television channels provided by television service provider system 110, satellite transmission equipment 120, and / or satellites 130. Satellite disk antenna 140 can be configured to receive transponder currents from multiple satellites and / or multiple transponders from the same satellite. Satellite dish antenna 140 can be configured to receive channels from

INS '

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tt¡ l.

television using transponder currents at various frequencies. Based on the characteristics of the converter-decoder box (STB) 150 and / or the satellite disk antenna 140, it may only be possible to capture transponder currents from a limited number of transponders concurrently. For example, an STB 150 tuner may only be able to tune to a single transponder stream from a single satellite transponder at a time.

In communication with the satellite disk antenna 140, there may be one or more sets of receiving equipment. The receiving equipment can be configured to decode the signals received from the satellites 130 by the satellite disk antenna 140 for display on a display device, such as a television 160. The receiving equipment may be incorporated as part of a television or may be part of a separate device, commonly referred to as a converter-decoder box (STB). The receiving equipment may include a satellite tuner configured to receive television channels through a satellite. In FIGURE 1, the receiving equipment is presented in the form of a converter-decoder box 150. As such, box 150

Converter-decoder I can decode the signals received by satellite dish antenna 140 and

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providing an output on television 160. FIGURE 2 provides additional detail of the receiving equipment.

Television 160 can be used to present video and / or audio decoded by converter box 150. The converter-decoder box 150 can also be reproduced on a screen of one or more television interfaces 160, such as the Electronic Program Guide (EPG). In some embodiments, a display device other than a television may be used.

Uplink signal 170-1 represents a signal between satellite transmission equipment 120 and satellite 130-1. Uplink signal 170-2 represents a signal between satellite transmission equipment 120 and satellite 130-2. Each of the uplink signals 170 may contain streams from one or more different television channels. For example, the uplink signal 170-1 may contain a certain group of television channels, while the uplink signal 170-2 contains a different group of television channels. Each of these television channels can be scrambled so that unauthorized persons are prevented from accessing the television channels.

Transponder current 180-1 represents a signal between satellite 130-1 and disk antenna 140

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jπ satellite. Transponder stream 180-2 represents a signal path between satellite 130-2 and satellite disk antenna 140. Each of the transponder streams 180 may contain one or more different television channels in the form of transponder streams, which may be partially scrambled. For example, transponder stream 180-1 may include a first transponder stream containing a first group of television channels, while transponder stream 180-2 may include a second transponder stream containing a different group of television channels. television. A satellite can transmit various transponder currents to the user equipment. For example, a typical satellite can retransmit 32 transponder streams using corresponding transponders to the user equipment. In addition, spot beams are possible. For example, a satellite may be capable of transmitting a transponder stream to a particular geographic region (eg, to distribute local television channels to the relevant market). Different television channels can be broadcast using the same frequency of the transponder current in a different geographic region.

FIGURE 1 illustrates transponder current 180-1 and transponder current 180-2 that are received by satellite dish antenna 140. For a

Ρΐ

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In the first group of television channels, satellite dish antenna 140 can receive a transponder stream from transponder stream 180-1; For a second group of channels, a transponder stream from transponder stream 180-2 can be received. STB 150 can decode the received transponder stream. As such, depending on which television channels are desired, a transponder stream from a different satellite (or a different transponder from the same satellite) can be accessed and decoded by the STB 150. Furthermore, although two satellites are presented in the system 100 of Satellite distribution television, in other embodiments, more or less numbers of satellites may be presented to receive and transmit transponder streams to the user equipment.

Network 190 can serve as a secondary communication channel between television service provider system 110 and converter-decoder box 150. Through such a secondary communication channel, bi-directional data exchange can occur. As such, the data can be transmitted to the television service provider system 110 via network 190. Data may also be transmitted from television service provider system 110 to STB 150 via network 190. Network 190 may be the Internet. Although audio and video services can be provided to STB 150 by

<img file="MX337337B_D0039.tif" />

satellites 130, the feedback from STB 150 to television service provider system 110 can be transmitted via network 190.

FIGURE 1 illustrates an example of a satellite television channel distribution system. It should be understood that at least some of the aspects of such a system may be similar to a cable television distribution system. For example, in a cable television system, instead of using satellite transponders, several RF channels in one cable can be used to transmit television channel currents. As such, detailed aspects herein may apply to cable television distribution systems.

FIGURE 2 illustrates an embodiment of the converter-decoder box 2.00, which typically can be in the form of a separate device configured to connect to a display device, such as a television. Modes of the STB 200 can also be referred to as a television receiver. In addition to being in the form of an STB, a television receiver can be incorporated into another device, such as a television. For example, a television may have an integrated television receiver (which does not involve an external STB that is coupled to the television). A television receiver can

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contain some or all of the components of the STB 200 and / or may be capable of performing some or all of the functions of the STB 200. Accordingly, the cases in this document that relate to an STB and the steps that are performed by a STBs can also be performed, more generally, by a television receiver.

FIGURE 2 illustrates a block diagram of one embodiment of a converter-decoder box 200. STB 200 may be the converter-decoder box 150 of FIGURE 1, or may be incorporated as part of a television, such as a television 160 of FIGURE 1. The STB 200 may include: processors 210, tuners 215, network interface 220, non-transient computer readable storage media 225, electronic program guide (EPG) 230, television interface 235, network information table 240 (NIT) , digital video recorder 245 (DVR), user interface 250, demultiplexer 255, smart card 260, and / or descrambling motor 265. In other embodiments of the STB 200, fewer or more components may be present. It should be understood that the various components of the STB 200 can be implemented using hardware, firmware, software, and / or a certain combination thereof. For example, EPG 230 can be run by processors 210.

Processors 210 may include one or more

<img file="MX337337B_D0042.tif" />

general-purpose processors configured to perform processes such as tuning to a particular channel, EPG display, and / or receiving and processing input from a user. Processors 210 may include one or more special purpose processors. For example, processors 210 may include one or more processors dedicated to decoding video signals of a particular format, such as MPEG, for playback and display on television and to perform decryption. It should be understood that such functions performed by the various modules of FIGURE 2 can be performed using one or more processors. As such, for example, the functions of descrambling motor 265 can be performed by processor 210.

