WO2012029018A1

WO2012029018A1 - System and method for obtaining audio/video data from a wide area network

Info

Publication number: WO2012029018A1
Application number: PCT/IB2011/053783
Authority: WO
Inventors: Robert Albertus Brondijk; Wouter Anne Van Der Beek
Original assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
Priority date: 2010-09-03
Filing date: 2011-08-30
Publication date: 2012-03-08

Abstract

A system is provided for obtaining audio/video data from a Wide Area Network (14). The system comprises a CI+ conditional access module (10), an Ethernet connection module (12) coupled to the Wide Area Network (14), and a browser (13). The browser (13) is coupled to the CI+ conditional access module (10) and the Ethernet connection module (12), for receiving a connection parameter file from the CI+ conditional access module (10), using the connection parameter file for, via the Ethernet connection (12) module obtaining a program list from the Wide Area Network (14), enabling a user to select at least one program from the program list, and obtaining audio/video data of the selected program from the Wide Area Network (14).

Description

System and method for obtaining audio/video data from a Wide Area Network

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a system for obtaining audio/video data from a Wide Area Network, the system comprising an Ethernet connection module, coupled to the Wide Area Network, and a browser, coupled to the Ethernet connection module for via the Ethernet connection module obtaining a program list from the Wide Area Network, enabling a user to select at least one program from the program list and obtaining audio/video data of the selected program from the Wide Area Network.

This invention further relates to a TV and an integrated receiver/decoder (I D) for obtaining audio/video data from a Wide Area Network.

Additionally, the invention relates to a method and computer program product for obtaining audio/video data from a Wide Area Network.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Traditionally, TV programs are delivered through radio frequency broadcast, satellite signal, and cable television formats. In the last decade, also the Internet has become an important source of audio/video (AV) data. At first, AV data from the Internet was only obtainable via a computer, coupled to the Internet. Nowadays, there are also set-top boxes which, when coupled to the Internet via a home network, are capable of receiving TV programs over the Internet (IPTV). IPTV technology is often used to bring video on demand (VOD) to televisions.

The set-top box is usually provided by a content provider and comprises means for contacting an IP server on the Internet. A smart card may be needed to control what programs the user of the set-top box is allowed to watch. The address of and communication with the IP server are proprietary. Each provider sells its own proprietary set- top boxes and provides its own IPTV program offerings. A set-top box from one content provider is not suitable for communicating with IP servers of other providers.

For the content providers who want to apply DRM measures, e.g. to prevent unauthorized copying, a disadvantage of the currently available IPTV systems is that the audio/video data can easily be derived from the audio/video output ports of the set-top box. This disadvantage could be overcome by encrypting the audio/video output of the set-top box. Such encryption would however make it necessary for the provider to either sell proprietary TVs for decrypting and presenting the audio/video data or to use a standard encryption key that would probably be available to the public very soon.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the invention to provide a system for obtaining audio/video data from a Wide Area Network which would overcome one or more of the above mentioned disadvantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the invention, this object is achieved by providing a system for obtaining audio/video data from a Wide Area Network, the system comprising a CI+ conditional access module, an Ethernet connection module, coupled to the Wide Area Network, and a browser, coupled to the CI+ conditional access module and the Ethernet connection module. The browser is arranged for receiving a connection parameter file from the CI+ conditional access module, using the connection parameter file for, via the Ethernet connection module obtaining a program list from the Wide Area Network, enabling a user to select at least one program from the program list, and obtaining audio/video data of the selected program from the Wide Area Network.

CI+ (Common Interface +) is a known content control system, which is already in use for traditional satellite signal, and cable television program reception. The CI+ module is a Common Access Module (CAM) which, when inserted into the corresponding slot of a compatible TV set, allows a user to subscribe and watch a pay TV service from a pay TV service operator, without requiring a set-top-box. By making use of certificates and a certification authority, a trusted channel is formed between the CAM and television receiver, when scrambled content is being received. A smart card, inserted into the CI+-CAM controls the decrypting of those TV programs to which the user is allowed access. The current invention makes it possible to extend the usability of the CI+ system to IPTV without the need for proprietary set-top boxes.

The connection parameter file may be stored on the smart card or the smart card may comprise information for allowing the browser to retrieve the connection parameter file from the Wide Area Network (WAN), e.g. from a specific server on the Internet. With use of the connection parameter file, the browser is capable of obtaining a program list from a specified location in the WAN. The browser uses the program list to inform the user of the available IPTV programs, e.g. via a graphical user interface displayed on a TV screen. When the user selects one of the programs, the browser obtains the corresponding audio/video (AV) data from the WAN. The AV data may or may not be obtained from the same location in the WAN as the program list.

