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GB2377111A - Secure operation of multiple set top boxes for braodcast data receivers - Google Patents

Secure operation of multiple set top boxes for braodcast data receivers Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2377111A
GB2377111A GB0207689A GB0207689A GB2377111A GB 2377111 A GB2377111 A GB 2377111A GB 0207689 A GB0207689 A GB 0207689A GB 0207689 A GB0207689 A GB 0207689A GB 2377111 A GB2377111 A GB 2377111A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
stb
link unit
signal
operable
data
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
GB0207689A
Other versions
GB2377111B (en
GB0207689D0 (en
Inventor
David Woodhouse
Gerard Smith
Andrew Bee
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Arris Global Ltd
Original Assignee
Pace Micro Technology PLC
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Pace Micro Technology PLC filed Critical Pace Micro Technology PLC
Publication of GB0207689D0 publication Critical patent/GB0207689D0/en
Publication of GB2377111A publication Critical patent/GB2377111A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of GB2377111B publication Critical patent/GB2377111B/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04H—BROADCAST COMMUNICATION
    • H04H40/00—Arrangements specially adapted for receiving broadcast information
    • H04H40/18—Arrangements characterised by circuits or components specially adapted for receiving
    • H04H40/27—Arrangements characterised by circuits or components specially adapted for receiving specially adapted for broadcast systems covered by groups H04H20/53 - H04H20/95
    • H04H40/90—Arrangements characterised by circuits or components specially adapted for receiving specially adapted for broadcast systems covered by groups H04H20/53 - H04H20/95 specially adapted for satellite broadcast receiving
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/41—Structure of client; Structure of client peripherals
    • H04N21/426—Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/43—Processing of content or additional data, e.g. demultiplexing additional data from a digital video stream; Elementary client operations, e.g. monitoring of home network or synchronising decoder's clock; Client middleware
    • H04N21/436—Interfacing a local distribution network, e.g. communicating with another STB or one or more peripheral devices inside the home
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/43—Processing of content or additional data, e.g. demultiplexing additional data from a digital video stream; Elementary client operations, e.g. monitoring of home network or synchronising decoder's clock; Client middleware
    • H04N21/436—Interfacing a local distribution network, e.g. communicating with another STB or one or more peripheral devices inside the home
    • H04N21/4367—Establishing a secure communication between the client and a peripheral device or smart card
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/43—Processing of content or additional data, e.g. demultiplexing additional data from a digital video stream; Elementary client operations, e.g. monitoring of home network or synchronising decoder's clock; Client middleware
    • H04N21/442—Monitoring of processes or resources, e.g. detecting the failure of a recording device, monitoring the downstream bandwidth, the number of times a movie has been viewed, the storage space available from the internal hard disk
    • H04N21/44236—Monitoring of piracy processes or activities
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N7/00—Television systems
    • H04N7/16—Analogue secrecy systems; Analogue subscription systems
    • H04N7/162—Authorising the user terminal, e.g. by paying; Registering the use of a subscription channel, e.g. billing
    • H04N7/163—Authorising the user terminal, e.g. by paying; Registering the use of a subscription channel, e.g. billing by receiver means only

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • Multimedia (AREA)
  • Computer Security & Cryptography (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Virology (AREA)
  • Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
  • Databases & Information Systems (AREA)
  • Astronomy & Astrophysics (AREA)
  • Radio Relay Systems (AREA)

Abstract

A broadcast data processing apparatus and method by which at least first and second set top boxes can only both be rendered operable when at a common authorised location, thus preventing the use of one of the set top boxes at an unauthorised location. The set top boxes are connected to a common link unit via which a tone signal can be transmitted between the set top boxes. At least one of the set top boxes is inoperable until the said signal is received via the link unit and is therefore required to be at the authorised location to be operable.