Tuners 215 can include one or more tuners used to tune in television channels, such as satellite or cable television channels. Each tuner contained in tuners 215 may be capable of receiving and processing a single data stream from a satellite transponder (or a cable RF channel) at any given time. As such, a single tuner can tune a single transponder (or cable RF channel). If tuners 215 include multiple tuners, a tuner can be used to tune a television channel or a first transponder

IMPI

MEXICAN INSTITUTE OF INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY

V 'for viewing using a television, although another tuner can be used to tune a television channel to a second transponder for recording and viewing at some other time. Still another tuner can be used to check various television channels to determine if they are available or not. If multiple television channels broadcast on the same transponder stream are desired, a single tuner from tuners 215 can be used to receive the signal containing the various television channels for presentation and / or recording.

Network interface 220 can be used to communicate via an alternative communication channel with a television service provider. For example, the primary communication channel can be via satellite (which can be one-way for the STB) and the alternative communication channel (which can be two-way) can be through a network, such as the Internet. Referring again to FIGURE 1, STB 150 may be able to communicate with television service provider system 110 via a network, such as the Internet. This communication can be bidirectional: data can be transmitted from STB 150 to television service provider system 110 and from television service provider system 110 to STB 150. With

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<img file="MX337337B_D0044.tif" />

I.-Ij i I ¡-JTU MEXICANO Dl the property

INDUSTRIAL again referring to FIGURE 2, the network interface 220 can be configured to communicate over one or more networks, such as the Internet, to communicate with the television service provider system 110 of Figure 1. The information can be transmitted and / or be received through network interface 220.

Storage medium 225 may represent a non-transient computer readable storage medium. The storage medium 225 may include memory and / or a hard disk drive. Storage medium 225 can be used to store information received from one or more satellites and / or information received via network interface 220. Storage medium 225 can store information related to EPG 230, NIT 240, and / or DVR 245. Recorded television shows can be stored using the medium

225 of storage.

The EPG 230 can store information related to television channels and the synchronization of the programs that appear on each of the television channels. EPG 230 can be stored using storage medium 225, which can be a hard disk drive. The EPG 230 can be used to inform users of which television channels or programs are very popular and / or provide recommendations to the user. EPG

<img file="MX337337B_D0045.tif" />

<img file="MX337337B_D0046.tif" />

Pi

230 it can provide the user with a visual interface displayed by a television that allows a user to browse and select television channels and / or television programs for viewing and / or recording by the DVR 245. The information used to populate the EPG 230 can be received by network interface 220 and / or via satellites, such as satellites 130 in FIGURE 1 via tuners 215. For example, updates to EPG 230 may be periodically received via satellite. The EPG 230 can serve as an interface for a user to control the DVR 245 to allow the viewing and / or recording of several television channels simultaneously.

The audio / video decoder 233 can serve to convert encoded video and audio into a format suitable for playback on a display device. For example, audio / video decoder 233 can receive MPEG video and audio from storage medium 225 or descrambling engine 265 to be produced on a television. The audio / video decoder 233 can convert the MPEG video and audio in a format suitable for display by a television or other form of display device, and audio in a format suitable for playback from speakers, respectively.

The television interface 235 can be used to

Ζ /

<img file="MX337337B_D0047.tif" />

produce a signal on a television (or other form of display device) in a format suitable for video display and audio playback. As such, television interface 235 can produce one or more television channels, stored television programming from storage medium 225 (eg, DVR 245 and / or EPG 230 information) on a presentation television.

The Network Information Table (NIT) 240 can store information used by the converter box 200 to access various television channels. NIT 240 can be stored using storage medium 225. The information used to populate NIT 240 can be received via satellite (or cable) through tuners 215 and / or can be received via network interface 220 from the network service provider. television. As such, the information present in NIT 240 can be periodically updated. NIT 240 can be stored locally by STB 200 using storage medium 225. Information that may be present in NIT 240 may include: television channel numbers, a satellite identifier, a frequency identifier, a transponder identifier, an ECM PID, one or more audio PIDs, and a video. (A second audio PID of a channel can correspond to a second audio program

<img file="MX337337B_D0048.tif" />

(SAP), just like in another language). In some modalities, NIT 240 can be divided into additional tables. For example, instead of specific audio PIDs and video PIDs being presented in NIT 240, a channel identifier may be presented within NIT 240 that can be used to query audio PIDs and video PIDs in another table.

Table 1 provides a simplified example of NIT 240 for various television channels. It should be understood that in other embodiments, many additional television channels may be represented on NIT 240. NIT 240 may be periodically updated by a television service provider. As such, television channels can be reassigned to different satellites and / or transponders, and the STB 200 may be able to handle this reassignment as long as NIT 240 is updated.

<td>Channel</td><td>satelite</td><td>Transponder</td><td>ECM PID</td><td>Audio PID</td><td>Video PID</td>

<td> 4</td><td> 1</td><td> 2</td><td> 27</td><td> 1001</td><td> 1011</td>

<td> 5</td><td> 2</td><td> 11</td><td> 29</td><td> 1002</td><td> 1012</td>

<td> 7</td><td> 2</td><td> 3</td><td> 31</td><td> 1003</td><td> 1013</td>

<td> 13</td><td> 2</td><td> 4</td><td> 33</td><td> 1003, 1004</td><td> 1013</td>

Table 1

It should be understood that the values ​​provided in Table 1 are for exemplary purposes only. Actual values, including how satellites and transponders are

<img file="MX337337B_D0049.tif" />

identify, may vary. Additional information may also be stored in NIT 240. Additional information on how NIT 240, as indicated in Table 1, can be used, is provided with reference to FIGURE 3. In video and / or audio for different television channels on different transponders they can have the same PIDs. Such television channels can be differentiated based on which satellite and / or transponder is tuned to which tuner.

