Apparatus systems and methods for securely sharing content with a plurality of receiving devices

Various embodiments facilitate secure content sharing between a plurality of receiving devices, such as set-top boxes. One embodiment is a system with a distribution server communicatively coupled via a satellite communication system to a plurality of set-top boxes that are located at different customer premises. The distribution server is operable to provide access control information via the satellite communication system to a first set-top box and a second set-top box of the plurality, with the access control information enabling the first set-top box to securely share content of the first set-top box with the second set-top box. This abstract is provided to comply with rules requiring an abstract, and it is submitted with the intention that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The technical field relates to data sharing and more particularly, to apparatus, systems and methods for sharing data content between a plurality of receiving devices, such as set-top boxes, that are located at distinct user locations.

BRIEF SUMMARY

In one embodiment, a system is provided to facilitate secure content sharing between a plurality of set-top boxes. The system includes a satellite communication system; a plurality of set-top boxes communicatively coupled to the satellite communication system, each set-top box of the plurality of set-top boxes being located at a distinct respective customer premises; and a distribution server communicatively coupled to the satellite communication system, the distribution server configured to provide access control information via the satellite communication system to a first set-top box of the plurality of set-top boxes and to at least a second set-top box, the access control information enabling the first set-top box to share content of the first set-top box with the second set-top box.

The first set-top box of the system being configured to receive via the satellite communication system from the distribution server the access control information, to share content of the first set-top box for use by the second set-top box, and to restrict access to the shared content based at least in part on the access control information received by the first set-top box, such that the second set-top box has access to the shared content and other set-top boxes of the plurality of set-top boxes do not have access to the shared content; and the second set-top box being configured to receive via the satellite communication system from the distribution server the access control information, and to access the shared content of the first set-top box based at least in part on the access control information received by the second set-top box.

In another embodiment, a method for securely sharing data is provided. The method includes: under control of a first set-top box located at a first customer premises, receiving first access control information via a content distribution system; sharing data of the first set-top box for use by a second set-top box, the second set-top box being located at a distinct second customer premises, the second set-top box having received second access control information via the content distribution system; and restricting, based at least in part on the first access control information, access to the shared data in such a manner that the second set-top box can access the shared data based at least in part on the second access control information.

In some embodiments, the method may include: under control of the second set-top box, determining a second cryptographic key based on the second access control information; receiving the shared data from the first set-top box restricted for access by the second set-top box; and decrypting at least a portion of the shared data with the second cryptographic key.

In another embodiment, a method is provided to facilitate secure content sharing between a plurality of set-top boxes. The method includes: under control of a distribution server, receiving a request to enable access for a second set-top box to content of a first set-top box, the first set-top box located in a first customer premises and the second set-top box located in a second customer premises distinct from the first customer premises; and providing to the first and second set-top boxes, via a program distribution system, access control information that enables the first and second set-top boxes to securely share content.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A. Environment Overview

FIG. 1is an overview block diagram illustrating an example communication system102in which embodiments of a secure content sharing system may be implemented. It is to be appreciated thatFIG. 1illustrates just one example of a communications system102and that the various embodiments discussed herein are not limited to such systems. Communication system102can include a variety of communication systems and can use a variety of communication media including, but not limited to, satellite wireless media.

Although various embodiments of the secure content sharing system are discussed with respect to a satellite communication system/network, the various described techniques may apply to other types of content distribution systems, including but not limited to, cable systems, fiber optic systems, telephony systems, and the like. In addition, in various embodiments, a content distribution system may provide various types of content, including, but not limited to, audio (e.g., music, audio books, etc.), video (e.g., television programs, movies, user-generated content, etc.), and other data content.

Audio, video, and/or data service providers, such as, but not limited to, television service providers, provide their customers located at one or more customer premises116a multitude of audio/video and/or data programming (hereafter, collectively and/or exclusively “programming”). Such programming is often provided by use of a receiving device118communicatively coupled to a presentation device120configured to receive the programming.

Receiving device118interconnects to one or more communications media or sources (such as a cable head-end, satellite antenna, telephone company switch, Ethernet portal, off-air antenna, or the like) that provide the programming. The receiving device118commonly receives a plurality of programming by way of the communications media or sources described in greater detail below. Based upon selection by the user, the receiving device118processes and communicates the selected programming to the one or more presentation devices120.

For convenience, the receiving device118may be interchangeably referred to as a “television converter,” “receiver,” “set-top box,” “television receiving device,” “television receiver,” “television recording device,” “satellite set-top box,” “satellite receiver,” “cable set-top box,” “cable receiver,” “media player,” and/or “television tuner.” Accordingly, the receiving device118may be any suitable converter device or electronic equipment that is operable to receive programming. Further, the receiving device118may itself include user interface devices, such as buttons or switches. In many applications, a remote128is operable to control the presentation device120and other user devices122.

Examples of a presentation device120include, but are not limited to, a television (“TV”), a personal computer (“PC”), a sound system receiver, a digital video recorder (“DVR”), a compact disk (“CD”) device, game system, or the like. Presentation devices120employ a display124, one or more speakers, and/or other output devices to communicate video and/or audio content to a user. In many implementations, one or more presentation devices120reside in or near a customer's premises116and are communicatively coupled, directly or indirectly, to the receiving device118. Further, the receiving device118and the presentation device120may be integrated into a single device. Such a single device may have the above-described functionality of the receiving device118and the presentation device120, or may even have additional functionality.

A plurality of content providers104a-104iprovide program content, such as television content or audio content, to a distributor, such as the program distributor106. Example content providers104a-104iinclude television stations which provide local or national television programming, special content providers which provide premium based programming or pay-per-view programming, or radio stations which provide audio programming.

Program content, interchangeably referred to as a program, is communicated to the program distributor106from the content providers104a-104ithrough suitable communication media, generally illustrated as communication system108for convenience. Communication system108may include many different types of communication media, now known or later developed. Non-limiting media examples include telephony systems, the Internet, internets, intranets, cable systems, fiber optic systems, microwave systems, asynchronous transfer mode (“ATM”) systems, frame relay systems, digital subscriber line (“DSL”) systems, radio frequency (“RF”) systems, and satellite systems. Further, program content communicated from the content providers104a-104ito the program distributor106may be communicated over combinations of media. For example, a television broadcast station may initially communicate program content, via an RF signal or other suitable medium, that is received and then converted into a digital signal suitable for transmission to the program distributor106over a fiber optics system. As another nonlimiting example, an audio content provider may communicate audio content via its own satellite system to the program distributor106.