If the user wants to change to another provider or the provider changes the addresses or communication protocols of the data sources (for program information and/or AV data) no new set-top box is needed. To adapt to such changes, the system only needs a new connection parameter file. The new connection parameter file may be on a new smart card for the CI+-CAM. If the provider is still the same and the connection parameter file is not stored on the smart card the new connection parameter file may even be retrieved by the browser. The invention thus obviates the use of proprietary set-top boxes. The same generic CI+-CAM may be used with any available content provider.

The use of CI+ also makes it possible to provide the IPTV programs in encrypted form, allowing only users with sufficient access rights to decrypt the data and watch the corresponding program. The access rights may, e.g., be stored on the smart card. Alternatively, the smart card may only comprise the identity and the access rights may derived from an access rights database somewhere in the LAN. Non-encrypted data obtained from the WAN may be made available by the browser itself, without first passing the CI+ module.

Preferably, also the AV data going from the CI+ module to a TV or other apparatus for playback of the AV data is encrypted. Therefore, the CI+ module may also comprise an encryption unit.

It is to be noted that the browser may be any software application capable of retrieving, presenting, and/or traversing information resources on the WAN. The browser may, e.g., be a CE-HTML compatible web browser, a REST client or a UPnP stack with similar functionality. When using UPnP and/or REST, the data communication is protocol based (e.g. no UI) and would be easy to incorporate in existing devices (e.g. DVB where the channel list is also just data, without user interface). The browser should thus be seen as a 'WAN information processing unit' , capable of retrieving and processing the connection parameter file in order to obtain the advantages of the current invention.

These and other aspects of the invention are apparent from and will be elucidated with reference to the embodiments described hereinafter. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 schematically shows a system according to the invention, Fig. 2 shows a CI+ conditional access module,

Fig. 3 shows a flow diagram of a method according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Figure 1 schematically shows a system according to the invention. The system comprises a CI+ conditional access module (CI+-CAM) 10, with a slot for receiving a smart card 11. The CI+-CAM 10 may, e.g., be inserted in a PCMCIA-like slot of a compatible TV

15 or integrated receiver/decoder (IRD). The CI+-CAM 10 enables the TV 15 to receive

IPTV programs provided by a media server 16 in a Wide Area Network (WAN) such as the

Internet 14. If the system comprises the TV 15, the IPTV program is displayed by the TV 15.

The system may alternatively comprise an IRD or set-top box, which provides the IPTV program as data at a digital or analog output port. A TV or audio set coupled to the IRD may be used for presenting the AV data to the user. Alternatively, the AV data may be stored on a storage medium for later use.

The system is capable of obtaining AV data from a media server 16 coupled to the internet. However, the system is preferably capable of obtaining AV data from multiple sources 16. Some data may be freely available. Other data may only be available for authenticated users and/or after payment. Also the program information may come from multiple sources 17. The AV data may and the program information may come from the same server 16, 17.

The CI+-CAM 10 plays an important role in, e.g., authorizing a user to download an IPTV program and decrypting encrypted audio/video (AV) data. The CI+-CAM

10 may be coupled to an Ethernet connection module 12 for communication with the Internet

14 directly and/or via a browser module 13. The browser module 13 is a software application capable of retrieving, presenting, and traversing information resources on the Internet 14. The browser 13 may, e.g., be a CE-HTML compatible web browser, a REST client or a UPnP stack with similar functionality. The browser 13 should thus be seen as a 'WAN information processing unit' . The browser 13 may be implemented in software and/or hardware and will probably be part of the TV 15, an IRD or the CI+-CAM 10.

By controlling the data flow between the CI+-CAM 10, the Internet 14 and the

TV 15, the browser 13 embodies the main functionality of the system according to the invention. The browser 13 retrieves program information and AV data from the Internet and presents it to the user, preferably in the form of a graphical user interface (GUI). The GUI allows the user to select one or IPTV programs to be obtained from the media server 16. The program information may be presented to the user via TV display 15, allowing a user to browse the information using, e.g., a remote control.

When the user has selected a program, the browser 13 contacts the corresponding media server 16 and, if the user is authorized to obtain this program, obtains the corresponding AV data from the media server 16. The program may then be passed on to the TV 15 for playback. If the AV data is encrypted, e.g. to prevent unauthorized playback or copying, the browser 13 may send the AV data to the CI+-CAM 10 which is capable of decrypting the data. The CI+-CAM 10 may then provide the data to the TV 15 for playback. Usually, CI+-CAMs only send encrypted data to a CI+ -compatible TV. After decrypting the IPTV data reaching the CI+-CAM via the browser, an encryption module of the CI+-CAM uses a different encryption key to re-encrypt the data.