Description

<Desc/Clms Page number 1>
Secure operation of Multiple Set Top Boxes for Broadcast Data Receivers The invention which is the subject of this application relates to broadcast data systems of the like which allow data to be encoded and broadcast by a service provider to a plurality of locations and received at said plurality of user locations, each location equipped with a Broadcast Data Receiver, also referred to as a Set Top Box (STB) in the trade. Each STB is provided as part of, or in connection with, a television or other form of speakers and display screen for the generation of video and audio to the user thereby enabling the provision of television and/or radio programmes from the received and decoded data. The STB can receive the data via any of satellite, cable or terrestrial data transmission systems and the current application is particularly directed to satellite transmission systems in that there is provided a system that allows the bi-directional or unidirectional data transfer between two STB's at one of said locations via a Radio Frequency (RF) receiving satellite antenna
which is equipped with at least one Low Noise Block (LNB).
As the use of STB's become more prevalent and accepted, so an increasing number of locations such as domestic premises, wish to have 2 or more STB's within the home. As a result some broadcasters provide a free or discounted 2nd STB to customers.
These"second"STB's are typically"complete"functional units, with a smartcard to allow selected customer access to channels and services in accordance with their payment schedule with the broadcaster.
A security problem arises with the use of two or more STB's as it is possible for the 2nd STB to be used at a different location i. e. other than the subscriber's registered authorised location. This unauthorised use can reduce the broadcaster revenue due to
<Desc/Clms Page number 2>
the lost subscription from the user at the location of second STB, and they have already provided the STB at the reduced cost.
The aim of the present invention is to ensure that the 2nd STB is only operable when located at the authorised location and not when at another non-subscriber location.
In accordance with a first aspect of the invention there is provided broadcast data apparatus, said apparatus including first and second set top boxes (STB's) for use by a user at an authorised location, at least one of said STB's having a communications link to receive information from the broadcaster and each of said STB's capable of receiving and processing data broadcast from a remote location via at least one satellite antenna having at least one Low Noise Block and wherein there is provided a link unit at the authorised location with an input for each STB and outputs to the one or more satellite antenna and when tone information is detected between the first STB and respective Low Noise Block a signal is sent to the link unit which the unit transfers to the Low Noise Block and/or second STB to allow the same to be operable.
The apparatus as described provides the required security as unless and until the second STB is rendered operable by the reception of the signal from the first STB via the link unit the second STB is inoperable and as the second STB can only practically receive the cable carried signal when in the vicinity of the first STB, link unit and satellite antenna, the second STB is only operable when at the authorised location.
Typically, when rendered operable, the said second STB communicates with the first STB via the link unit.
<Desc/Clms Page number 3>
In one embodiment, a half-duplex data handshake occurs to allow the two or more STB's to communicate and verify the presence of the other. The control software in the second STB disables the same if it does not receive data from the other of the STB's.
Thus the invention provides that the transfer of data between the two or more STB's is required to allow the two STB's to be active so ensuring that the STB's need to be provided in connection with the link unit and so at the same general location, typically the same domestic premises.
In one embodiment, the apparatus link unit includes a diseqc/tone switching link. In one embodiment power is provided from one of the LNB cable feeds. In one embodiment the unit contains a band-pass filter and AM detector, and converts the Low Frequency (LF) pulse tone received from the first STB into a bit-stream. A microprocessor is provided to convert the stream into a series of bytes. If the correct, recognised and predetermined tone command is received from the first STB to allow the second STB to be operable, the data can then be transferred to the other LNB cable for that second STB.
In one embodiment the tone format is a tone switch RS232 format or diseqc.
In one embodiment, to produce a bi-directional link, a 2nd band pass filter and AM detector are required to allow the reception of data from the 2nd STB.
Typically, once operable, the first and second STB operate independently in the processing of data received from the respective LNB to which they are connected.
<Desc/Clms Page number 4>
In one embodiment the second STB is provided with a control system which requires the reception of an appropriate signal at predetermined time intervals from the first STB in order to continue to be operable. Thus the broadcaster is required to transmit to the first STB an enabling tone signal at the predetermined time intervals which can typically be days, weeks and the like. If the enabling tone signal is not received the second STB is rendered inoperable until the appropriate signal is next received. This therefore ensures that the second STB is always required to be in the vicinity of the first STB and connected to the link unit for the same to inoperable.