In at least one embodiment, the received program content is converted by one or more devices (not shown) as necessary at the program distributor106into a suitable signal that is communicated (i.e., “uplinked”) by one or more antennae110to one or more satellites112(separately illustrated herein from, although considered part of, the communication system108). It is to be appreciated that the communicated uplink signal may contain a plurality of multiplexed programs. The uplink signal is received by the satellite112and then communicated (i.e., “downlinked”) from the satellite112in one or more directions, for example, onto a predefined portion of the planet. It is appreciated that the format of the above-described signals are adapted as necessary during the various stages of communication.

A receiver antenna114that is within reception range of the downlink signal communicated from satellite112receives the above-described downlink signal. A wide variety of receiver antennae114are available. Some types of receiver antenna114are operable to receive signals from a single satellite112. Other types of receiver antenna114are operable to receive signals from multiple satellites112and/or from terrestrial based transmitters.

The receiver antenna114can be located at a customer premises116. Examples of customer premises116include a residence, a business, or any other suitable location operable to receive signals from satellite112. The received signal is communicated, typically over a hard-wire connection, to a receiving device118. The receiving device118is a conversion device that converts, also referred to as formatting, the received signal from antenna114into a signal suitable for communication to a presentation device120and/or a user device122. Often, the receiver antenna114is of a parabolic shape that may be mounted on the side or roof of a structure. Other antenna configurations can include, but are not limited to, phased arrays, wands, or other dishes. In some embodiments, the receiver antenna114may be remotely located from the customer premises116. For example, the antenna114may be located on the roof of an apartment building, such that the received signals may be transmitted, after possible recoding, via cable or other mechanisms, such as Wi-Fi, to the customer premises116.

The received signal communicated from the receiver antenna114to the receiving device118is a relatively weak signal that is amplified, and processed or formatted, by the receiving device118. The amplified and processed signal is then communicated from the receiving device118to a presentation device120in a suitable format, such as a television (“TV”) or the like, and/or to a user device122. It is to be appreciated that presentation device120may be any suitable device operable to present a program having video information and/or audio information.

User device122may be any suitable device that is operable to receive a signal from the receiving device118, another endpoint device, or from other devices external to the customer premises116. Additional non-limiting examples of user device122include optical media recorders, such as a compact disk (“CD”) recorder, a digital versatile disc or digital video disc (“DVD”) recorder, a digital video recorder (“DVR”), or a personal video recorder (“PVR”). User device122may also include game devices, magnetic tape type recorders, RF transceivers, and personal computers (“PCs”).

Interface between the receiving device118and a user (not shown) may be provided by a hand-held remote device128. Remote128typically communicates with the receiving device118using a suitable wireless medium, such as infrared (“IR”), RF, or the like. Other devices (not shown) may also be communicatively coupled to the receiving device118so as to provide user instructions. Non-limiting examples include game device controllers, keyboards, pointing devices, and the like.

The receiving device118may receive programming partially from, or entirely from, another source other than the above-described receiver antenna114. Other embodiments of the receiving device118may receive locally broadcast RF signals, or may be coupled to communication system108via any suitable medium. Non-limiting examples of medium communicatively coupling the receiving device118to communication system108include cable, fiber optic, or Internet media.

Customer premises116may include other devices which are communicatively coupled to communication system108via a suitable media. For example, but not limited to, some customer premises116include an optional network136, or a networked system, to which receiving devices118, presentation devices120, and/or a variety of user devices122can be coupled, collectively referred to as endpoint devices. Non-limiting examples of network136include, but are not limited to, an Ethernet, twisted pair Ethernet, an intranet, a local area network (“LAN”) system, or the like. One or more endpoint devices, such as PCs, data storage devices, TVs, game systems, sound system receivers, Internet connection devices, digital subscriber loop (“DSL”) devices, wireless LAN, WiFi, Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (“WiMax”), or the like, are communicatively coupled to network136so that the plurality of endpoint devices are communicatively coupled together. Thus, the network136allows the interconnected endpoint devices, and the receiving device118, to communicate with each other. Alternatively, or in addition, some devices in the customer premises116may be directly connected to the communication system108, such as the telephone134which may employ a hardwire connection or an RF signal for coupling to communication system108.

A plurality of information providers138a-138iare coupled to communication system108. Information providers138a-138imay provide various forms of content and/or services to the various devices residing in the customer premises116, such as receiving device118, user device122, and/or PC132. For example, information provider138amay provide requested information of interest to such devices, such as audio, video, and/or other types of data. Information providers138a-138imay further perform various transactions on behalf of a user of a receiving device, such as when a user purchases a product or service via a receiving device118and/or one or more other devices of the user.

The above description of the communication system102and the customer premises116, and the various devices therein, is intended as a broad, non-limiting overview of an example environment in which various embodiments of a secure content sharing system may be implemented. The communication system102and the various devices therein, may contain other devices, systems and/or media not specifically described herein. The customer premises116may differ from one customer to another, may contain fewer, more and/or other devices, systems and/or media than those described herein.

As noted above, the content providers104a-104i, the information providers138a-138i, and/or the program distributor106may provide program content and/or various other types of content to a receiving device118. In some embodiments, the content providers104a-104i, the information providers138a-138i, and/or the program distributor106may restrict access to program content and/or other types of content, such that distributed content may only be viewed by and/or otherwise accessed by authorized users. In some instances, access to program content may be controlled by encrypting the program content, such that only authorized devices and/or users may access the program content. For example, if the program distributor provides content via a satellite network comprising antenna110and satellite112, then any person in possession of a receiving device118may receive the signal or signals carrying the program content and thereby access the program content. In order to control access to the program content, the program distributor106may encrypt the program content prior to its transmission, such that even if an unauthorized receiving device118receives the program content, it cannot access the program content unless it can obtain one or more appropriate decryption keys.

The receiving device118may store or otherwise have access to program content and/or other types of content received from various sources (e.g., content providers104a-104i, information providers138a-138i, program distributor106), such as for use by a user of the receiving device. For example, in some embodiments, the receiving device may store program content, such as for playback to a user of the receiving device118using DVR/PVR technology, pay-per-view services, and the like. Program content may include television programs, movies, etc., and/or portions thereof (e.g., clips). In addition, the receiving device may store or otherwise have access to various other types of content that may be presented by or otherwise used by a receiving device, such as including other audio/video content (e.g., user-generated content), audio content (e.g., music), image content (e.g., photographs), and/or various other types of information. In various embodiments, such program content and other content may be stored on various storage medium accessible to the receiving device118, including one or more hard disks included in the receiving device118and/or other devices that the receiving device may access via a communication link (e.g., user device122, PC132), and/or other storage media (including removable storage media).

