Patent ID: 9161095
Filing Date: 2015-10-13
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
1. A method for managing blackout control, the method comprising: maintaining a plurality of virtual integrated receiver decoders (VIRDs) in a central data server in a service provider's domain, wherein each VIRD is associated with a blackout region serviced by a service provider, and each VIRD has an address registered with a content programmer; receiving transport streams via an uplink path from the content programmer, wherein the transport streams are included in encrypted content received via the uplink path and the encrypted content is decrypted; receiving a retune message corresponding to at least one transport stream, the retune message identifying a VIRD address and at least one service in a transport stream designated for blackout to the region corresponding to the identified VIRD address; and in the central data server, encrypting content including the at least one service for delivery to decryptors in a plurality of regions serviced by the service provider, wherein encrypting content includes re-encrypting the decrypted transport streams using an encryption key, the retune message is embedded in the decrypted content, and the encrypting blacks out at least one service in the region corresponding to the identified VIRD address, wherein the encryption key is selected to exclude decryption by a decryptor in the region corresponding to the identified VIRD address.