Iterative Cryptographic Block for Secure Digital Content Descrambling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current digital content security systems, particularly in digital television and internet-based content delivery, face challenges in preventing unauthorized copying and hacking due to vulnerabilities in conditional access systems and descrambling keys, leading to significant costs for service providers and content owners.
Innovation Solution
An iterative cryptographic block (ICB) is introduced within digital devices, such as set-top boxes, which implements key and data feedback paths, hashing, and anti-hack circuits to securely descramble and decrypt digital content, enabling secure key management and protection against unauthorized access.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional conditional access systems are used with smart cards and cryptographic processors, then content access control is provided, but the systems are vulnerable to hacking and unauthorized copying
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback loops where the cryptographic block uses its own output as input for subsequent encryption rounds. The descrambled key becomes the input for the next encryption stage, creating a chained feedback mechanism that strengthens security through iterative processing rather than single-pass encryption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs nested encryption where multiple encryption layers are applied sequentially. The output of one cryptographic block becomes the input for the next, creating nested layers of encryption that must all be breached to access the content, similar to nested dolls where each layer protects the inner layers.
2Reliability
If multiple cryptographic blocks are used to enhance security, then security is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs a universal cryptographic block that can perform multiple encryption rounds and support different key lengths (56-bit, 128-bit, 256-bit) within a single hardware architecture. This multi-functional block replaces the need for multiple separate cryptographic processors, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining strong security through iterative encryption.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus for an iterative cryptographic block under the control of a CPU and without a fixed number of stages. In one embodiment, a first cryptographic block descrambles received information using an internal key or a preprogrammed key to form a descrambled key or descrambled data. A data feedback path stores the descrambled data as internal data and provides the internal data or the external data as data input to the first cryptographic block. A key feedback path stores the descrambled key as an internal key and provides the internal key or the preprogrammed key to a key input of the first cryptographic block. A second cryptographic block descrambles received content using a final descrambling key. Other embodiments are described and claimed.