The various embodiments disclosed herein, provide techniques to facilitate secure sharing of program content and/or other content stored on and/or otherwise accessible to a receiving device118located at a customer premises116with a group of one or more other receiving devices118located at one or more other customer premises116, such that the group of one or more other receiving devices118may present or otherwise utilize the shared content. For example, such techniques may allow a customer A to share such content of a receiving device located at customer A's premises, with a group of one or more other customers (e.g., friends, family, etc.) located at other customer premises, such that the one or more other customers may obtain the shared content for presentation and/or use by receiving devices located at the premises of the one or more other customers. After having received and/or otherwise acquired shared content from customer A's receiving device, the shared content may be presented by or otherwise used by the receiving devices of the one or more other customers, such as for presentation on an associated presentation device (e.g., presentation device120), displaying on a television or other display, playing on a speaker, or the like. Shared content of a receiving device located at a first customer premises may be provided to or otherwise obtained by a group of other receiving devices located at other customer premises in various ways in various embodiments. For example, in some embodiments, shared content may be transmitted between receiving devices, such as via a communication network (e.g., communication system108or portions thereof). In some embodiments, shared content may be transported between receiving devices using various other data transmission and/or transfer techniques, including via removable storage media and the like.

In some embodiments, access to shared content of a customer's receiving device may be restricted such that only groups of one or more other receiving devices that are authorized to access the shared content may access or otherwise use the shared content. In at least some such embodiments, access to shared content of a first receiving device may be restricted for use by a group of one or more authorized receiving devices by providing access control information to the first receiving device that enables the first receiving device to encrypt content that it shares with the group of one or more authorized receiving devices, and separately providing access control information to the group of one or more other authorized receiving devices that enables such devices to decrypt content that has been encrypted by the first receiving device. Thus, in such an embodiment, only receiving devices that have been provided with the appropriate access control information may decrypt content that is shared by the first receiving device. In some embodiments, access control information is provided by a program distributor106to the various receiving devices via a satellite network comprising antenna110and satellite112. In addition, in at least some embodiments, some or all of the described techniques are performed by an embodiment of a secure content sharing system, such as described in greater detail below.

Example embodiments described herein provide applications, tools, data structures and other support to implement a secure content sharing system. In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth, such as data formats, code sequences, and the like, in order to provide a thorough understanding of the described techniques. Various of the embodiments described can be practiced without some of the specific details described herein, or with other specific details, such as changes with respect to the ordering of the code flow, different code flows, and the like. Thus, the scope of the techniques and/or functions described are not limited by the particular order, selection, or decomposition of steps described with reference to any particular module, component, or routine.

B. Secure Content Sharing Overview

FIG. 2is a block diagram illustrating an example embodiment of portions of a secure content sharing system200. The secure content sharing system200enables customers of a program distributor106to form secure content sharing groups in which the customers share content stored on and/or accessible to receiving devices of the customers with one or more other customers that are authorized to access such content, such that the one or more authorized customers may access and/or otherwise use the shared content on their own receiving devices. The illustrated secure content sharing system200includes a program distributor106, a plurality of receiving devices118a-118ilocated at respective customer premises116a-116i, a satellite communication network210, and other communication network212. A content sharing access service202is provided by the program distributor106to facilitate secure content sharing between various of the receiving devices118a-118i, such as by providing capabilities related to specifying secure content sharing groups and enabling the receiving devices118a-118iwithin secure content sharing groups to encrypt and/or decrypt content that is shared within the groups.

Each of the receiving devices118a-118iis located at a respective one of the customer premises116a-116iand receives programming and/or other data provided by the program distributor106via the satellite network210for use of an associated customer of the particular customer premises. For example, the one or more receiving devices118alocated at customer1premises116areceive programming and/or other data provided by the program distributor106for use of a customer1located with the customer1premises; the one or more receiving devices118blocated at a customer2premises116breceive programming and/or other data provided by the program distributor106for use of a customer2located with the customer2premises; and so on. The satellite network210is part of a satellite distribution system and may include, for example, the antenna110and the satellite112described with respect toFIG. 1.

Various of the receiving devices118a-118iare interacting with various other of the receiving devices118a-118ivia the other communication network212, such as to securely share content of the receiving devices in accordance with various of the described techniques, as well as interacting with the content sharing access service202to specify or otherwise manage secure content sharing groups. The other communication network212may be, for example, a publicly accessible network of linked networks, possibly operated by various distinct parties (e.g., the Internet), a private network (e.g., corporate, university, etc.) that is wholly or partially inaccessible to non-privileged users, one or more private networks with access to and/or from other private and/or public networks, and/or the like. Although not illustrated here, the satellite network210and the other communication network212may be provided as part of the communication system108described with respect toFIG. 1.

As previously noted, various of the receiving devices118a-118imay be grouped into secure content sharing groups. A secure content sharing group may, for example, include a group of two or more receiving devices located at different customer premises wherein at least one of the receiving devices shares content stored on and/or accessible to the receiving device with the other receiving devices in the secure content sharing group, such that only the other receiving devices in the group are authorized to access or otherwise use the shared content. Access to shared content may be restricted such that only the receiving devices118a-118iin the secure content sharing group may access or otherwise use the shared content. A receiving device that shares content with other receiving devices in a secure content sharing group is variously referred to as a “sharing device” and/or a “sharing receiving device” in various embodiments. In some embodiments, a secure content sharing group may be configured to include only a single sharing device that shares its content with the other receiving devices in the group, with the other receiving devices being authorized to access content shared by the single sharing device. In other embodiments, a secure content sharing group may include multiple sharing devices that share content with the other receiving devices in the group, and/or may be configured such that all receiving devices in the group share content with each other. Furthermore, in some embodiments, a receiving device may be included in multiple different secure content sharing groups, such as a receiving device that has been authorized to access shared content of multiple sharing devices.

As one illustrative example of a secure content sharing group, the secure content sharing group250includes the receiving devices118aand118b, located at customer premises116aand116b, respectively. In this group, the receiving device118ashares content with the receiving device118b, which has been authorized to access or otherwise use shared content of the receiving device118a. Additional receiving devices may be added or otherwise included in the secure content sharing group250, such that the additional receiving device may also be authorized to access or use various shared content of receiving device118a. For example, the receiving device118imay be added to the secure content sharing group250, after which the receiving device118iis authorized to access or otherwise use content shared by the receiving device118a. Although not illustrated inFIG. 2, various other secure content sharing groups may exist and/or be created. For example, a secure content sharing group may be formed that includes receiving device118bas a sharing device and receiving device118iand/or any number of other receiving devices (not shown) as devices that are authorized to access shared content of the sharing device118b, etc.

