Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US7457967?ie=ISO-8859-1
Timestamp: 2014-12-26 13:07:58
Document Index: 403945663

Matched Legal Cases: ['Application No. 03', 'Application No. 03', 'Application No. 03', 'Application No. 154', 'Application No. 154', 'Application No. 154']

Patent US7457967 - Hidden identification - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign inAdvanced Patent SearchPatentsOne or more embodiments of the invention provide a method, apparatus, and article of manufacture for limiting unauthorized access to digital services. A hidden non-modifiable identification number is embedded into a nonvolatile memory component. The nonvolatile memory component is used to contain state...http://www.google.com/patents/US7457967?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US7457967 - Hidden identificationAdvanced Patent SearchPublication numberUS7457967 B2Publication typeGrantApplication numberUS 10/085,346Publication dateNov 25, 2008Filing dateFeb 28, 2002Priority dateFeb 28, 2002Fee statusPaidAlso published asEP1345436A2, EP1345436A3, EP1345436B1, US8583922, US20030163706, US20080016349Publication number085346, 10085346, US 7457967 B2, US 7457967B2, US-B2-7457967, US7457967 B2, US7457967B2InventorsRonald P. Cocchi, Christopher P. Curren, Raynold M. KahnOriginal AssigneeThe Directv Group, Inc.Export CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManPatent Citations (37), Non-Patent Citations (31), Referenced by (5), Classifications (30), Legal Events (2) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetHidden identificationUS 7457967 B2Abstract One or more embodiments of the invention provide a method, apparatus, and article of manufacture for limiting unauthorized access to digital services. A hidden non-modifiable identification number is embedded into a nonvolatile memory component. The nonvolatile memory component is used to contain state information to provide desired functionality and enforce one or more security policies for accessing the digital services. Also, the hidden number uniquely identifies a device containing the nonvolatile memory component and access to the digital services is based on access rights associated with the hidden number. Once embedded, access to the nonvolatile memory component is isolated such that access to the identification number is limited to a fixed state custom logic block, the nonvolatile memory component is protected from modification such that it is read only, and the nonvolatile memory component is not directly accessible via a system bus.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is related to the following co-pending and commonly-assigned patent applications, which applications are incorporated by reference herein:
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/085,331, entitled �MULTIPLE NONVOLATILE MEMORIES�, by Ronald Cocchi, et. al., filed on the same date herewith;
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/085,920, entitled �DEDICATED NONVOLATILE MEMORY�, by Ronald Cocchi, et. al., filed on the same date herewith; and
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/085,860, entitled �ASYNCHRONOUS CONFIGURATION�, by Ronald Cocchi, et. al., filed on the same date herewith.
As described above, television programs and digital services are distributed to viewers by a variety of broadcasting methods. These methods include traditional analog broadcast television (National Television Systems Committee or �NTSC� standard), the soon to be required digital broadcast television (Advanced Television Systems Committee or �ATSC� standard), cable television (both analog and digital), satellite broadcasting (both analog and digital), as well as other methods. These methods allow channels of television content to be multiplexed and transmitted over a common transmission medium.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Digital services systems often contain a service module known as a smart card to prevent unauthorized access to the services. The smart card microcircuit contains a microprocessor, volatile memory components, nonvolatile memory components, a custom logic block, and a system input/output module. The security system may be compromised if memory components are used or attacked in unattended ways.
Video Distribution System FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an overview of a single satellite video distribution system 100. The video distribution system 100 comprises a control center 102 in communication with an uplink center 104 via a ground or other link 114 and with a subscriber receiver station 110 via a public switched telephone network (PSTN) or other link 120. The control center 102 provides program material (e.g. digital services, video programs, audio programs and data) to the uplink center 104 and coordinates with the subscriber receiver stations 110 to offer, for example, pay-per-view (PPV) program services, including billing and associated decryption of video programs.
Uplink Configuration FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a typical uplink configuration for a single satellite 108 transponder, showing how video program material is uplinked to the satellite 108 by the control center 102 and the uplink center 104. FIG. 2 shows three video channels (which could be augmented respectively with one or more audio channels for high fidelity music, soundtrack information, or a secondary audio program for transmitting foreign languages), a data channel from a program guide subsystem 206 and computer data information from a computer data source 208.
