Patent ID: 7333610

Claim:
A method for communicating digital media content in a video on demand environment, the method comprising: storing at at least one location remote from a subscriber and accessible to a headend a multiplicity of encrypted video on demand programs and a multiplicity of non-personalized control word generating information for generating non-personalized control words for decryption of said multiplicity of encrypted video on demand programs; responsive to receipt of a video on demand request from a subscriber for a subscriber-selected one of said multiplicity of encrypted video on demand programs, personalizing for the use of said subscriber non-personalized control word generating information for generating non-personalized control words to provide personalized control word generating information for generating personalized control words for decryption only by said subscriber of said subscriber-selected one of said multiplicity of encrypted video on demand programs; and thereafter and responsive to said video on demand request, transmitting to a set top box of said subscriber said subscriber-selected one of said multiplicity of encrypted video on demand programs and said personalized control word generating information for generating personalized control words for decryption only by said subscriber of said subscriber-selected one of said multiplicity of encrypted video on demand programs.