As part of configuring a secure content sharing group250, the content sharing access service202interacts via the satellite network210with the various receiving devices118a-118bthat are included in the secure content group, such as to provide access control information to the receiving devices to enable the secure content sharing group to share encrypted content that only receiving devices in the group250may access. The content sharing access service202provides access control information to a receiving device118ato enable the receiving device to encrypt content that it shares with other receiving devices included in the secure content sharing group. Such access control information may cause and/or otherwise allow the receiving device118ato determine a cryptographic key to use for encrypting content that it shares with other receiving devices in the group. The content sharing access service202also provides access control information to other one or more receiving devices, such as receiving device118b, that are included in the secure content sharing group250to enable such other receiving devices to decrypt content that has been encrypted by the sharing receiving device118afor use by device in the content sharing group. Such access control information may cause and/or otherwise allow such receiving devices to determine a cryptographic key to use for decrypting the shared content that the sharing receiving device118ahas encrypted. Of course, if other receiving devices are added to the content sharing group250, such as receiving device118i, the content sharing access service202provides access control information via the satellite network210to the other receiving devices to enable such receiving device to decrypt content shared by the receiving device118a.

After a content sharing group250has been configured to share encrypted content that only receiving devices in the group250may access, the receiving devices in the group may share the encrypted content in various ways in various embodiments. In some embodiments, the sharing receiving device118amay transmit encrypted shared content to one or more other receiving devices in the shared content group (e.g., receiving device118b) via a communication network, such as the other communication network212and/or the satellite network210, such as by using various data transmission protocols (e.g., TCP/IP, FTP, HTTP, and the like). For example, in some such embodiments, the receiving device118bin the content sharing group250may interact with the sharing receiving device118avia the other communication network212to request one or more pieces of shared content from the receiving device118a, with the receiving device118aresponding to the request by encrypting the requested content pieces for access by the receiving device118band providing the encrypted content to the receiving device118bvia the other communication network212. After the receiving device118breceives the encrypted content from the receiving device118a, it may decrypt the content for presentation and/or other use by the content receiving device118b. In other embodiments, the sharing receiving device118amay store encrypted shared content on a removable storage media (e.g., USB, CDROM, etc) or other storage media that may be provided to or otherwise made accessible to the one or more other receiving devices in the content sharing group.

Additional details related to configuring receiving devices to share content in a secure content sharing group and related to secure content sharing are described below and with respect toFIGS. 3A-3B.

A secure content sharing group may be created in various ways in various embodiments. In one exemplary embodiment, the content sharing access service202provides capabilities that enable customers to specify and/or manage secure content sharing groups via receiving devices of the customers, with the content sharing access service202configuring the various receiving devices in the secure content sharing groups according to such customer specification. In some such embodiments, a customer may interact with the content sharing access service202to indicate one or more other customers with whom the customer authorizes to share content of a receiving device of the customer. As a result of such interactions, the content sharing access service202may determine the various receiving devices that are in the created secure content sharing group (e.g., by accessing a customer database that includes such information, etc.) and interact with the various receiving devices in the created secure content sharing group via the satellite network to provide access control information to the receiving devices, such as described above. As one illustrative example, a customer1associated with the customer1premises116amay interact with the content sharing access service202via the other communication network212to create the secure content sharing group250, such as by providing information and/or otherwise indicating that the customer1wishes to share content of the receiving device116awith the receiving device118bassociated with a customer2associated with the customer2premises116b. After receiving such indications, the content sharing access service202provides access control information to the receiving devices118aand118bto enable those receiving devices to share encrypted content with the secure content sharing group250. At a later time customer1may interact with the content sharing access service202to add one or more other receiving devices to the group, with content sharing access service202providing access control information to the added receiving devices to enable them to share content within the group.

The content sharing access service202may facilitate the various types of interactions by customers in various ways in various embodiments, such as including programmatic interactions based on an API (Application Programming Interface) provided by the content sharing access service202and/or interactive interactions based on a graphical user interface provided to customers (e.g., via one or more Web pages hosted by the content sharing access service202, via a client-side application of the executing on a receiving device and/or other computing device of a customer, etc.). Although an embodiment has been described that includes a customer interacting with the content sharing service202via the other communication network212to specify groups of receiving devices that the customer wishes to share content with, other embodiments are possible. For example, in some embodiments, a customer may interact with the content sharing access service202to specify secure content sharing groups in other ways, such as by telephoning a customer representative of the program distributor106, etc.

In some embodiments, the content sharing access service202may provide other information to the receiving devices in the secure content group to facilitate formation of a secure content sharing group, such as identifiers that may be used to determine a location of where shared content resides (e.g., a network address of a sharing device, etc.) as well as other information that may be used to identify receiving devices that are in the secure content sharing group, etc. Such other information may be provided to the receiving devices in various ways, such as via the satellite network210, the other communication network212, etc.

Although a satellite network210is provided in the illustrated embodiment ofFIG. 2, it will be appreciated that in other embodiments of a secure content sharing system200other program distribution systems/networks may be used, such as including, but not limited to, cable systems, fiber optic systems, telephony systems, and the like. In addition, in some embodiments, the content sharing access service202may interact with the plurality of receiving devices118a-118ito facilitate secure content sharing via the other communication network212.

As previously noted, the content shared may be a recorded video program, a DVD, an audio file or some other electronic content. The following are examples that may be carried out according to various embodiments. Customer1may have watched a particular program of high interest, for example, the Super Bowl, the final show of American Idol, or a particular classic movie. The program may have been recorded on the local DVR or hard disk located in the receiving device118aat customer1premises. Customer1may have indicated that such a recorded program is available for access to receiving devices in a content sharing group. At some later time, customer2, who has been authorized to access shared content of customer1, may wish to view the program that is stored on customer1's receiving device118a. In this case, customer2may obtain a copy of the particular recorded program, such as by interacting with customer1's receiving device118avia customer2's receiving device118bto request access to the particular recorded program, with the particular program being encrypted for use by customer2's receiving device118band then provided to customer2's receiving device118bfor viewing, such as variously described herein.

