PH12017000256A1 - Digital broadcast communication system and method of service scrambling and sim card based descrambling - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a digital broadcast communication system with secure data transmission, scrambling and descrambling, which includes a, data transmitter and a data receiver for receiving a packetized transport stream from the data transmitter, and a digital media playback application for processing and descrambling the data received by the data receiver by utilizing a secure device such as a Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) which may completely or partially contain the descrambler program and protect the digital data from being extracted by potential hackers. During descrambling of the service, the descrambler program in the secure element takes the scrambled data service as input, and reproduces the descrambled data service.

Description

laptop, a mobile phone, a tablet computer and the like, for executing the said media playback application 110.

In a preferred embodiment, the digital broadcast communication system 100 is in the form of a digital TV signal broadcasting system comprising: a digital

TV signal transmitter 101 for transmitting scrambled digital TV signal, a digital TV signal receiver 106 for receiving scrambled digital TV signal from the communication medium 107 which is preferably via digital terrestrial television (DTTV) technology, and a media playback device 111, preferably in the form of a mobile electronic device such as Smart phone or tablet computer, as better shown in Figures 3a and 3b.

Referring to Figure 2, the data receiver 106 comprises a receiver input terminal 112 for receiving the scrambled data 105 from the communication medium 107, a data descrambler 108 further comprising of a secured device 113 (e.g.: SIM card or Smart card) containing a descrambler program 114, and a media playback device 111 further comprising a microprocessor 115 for processing the data and interpreting it into intelligible information with various media formats such as text, photo, audio, or video by executing a media playback application 110 stored in a memory storage device 116. Said memory storage device 116 may be integrated within said media playback device 111 or in the form of a removable external memory card.

In another embodiment, the data service provider 103 sends codes to the subscriber's data receiver bearing a registered Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) via SMS for decrypting/descrambling the data being subjected for broadcast.

Yet in another embodiment, the data receiver 106 is a set-top box type

DTTV receiver comprising: a digital TV signal descrambler 108 which further comprises a secured device 113, preferably in the form of a Universal Integrated

Circuit Card (UICC) with a descrambler program 114 stored therein; and a media playback device 111 in the form of a Digital Smart LED TV.

The graphical interface 117 of the media playback application 110, according to one of the embodiments as illustrated in Figure 3a, shows a media display window 118 for displaying the interpreted information, a pop-up notification window 119 for notifying the user when the data of a program subject for viewing is a scrambled data 105; an information display strip 120 for displaying channel and program information; a messages link button 121 for accessing updates and notification messages from the data service provider 103; a control panel 122 for changing of channels and adjusting of volume and brightness; and a pop-up download button 123 for downloading a program update containing additional decryption codes for decrypting the encrypted access keys for accessing locked portions of the descrambler program 114.

In a further embodiment, the digital broadcast communication system performs the process of data broadcasting which starts with the data service 102 undergoing a data scrambling procedure. The scrambled data 105 is transmitted along with an encrypted access key. Upon reception by the receiver 106, the encrypted access code undergoes a decrypting process which is done by a decrypting code within the receiver 106. The decrypted access key is then used for accessing a protected data descrambler program 114 stored within a secure device. The data descrambler program 114 then descrambles the scrambled data into a format that a media playback device 111 may process and interpret into a form of intelligible information.

Figure 3b shows the graphical interface of the media playback application 110 wherein the media playback application 110 is updated with the decryption code; the media display window 118 shows the descrambled data in an ineligible multimedia file format; and the information display strip 120 shows the general information about the channel and program.

In one embodiment, the media playback application 110 and its program update are programs which can be downloaded and bought via online mobile application stores such as I0S App Store, Google Play Store, Windows Store, etc.

As shown in Figure 4, the descrambling process comprises the steps: receiving a scrambled data 105 and an encrypted access key by the data receiver 106’s input terminal 112 from the data service provider 103's data transmitter 101 via communication medium 107; retrieving by the microprocessor 115 a stored decryption code from a memory storage device 116 and a locked descrambler program 114 from a secured device; decrypting the encrypted access key by the microprocessor 115 utilizing the decryption code; unlocking the descrambler program 114 by utilizing the access key; descrambling the scrambled data 105 into a digital media signal 109 by a data descrambler 108 utilizing the descrambler program 114; executing a media playback application 110 in a media playback device 111 by the microprocessor 115; and interpreting the digital data into an intelligible information by the media playback device 111.

While the present invention has been shown and described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. The preferred embodiments should be considered in descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation. Therefore, the scope of the invention is defined not by the detailed description of the invention but by the appended claims, and all differences within the scope will be construed as being included in the present disclosure.

