Inventors:
Joseph Weber - San Francisco CA, US
Edward Miller - Broomfield CO, US
Gregory White - Lafayette CO, US
Assignee:
Cable Television Laboratories, Inc. - Louisville CO
International Classification:
G06F 17/00
Abstract:
The present open standard conditional access system uses an open standard protocol for authenticating devices, selectively enabling services, and revoking service on cable and satellite content distribution networks. This system uses a two-way communication protocol between devices in the home and security system servers in the cable network. This allows for security information to be sent only to those devices that need the security information. A two-way communication protocol also allows the end device to request security information instead of waiting for it to be broadcast as in a one-way protocol. The present open standard conditional access system uses the security system already present in most DOCSIS cable modems to protect both IP data and MPEG content.