A particular example of the use of the system is as follows. Assume that customer1is having a Super Bowl party at his home. He invites a number of guests, including relatives, neighbors and friends to watch the Super Bowl together at his home. This is customer premises116a. Among the guests who attend are his sister and her family, who live a few miles away. The Super Bowl party is enjoyed by those who attend as they watch the plays, the replays and commercials. Customer1records the Super Bowl on his local hard disk or DVD inside his receiving device118awhile it is being transmitted so it is now stored in his local machine118ain his premises for replay when ever he wishes. After the party is over, the guests return to their individual homes. The sister had intended to set her local set-top box to record before going to the Super Bowl party, but neglected to do so. Therefore, when she attempts to watch some of the Super Bowl events at her own home, she is not able to do so. Both have the same satellite network provider, for example, Dish Network®, provided by DISH Network LLC of Englewood, Colo. The sister is customer2, at premises116b. At sometime prior, the brother and sister had joined a common customer group with the satellite network provider, for which they may have paid a different fee and may have a different monthly payment structure. They are both in the same Secure Content Sharing group250. Using the content sharing access service202as described herein, the sister may obtain a copy of the Super Bowl recorded on her brother's receiving device118afor viewing on her receiving device118b. Similarly, customer2can send video programs, audio programs, movies and other data from her receiving device118bto customer1's receiving device using the system described herein. Customers1and2can exchange various video programs with each other they wish using the system described herein.

Assume other people at the same Super Bowl party are not part of the same secure content sharing group250. Such people, will not be able to access the recorded version of the Super Bowl for customer1, even if they have the same satellite network provider. Unless the proper authorizations have been provided, the customer1would not be able to exchange recorded data or video program information with them. Without the proper codes and authorization access provided by the program distributor, such sharing is not permitted.

C. Example Interactions of a Secure Content Sharing System

FIGS. 3A-3Billustrate examples of interactions between portions of a secure content sharing system200.

In particular,FIG. 3Aillustrates a content sharing access service202providing access control information via a satellite network210to a receiving device118alocated at a customer1premises116a, and providing access control information302bto a receiving device118blocated at a customer2premises116b, such as to enable the receiving device118ato securely share content with the receiving device118b, such as in a secure content sharing group250. In this example, the content sharing access service202has received an indication to enable a content sharing group250, that includes the receiving device118aas a sharing receiving device and the receiving device118bas a receiving device that is authorized to access content shared by the receiving device118a, such as, for example, in response to an indication by a customer1associated with the customer1premises116ato create such a group.

The content sharing access service202determines appropriate access control information to provide to the various receiving devices in the secure content sharing group such that the receiving devices may exchange encrypted content that only the receiving devices in the secure content group may access, and provides the appropriate information to the various receiving devices via the satellite network210. In this illustrated example, the content sharing access service202provides access control information302ato the receiving device118athat enables or otherwise instructs the receiving device118ato determine an appropriate encryption key to use for sharing content with one or more other receiving devices included the secure content sharing group250, such as the receiving device118b. The content sharing access service202also provides access control information302bto the receiving device118bthat enables or otherwise instructs the receiving device118bto determine an appropriate decryption key to use for accessing shared content of the receiving device118a.

In some embodiments, the encryption key and the decryption key may be symmetric keys (e.g., such as shared secret keys), and in such embodiments the receiving device118aencrypts content for use by the receiving devices in the secure content sharing group250using a symmetric key algorithm, such as DES (“Data Encryption Standard”), Triple DES, AES (“Advanced Encryption Standard”), Blowfish, RC5, RC5, RC66, Vernam Ciphers, or the like. In other embodiments, the encryption key and the decryption key may be an asymmetric key pair, and in such embodiments the receiving device118aencrypts content for use by the receiving devices in the secure content sharing group250using an asymmetric algorithm such as RSA (“Rivest, Shamir, Adelman”), ElGamal, or the like.

In some embodiments, the access control information may include an identifier or information that is uniquely associated with the secure content sharing group (e.g., such as a randomly generated identifier; a customer identifier; an identifier associated with the sharing receiving device; etc.), such that the receiving devices may individually generate and/or otherwise obtain an appropriate cryptographic key to use with the secure content sharing group. For example, in some embodiments access control information302aand302bmay include a unique identifier that is associated with the content sharing group250, with each of the receiving devices118aand118busing that information to seed a key generation algorithm to generate an appropriate cryptographic key (e.g., receiving device118agenerates an encryption key, and receiving device118bgenerates a decryption key). In some such embodiments, the access control information may also include indications of one or more key generation algorithms/techniques to use for generating cryptographic keys.

In other embodiments, the access control information may otherwise indicate one or more keys for the receiving devices to use in the secure content sharing group. For example, the access control information302aand302bmay indicate keys that are currently stored (e.g., in a cryptographic key storage hardware, in memory, on disk, etc.) or otherwise available to the receiving devices. In some embodiments, the access control information may include the appropriate cryptographic keys, such as access control information302amay include the encryption key, and access control information302bmay include the decryption key.

In some embodiments, the access control information may include various other information. For example, in some embodiments, the access control information302aand302bmay include indications of an encryption algorithm to use for encrypting/decrypting shared content, indications of where to obtain shared content (e.g., network address of the sharing device118a), access identifiers to use in obtaining/providing shared content, etc. In some situations and embodiments, the access control information302aand302bmay contain the same information and/or may contain different information.

As previously noted, the content sharing access service202determines appropriate access control information to provide to the receiving devices in a secure content sharing group. In some embodiments, such information may be stored in a database and/or other storage medium in association with the access control group, such that the content sharing access service202may obtain appropriate access control information from such storage when configuring various receiving devices to participate in the secure content sharing group. When the content sharing access service202receives indications to add other devices (not shown) to the content sharing group250, the content sharing access service202determines the appropriate access control information associated with the secure content sharing group (e.g., obtains from storage) and provides such information to the addition receiving devices via the satellite network210.

In some embodiments, the access control information302a, which enables the receiving device118ato encrypt shared content for the secure content sharing group250, may be provided to the receiving device118aprior to adding other receiving devices, such as the receiving device118b, to the secure content group250. For example, in some embodiments, the receiving device118amay be preconfigured by the content sharing access service202to encrypt shared content for other devices in the secure content sharing group250.

Various other embodiments may include various other features and/or functionality. In some embodiments, the access control information itself may be encrypted by the content sharing access service202prior to being provided to the various receiving devices in the secure content sharing group, such that only the receiving devices that are intended to receive the access control information may access such encrypted information. For example, the access control information302amay be encrypted by way of an identifier or key, such as a subscription key, service key, user key, hardware identifier, or the like, that is uniquely associated with the receiving device118a, such that only the receiving device118amay decrypt the content. Access control information302bmay be similarly encrypted for access by the receiving device118b. In addition, in some embodiments, the access control information and/or cryptographic keys may be periodically changed/updated for a secure content sharing group, and in such cases the content sharing access service202may provide new access control information to the various receiving devices in the secure content sharing group.