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SPECIFICATION

DIGITAL BROADCAST COMMUNICATION SYSTEM AND METHOD OF

SERVICE SCRAMBLING AND SIM CARD BASED DESCRAMBLING

Technical Field

The present invention generally relates to a digital broadcast communication system for transmitting digital data from a data service provider to subscribers that are using a corresponding data receiver to receive the digital data service, but more particularly, to a digital broadcast communication system with means of controlling access to a digital data service, such as digital data scramblers and digital data descramblers, during transmission and before play- out on an electronic device by utilizing a secure device such as a SIM card or

Smart card.

Background of the Invention

Transmission of encrypted data is well-known in the field of broadcasting and communication systems, where scrambled data is either transmitted typically by physical means of data transmission lines, by means of radio wave propagation or via satellite to a number of subscribers, each subscriber possessing a decoder capable of descrambling the transmitted program for subsequent viewing.

Even in the past, data transmission had always found system security and data privacy to be one of its greatest problems. Different modes of multiplexing and data protection schemes have been developed to address the said problem of securing data privacy during transmission.

For instance, US Patent Application 19970837423 shows one encrypting method overcoming this problem by means of a virtual random number generator at the individual cable modems to reduce cable modem hardware. The authentication and key generation process between headend and cable modem produces a mutually authenticated and mutually generated permanent key.

Also, US Patent Application 20000617913 discloses another encryption method by selecting subsequence from the broadcast random number sequence, the selection being at a sample time relative to a synchronization event, with the sample time calculated based on a private key. Decryption uses the same private key to select the same subsequence from the broadcast random number sequence, as detection by the sender and receiver of the synchronization event and a sampling time based on a commonly known private key allows the sampling to be synchronous.

Current digital broadcasting has a function of conditionally receiving a broadcast program only by a receiving device of a subscriber, a function of co, . limiting reception of contents only by an authorized receiving device. Specifically, a function related to access control (for example, decryption of a key for decrypting encrypted content, etc.) is done by broadcasting encrypted digital data content and transmitting access codes or authentication keys to certain subscribers who are eligible for accessing the encrypted digital data.

For instance, in a typical TV system, scrambled digital data is transmitted together with a control key or descrambling algorithm for descrambling of the digital data, the control key itself being encrypted and transmitted in encrypted form. A TV system subscriber will receive periodically the encrypted control key so as to permit viewing of a particular program.

Subscriber-based viewing of media content associated with digital signals, which normally employs different scrambling and descrambling functions, has now emerged with its configuration utilizing media playback applications. These media playback applications, or simply mobile applications, used for viewing television program contents may be executed on most electronic devices such as mobile phones and tablet computers; hence, the convenience to access said contents by any interested user.

However, certain flaws had been found in these known schemes of protecting data. For instance, in the previous methods where a decoder receives

* » ' * the scrambled digital data and encrypted control key to descramble the transmitted data, the access code is transmitted to the decoder for it to be able to descramble the data. Unlawfully intercepting the data may also provide for the key for descrambling the said data. Furthermore, media playback applications have always been prone to errors with software related functions that may render the said mobile applications employing them inoperative.

These flaws poses a risk of enabling hackers to illegally access or reproduce the data service for their personal consumption or for unauthorized distribution.

Summary of the Invention

One aspect of the present invention is directed to a digital broadcast communication system with secure data transmission, scrambling and descrambling, which includes a data transmitter and a data receiver for receiving a packetized transport stream from the data transmitter, and a digital media playback application for processing and descrambling the data received by the data receiver by utilizing a secure device such as a Subscriber Identification

Module (SIM) which may completely or partially contain the descrambler program and protect the digital data from being extracted by potential hackers. During descrambling of the service, the descrambler program in the secure element takes the scrambled data service as input, and reproduces the descrambled data service.

Objectives of the Invention

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a digital broadcast communication system comprising a data scrambler unit, a data transmitter for transmitting digital data service from a data service provider to a data receiver, and a data descrambler unit, wherein said data descrambler unit is utilizing a secured device having a unique subscriber identity that is immune to device cloning or account hacking.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a digital broadcast communication system comprising a data transmitter for transmitting digital data service from a data service provider to a data receiver, wherein the data transmitter has a data scrambler integrated therein, and the digital data receiver has a corresponding data descrambler unit utilizing a SIM card as a secured device.