The digital video recorder 245 (DVR) can allow a television channel to be recorded for a period of time. DVR 245 can store timers that are used by processors 210 to determine when a television channel should be tuned in and recorded to DVR 245 in storage medium 225. In some embodiments, a limited amount of storage medium 225 can be dedicated to DVR 245. Timers can be set by the television service provider and / or one or more users of the STB. The DVR 245 can be configured by a user to record particular television programs. If a user tunes directly to a television channel or DVR 245 tunes to a first television channel, NIT 240 can be used to determine satellite, transponder, ECM PID (packet identifier), audio PID, and PID Of video.

User interface 250 may include a control

<img file="MX337337B_D0050.tif" />

in:

<img file="MX337337B_D0051.tif" />

REMOTE MEXICAN OWNERSHIP OF PROPERTY (physically separate from STB 200) and / or one or more buttons on STB 200 that allow a user to interact with STB 200. User interface 250 can be used to select a television channel for viewing, viewing the EPG 230, and / or programming the DVR 245.

Referring again to tuners 215, television channels received via satellite (or cable) may contain at least certain scrambled data. Audio and video packets can be scrambled to prevent unauthorized users (eg, non-subscribers) from receiving television programming without paying the television service provider. When a tuner from tuners 215 receives data from a particular transponder from a satellite, the transponder stream may be a series of data packets corresponding to various television channels. Each data packet can contain a packet identifier (PID), which in combination with NIT 240, can be determined to associate with the particular television channel. Particular data packets, called authorization control messages (ECMs) can be transmitted periodically. ECMs can be encrypted; the STB 200 can use the smart card 260 to decrypt the ECMs. Decryption of an ECM can only be possible if the user is authorized to access the particular television channel associated with

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MEXICAN PROPERTY INSTITUTE

INDUSTRIAL ECM. When an ECM is received by demultiplexer 255 and the ECM is determined to correspond to a television channel that is stored and / or displayed, an ECM can be provided to the smart card 260 for decryption.

When the smart card 260 receives an encrypted ECM from the demultiplexer 255, the smart card 260 can decrypt the ECM to obtain a certain number of control words. In some embodiments, two control words are obtained from each ECM received by the smart card 260. In some embodiments, when the smart card 260 receives an ECM, it compares the ECM with the previously received ECM. If the two ECMs match, the second ECM is not decrypted because the same control words can be obtained. In other embodiments, each ECM received by the smart card 260 is decrypted; however, if a second ECM matches a first ECM, the produced control words will match; in this way, effectively, the second ECM does not affect the control words produced by the smart card 260.

When an ECM is received by the smart card 260, it may take a period of time for the ECM to decrypt to obtain the control words. As such, a period of time, such as 2 seconds, may elapse before the control words indicated by the ECM can be obtained. 260 smart card can be part

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<img file="MX337337B_D0055.tif" />

permanently from the STB 200 or can be configured to insert and remove from the STB 200.

Demultiplexer 255 can be configured to filter data packets based on PIDs. For example, if a transponder data stream includes multiple television channels, data packets that correspond to a television channel that is not intended to be stored, or is displayed by the user, it can be ignored by demultiplexer 255. As such, only data packets corresponding to one or more television channels that are to be stored and / or deployed can be passed to scrambling engine 265 or smart card 260, other data packets can be ignored. For each channel, a video packet stream, an audio packet stream, and / or an ECM packet stream can be presented, each stream identified by a PID. In some modes, a common ECM stream can be used for multiple channels

<td>of</td><td>television. The</td><td>packages</td><td>of</td><td>data</td><td>additional</td><td>than</td>

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<td>the</td><td>NIT 240, can</td><td>route</td><td>of</td><td>shape</td><td>suitable for</td><td>the</td>

demultiplexer 255.

The descrambling engine 265 can use the control words produced by the smart card 260 to descramble the video and / or audio corresponding to the television channels for storage

<img file="MX337337B_D0056.tif" />

Γ

IN;

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II MEXICAN UTO

OF INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY and / or presentation. The video and / or audio data contained in the transponder data stream received by tuners 215 can be scrambled. Video and / or audio can be descrambled by descrambling engine 265 using a particular control word. Which control word produced by the smart card 260 is used for successful descrambling can be indicated by a

<td>identifier</td><td>of</td><td>control</td><td>of</td><td>randomization</td><td>Present</td><td>inside</td>

<td>package</td><td>of</td><td>data</td><td>than</td><td>contains ei</td><td>video or</td><td>Audio</td>

<td>randomized.</td><td>The</td><td>video</td><td>me</td><td colspan="2">descrambled audio,</td><td>they can</td>

be produced by descrambling engine 265 for storing storage medium 225 (via DVR 245) and / or audio and / or video decoder 233 for production on a television or other presentation equipment by means of the 235 television interface.

For simplicity, the STB 200 in Figure 2 has been reduced to a block diagram, commonly known parts such as power supply have been omitted. Furthermore, some routing between the various modules of the STB 200 have been illustrated. Such illustrations, for example, are for exemplary purposes only. Two modules that connect directly or indirectly do not indicate that the modules can communicate. In fact, the connections between the modules of the STB 200 are intended only to indicate possible common data routing. It should be understood that

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<img file="MX337337B_D0059.tif" />

MEXICAN INSTITUTE CE THE PROPERTY

INDUSTRIAL STB 200 modules can be combined into fewer modules or divided into more modules. Furthermore, the components of the STB 200 can be part of another device, such as being integrated into a television. Also, although the STB 200 can be used to receive, store, and display television channels received by a satellite, it should be understood that similar components can be used to receive, store, and display television channels over a cable network.

FIGURE 3 illustrates one embodiment of a television service provider scrambling system 300. The television service provider scrambling system 300 may be part of the television service provider system 110 of FIGURE 1. As such, before the data is transmitted to the decoder boxes via satellite, the television service provider scrambling system 300 can be used to scramble video and / or audio packets to prevent unauthorized users from accessing television programming. The television service provider scrambling system 300 may include: Television programming module 310, control word generator 320, security system 330, multiplexer 340, scrambling engine 350, and transmitter 360.