FIG. 3Bcontinues the example ofFIG. 3Aand illustrates a secure content sharing group250, with the receiving device118alocated at customer1premises116asecurely sharing content372with the receiving device118blocated at the customer2premises118bin accordance with various of the described techniques.

The receiving device118aincludes content sharing logic302, content304, and content sharing information306including an encryption key308. The content sharing logic302, when executed by the receiving device118a, enables the receiving devices118ato securely share content304of the receiving device118awith other receiving devices in a secure content sharing group, such as receiving device118b. The content304includes programming content and/or other content that is stored on or otherwise accessible to the receiving device118a, some of which may be shared by the receiving device118a. The content sharing information306includes information related to one or more content sharing groups that the receiving device118amay be included in. For example, in this illustrated embodiment, the content sharing information includes the encryption key308that the receiving device118auses to encrypt content that it shares with receiving devices in the secure content sharing group250.

The receiving device118bincludes content sharing logic312, content314, and content sharing information316including a decryption key318. The content sharing logic312, when executed by the receiving device118b, enables the receiving devices118bto access or otherwise obtain content shared by the receiving device118a. The content314includes programming content and/or other content that is stored on or otherwise accessible to the receiving device118b, including content that the receiving device118bhas obtained from one or more other receiving devices, such as receiving device118a. The content sharing information316includes information related to one or more content sharing groups that the receiving device118bmay be included in. For example, in this illustrated embodiment, the content sharing information includes the decryption key318that the receiving device118buses to decrypt content that the receiving device118ashares with receiving devices in the secure content sharing group250.

In this particular example, the receiving devices118aand118bhave respectively received access control information302aand302bfrom the content sharing access service202, such as illustrated inFIG. 3A. In response to receiving access control information302a, the receiving devices118ahas determined the encryption key308to use for encrypting content (such as content304) that the receiving device118ashares with other receiving devices in the secure content sharing group250, such as receiving device318b. For example, the content sharing logic302may include logic for generating and/or otherwise obtaining the encryption key308based on the received access control information, and may store the encryption key308for later use in encrypting shared content. Similarly, in response to receiving access control information302b, the receiving device118bhas determined the decryption key318to use for decrypting content that the receiving device118ashares in the secure content sharing group250, and has stored the decryption key318for later use in decrypting such content.

The receiving device118areceives requests and/or other indications to share one or more pieces of content304with a receiving device118bin the secure content sharing group250. In response to such requests, the receiving device118adetermines an appropriate encryption key to use for encrypting the requested content, such as the encryption key308associated with the secure content sharing group250. After the appropriate encryption key308has been determined, the receiving device encrypts the requested content using the encryption key308and provides the encrypted requested content372for use by the receiving device318b.

When encrypting requested shared content, the receiving device118amay encrypt some or all of the requested content using the encryption key308. For example, in some embodiments, the receiving device may only encrypt audio and/or video tracks of content that includes both audio and video tracks; may encrypt one or more segments of a video/audio track (e.g., every other second), etc. In some embodiments, the requested content may already be encrypted, such as by the program distributor or other content provider who provided the content to the receiving device118a. In some such cases, when the receiving device118ashares such requested content, the receiving device may not encrypt the content itself, as it is already encrypted, but may instead encrypt one or more cryptographic keys that may be used to decrypt the requested content using the encryption key308, and provides those encrypted keys along with the requested content.

The encrypted content372may be provided to the receiving device118bin various ways in various embodiments. For example, in some embodiments, the receiving device118amay send the encrypted content372directly to the receiving device118avia a communication network, such as by sending, writing, streaming, transmitting, etc. In other embodiments, the receiving device118amay post the encrypted shared content372to a network server (e.g., a file server, etc.) for download by the receiving device118a. In still other embodiments, the receiving device118amay write the encrypted content onto a removable storage media that may subsequently be transported to the receiving device118b.

In some embodiments, the content sharing logic302and/or312enables the receiving devices118aand118b, respectively, to interactively share content, such as over a communication network (e.g., the other communication network212ofFIG. 2). For example, in some such embodiments, the receiving device118bmay interact via a communication network with the receiving device118ato request shared content, with the receiving device118aencrypting and providing the requested shared content to the receiving device118bin response to such a request.

After the receiving device118breceives or otherwise obtains the encrypted content372, the receiving device118bmay determine an appropriate decryption key to use with such content372shared by the receiving device118a, such as the decryption key318associated with the secure content sharing group250, and decrypts the content372. After the content has been decrypted, the receiving device may present and/or otherwise use the content as appropriate.

Although this embodiment has been described in terms of one-way sharing, from receiving device118ato receiving device118b, other embodiments are possible. In some embodiments, the access control information provided by the content sharing access service202may enable the receiving devices in the content sharing group250to share content in a two-way manner, such that each of the devices in the group may encrypt and share content that other receiving devices in the group may decrypt. For example, as illustrated inFIG. 3B, the receiving device118amay optionally obtain shared content376from the receiving device118b. In some such embodiments, the receiving device118amay be able to perform both encryption and decryption using the encryption key308, while the receiving device118bmay be able to perform both encryption and decryption using the decryption key318, although in other embodiments other keys (not shown) may have been determined from the access control information provided to the respective receiving devices118aand118bthat may be used for such purposes of two-way sharing. In still other embodiments, an additional secure content sharing group may formed (not shown), in addition to the content sharing group250, that includes the receiving device118bas the sharing device and the receiving device118aas a device that obtains shared content from the receiving device118b, with access control information being provided by the content sharing access service202as appropriate to enable such secure sharing between the additional group.