In one embodiment a first self contained data receiving and processing apparatus is connected to a second self contained data receiving and processing apparatus via the link unit, each of said self contained data receiving and processing apparatus including an STB connected via a cable connection to an LNB and satellite antenna.
In an alternative embodiment said first and second STB are connected to first and second LNB'S respectively, said LNB's provided on a common satellite antenna and via a common cable connection with the link unit.
In a further aspect of the invention there is provided a method for rendering operable one of a plurality of STB's for use by a common subscriber and viewer and wherein said method includes the provision of a link unit, said link unit having a data input allocated to each STB and at least one output to at least one satellite antenna, said satellite antenna acting to receive broadcast data and a first STB includes a communications line thereto and upon a tone signal being detected between the first STB and respective LNB, a signal is generated to the link unit
<Desc/Clms Page number 5>
and if the signal matches predetermined criteria, a signal is transferred via the link unit to the second STB thereby rendering the same operable.
Typically the first STB is operable without receiving the tone signal and is designated the master STB.
Specific embodiments of the invention are now described with
reference to the accompanying figures ; wherein p Yi Figure 1 illustrates a first embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 illustrates a second embodiment of the invention; and Figure 3 illustrates a schematic diagram of the system.
Referring firstly to Figure 1 there is illustrated in schematic fashion a domestic premises with a broadcast data receiving system in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention.
The user within the domestic premises subscribes to a broadcasts data provider and the premises therefore represents an authorised location. The apparatus comprises first and second satellite antenna 2,4, each incorporating a Low Noise Block (LNB) via which the broadcast data is received and carried via cables 6,8 respectively to a link unit 10 in one of the rooms 12. From the link unit, two cable connections 14,16 lead to respective STB's 18,20 in rooms 12 and 22. Each of the STB's is connected to a television, 24,26, respectively.
Figure 2 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the invention wherein in a domestic premises there is provided a single satellite antenna 30, with a dual LNB 32 which allows the reception of two data streams at the same or different radio frequencies and carries the same via cable 34 to link unit 36 and
<Desc/Clms Page number 6>
on to the STB's and televisions as in Figure 1 and using the same reference numerals as in Figure 1.
In whichever embodiment, the operation of the systems of Figures 1 and 2 in accordance with the invention are similar.
This is illustrated with reference to Figure 3 which describes the embodiment of Figure 1 and shows one of the STB's, in this case STB 18, designated as a"Master"STB and this is connected to an external communication link such as telephone line 38.
When a tone is detected on the line between the satellite antenna 2 and STB 18 the information is transferred via the link unit 10, which decodes the same and transmits the signal to the line between the satellite antenna 4 and"slave"STB 20. The STB 20 detects the presence of the tone and, upon reception in the appropriate and predetermined format becomes operable as an independent STB.
The same process can be utilised for the embodiment of Figure 2 with the single line 4 acting to transmit the signal to the first and second LNB's and hence allow the first and second STB's to be operable when the predetermined conditions are met.
Thus in accordance with the invention it is necessary, for the two STB's, for one of the STB's to act as a slave to the other, Master STB, and, furthermore to be connected to the same via the link unit.
If either STB has no Diseqc signal receive capability then a converter is provided to receive the information from the LNB link unit and convert this to an RS232 format.
If, during operation, a non-diseqc LNB requires a constant 22K tone, the AC link between the inputs and outputs of the Link unit can be individually switchable such that if a constant 22K
<Desc/Clms Page number 7>
tone is required, the STB can send a diseqc'tone on'command, the link unit receives the command and provides a constant 22K tone to the required LNB.
Thus the present invention solves the current 2nd STB security issues, and can be applied to all STB's in the field with a software upgrade as well as being incorporated in new STB's.
It may also be possible to remove the callback modem, and smartcard from the 2nd box which are currently supplied thus reducing the cost. This would require the transmission of service keys from the master to the slave box and would require the approval of the service provider.
Further savings can be achieved as the slave STB does not require a telephone connection and is therefore capable of still working even when the communication link is engaged.
Further advantages are that the inventive system can easily be used by any current broadcaster and when the 2nd S TB and antenna or dual LNB antenna, is installed, the link unit can also be installed. If the STB has no tone receive circuitry, a simple tone to RS232 adapter can also be fitted, allowing all STB's in the field to be able to be used as a 2nd STB.

