Patent ID: 7698554
Filing Date: 2010-04-13
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
1. A method of controlling transmission of broadcast content from a content provider via a broadcast means to an end user device using an intermediary network and an intermediary network device where the broadcast means comprises a broadcast transmitter and a set-top box under the control of the broadcaster; and the intermediary network device comprises a stationary location server, whose location is known, and is verifiable to the broadcast means, the method comprising validating the time and location of the end user device when content is requested from the broadcast means by: using the end user device to verify the identity of the location server connected to the intermediary network; generating a nonce at the end user device and sending said nonce from the end user device to the location server at a first time stored by the end user device; cryptographically processing said nonce received at the location server; sending time and location data and the cryptographically processed nonce from the location server to the end user device at a second time; storing the second time at the end user device as the time of receipt from the location server; comparing the interval between the first and second times with a predetermined time interval stored at the end user device; verifying, at the end user device, said time and location data received from the location server to verify the data has not been replayed; sending the time and the cryptographically processed nonce from the end user device to the set-top box; applying a cryptographic process to the data at the set-top box to verify the identity of the end user device; and delivering the content from the set-top-box to the end user device, if the identities are verified and the elapsed time interval is less than the predetermined time interval.