Pairing method between a multimedia unit and at least one operator, multimedia unit, operator and personalization entity for the implementation of this method

Abstract

The present invention relates in particular to a pairing method between a multimedia unit and one operator having an operator identifier, the multimedia unit having a multimedia unit identifier and receiving conditional access data from said operator, the method being characterized in that:receiving by the multimedia unit a multimedia unit key formed by applying a first cryptographically function to a personalization key and to the multimedia unit identifier;receiving by the operator an operator key formed by applying a second cryptographically function to said personalization key and to the operator identifier;said multimedia unit further having a function of the multimedia unit and said operator further having a function of the operator, these functions being such that the result of the application of the function of the operator to said operator key and to said multimedia unit identifier is equal to the result of the application of the function of the multimedia unit to said multimedia unit key and to said operator identifier, this result forming a pairing key between said multimedia unit and said operator.

Description

TECHNICAL DOMAIN[0001]The present disclosure relates to a pairing method between at least one operator and a multimedia unit, this pairing being aimed at protecting data transmitted by the operator to the multimedia unit. It also relates to an operator and a multimedia unit allowing the implementation of the method as well as a system formed by at least one such operator and at least one such multimedia unit. It further relates to a personalization entity participating in the implementation of this method.[0002]This disclosure applies in the first place to the context of a transmission system of the “broadcast” type i.e. to a transmission mode in which content is transmitted to one or more multimedia units by means of a one-way communication channel. This kind of communication corresponds to the one currently used in a classic pay-TV system where data is transmitted by satellite, by radio waves or by cable networks without feedback channel, and where the multimedia units receive the...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

This patent is about a method for securely communicating between a multimedia unit and an operator using a phone. The method allows each operator to have their own unique key, which means that compromising one operator's key doesn't affect the security of the other operators. Additionally, the method allows multiple operators to be paired with the same multimedia unit without compromising their security. This is done by applying the method to each operator individually.

Problems solved by technology

The explosion in the number of receiver devices or multimedia units poses a certain number of problems to the operators.

This option has the drawback of exposing the algorithms and the keys of the conditional access system supplier if the security of the hardware security module is compromised.

In order to do this, the operator has to know the secret data which allows the personalization of the multimedia units in the same way as the manufacturer of multimedia units in the previous case, which poses two problems to the supplier of the conditional access system:on the one hand, the supplier has to deliver to the operator a huge quantity of data, as they used to with the manufacturer of the multimedia units;on the other hand, they have to ensure that only the multimedia units bought by a specific operator work at this specific operator and that no other operator can use them.

This entails a risk of theft, as stolen multimedia units can be also used by any other operator.

This poses the problem to trace exactly the delivery of multimedia units and imposes delays.

It is not acceptable that the user should wait several days for activating the multimedia unit due to the time of delivery of the keys relating to the operator by the conditional access system supplier.

According to a preferred embodiment, the means available to an operator do not allow to intervene on another operator, even if the operator is capable of compromising the equipment of the conditional access system supplier installed at their home.

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