Schedule feeds 310 provide electronic schedule information about the timing and content of various television channels, such as that found in television schedules contained in newspapers and television guides. Schedule feeds 310 preferably include information from one or more companies that specialize in providing schedule information, such as TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES�, and T.V. DATA�. The data provided by companies such as TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES� and T.V. DATA� are typically transmitted over telephone lines to program guide database 302. These companies provide television schedule data for all of the television stations across the nation plus the nationwide channels, such as SHOWTIME�, HBO�, and the DISNEY CHANNEL�. The specific format of the data that are provided by these companies varies from company to company. Program guide database 302 preferably includes schedule data for television channels across the entire nation including all nationwide channels and local channels, regardless of whether the channels are transmitted by the transmission station.
Integrated Receiver/Decoder FIG. 5 is a block diagram of an integrated receiver/decoder (IRD) 126 (also hereinafter alternatively referred to as receiver 126 or a set top box). The receiver 126 comprises a tuner/demodulator 504 communicatively coupled to an ODU 112 having one or more LNBs 502. The LNB 502 converts the 12.2- to 12.7 GHz downlink 118 signal from the satellites 108 to, e.g., a 950-1450 MHz signal required by the IRD's 126 tuner/demodulator 504. The LNB 502 may provide either a dual or a single output. The single-output LNB 502 has only one RF connector, while the dual output LNB 502 has two RF output connectors and can be used to feed a second tuner 504, a second receiver 126, or some other form of distribution system.
The microcontroller 510 receives and processes command signals from the remote control 524, an IRD 126 keyboard interface, and/or another input device. The microcontroller receives commands for performing its operations from a processor programming memory, which permanently stores such instructions for performing such commands. The processor programming memory may comprise a read only memory (ROM) 538, an electrically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM) 522 or, similar memory device. The microcontroller 510 also controls the other digital devices of the IRD 126 via address and data lines (denoted �A� and �D� respectively, in FIG. 5).
Access Card A CAM 512 often contains a microprocessor, memory components (a volatile component and a nonvolatile component) and a system input/output (I/O) module to communicate with transport 508. Traditional microprocessors within a CAM 512 have nonvolatile memory to contain state that is used to provide the desired functionality and enforce security policies intended by the designers. The microprocessor and/or a memory access control unit restricts access to the memory components. Additionally, identification numbers may identify a CAM 512. However, in the prior art, there is no attempt to isolate the identification number from the system I/O module, system bus, microprocessor, or external environment.
CONCLUSION This concludes the description of one or more embodiments of the present invention. The foregoing description of the invention has been presented for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. Accordingly, while the invention may protect video, audio, broadband and data services reception using a microcircuit that resides in a smart card and set top box, the invention is not limited to smart card applications or to a particular digital service system.
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No. 10/085,860, filed Feb. 28, 2002, Ronald Cocchi, May 17, 2007.Referenced byCiting PatentFiling datePublication dateApplicantTitleUS8087058 *Jan 19, 2004Dec 27, 2011Comcast Cable Holdings, LlcHDTV subscriber verificationUS8677144Feb 24, 2009Mar 18, 2014Cavium, Inc.Secure software and hardware association techniqueUS8832765Nov 30, 2011Sep 9, 2014Comcast Cable Holdings, LlcHigh definition television signal compatibility verificationUS8843764Jul 15, 2011Sep 23, 2014Cavium, Inc.Secure software and hardware association techniqueUS20140033325 *Oct 1, 2013Jan 30, 2014Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Non-volatile memory for anti-cloning and authentication method for the same* Cited by examinerClassifications U.S. Classification713/193, 348/E07.061, 380/227, 726/26, 348/E05.004, 726/27, 725/25International ClassificationH04N7/16, G06F21/02, G06F21/00Cooperative ClassificationH04N7/163, H04N21/6143, H04N21/4182, H04N21/4181, G06F21/10, H04N21/2585, H04N21/42684, G06F2221/2141, H04N21/482, G06F2221/0797, G06F21/77European ClassificationH04N21/258C5, H04N21/418D, H04N21/418C, H04N21/482, H04N21/61D6, H04N21/426N, G06F21/77, G06F21/10, H04N7/16E2Legal EventsDateCodeEventDescriptionMay 25, 2012FPAYFee paymentYear of fee payment: 4Feb 28, 2002ASAssignmentOwner name: HUGHES ELECTRONICS CORPORATION, CALIFORNIAFree format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:COCCHI, RONALD P.;CURREN, CHRISTOPHER P.;KAHN, RAYNOLD M.;REEL/FRAME:012662/0335Effective date: 20020220RotateOriginal ImageGoogle Home - Sitemap - USPTO Bulk Downloads - Privacy Policy - Terms of Service - About Google Patents - Send FeedbackData provided by IFI CLAIMS Patent Services©2012 Google