NRT Content Conditional Access via Control Word Encryption
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless communication networks lack efficient systems for providing conditional access to non-real-time (NRT) content, which is essential for controlling user access and optimizing bandwidth utilization and terminal power efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A NRT content distribution system that interfaces with third-party conditional access systems to encrypt and manage access to NRT content, using a control word and entitlement messages to ensure authorized access, thereby providing secure and efficient delivery over a distribution network.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conditional access systems are implemented for real-time content, then user access control is improved, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing a conditional access system that handles both real-time and non-real-time content through a unified framework. The same encryption and access control mechanisms work for both content types, eliminating the need for separate CA systems and reducing overall system complexity while maintaining reliable access control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the conditional access functionality for real-time and non-real-time content into a single integrated system. By combining the CA logic, encryption mechanisms, and access control policies into one unified architecture, the system reduces redundancy and simplifies implementation while ensuring secure access to all content types.
2Adaptability or versatility
If NRT content is distributed to large number of terminals, then content availability is improved, but bandwidth utilization efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the NRT content distribution into unicast and multicast components. Unicast delivery is used for personalized content to individual terminals, while multicast is used for common content to multiple terminals simultaneously. This segmentation optimizes bandwidth utilization by avoiding redundant transmissions while maintaining content availability for all users.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic content distribution strategies where the system adapts its delivery method based on user preferences, content type, and network conditions. The system can switch between unicast and multicast modes dynamically, optimizing bandwidth efficiency while ensuring content availability for each terminal based on real-time requirements.
3Speed
If foreground services are processed immediately upon receipt, then real-time service quality is improved, but terminal processing burden increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing content preparation and processing tasks before the actual playback or consumption of NRT content. The system pre-processes content, generates access control information, and prepares processing instructions in advance, so that when content is received, the terminal only needs to execute pre-defined operations rather than processing everything in real-time, reducing the processing burden.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements self-service by enabling terminals to autonomously manage their own content processing based on pre-provided instructions and capabilities. The terminal independently decides which content to process, when to process it, and how to handle access control, reducing the need for complex centralized control and minimizing processing burden while maintaining real-time service quality.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and apparatus for conditional access of non real-time (NRT) content in a distribution system. A method includes encrypting NRT content with a control word (CW) to generate encrypted NRT content, providing the CW to entitlement control message (ECM) generators, receiving ECMs from the ECM generators, wherein each ECM comprises a unique encryption of the CW to provide conditional access to the CW, and providing the encrypted NRT content and the ECMs for transmission over a distribution network. An apparatus includes a synchronizer configured to provide a CW to ECM generators and receive ECMs from the ECM generators, wherein each ECM comprises a unique encryption of the CW to provide conditional access to the CW, and a management module configured to encrypt the NRT content with the CW to generate encrypted NRT content and provide the encrypted NRT content and the ECMs for transmission over the distribution network.