User related information, stored on the smart card 11 is used for authenticating the user at the media server 16 and/or a program info server 17 on the Internet 14. Such information may comprise payment information, indicating a credit amount or enabling online payment, e.g. using a bank account or credit card. According to the invention, the CI+- CAM 10 with an appropriate smart card 11 initiates the request to access IPTV. Below with reference to figure 3, it will be elucidated how this request leads to downloading of selected IPTV programs.

Figure 2 shows a CI+ conditional access module 10. In the TV 15 or set-top box a CI+-slot 21 is provided for receiving the CI+-CAM 10. A smart card slot 22 in the CI+- CAM 10 is provided for receiving a smart card 11. The CI+-CAM 10 is arranged to read and process data from a chip on the smart card 11.

Figure 3 shows a flow diagram of a method according to the invention. The method starts with a connection step 31 for sending a connection parameter file from the CI+-CAM 10 to a browser 13. The connection parameter file comprises information for enabling downloading program information from one or more servers 16, 17 on the WAN 14. Such information may, e.g., comprise (IP-)addresses and/or instructions for communication. The connection parameter file may be provided on the smart card 11. Alternatively, the smart card 11 only comprises an address to look for the connection parameter file. The CI+-CAM 10 may then obtain the connection parameter file from the WAN 14, either via the browser 13 or directly through the Ethernet connection module 12. In program listing step 32, the browser 13 uses the connection parameter file for, via the Ethernet connection module 12 obtaining a program list from the WAN 14. The connection parameter file tells the browser 13 where to find the program information. The connection parameter file may further provide information about the file format of the obtained information, so as to enable interpreting the information which may have particular, e.g. provider specific characteristics.

In program offering step 33, the browser 13 enables a user to select at least one program from the program list. The browser 13 may provide a graphical user interface (GUI) for display on TV 15. The GUI allows the user to browse through available program information and to select one or more programs for, e.g., play back or recording. It is to be noted that the browser 13 may be any software application capable of retrieving, presenting, and/or traversing information resources on the WAN 14. The browser 13 may, e.g., be a CE- HTML compatible web browser, a REST client or a UPnP stack with similar functionality. The browser 13 should thus be seen as a 'WAN information processing unit'. Instead of a full GUI, the browser 13 may just provide program information in a known format, for allowing either the CI+-CAM 10 or the TV 15 or set-top box to generate a GUI using this program information. When providing the program information to a user, selection options may depend on an authorization level of the user. The smart card 11 identifies the user and/or the authorization level of the user. The authorization level may depend on payments made by the user. Payment information may be stored on the smart card 11 or a user identification on the smart card 11 may be used for deriving the payment information from a server 16, 17 in the WAN 14.

In data obtaining step 34, the browser 13 obtains audio/video data of the selected program from servers 17 in the Wide Area Network 14, in accordance with the instructions provided by the user. Different programs or even parts of programs may come from different servers. Freely available programs may be provided in non-encrypted form and may be sent to a TV 15 or set-top box directly for decoding, storage and/or playback. Encrypted A/V data may be decrypted by the CI+-CAM 10 before it is provided to the TV 15 or set-top box. Whether the CI+-CAM 10 does decrypt the A/V data or not may depend on the authorization level of the user. A/V data decrypted by the CI+-CAM 10 may be re- encrypted before it is passed on to a CI+-compatible playback or storage device.

An important advantage of the use of the connection parameter file is that the CI+-CAM 10 can be used for different providers. When a smart card 11 of a different provider is used, the connection parameter file ensures that the browser 13 will communicate with the appropriate servers of the new provider for controlling payment and authentication and/or obtaining program information and the IPTV programs. If the connection parameter file is not stored on the smart card 11 , but obtained from a server of the provider, the provider may change the addresses and architecture of its IP servers, without requiring the user to obtain a new smart card 11 or set-top box.