The television programming module 310 can

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<img file="MX337337B_D0061.tif" />

-MEXICAN PROPERTY IUTC

INDUSTRIAL receive television channels from several different sources, such as directly from the networks that produced the content on television channels. Each television channel that will be transmitted on a particular transponder stream via a satellite transponder can be provided to multiplexer 340. Multiplexer 340 can create a digital stream of data packets containing video, audio, and other data, such as ECM, that are transmitted in the transponder data stream. The data stream, which includes video and / or audio data packets that are not scrambled, can be passed to the scrambling engine 350. Scrambling engine 350 may use a control word to scramble video or audio present in a data packet. Certain audio and video packages can also pass without randomization, if desired by the television service provider.

The control word generator 320 can generate the control word that is used by the scrambling engine 350 to scramble the video or audio present in the data packets. Control words generated by control word generator 320 can be passed to security system 330, which can be operated by the television service provider or a third-party security provider. Control words generated by

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“- · 'ΠΤυτΟ MEXICANO CS THE PROPERTY

INDUSTRIAL the control word generator 320 can be used by the security system 330 to generate an ECM. Each ECM can indicate two control words. The indicated control words can be the current control word that is used to scramble video and audio, and the control word that will be used later to scramble video and audio. Security system 330 can produce an ECM in multiplexer 340 for transmission to subscriber converter-decoder boxes. Each data packet, whether it contains audio, video, an ECM, or some other form of data, can be associated with a particular PID. This PID can be used by the converter-decoder box in combination with the network information table to determine which television channel corresponds to the data contained in the data packet. After video and audio contained in the data packets have been scrambled by the scrambling engine 350, the transponder data stream may be transmitted by transmitter 360 to a satellite, such as satellite 130-1 of FIGURE 1, for retransmission to subscriber converter-decoder boxes, such as STB 150. Accordingly, the transponder data stream transmitted by transmitter 360 contains scrambled video packet stream and audio packet stream and also contains an encrypted ECM packet stream that

<img file="MX337337B_D0064.tif" />

Contains the necessary control words to scramble scrambled video and audio packets.

For simplicity, the television service provider scrambling system 300 of FIGURE 3 has been reduced to a block diagram, other common components have been omitted. In addition, some routing between the various modules of the television service provider scrambling system 300 has been illustrated. Such illustration is for exemplary purposes only. Regardless of whether two modules are connected directly or indirectly, the modules may be able to communicate. The connections between the modules are intended only to indicate a possible common routing. It should be understood that the provider modules of the television service scrambling system 300 may be combined into a smaller number of modules or divided into a larger number of modules.

FIGURE 4 illustrates one embodiment of a data transmission and scrambling scheme for satellite television channel distribution. In FIGURE 4, a transponder data stream 400 is illustrated. At least some data contained in the data packets of the transponder data stream 400 are scrambled using control words. In some embodiments, at least the audio and video data contained in the data packets is scrambled using control words. With reference to

<img file="MX337337B_D0065.tif" />

transponder data stream 400, video and audio packets transmitted during a first time period 410-1 are scrambled using a first control word. Video and audio transmitted over a second time period 410-2 are scrambled using a second control word. Video and audio transmitted over a third time period 410-3 are scrambled using a third control word, etc. To descramble video and audio received over a particular period of time, the appropriate control word must be used.

Data pack 420 illustrates an exemplary video or audio pack. Data packet 420 can contain at least: 440 sync, PID 430, scrambling control 450, and 460 payload. The packet's packet header (which can be an MPEG packet) can include 440 sync (which can be first ), PID 430, and scrambling control 450. For reference, MPEG Systems Document 13818-1 lists the specifications in detail. PID 430 can be a packet identifier used to indicate the particular television channel (or other data type, such as an ECM) with which the data packet is associated. Multiple video packets associated with the same PID can be referred to as video packet streams, similarly for ECMs and audio packets. With reference again to Table 1, if a television channel

<img file="MX337337B_D0066.tif" />

<img file="MX337337B_D0067.tif" />

The particular industrial PBOpieoad MEXICAN INSTITUTE intends to access, such as television channel four, using the NIT, the STB may be able to determine that a data packet with a PID of 1001 corresponds to the audio for channel 4, a packet of data with a PID of 1011 corresponds to video for channel 4, and a data packet with a PID of 27 corresponds to an ECM for channel 4. Synchronization 440 may contain a number of bits that is used to synchronize with the transport stream. The scrambling control 450 may serve to indicate which control word, if any, should be used to descramble the payload 460. In some embodiments, the scrambling control 450 may indicate an even control word or a non-control word that it will be used for descrambling. In a video or audio package, payload 460 can contain randomized video or audio, respectively.

When a data packet indicating a PID is received that corresponds to an ECM of a television channel that is to be recorded or watched, the ECM encrypted in the payload can be passed to a smart card for decryption. As the control word used to descramble changes over time, so does the ECM. Each ECM can contain the control word currently used for descrambling and the control word to be used for the next descrambling.

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<img file="MX337337B_D0069.tif" />

MEXICAN INSTITUTE OF PROPERTY

INDUSTRIAL

As such, an ECM can contain a control word that is the same as the previous ECM and a new control word. For example, an ECM can be represented in the format of (CW_nonf CW_pair). If the non or par control word is used for descrambling it can be based on the scrambling control identifier present within a data packet.

During time period 410-1, the non-control word, CWi, can be used for descrambling. During this time period, the same ECM can be received multiple times (which can allow a converter-decoder box that only tunes to the transponder current to access television channels using ECM CWs as soon as the ECMs are decrypted and CW is recovered.) The ECM may include (CW_X, CW₂) encrypted. As such, the ECM indicates the current control word (CWJ and the next control word that is used (CW₂). During this time period 410-1, data packets containing scrambled data may have scrambling control bits indicating that the control word should not be used for scrambling, as such CWi can be used for scrambling.