In some embodiments, the sharing logic302and/or312may enable a customer to configure or/other manage secure content sharing groups. For example, the sharing logic302may enable a customer to interact with an embodiment of the content sharing access service202to specify/manage one or more content sharing groups. In other embodiments, the content sharing logic302and/or312may enable customers to control access to various content of a receiving device. For example, the content sharing logic302may provide functionality that allows a customer/user interacting with the receiving device118ato specify or otherwise indicate particular content that the customer/user wishes to share, such as by specifying particular pieces of content (e.g., a particular program, album, song, photo album, picture, etc.), particular categories of content (e.g., by type, such as programming, music, photo albums, etc; by ratings, such as PG, TV-PG, etc; and the like), etc. In a similar fashion, the content sharing logic302may also enable a customer/user of the receiving device118ato mark or otherwise indicate content that is not to be shared. In addition, the content sharing logic302may enable the customer/user to provide and/or restrict various shared content for use by particular other receiving devices in a secure content sharing group, such as by enabling the customer/user to specify which of the shared content (e.g., particular content, types of content, etc.) each of the one or more of the other receiving devices in the secure content sharing group are allowed to access. For example, the customer may use such functionality to permit customer2's receiving device118bto access all shared content, while restricting access to such shared content for another receiving device in the secure content sharing group to children's programming and/or particular photo albums, etc.

In addition, the cryptographic keys (encryption key308and decryption key318) determined respectively by the receiving devices118aand118bbased on the provide access control information (302aand302b) may be used in other ways in other embodiments of a secure content sharing group. For example, in some embodiments, the receiving devices118aand118bmay use their respective cryptographic key for the purposes of authenticating each other and/or other receiving devices in the secure content sharing group250. For example, the receiving devices118aand118bmay authenticate the identity of the other device using their cryptographic keys to generate/validate digital signatures. In some such embodiments, after a receiving device118ahas authenticated the identity of the other receiving device118bas being part of the secure content sharing group (or vice versa), the receiving device may provide other services and/or functionality for use by the receiving device118b.

D. Example Computing System Implementation

FIG. 4is a block diagram of example computing systems suitable for executing example embodiments of portions of a secure content sharing system.FIG. 4shows a receiving device computing system118that may be utilized to implement an embodiment of content sharing logic302, and a server computing system460that may be utilized to implement and embodiment of the content sharing access service202. The server computing system460may be provided by a program distributor (e.g., the program distributor106ofFIGS. 1 and 2).

In one embodiment, the receiving device computing system118is configured to receive and display programming on a presentation device. In addition, the receiving device118may comprise one or more distinct computing systems/devices and may span distributed locations. Furthermore, each block shown may represent one or more such blocks as appropriate to a specific embodiment or may be combined with other blocks. Also, the content sharing logic302may be implemented in software, hardware, firmware, or in some combination to achieve the capabilities described herein.

In the embodiment shown, the receiving device computing system118comprises a computer memory (“memory”)401, a display402, one or more Central Processing Units (“CPU”)403, Input/Output devices404(e.g., keyboard, mouse, CRT or LCD display, and the like), other computer-readable media405, and network connections406. Content sharing logic302is shown residing in memory401. In other embodiments, some portion of the contents of the content sharing logic302may be stored on and/or transmitted over the other computer-readable media405. The content sharing logic302preferably executes on one or more CPUs403to securely share and/or access shared content, and/or to configure the receiving device118to perform operations related secure content sharing, as described herein. Other code or programs430(e.g., a user interface (“UI”) manager, an audio/video processing module, a program guide manager module, a Web server, and the like) and potentially other data repositories, such as data repository420, also reside in the memory401, and preferably execute on one or more CPUs403. Of note, one or more of the components inFIG. 4may not be present in any specific implementation. For example, some embodiments may not provide other computer readable media405, etc. The other receiving devices450may include similar components and/or blocks to those described with respect to the receiving device116, although such are not shown inFIG. 4here.

The content sharing logic302performs various of the described functionality of the receiving device118related to secure content sharing such as describe with respect to FIGS.2and3A-3B above. For example, the content sharing logic302may receive and/or otherwise obtain access control information, such as provided via the communication system108, and determine based on such information a cryptographic content key to use for secure content sharing and/or access shared content generate, as well as perform encryption/decryption as appropriate for sharing content in a secure content sharing group. In addition the content sharing logic302may interact via the communication system108with one or more other receiving devices450, and possibly with the server computing system460, and/or with other computing systems or devices (not shown), to perform various of the described operations related to secure content sharing.

The data repositories420may include content, such as programming content and/or other types of content obtained from a program distributor (not shown) and/or one or more other computing systems (e.g., content providers104a-104i, information providers138a-138ifromFIG. 1), such as via communication system108. The content may be received from various other sources, including the other computer-readable media405and/or other computing systems or devices (not shown), such as computing systems/devices located at a customer premises with the receiving device118, etc. As discussed elsewhere, such content may include programming, clips, audio/video, audio, images, and/or other data files, etc. In at least one embodiment, at least some of the content included in the data repositories420may be encrypted for restricted access by the receiving device computing system118(e.g., by a program distributor or other content provider) and may include one or more corresponding encryption keys that are usable for decrypting at least portions such content.

In this illustrated embodiment, the server computing system460comprises a memory461, one or more CPUs463, Input/Output devices464(e.g., keyboard, mouse, CRT or LCD display, and the like), and/or various other components (not shown), e.g., computer readable media, network connections, etc. The content sharing access service202preferably executes on one or more CPUs463to configure and/or specify one or more secure content sharing groups, as described herein. Furthermore, each block shown may represent one or more such blocks as appropriate to a specific embodiment or may be combined with other blocks. Also, the content sharing access service202may be implemented in software, hardware, firmware, or in some combination to achieve the capabilities described herein.

The content sharing access service202performs various of the described functionality, as described in FIGS.2and3A-3B. In particular, the content sharing access service202may interact with the receiving device116and other receiving devices450via the communication system108, such as to configure and/or otherwise manage receiving devices to participate in secure content sharing groups.

In an example embodiment, components/modules of the content sharing logic302and/or the Content Sharing Access Service202are implemented using standard programming techniques. For example, the content sharing logic302and/or the Content Sharing Access Service202may be implemented as “native” executables running on the CPU403and CPU463respectively, along with one or more static or dynamic libraries. In other embodiments, the content sharing logic302and/or the Content Sharing Access Service202may be implemented as instructions processed by virtual machine. In general, a range of programming languages known in the art may be employed for implementing such example embodiments, including representative implementations of various programming language paradigms, including but not limited to, object-oriented (e.g., Java, C++, C#, Visual Basic.NET, Smalltalk, and the like), functional (e.g., ML, Lisp, Scheme, and the like), procedural (e.g., C, Pascal, Ada, Modula, and the like), scripting (e.g., Perl, Ruby, Python, JavaScript, VBScript, and the like), declarative (e.g., SQL, Prolog, and the like).

