Patent ID: 8160250

Claim:
A method for monitoring usage of an encrypted broadcast service in a secure client module comprising a memory and being communicatively linked to a client device, the method comprising: receiving an encrypted first entitlement control message from the client device; decrypting the encrypted first entitlement control message; obtaining a control word from the decrypted first entitlement control message and transmitting the control word to the client device for decrypting the encrypted broadcast service; obtaining a first service identifier from the decrypted first entitlement control message, the first service identifier being indicative of the encrypted broadcast service; generating, in dependence of the decrypted first entitlement control message, status data being indicative of a status of the broadcast service; storing the first service identifier and the status data in the memory of said secure client module; and comparing the first service identifier with a second service identifier from a second entitlement control message; wherein if the first service identifier differs from the second service identifier and the decrypted first entitlement control message is received after the second entitlement control message, setting the status data to indicate that usage of the broadcast service has started; and wherein if the first service identifier differs from the second service identifier and the decrypted first entitlement control message is received before the second entitlement control message, setting the status data to indicate that usage of the broadcast service has ended.