Claims (19)

  1. Claims 1 Broadcast data apparatus, said apparatus including first and second set top boxes (STB's) for use by a user at an authorised location, at least one of said STB's having a communications link to receive information from the broadcaster and each of said STB's capable of receiving and processing data broadcast from a remote location via at least one satellite antenna having at least one Low Noise Block and wherein there is provided a link unit at the authorised location with an input for each STB and outputs to the one or more satellite antenna and when tone information is detected between the first STB and respective Low Noise Block a signal is sent to the link unit which the unit transfers to the Low Noise Block connected to the second STB and/or second STB to allow the same to be operable.
  2. 2 Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the second STB is rendered operable by the reception of the signal via the link unit.
  3. 3 Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the second STB is inoperable until reception of the predetermined cable carried signal.
  4. 4 Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein when rendered operable, the said second STB can communicate with the first STB via the link unit.
  5. 5 Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein a half-duplex data handshake occurs to allow the STB's to communicate and verify the presence of the other.
  6. 6 Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the transfer of data between the two or more STB's is required to allow the two
    <Desc/Clms Page number 9>
    STB's to be active and ensures that the STB's need to be provided in connection with the link unit and so at the same location as the link unit.
  7. 7 Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the link unit includes a diseqc/tone switching link.
  8. 8 Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the link unit is powered from one of the LNB cable feeds.
  9. 9 Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the link unit contains a band-pass filter and AM detector.
  10. 10 Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the link unit includes a second filter and AM detector to allow two way communication between the fist and second STB's.
  11. 11 Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the link unit converts a Low Frequency (LF) pulse tone received from the first STB into a bit-stream the bit stream converted into a series of bytes.
  12. 12 Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein if the correct, recognised and predetermined tone signal command is received from the first STB to allow the second STB to be operable, the data can then be transferred by the link unit to the LNB cable for the second STB.
  13. 13 Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein when the first and second STB's are both rendered operable, the first and second STB operate independently in the processing of data received from the respective LNB to which they are connected.
    <Desc/Clms Page number 10>
  14. 14 Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the second STB is provided with a control system which requires the reception of an appropriate signal at predetermined time intervals from the first STB in order to continue to be operable.
  15. 15 Apparatus according to claim 14 wherein if the enabling tone signal is not received the second STB is rendered inoperable
    u until the appropriate signal is next received. nt el
  16. 16 Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein a first self contained data receiving and processing apparatus is connected to a second self contained data receiving and processing apparatus via the link unit, each of said self contained data receiving and processing apparatus including an STB connected via a cable connection to an LNB and satellite antenna.
  17. 17 Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said first and second STB are connected to first and second LNB'S respectively, said LNB's provided on a common satellite antenna and via a common cable connection with the link unit.
  18. 18 A method for rendering operable one of a plurality of STB's for use by a common subscriber and viewer and wherein said method includes the provision of a link unit, said link unit having a data input allocated to each STB and at least one output to at least one satellite antenna, said satellite antenna acting to receive broadcast data and a first STB includes a communications line thereto and upon a tone signal being detected between the first STB and respective LNB, a signal is generated to the link unit and if the signal matches predetermined criteria, a signal is transferred via the link unit to the second STB thereby rendering the same operable.
    <Desc/Clms Page number 11>
  19. 19 A method according to claim 18 wherein the first STB is operable without receiving the tone signal and is designated the master STB.
GB0207689A 2001-04-03 2002-04-03 Secure operation of multiple set top boxes for broadcast data receivers Expired - Lifetime GB2377111B (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GBGB0108308.8A GB0108308D0 (en) 2001-04-03 2001-04-03 Communication using LNB low frequency line switching

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB0207689D0 GB0207689D0 (en) 2002-05-15
GB2377111A true GB2377111A (en) 2002-12-31
GB2377111B GB2377111B (en) 2005-01-05

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GBGB0108308.8A Ceased GB0108308D0 (en) 2001-04-03 2001-04-03 Communication using LNB low frequency line switching
GB0207689A Expired - Lifetime GB2377111B (en) 2001-04-03 2002-04-03 Secure operation of multiple set top boxes for broadcast data receivers

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GBGB0108308.8A Ceased GB0108308D0 (en) 2001-04-03 2001-04-03 Communication using LNB low frequency line switching