Starting at the beginning of time period 410-2, the scrambling control bits of a data packet containing scrambled video or audio may indicate that

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<img file="MX337337B_D0071.tif" />

INÍTITUTC. MEXICAN PROPERTY

INDUSTRIAL the torque control word must be used, just as CW2 can be used for descrambling. Once time period 410-2 begins, and the control word CWi is no longer used for scrambling, a different ECM can be transmitted to the STB indicating the current control word and the next control word that is used. This ECM may be periodically transmitted during time period 410-2, such as every tenth of a second. In this case, the ECM can indicate: (CW₃, CW₂). As such, the current control word CW₂ it remains the same and continues to be used for descrambling during the time period 410-2 during which the data packets indicate, by their scrambling control bits, that the even control word will be used for descrambling. When decrypted, the new ECM indicates a new non-control word, CW3, which will be used for descrambling when the scrambling control bits indicate that the non-control word should be used for descrambling. This process can continue, with the descrambling change between the even and non control words as long as the STB is tuned to the transponder stream. In some embodiments, the period of time during which a particular control word is used may be approximately 10 seconds. Such a period of time may allow ample time for f)

<img file="MX337337B_D0072.tif" />

a smart card decrypts an ECM so that the next control word used will be decrypted by the smart card before the data packets that are received and indicate, by the scrambling control bits, that this next control word it will be used for descrambling.

Transponder data stream 400 can contain audio and video for various television channels, of which packets can be indicated by different PIDs. In FIGURE 4, a single CW is shown as used for discrete time periods, however, it should be understood that different CWs can be decrypted from different ECMs for different television channels. As such, the illustration of CWs one through five can be for one television channel (or more than one), while the other CWs (decrypted from other ECMs) can be used for other television channels within the same transponder stream. .

Although data packet 420 indicates only synchronization 440, PID 430, scrambling control 450, and payload 4 60 as presented parameters, it should be understood that data corresponding to other parameters, such as other header parameters, may be presented. Furthermore, based on the mode, the number of bits or bytes present in the scrambling control 450, the payload

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<img file="MX337337B_D0074.tif" />

INDUSTRIAL

460, PID 430, timing 440 and / or any other parameter may vary. The boxes present in data packet 420 are not intended to be representative of a particular number of bits or bytes.

The systems, encryption schemes, and scrambling schemes discussed with respect to FIGURES 1-4 can be used to perform various methods. FIGURE 5 illustrates an embodiment of a method 500 for using a single authorization scrambling control message to control concurrent access to various television channels. In method 500, a single ECM is used to descramble multiple television channels. As such, in method 500, multiple television channels (eg, two or more) of a transponder data stream are received by a single tuner from a converter-decoder box (or other form of receiving equipment). . In some embodiments, multiple tuners in a converter box can be used. Method 500 can be performed using the satellite television distribution system 100-1 of FIGURE 1, STB 200 of FIGURE 2, and the scrambling system of the television service provider of FIGURE 3. It should be understood that the Method 500 may also be performed using systems other than the satellite television distribution system 100 of FIGURE 1, STB 200 of FIG.

<img file="MX337337B_D0075.tif" />

<img file="MX337337B_D0076.tif" />

FIGURE 2, and the scrambling system of the television service provider of FIGURE 3. At least certain steps of method 500 may be performed by a computer system. Some stages can be done using one or more processors. Means for performing method 500 include the components of STB 200 of FIGURE 2 and, more generally, a computerized system, such as computer system 700 of FIGURE 7.

In step 510, various television channels may be received in the form of data packets containing scrambled audio and scrambled video. Referring to FIGURE 4, when a set top box tuner is tuned to a particular transponder data stream that is received from a particular satellite transponder, data packets corresponding to various television channels may be received. These data packets corresponding to various television channels may correspond to television programs that are broadcast simultaneously on these various television channels. The data packets corresponding to the audio and video can be scrambled at least partially, using control words. In addition to the data packets corresponding to audio and video from various television channels, the data packets corresponding to the ECMs can be received interleaved with the data packets that

<img file="MX337337B_D0077.tif" />

correspond to audio and video. The ECMs received at step 510 can be decrypted to determine the necessary control words to descramble the received audio and video data in the data packets.

In step 520, a set top box can access a locally stored network information table (NIT). The network information table can be stored locally on a non-transient computer readable storage medium by the converter-decoder box. The data contained in the network information table can be received by satellite in the form of data packets. As such, as well as data packets that are dedicated to audio, video, and ECM, other data packets can be dedicated to updating the network information table. The NIT may indicate transponders, satellites, video PIDs, audio PIDs, and ECM PIDs that correspond to a television channel. (It should be understood that in various modes other than using a single table, multiple tables may be used to store data, such as PIDs, indicated herein as each stored in the NIT.) As such, if a particular television channel is select to view or record, using the information present in the NIT, the converter-decoder box can determine the particular transponder current to which it is tuned, and that the

IMPI

MEXICAN INSTITUTE 05 LA? SO? J £ OA D L '.' Ir-vsypjAL

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tfHW · UPJM—> ¿Λ transponder stream, the audio, video, and ECM packet identifiers associated with the television channel.

In step 530, upon accessing the NIT, it can be determined that various television channels, each of which will be stored and / or presented by a display device, are associated with the same ECM. Table 2 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a simplified NIT in which several television channels, which are presented on the same transponder stream, are associated with it.

ECM.

<td>Channel No.</td><td>satelite</td><td>Transponder</td><td>ECM PID</td><td>Audio PID</td><td>Video PID</td>

<td> 4</td><td> 2</td><td> 5</td><td> 27</td><td> 1001</td><td> 1011</td>

<td> 5</td><td> 2</td><td> 5</td><td> 27</td><td> 1002</td><td> 1012</td>

<td> 7</td><td> 2</td><td> 5</td><td> 27</td><td> 1003</td><td> 1013</td>

<td> 13</td><td> 2</td><td> 5</td><td> 27</td><td> 1004, 1005</td><td> 1014</td>

Table 2

It should be understood that the values ​​provided in Table 2 are for exemplary purposes only. Actual values, which include how satellites and transponders are identified, may vary.

As such, according to Table 2, television channels 4, 5, 7, and 13 each are transmitted to the box of the

<img file="MX337337B_D0079.tif" />

---- converter-decoder using the same satellite and the same transponder on the satellite. In this way, each of these television channels is transmitted simultaneously as part of the same transponder stream to the converter-decoder box. Each of these television channels is associated with a different audio PID and a different video PID. However, each of these television channels is associated with the same ECM PID. Therefore, in this example, to get control words, only ECMs with a PID of 27 will be accessed (that is, only this ECM stream will be decrypted). For the example in Table 2, to simultaneously or concurrently display and / or store any combination of TV channels 4, 5, 7, and 13, a single tuner can receive the transponder data stream from transponder 5 of satellite 2 . An ECM with a PID of 27 can be used to obtain the control words in encrypted form. The ECM will be decrypted to retrieve the CWs to descramble the audio and video data packets with the PIDs of 1001, 1002, 1003, 1004, 1005, 1011, 1012, 1013, and 1014.