Furthermore, in some embodiments, some or all of the components of the content sharing logic302and/or the Content Sharing Access Service202may be implemented or provided in other manners, such as at least partially in firmware and/or hardware, including, but not limited to one ore more application-specific integrated circuits (“ASICs”), standard integrated circuits, controllers (e.g., by executing appropriate instructions, and including microcontrollers and/or embedded controllers), field-programmable gate arrays (“FPGAs”), complex programmable logic devices (“CPLDs”), and the like. Some or all of the system components and/or data structures may also be stored as contents (e.g., as executable or other machine-readable software instructions or structured data) on a computer-readable medium (e.g., as a hard disk; a memory; a computer network or cellular wireless network or other data transmission medium; or a portable media article to be read by an appropriate drive or via an appropriate connection, such as a DVD or flash memory device) so as to enable or configure the computer-readable medium and/or one or more associated computing systems or devices to execute or otherwise use or provide the contents to perform at least some of the described techniques. Some or all of the system components and data structures may also be stored as data signals (e.g., by being encoded as part of a carrier wave or included as part of an analog or digital propagated signal) on a variety of computer-readable transmission mediums, which are then transmitted, including across wireless-based and wired/cable-based mediums, and may take a variety of forms (e.g., as part of a single or multiplexed analog signal, or as multiple discrete digital packets or frames). Such computer program products may also take other forms in other embodiments. Accordingly, embodiments of this disclosure may be practiced with other computer system configurations.

FIG. 5is a flow diagram of an example content sharing access service process according to one embodiment. In particular,FIG. 5illustrates a process500that may be performed, for example, as part of the content sharing access service202executing on the program distributor106, such as illustrated with respect toFIGS. 2 and 3A, and/or executing in memory461on an embodiment of the server computing system460ofFIG. 4.

The illustrated process500starts at502. At504, the process receives and indication to create a secure content sharing group. Typically, this indication is received from a first receiving device located at a first customer premises, so as to configure such a first receiving device to securely share content with other receiving devices located at other customer premises. For example, a customer associated with the first customer premises may be interacting with a user interface provided by the first receiving device to indicate a desire to create a secure content sharing group. Although, in other embodiments, such indications may be received from other sources. In some embodiments, the process may further determine the identity and/or location of the first receiving device, such as based on information stored in a customer database, etc.

At506, the process provides access control information to the first receiving device located at the first customer premises to enable the receiving device to securely share content with other receiving devices that are currently in and/or will be added to the secure content sharing group. The access control information is provided to the first receiving device via a satellite communication network. As discussed elsewhere, such access control information may include various identifiers and/or information associated with the content sharing group that may be used by the first receiving device to determine a cryptographic key with which to encrypt shared content for use by other devices in the secure content sharing group.

At508, the process receives an indication to add an authorized receiving device located at a different customer premises to the secure content sharing group. Typically, this indication is received from the first receiving device, such as in response to a customer associated with the first receiving device indicating another customer and/or another customer's receiving device with which the first customer desires to share content. In some embodiments, the process may further determine the identity and/or location of the authorized receiving device, such as by searching a database or other information storage that includes information associating one or more customers to receiving devices of those customers.

At510, the process provides access control information to the authorized receiving device to enable that device to access content shared by the first receiving device. As discussed elsewhere, such access control information may include various identifiers and/or information associated with the content sharing group that may be used by the authorized receiving device to determine a cryptographic key with which to decrypt content shared by the first receiving device.

At512, the process determines whether to continue. If so, the process returns to step508to receive other indications to add additional authorized receiving devices to the secure content sharing group. If not, the process ends at514.

FIGS. 6A-6Bare flow diagrams of example content sharing client processes. In particular,FIGS. 6A and 6Billustrate processes600and650, respectively, that may be performed, for example, by the content sharing logic302and312executing on the receiving devices118aand118bofFIG. 3B, and/or execution of the content sharing logic302executing in memory401of the receiving device118ofFIG. 4. Although processes600and650are illustrated inFIGS. 6A and 6Bas separate processes, in other embodiments, such processes may be provided as part of a single process executing on a receiving device with steps of the various illustrated processes600and650being performed as appropriate based on various received indications, information and/or requests.

InFIG. 6A, the illustrated process600starts at602. At604, the process receives access control information via a satellite network to enable the receiving device to securely share content with other receiving devices in a secure content sharing group. Such access control information may be provided by execution of step506of process500(FIG. 5).

At606, the process determines based on the received access control information an encryption key to use for encrypting content that the receiving device shares with other receiving devices in the secure content sharing group. For example, in some embodiments, the receiving device may generate and/or otherwise obtain the encryption key based on the information included in the provided access control information.

At608, the process receives and indication to provide content to another receiving device that is in the secure content sharing group. Typically, this indication will be received from the other receiving device, such as via a communication network (e.g., the Internet), although the indication may be received from other sources in other embodiments.

At610, in response to the received indication in step608, the process encrypts the requested content using the determined encryption key.

At612, the process provides the encrypted content to the other receiving device in the content sharing group. Typically, the encrypted content may be provided to the other receiving device via a communication network (e.g., the Internet).

At614, the process determines whether to continue. If so, the process returns to step608to receive additional requests to share content. Otherwise, the process ends at618.

InFIG. 6B, the illustrated process650starts at652. At654, the process receives access control information via a satellite network to enable the receiving device to access content shared by a sharing receiving device in a secure content sharing group. Such access control information may be provided by execution of step510of process500(FIG. 5).

At656, the process determines based on the received access control information a decryption key to use for decrypting shared content that the receiving device receives from the sharing receiving device in the secure content sharing group. For example, in some embodiments, the receiving device may generate and/or otherwise obtain the decryption key based on the information included in the provided access control information. In some embodiments, the process may store the determined decryption key.

At658, the process receives encrypted shared content from the sharing receiving device in the secure content sharing group. For example, such content may be received based on execution of step612of the process600(FIG. 6A).

At660, the process decrypts the received shared content using the determined decryption key.

At662, the process presents the decrypted shared content to a user of the receiving device on a presentation device, such as a television, computer and/or other presentation device. In other embodiments, the received shared content may be used by the receiving device in other manners as appropriate, such as for example, playing the content on an audio device, storing/transmitting to another device (e.g., a PC) for use by that other device, etc.

At664, the process determines whether to continue. If so, the process returns to step658to receive other shared content. Otherwise, the process ends at668.

In other embodiments, the process650may perform additional and/or other steps not illustrated. For example, in some embodiments, the process may interact with a sharing receiving device to request and/or otherwise obtain the encrypted shared content from the sharing receiving device.

While various embodiments have been described hereinabove, it is to be appreciated that various changes in form and detail may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention(s) presently or hereafter claimed.