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WO2005114879A3 (en) * 2004-05-20 2006-01-19 Thomson Licensing Sa Apparatus for connecting multiple diseqc master devices to satellite reception devices in a video distribution system
WO2006026477A1 (en) * 2004-08-31 2006-03-09 Thomson Licensing Configuration management for co-located network systems
WO2006107871A2 (en) 2005-04-01 2006-10-12 The Directv Group, Inc. Signal injection via power supply
WO2007027613A2 (en) 2005-09-02 2007-03-08 The Directv Group, Inc. Intelligent switching system for selectively receiving satellite video signals
US8732770B2 (en) 2002-09-25 2014-05-20 The Directv Group, Inc. Direct broadcast signal distribution methods
US20160127769A1 (en) * 2014-10-30 2016-05-05 Smardtv S.A. System for verifying physical proximity between media content receivers
US9936171B2 (en) 2005-09-02 2018-04-03 The Directv Group, Inc. Network fraud prevention via registration and verification
US9942618B2 (en) 2007-10-31 2018-04-10 The Directv Group, Inc. SMATV headend using IP transport stream input and method for operating the same

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US8024759B2 (en) 2005-04-01 2011-09-20 The Directv Group, Inc. Backwards-compatible frequency translation module for satellite video delivery
US7900230B2 (en) 2005-04-01 2011-03-01 The Directv Group, Inc. Intelligent two-way switching network
US7950038B2 (en) 2005-04-01 2011-05-24 The Directv Group, Inc. Transponder tuning and mapping
US7945932B2 (en) 2005-04-01 2011-05-17 The Directv Group, Inc. Narrow bandwidth signal delivery system
US8549565B2 (en) 2005-04-01 2013-10-01 The Directv Group, Inc. Power balancing signal combiner
US8719875B2 (en) 2006-11-06 2014-05-06 The Directv Group, Inc. Satellite television IP bitstream generator receiving unit
US8712318B2 (en) 2007-05-29 2014-04-29 The Directv Group, Inc. Integrated multi-sat LNB and frequency translation module
US8238813B1 (en) 2007-08-20 2012-08-07 The Directv Group, Inc. Computationally efficient design for broadcast satellite single wire and/or direct demod interface

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Cited By (17)

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US8732770B2 (en) 2002-09-25 2014-05-20 The Directv Group, Inc. Direct broadcast signal distribution methods
US8726319B2 (en) 2004-05-20 2014-05-13 Thomson Licensing Apparatus for connecting multiple DiSEqC to satellite reception devices in a video distribution system
WO2005114879A3 (en) * 2004-05-20 2006-01-19 Thomson Licensing Sa Apparatus for connecting multiple diseqc master devices to satellite reception devices in a video distribution system
FR2871648A1 (en) * 2004-06-10 2005-12-16 Sagem METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE CONDITIONS FOR USING A DECODER
EP1605699A1 (en) * 2004-06-10 2005-12-14 Sagem SA Method for controlling the using conditions of a decoder
WO2006026477A1 (en) * 2004-08-31 2006-03-09 Thomson Licensing Configuration management for co-located network systems
WO2006107871A2 (en) 2005-04-01 2006-10-12 The Directv Group, Inc. Signal injection via power supply
EP1878244A4 (en) * 2005-04-01 2010-09-15 Directv Group Inc SIGNAL INJECTION MADE BY ELECTRICAL POWER SUPPLY
EP1932262A2 (en) * 2005-09-02 2008-06-18 The Directv Group, Inc. Frequency translation module discovery and configuration
WO2007027613A2 (en) 2005-09-02 2007-03-08 The Directv Group, Inc. Intelligent switching system for selectively receiving satellite video signals
US9936171B2 (en) 2005-09-02 2018-04-03 The Directv Group, Inc. Network fraud prevention via registration and verification
US9942618B2 (en) 2007-10-31 2018-04-10 The Directv Group, Inc. SMATV headend using IP transport stream input and method for operating the same
US20160127769A1 (en) * 2014-10-30 2016-05-05 Smardtv S.A. System for verifying physical proximity between media content receivers
EP3016385A3 (en) * 2014-10-30 2016-09-28 SmarDTV S.A. A system for verifying physical proximity between media content receivers
US9686585B2 (en) * 2014-10-30 2017-06-20 Smardtv S.A. System for verifying physical proximity between media content receivers
US20170318333A1 (en) * 2014-10-30 2017-11-02 Smardtv S.A. System for verifying physical proximity between media content receivers
US10123072B2 (en) 2014-10-30 2018-11-06 Smardtv S.A. System for verifying physical proximity between media content receivers

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB0108308D0 (en) 2001-05-23
GB2377111B (en) 2005-01-05
GB0207689D0 (en) 2002-05-15

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