In step 540, an ECM can be received. The ECM can be received as a data packet received in the transponder data stream. Referring to the example in Table 2, the ECM can have a PID of 27. The ECM received in step 540 can be passed to a

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INSTITUTO mzxicauo DE LA PROPERTY

INDUSTRIAL

<img file="MX337337B_D0082.tif" />

converter-decoder box smart card for decryption. If the ECM is not changed from the previously received ECM, the smart card may ignore the ECM. In some embodiments, for each ECM received, the ECM is decrypted to obtain two control words (or some other CW number).

At step 550, the ECM can be decrypted using the decoder converter box smart card to obtain a first control word and a second control word. Since each of the various television channels signal to ECMs that have the same PID, other ECMs with different PIDs can be ignored by the STB and may not be passed to the smart card for decryption. Accordingly, the smart card can view only a single ECM stream for similar decryption so that if only one single television channel is accessed instead of multiple television channels. Decrypting the ECM can take a period of time for the smart card to complete, such as 2 seconds. A smart card may be able to decrypt only a particular number of ECMs at a time. For example, a smart card may only be able to decrypt a single ECM at a time. In some embodiments, the number of ECMs that a smart card can decrypt for a predefined period of time is limited.

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MEXICAN TITLE OF PROPERTY

INDUSTRIAL

At step 560, each of the various television channels to be viewed and / or recorded simultaneously may have their corresponding audio and video packets descrambled using the control words present in the ECM. As such, the control words in the particular ECM can be used to descramble the audio and video data from various television channels. This simple ECM stream (ECM data packets having the same PID), can be used to descramble various television channels associated with the NIT with the ECM PID. Consequently, at the television service provider, these television channels are scrambled using these same control words associated with the same ECM.

In step 570, the video and audio corresponding to various television channels are stored and / or displayed, such as by television. For example, one or more television channels may be stored for later viewing while one or more additional channels are presented by television to a user. As such, multiple TV channels that are broadcast simultaneously can be received using a single tuner in the set top box and can be descrambled using a single ECM stream that is used to determine control words for

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descrambling of each of the various television channels. In addition to recording multiple television channels concurrently, various television channels may be displayed concurrently, such as on a mosaic screen or picture-in-picture arrangement. As an example, nine smaller television channel screens can be presented concurrently on one television.

FIGURE 6 illustrates one embodiment of a method for using multiple matching authorization control messages to control concurrent access to various television channels. In method 600, multiple ECMs are transmitted for multiple television channels, such as an ECM stream for each television channel. In method 600 several television channels (eg two or more) of a transponder data stream are received by a single tuner from a converter-decoder box (or other form of receiving equipment). Method 600 can be performed using the 100 distribution system

<td>television</td><td>by satellite</td><td>of</td><td colspan="2">FIGURE 1,</td><td>STB 200</td><td>the</td>

<td>FIGURE 2,</td><td>and the system</td><td>of</td><td colspan="2">randomization</td><td>Of supplier</td><td>of</td>

<td>Service</td><td>television of</td><td>the</td><td>FIGURE 3.</td><td>Should</td><td>understand that</td><td>the</td>

Method 600 can also be performed using systems other than the satellite television distribution system 100 of FIGURE 1, STB 200 of FIGURE 2, and the

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MEXICAN INSTITUTE OF PROPERTY

INDUSTRIAL television service provider scrambling system FIGURE 3. At least steps of method 600 can be performed by a computer system. Some stages can be done using one or more processors. Means for performing method 600 include components of STB 200 of FIGURE 2 and, more generally, a computerized system, such as a computer system 700 of FIG.

FIGURE 7.

In step 610, various television channels may be received in the form of data packets containing scrambled audio and scrambled video. These various television channels can be received using a single tuner of an STB. Referring to FIGURE 4, when a tuner in the converter-decoder box is tuned to a particular transponder data stream received from a particular satellite transponder, data packets corresponding to various television channels may be received . These data packets corresponding to various television channels may correspond to the television program that is broadcast concurrently on these various television channels.

The data packets corresponding to audio and video can be scrambled at least partially using control words. In addition to the data packets corresponding to audio and video from various television channels,

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the data packets corresponding to the ECMs can be received interleaved with the data packets corresponding to the audio and video. The ECMs received in step 610 can be decrypted to determine the necessary control words to descramble the received audio and video in the data packets. For the various television channels received, a separate ECM stream can be perceived for each television channel. For example, referring to Table 1, a different ECM PID is presented in the NIT for each television channel.

In step 620, a set top box can access a locally stored network information table (NIT). The network information table can be stored locally on a non-transient computer readable storage medium by the converter-decoder box. The data contained in the network information table can be received by satellite in the form of data packets. As such, since the data packets are dedicated to audio, video, and ECM, other data packets can be dedicated to updating the locally stored network information table. The NIT may indicate transponders, satellites, video PIDs, audio PIDs, and ECM PIDs that correspond to a television channel. As such, if a particular television channel is selected for viewing or recording, using the

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With information present in the NIT, the set top box can determine the particular transponder stream to which it is tuned, and at which transponder stream, the audio, video, and ECM packet identifiers are associated with the television channel.

At step 630, upon accessing the NIT, it can be determined that various television channels, each of which will be stored and / or presented by a display device, are associated with several different ECM streams, (as indicated by ECM PIDs). Table 1 illustrates an exemplary modality of a simplified NIT where several television channels, which are presented on the same transponder stream, are associated with different

ECM PID.

At step 640, a first ECM packet can be received. This first ECM packet can be received as a data packet received on the transponder data stream and can be associated with a particular television channel. For example, with reference to the exemplary NIT in Table 1, the first ECM may have a PID of 29 and thus may correspond to television channel 5. This first ECM received in step 640 can be passed to a smart card in the converter-decoder box for decryption. In some embodiments, the ECM is decrypted to obtain two control words.

