Patent ID: 8068611

Claim:
A method, implemented by a computer unit, for playing a broadcast program content, in an environment where the computer unit allows the broadcast program content to be viewed and/or listened to, with a tuner unit detachably coupled to the computer unit via an interface, the method comprising: performing, at the tuner unit, the steps of: receiving, at a wireless or wired receiver, a broadcast signal representative of the broadcast program content; encrypting, at an encryptor, the broadcast signal received by the receiver according to an algorithm dependent on a designated key; outputting the encrypted broadcast signal as encrypted data; and storing, at a key storage, a tuner-dependent unique key which is an encryption key unique to the tuner unit, the tuner-dependent unique key being generated within the tuner unit, and performing, at the computer unit, the steps of: decrypting, at a decryptor, the encrypted data according to an algorithm dependent on a designated key; storing, at a data storage, data; playing, at a playing device, data; producing a combination-dependent unique key which is unique to a combination of the tuner unit and the computer unit; and in response to issuance of a real-time play command from a user, playing the broadcast program content in real-time after transmission thereof from the tuner unit to the computer unit, wherein the producing includes: capturing the tuner-dependent unique key from the tuner unit via the interface; obtaining a computer-dependent unique key which is unique only to the computer unit; and generating the combination-dependent unique key, from the tuner-dependent unique key and the computer-dependent unique key, and wherein the playing the broadcast program includes: in response to issuance of the real-time play command, implementing the step of producing; outputting to the encryptor via the interface, the combination-dependent unique key obtained in the step of producing; inputting via the interface, encrypted digital data output from the encryptor in response to the output of the combination-dependent unique key to the encryptor; causing the decryptor to attempt decryption of the inputted encrypted digital data, using the produced combination-dependent unique key; and outputting to the playing device, a decrypted version of the digital data resulting from successful decryption by the decryptor.