Home Network Gateway for Secure QAM to IP Content Streaming
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Solution Overview
Problem
IP devices on home networks cannot directly access QAM content delivery channels due to the lack of QAM tuners and demodulators, and existing security measures like DLNA do not effectively restrict content access to authorized devices.
Innovation Solution
A gateway device with a QAM tuner and demodulator is introduced between the channel-based content delivery network and the home network, acting as a secure bridge to decode and encrypt content, allowing IP devices to access QAM channels while restricting content access to authorized devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If IP devices are used on home networks, then device versatility and ease of operation are improved, but the ability to directly access QAM content delivery channels is lost due to lack of QAM tuner and demodulator hardware
Solution Approach 1:
A gateway device is introduced as an intermediary between the QAM content delivery network and IP devices on the home network. The gateway contains a QAM tuner and demodulator to receive and decode content from QAM channels, then re-encrypts and streams the content to authorized IP devices. This mediator allows IP devices to access QAM content without requiring them to have QAM hardware, resolving the contradiction between device versatility and hardware complexity requirements
2Reliability
If DLNA security measures are implemented, then content transmission security is improved, but the ability to restrict content access to specific authorized devices is reduced due to transparency requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements different security characteristics at different locations in the content delivery path. The gateway device applies selective access control at the network boundary, maintaining DLNA transparency for authorized devices while blocking unauthorized access. This local differentiation allows the system to maintain both security and flexible access control - authorized IP devices receive content securely, while unauthorized devices are blocked, resolving the contradiction between security and access control flexibility
3Productivity
If QAM channels are used for content delivery, then content delivery efficiency is improved, but the inability to directly stream to IP devices limits the utility of these channels
Solution Approach 1:
The gateway device serves as a translator between QAM channel-based delivery and IP-based device communication. It receives efficient QAM content delivery, decodes the content, then re-encapsulates it in IP packets for transmission to IP devices. This intermediary approach preserves the efficiency benefits of QAM channels while extending compatibility to IP devices, resolving the contradiction between delivery efficiency and device compatibility
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to methods and apparatus relating to content streaming, e.g., in a home network, in a manner that reduces the chance of streaming of content to a device which is not authorized to receive the content. In an exemplary method of controlling content streaming on a home network in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the method involves receiving at a home network gateway a first video on demand service request message from a first device coupled to the home network, storing a portion of said first video on demand service request message in memory, receiving at said home network gateway a second message, and determining based on a portion of said second message and a portion of said stored first video on demand service request message whether to provide the requested video on demand service.