Further object of the present invention is to provide a digital broadcast communication system that uses data scrambling and descrambling methods for controlling access to a digital data service during its transmission, wherein the digital data service undergoes a data scrambling procedure prior to being transmitted thru a communication medium along with an encrypted access code wherein the encryption of the access code is undone in a decryption process upon reception of said encrypted access code and the scrambled data. The access code is likewise used for accessing a protected descrambler program among |the many descrambler programs for descrambling specific parts of the digital data upon reception to access specific channels or special programs of the service,

Brief Description of the Drawings

Figure 1 is a simplified block diagram of digital broadcast communication system|according to an embodiment of the invention. igure 2 is a schematic diagram of the data receiver according to one or more embodiments of the invention. igures 3a and 3b are illustrations of the preferred graphical interface of a media playback application on a media playback device.

Figure 4 is a flow diagram illustrating an exemplary transmission and reception process consistent with one or more embodiments of the invention. - Description eferring to Figure 1, there is shown a simplified block diagram which an components of the herein disclosed digital broadcast communication system| according to an embodiment of the present invention. The broadcast :

communication system is generally and consistently designated by reference numeral 100 throughout the ensuing description of one or more preferred embodiments and/or implementations of the present invention.

The digital broadcast communication system 100 comprises a data service provider 103, a data transmitter 101, a communication medium 107, a data receiver 106, a data descrambler 108 and a media playback device 111.

The said data transmitter 101 transmits a data service 102 from said data service provider 103, wherein the data transmitter 101 is provided with a data scrambler 104 for scrambling the data service 102 into a scrambled data 105 prior to transmission. Said data receiver 106 receives the scrambled data 105 from the data transmitter 101 through the communication medium 107. Upon reception of the scrambled data 105, the data receiver 106 sends the received scrambled data 105 to the data descrambler 108 through a data transmission medium 124.

Said data descrambler 108 then converts the said scrambled data 105 into a digital media signal 109 in the form of digital data suitable to be processed by a media playback application 110. Said digital media signal 109 is transferred to the media playback device 111 through data transmission medium 125. Said data transmission mediums 124 and 125 may be via wired, wireless, or via utilization of data transfer devices such as USB flash disks, CDs, external memory cards, or a combination of the same. Said media playback device 111 is in the form of an electronic device such as a smart TV, a desktop computer, a

Claims (11)

CLAIMS:

1.) A Digital Data Broadcasting System comprising: a data transmitter, being provided with a digital data service, said data transmitter having a data scrambler for converting said digital data service into a scrambled data and transmitting said scrambled data therefrom; a data receiver receiving said scrambled data from said data transmitter, a data descrambler provided with said data receiver converting the said scrambled data into a digital media signal; a media playback device responsive to said digital media signal, said media playback device being provided with a media playback application for processing said digital media signal into an intelligible information, whereby said intelligible information being displayed in said media playback device.

2) A Digital Data Broadcasting System according to claim 1, wherein said data receiver is provided with a receiver input terminal for receiving the scrambled data.

3) A Digital Data Broadcasting System according to claims 1 or 2, wherein the data descrambler is provided with a secured device containing a descrambler program; and wherein said media playback device further having a microprocessor thereof for executing the media playback application and interpreting said digital data signal into intelligible information with various media formats such as text, photo, audio, or video.

4) A Digital Data Broadcasting System according to claim 3, wherein said secured device is a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card.

5) A Digital Data Broadcasting System according to claim 3, wherein said secured device is a Universal Integrated Circuit Card (UICC).

6.) A Digital Data Broadcasting System according to claims 4 or 5, wherein the data transmitter transmits an encrypted access key along with said scrambled data to said data receiver, and wherein said data receiver is provided with a decrypting code for decrypting said encrypted access key to access and execute said data descrambler program.

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7.) A Digital Data Broadcasting System according to claim 6, wherein said media playback application and said decryption code are downloadable via online mobile application stores.

8.) A method for Digital Data descrambling comprising the steps of: receiving a scrambled data and an encrypted access key by a data receiver; retrieving a decryption code from a memory storage device in said data receiver; retrieving a locked descrambler program from a secured device disposed within said data receiver, decrypting said encrypted access key by utilizing said decryption code; unlocking said descrambler program by utilizing said decrypted access key; descrambling said scrambled data into a digital media signal by a data descrambler utilizing said descrambler program; and interpreting the digital media signal into an intelligible information by a media playback application provided in a media playback device thereof.

9) A method for Digital Data descrambling according to claim 8, wherein said secured device is a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card.

10.) A method for Digital Data descrambling according to claim 8, wherein said secured device is a Universal Integrated Circuit Card (UICC).

11.) A Digital Data Broadcasting System signal utilizing a digital terrestrial television (DTTV) technology, comprising: a digital TV signal transmitter for transmitting scrambled digital TV signal; a digital TV signal receiver responsive to said scrambled digital TV signal, and a media playback device provided thereof for retrieving and interpreting said scrambled digital TV signal into an intelligible digital TV output being displayed thereof.