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MEXICAN INSTITUTE OF PROPERTY

INDUSTRIAL

In step 650, the first ECM can be decrypted using the decoder converter box smart card to obtain a first control word and a second control word. Decrypting the ECM can take a period of time for the smart card to complete, such as 2 seconds. A smart card may be able to decrypt only a particular number of ECMs at a time. For example, a smart card may only be able to decrypt a single ECM at a time. In some embodiments, the number of ECMs that a smart card can decrypt over a predefined period of time is limited.

In step 660, a second ECM packet can be received which is associated with another television channel from various television channels. With reference again to the

NIT of Table 1, channel 7 is associated with an ECM PID of 31. As such, when a data packet with a PID of 31 is received, the ECM contained in the data packet can be made

<td>it will happen</td><td>the</td><td>card</td><td>smart for</td><td>the</td><td>decoded.</td><td>Without</td>

<td>embargo,</td><td>in</td><td>the method</td><td>600 each</td><td>the</td><td>packets of</td><td>ECM</td>

<td>associates</td><td colspan="2">With several</td><td>channels contain</td><td>the</td><td>same ECM.</td><td>How</td>

As such, an ECM data packet may have a different PID from another ECM packet but may contain the same ECM. Effectively, the same ECM is transmitted multiple times with different PIDs. With reference to the example of the NIT of the

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MEXICAN INSTITUTE OF PROPERTY

INDUSTRIAL

Table 1, the ECM data packet with PID of 29 contains the same ECM as the ECM data packet with PID of 31.

In some embodiments, in step 670, when the smart card receives this second ECM, because the second ECM matches the first ECM, the smart card can recognize that the second ECM matches the first ECM. The match can also be determined by a processor in the converter-decoder box that is not part of the smart card, so that the ECM is not provided to the smart card. As such, no processing by the smart card can be performed on the second ECM and the smart card can continue to produce the decrypted control words from the first ECM. As such, the second ECM can be ignored by the converter-decoder box. In other modes, the smart card can decrypt the second ECM however the result of the smart card will not change because the same control words will be decrypted from the second ECM. As such, effectively, the second ECM does not modify the control words produced by the smart card.

At step 680, each of the various television channels to be viewed and / or recorded concurrently may have their corresponding audio and video data packets descrambled using the

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INü! , ΤΟυΤΟ MEXICANO DE .A PROFIEPAD INDUSTRIAL control words present in the first ECM. As such, the control words in the first ECM can be used to descramble audio and video data from various television channels. Although each television channel may have its own ECM data stream, with each ECM having a different PID for each television channel, since each of the ECMs contain the same data, the same control words are used for descrambling of the various television channels. After a period of time, a new ECM can be transmitted which will not match the first ECM. The smart card can decrypt this new ECM which will match the subsequent ECMs transmitted for the other television channels of the various television channels. Accordingly, at the television service provider, each of the various television channels is scrambled using these same control words associated with the same ECM. This ECM is transmitted multiple times with different PIDs by the television service provider to the user's set-top box.

At step 690, the video and audio corresponding to various television channels are stored and / or displayed, such as by television. For example, one or more of the television channels may be stored for later viewing while one or more channels

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Additional are presented by television to a user. As such, the various television channels that are broadcast simultaneously can be received using a single tuner in the converter-decoder box and can be descrambled using the control words obtained by decrypting a single ECM. In some embodiments, such various television channels can be broadcast using multiple transponders (and possibly multiple satellites). In such embodiments, multiple tuners may be required to tune to multiple television channels, however, the amount of processing required for the smart card to perform to decrypt the ECMs may be decreased. In some embodiments, the ECMs for television channels may not overlap for specific periods of time. Such an arrangement may allow different authorizations for a special event (for example, a pay-per-event fight). Such arrangements can be useful to reduce the frequency of changes made in a NIT.

A computer system as illustrated in FIGURE 7 can be incorporated as part of the previously described computer devices. For example, computer system 700 may represent some of the components of a converter-decoder box or other form of receiver hardware. FIGURE 7 provides a

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schematic illustration of one embodiment of a computer system 700 that can perform the methods provided by various additional embodiments. It should be noted that FIGURE 7 is intended only to provide a generalized illustration of various components, of which any or all may be used when appropriate. FIGURE 7, therefore, amply illustrates how individual system elements can be implemented in a relatively separate or relatively more integrated way.

Computer system 700 is shown comprising hardware elements that can be electrically coupled via bus 705 (or otherwise can be in communication, as appropriate). The hardware elements may include one or more 710 processors, including, without limitation, one or more general-purpose processors and / or one or more special-purpose processors (such as digital signal processing chips, graphics acceleration processors, and / or the like); one or more input devices 715, which may include, without limitation, a mouse, keyboard, and / or the like; and one or more output devices 720, which may include, without limitation, a display device, a printer, and / or the like.

Computer system 700 may further include (and / or be in communication with) one or more devices

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MEXICAN INSTITUTE OF PROPERTY

INDUSTRIAL

725 non-transient storage devices, which may include, without limitation, local and / or network accessible storage, and / or may include, without limitation, a hard drive, a floppy drive, an optical storage device, a storage device for solid state, such as a random access memory (RAM), and / or a read only memory (ROM), which can be programmable, flash upgradeable and / or the like. Such storage devices can be configured to implement any of the appropriate data stores, including, without limitation, various file systems, database structures, and / or the like.

Computer system 700 may also include a communication subsystem 730, which may include, without limitation, a modem, a network card (wireless or wired), an infrared communication device, a wireless communication device, and / or or a chipset (such as a Bluetooth ™ device, an 802.11 device, a WiFi device, a WiMax device, cellular communication facilities, etc.), tuners (for satellite and / or cable networks), and / or the like. The communications subsystem 730 may allow the data to be exchanged with a network (such as the network described in the following to name an example), other computer systems, and / or any other devices described in

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MEXICAN INSTITUTE OF PROPERTY

IN D 'JS 1 RIAI.

the present. In many embodiments, the computer system 700 will further comprise a working memory 735, which may include a RAM or ROM device, as described above.

