Portable Terminal Authentication for Broadcast Receiver Content Access

The patent introduces a portable information terminal as an intermediary device that bridges the broadcast receiving apparatus and the broadband network. The terminal handles complex authentication and permission management tasks, allowing the broadcast receiver to extend functionality without increasing its own complexity. The terminal acts as a mediator that coordinates between traditional broadcast infrastructure and modern broadband services.

The broadcast receiving apparatus is designed with multi-functionality by integrating both traditional data broadcasting reception and capability to cooperate with portable information terminals for broadband services. The apparatus can serve multiple purposes: receiving traditional broadcast data, authenticating users via portable terminals, managing viewing permissions, and distributing high-resolution content, thereby achieving versatility without requiring separate dedicated systems.

The portable information terminal serves as an intermediary that handles authentication and permission management. Instead of embedding complex authentication logic within the broadcast receiving apparatus, the terminal manages authentication information storage and verification externally. This allows secure content distribution while keeping the broadcast receiver's complexity low, as the terminal absorbs the complexity of authentication handling.

The system uses terminal identification information and authentication information as digital copies that verify user entitlement. These information copies are stored in the authentication information storing unit and transmitted to the portable terminal for verification. This copying approach enables secure permission management without requiring complex cryptographic operations or hardware security modules in the broadcast receiver itself.