Patent ID: 7610485

Claim:
A method for providing multicast broadcasts of data over a network, comprising: receiving an encryption key by a broadcasting processing system that is transmitting a multicast broadcast of data, wherein said encryption key is used to encrypt said data of said multicast broadcast; and providing said encryption key to each of a plurality of receiving processing systems connected to said network receiving said multicast broadcast, wherein said encryption key is used by each of said plurality of receiving processing systems to decrypt said data of said multicast broadcast; wherein said step of providing said encryption key to each of said plurality of receiving processing systems comprises: generating a broadcast advertisement message in said broadcasting processing system; transmitting said broadcast advertisement message from said broadcasting processing system to at least one said plurality of receiving processing systems; receiving a response message including a response to said broadcast advertisement message from at least one of said plurality of receiving processing systems, each response message indicating that the corresponding one of said plurality of receiving processing systems is to receive said multicast broadcast; providing said encryption key to said at least one of said plurality of receiving processing systems responsive to said response message.