Computer system 700 may also comprise software elements, shown as currently located within working memory 735, including an operating system 740, device drivers, executable libraries, and / or other code, such as one or more 745 programs. application, which can comprise computer programs provided by various modalities, and / or can be designed to implement methods, and / or configure systems, provided by other modalities, as described herein. By way of example only, one or more procedures described with respect to the methods discussed above may be implemented as code and / or instructions executable by a computer (and / or a processor within a computer); In one aspect, thereafter, such code and / or instructions may be used to configure and / or adapt a general-purpose computer (or other device) to perform one or more operations in accordance with the methods described.

A set of these instructions and / or code can be stored on a non-transient computer-readable storage medium, such as 725 devices.

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MEXICAN INSTITUTE OF PROPERTY

INDUSTRIAL non-transitory storage described above. In some cases, the storage medium can be incorporated into a computer system, such as the computer system 700. In other embodiments, the storage medium can be separated from a computer system (eg, a removable medium, such as a compact disc), and / or provided in an installation package, such as the storage medium that can be used to program, configure and / or adapt a general-purpose computer with the instructions / code stored in it. These instructions may take the form of executable code, which is executable by the computer 700 system and / or may take the form of source and / or installable code, which, with compilation and / or installation on the computer 700 system (for example, using any of a variety of generally available compilers, installation programs, compression / decompression utilities, etc.), then it takes the form of executable code.

It will be apparent to those of skill in the art that substantial variations can be made according to specific requirements. For example, custom hardware could also be used, and / or particular elements could be implemented in hardware, software (including portable software, such as applets, etc.), or

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MEXICAN INSTITUTE OF PROPERTY

INDUSTRIAL both. Also, connection to other computing devices, such as network input / output devices can be used.

As mentioned above, in one aspect, some embodiments may employ a computer system (such as computer system 700) to perform methods in accordance with various embodiments of the invention. According to a set of modalities, some or all of the procedures of such methods are performed by the computer system 700 in response to the processor 710 executing one or more sequences of one or more instructions (which may be incorporated into the operating system 740 and / or other code (such as an application program 745) contained in the working memory 735. Such instructions may be read in the working memory 735 of another computer-readable medium, such as one or more of the non-transient storage devices 725. By way of example only, execution of the instruction sequences contained in working memory 735 may cause processors 710 to perform one or more procedures of the methods described herein.

The terms machine readable medium and computer readable medium, as used herein, refer to any medium that participates in providing data that causes a machine to operate in a specific way. In a mode implemented using the 700 system of

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Computer, various computer readable media may be involved in providing instructions / code to 710 processors for execution and / or may be used to store and / or transport such instructions / codes. In many implementations, a computer readable medium is a physical and / or tangible storage medium. Such medium may take the form of a non-volatile medium or a volatile medium. The nonvolatile medium includes, for example, optical and / or magnetic disks, such as non-transient storage devices 725. Volatile media includes, without limitation, dynamic memory, such as working memory 735.

Common forms of physical and / or tangible computer readable media include, for example, a floppy disk, floppy disk, hard drive, magnetic tape, or any other magnetic media, a CD-ROM, any other optical media, punched cards, tape paper, any other physical media with hole patterns, a RAM, a PROM, EPROM, a FLASH EPROM, any other memory chip or cartridge, or any other means from which a computer can read instructions and / or code.

Various forms of computer readable media may be involved in transporting one or more sequences of one or more instructions to the 710 processors for execution. Just as an example, the instructions

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MEXICAN INSTITUTE OF PROPERTY

INDUSTRIAL others may initially be carried on a magnetic disk and / or optical disk of a remote computer. A remote computer can load the instructions into its dynamic memory and send the instructions as signals over a transmission medium to be received and / or executed by the computer system 700.

Communications subsystem 730 (and / or components thereof) will generally receive signals, and bus 705 can then transport the signals (and / or the data, instructions, etc., carried by the signals) to the working memory 735, from which the 710 processors retrieve and execute the instructions. The instructions received by the working memory 735 can optionally be stored in a non-transient storage device 725 before or after execution by the processors 710.

The methods, systems and devices discussed in the above are examples. Multiple configurations can omit, replace, or add multiple procedures or components, as appropriate. For example, in alternative configurations, the methods may be performed in a different order than described, and / or multiple steps may be added, omitted, and / or combined. Also, features described with respect to certain configurations can be combined into various configurations. Different aspects and

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MEXICAN INSTITUTE OF PROPERTY

INDUSTRIAL elements of the configurations can be combined in a similar way. Also, technology evolves and, thus, many of the elements are examples and do not limit the scope of the description or the claims.

Specific details are provided in the description to provide a complete understanding of exemplary configurations (including implementations). However, the settings can be practiced without these specific details. For example, well-known circuits, processes, algorithms, structures, and techniques have been shown without unnecessary detail to avoid obscuring the configurations. This description provides exemplary configurations only, and does not limit the scope, applicability, or configurations of the claims. In fact, the foregoing description of the configurations will provide those skilled in the art with a description of preparation for implementing the described techniques. Various changes can be made in the function and arrangement of the elements without departing from the spirit or scope of the description.

Also, configurations can be described as a process which is represented as a flowchart or block diagram. Although each can describe operations as a sequential process, many of the operations can be performed in parallel or

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concurrent. Furthermore, the order of operations can be reorganized. A process may have additional steps not included in FIGURE. In addition, examples of the methods may be implemented by hardware, software, firmware, middleware, microcode, hardware description languages, or any combination thereof. When implemented in software, firmware, middleware, or microcode, the programming code or code segments to perform the necessary tasks can be stored on a non-transient computer-readable medium such as a storage medium. Processors can perform the described tasks.

Having described several exemplary configurations, several modifications, alternative and equivalent constructions can be used without departing from the spirit of the description. For example, the above elements may be components of a larger system, where other rules may take precedence over or otherwise modify the application of the invention. Also, a number of stages can be carried out before, during, or after the above elements are considered. Accordingly, the foregoing description is not bound by the scope of the claims.

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Mexican Institute of Industrial Property