It will be appreciated that the invention also extends to computer programs, particularly computer programs on or in a carrier, adapted for putting the invention into practice. The program may be in the form of source code, object code, a code intermediate source and object code such as partially compiled form, or in any other form suitable for use in the implementation of the method according to the invention. It will also be appreciated that such a program may have many different architectural designs. For example, a program code implementing the functionality of the method or system according to the invention may be subdivided into one or more subroutines. Many different ways to distribute the functionality among these subroutines will be apparent to the skilled person. The subroutines may be stored together in one executable file to form a self-contained program. Such an executable file may comprise computer executable instructions, for example processor instructions and/or interpreter instructions (e.g. Java interpreter instructions). Alternatively, one or more or all of the subroutines may be stored in at least one external library file and linked with a main program either statically or dynamically, e.g. at run-time. The main program contains at least one call to at least one of the subroutines. Also, the subroutines may comprise function calls to each other. An embodiment relating to a computer program product comprises computer executable instructions corresponding to each of the processing steps of at least one of the methods set forth. These instructions may be subdivided into subroutines and/or be stored in one or more files that may be linked statically or dynamically. Another embodiment relating to a computer program product comprises computer executable instructions corresponding to each of the means of at least one of the systems and/or products set forth. These instructions may be subdivided into subroutines and/or be stored in one or more files that may be linked statically or dynamically.

The carrier of a computer program may be any entity or device capable of carrying the program. For example, the carrier may include a storage medium, such as a

ROM, for example a CD ROM or a semiconductor ROM, or a magnetic recording medium, for example a floppy disc or hard disk. Further the carrier may be a transmissible carrier such as an electrical or optical signal, which may be conveyed via electrical or optical cable or by radio or other means. When the program is embodied in such a signal, the carrier may be constituted by such cable or other device or means. Alternatively, the carrier may be an integrated circuit in which the program is embedded, the integrated circuit being adapted for performing, or for use in the performance of, the relevant method.

It should be noted that the above-mentioned embodiments illustrate rather than limit the invention, and that those skilled in the art will be able to design many alternative embodiments without departing from the scope of the appended claims. In the claims, any reference signs placed between parentheses shall not be construed as limiting the claim. Use of the verb "comprise" and its conjugations does not exclude the presence of elements or steps other than those stated in a claim. The article "a" or "an" preceding an element does not exclude the presence of a plurality of such elements. The invention may be implemented by means of hardware comprising several distinct elements, and by means of a suitably programmed computer. In the device claim enumerating several means, several of these means may be embodied by one and the same item of hardware. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A system for obtaining audio/video data from a Wide Area Network (14), the system comprising:

a CI+ conditional access module (10),

an Ethernet connection module (12) , coupled to the Wide Area Network (14), and

a browser (13), coupled to the CI+ conditional access module (10) and the Ethernet connection module (12), for:

receiving a connection parameter file from the CI+ conditional access module (10),

- using the connection parameter file for, via the Ethernet connection

(12) module obtaining a program list from the Wide Area Network (14),

enabling a user to select at least one program from the program list, and

obtaining audio/video data of the selected program from the Wide Area Network (14).

2. A system for obtaining audio/video data as claimed in claim 1, wherein the CI+ conditional access module (10) is arranged for receiving a smart card (11), the smart card (11) comprising the connection parameter file.

3. A system for obtaining audio/video data as claimed in claim 1, wherein the CI+ conditional access module (10) is arranged for receiving a smart card (11), the smart card (11) comprising information for enabling retrieval of the connection parameter file from the Wide Area Network (14).

4. A system for obtaining audio/video data as claimed in claim 1, wherein the obtained audio/video data is encrypted and wherein the CI+ conditional access module (10) comprises a decryption unit for decrypting the encrypted audio/video data.

5. A system for obtaining audio/video data as claimed in claim 4, wherein the

CI+ conditional access module (10) comprises an encryption unit for re-encrypting the decrypted audio/video data.

6. A system for obtaining audio/video data as claimed in claim 1, wherein the browser (13) is a CE-HTML compatible web browser.

7. A system for obtaining audio/video data as claimed in claim 1, wherein the browser (13) is a UPnP stack.

8. A TV (15) for obtaining audio/video data from a Wide Area Network (14) comprising the CI+ conditional access module (10) and the browser (13) as claimed in claim 1.

9. An integrated receiver/decoder for obtaining audio/video data from a Wide

Area Network (14) comprising the CI+ conditional access module (10) and the browser (13) as claimed in claim 1.

10. A method of obtaining audio/video data from a Wide Area Network (14), the method comprising:

sending (31) a connection parameter file from a CI+ conditional access module (10) to a browser (13),

the browser (13) using the connection parameter file for, via an Ethernet connection module (12) obtaining (32) a program list from the Wide Area Network (14), - enabling (33) a user to select at least one program from the program list, and obtaining (34) audio/video data of the selected program from the Wide Area

Network (14).

11. A computer program product for obtaining audio/video data from a Wide Area Network (14), which program is operative to cause a processor to perform the method as claimed in claim 10.