Conditional Access Module for IP Video Security
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing digital television broadcasting over IP networks faces challenges in securing digital video streams when broadcast directly on unmarked IP equipment not belonging to the operator, as conventional conditional access systems and scrambling algorithms are not applicable, and there is no standard interface for injecting IPTV services into such devices.
Innovation Solution
Implementing an ECM decoding server controlled by the operator, along with additional software in the terminal to manage access to this server, allowing secure connection, transmission of scrambled ECMs, and retrieval of control words for descrambling, utilizing a secure connection protocol like AES and asymmetric key exchange for authentication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If digital video streams are broadcast directly on unmarked IP equipment, then ergonomic and economical decoding is achieved without additional boxes, but security and access control become compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a conditional access module as an intermediary component integrated within the unmarked IP equipment. This module acts as a mediator between the incoming encrypted video streams and the decoding functions, providing the necessary security processing without requiring separate external boxes. The module intercepts ECM packets, processes them through secure algorithms, and generates control words for descrambling, thereby maintaining both security and direct IP connectivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the conditional access functionality directly into the unmarked IP equipment by integrating a conditional access module within the device's internal architecture. This combination allows the equipment to simultaneously perform its primary IP networking and decoding functions while incorporating security processing capabilities, eliminating the need for separate security devices and maintaining an ergonomic setup.
2Reliability
If conventional conditional access systems are used, then security is maintained, but they are not applicable to unmarked IP equipment without standard interfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the conditional access module with multi-functional capabilities that enable it to operate within unmarked IP equipment lacking standard interfaces. The module can process various packet types including ECM packets, generate control words, and interface with different decoding mechanisms, making it universally adaptable to various IP equipment configurations without requiring specific standardized interfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the conditional access functionality into a distinct module that can be independently implemented within the unmarked IP equipment. This segmentation allows the security functions to be separated from the main equipment architecture, enabling flexible integration and adaptation to different IP equipment types while maintaining standardized security processing procedures.
3Reliability
If additional boxes are inserted between gateway and television for security processing, then access control is ensured, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions (IP networking, video decoding, and conditional access processing) into a single integrated system by embedding the conditional access module within the unmarked IP equipment. This merging eliminates the need for separate external boxes and reduces system complexity while maintaining all necessary functions including security processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The unmarked IP equipment is designed with multi-functional capabilities, incorporating a conditional access module that enables the device to perform security processing, video decoding, and network communication functions simultaneously. This universal design approach allows a single device to replace what would traditionally require multiple separate components.
Data Source
Figure 1(a)~1(d)
Figure 2
AI summary
The assembly has a private subscriber network part with a terminal (18) uniquely identified by a network operator using Internet Protocol (IP) address. A stage (42) of the terminal establishes a connection with an entitlement control message (ECM) decoding server (34) via an IP interface (30) of a subscriber network and a gateway (14) of the operator. A transmission unit transmits ECMs of a transport stream to the server. A receiving unit receives respective control words from the server. A cryptographic unit of the terminal secures a data exchange protocol between the terminal and the server.