Abstract: A method for generating a plurality of control words, each control word controlling access to an object. The method includes providing a control word packet (CWP), generating a first control word (CW) from the CWP, providing a second CW generation input and producing a second CW based, at least in part, on both of the following the first CW and the second CW generation input. Control word generating apparatus for generating a plurality of control words is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of accessing program meta-data is disclosed. The method includes receiving a plurality of program meta-data virtual containers, at least one of the virtual containers comprising normalized program meta-data of programs having instances in a plurality of time windows, receiving an input indicating a selected time window, the input at least one of comprises and refers to a time-window identifier identifying the selected time window, and using the time-window identifier to filter the plurality of virtual containers, so as to obtain a subset of the program meta-data which corresponds to the selected time window. Related apparatus and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for frustrating piracy of a movie, the movie including a plurality of filmed frames, each of the filmed frames including an image, the method including editing the movie prior to projection such that different regions of the image of one of the filmed frames are in different frames so that the different regions will be projected at different times, and repeating the editing for other ones of the filmed frames. Related apparatus and methods are also described.

Abstract: A method for producing a certificate, the certificate including data, the method including choosing a seed s, the seed s including a result of applying a function H to the data, generating a key pair (E,D), such that E=F(s,t), F being a publicly known function, and including s and t in the certificate. Related methods, and certificates produced by the various methods, are also described.

Abstract: A key production system to determine a cryptographic key for a selected cryptoperiod being later than or equal to a cryptoperiod-A, and earlier than or equal to a different cryptoperiod-B, the system including a first receiver to receive a first key-component, associated with cryptoperiod-A, forming part of a first hash-chain progressing via a first one-way function, progressive key-components corresponding to later cryptoperiods, a second receiver to receive a second key-component, associated with cryptoperiod-B, forming part of a second hash-chain progressing via a second one-way function, progressive key-components corresponding to earlier cryptoperiods, first and second key-component determination modules to determine key-components in the first hash-chain and the second hash-chain, respectively, for the selected cryptoperiod, and a key determination module to determine the cryptographic key based on the key-components in the first and second hash chain for the selected cryptoperiod.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for embedding data in initial content having synchronized video and audio, the method comprising defining at least one content segment in the initial content, and altering the video and audio synchronization in the at least one segment in accordance with the data to be embedded, wherein the altered content segment is viewable on a viewing device and the synchronization alteration is imperceptible to a casual viewer. Related apparatus and methods are also described.

Abstract: A method for controlling access to content, the method comprising: receiving content in an area in which access to the content is blacked out, the content corresponding to a blacked out event; preventing display of the content at the time of receipt; recording the received content; and allowing access to the recorded content after a time criterion is met, wherein the time criterion comprises an elapse of a predetermined period of time measured from a specified one of the following: commencement of the blacked out event and termination of the blacked out event.

Abstract: A system and method for providing content to users including a multicast sub-system providing content to multiple users and a unicast sub-system providing content to individual users. The multicast sub-system being operative to push to each of a plurality of user communities, content relating to the community and the unicast sub-system being operative to provide on demand to a user, content which has not been previously pushed to the user.

Abstract: This invention discloses a method for displaying advertisements transmitted to a user unit, the method includes receiving, at the user unit, at least one advertisement tagged with a delay tag indicating whether display of the at least one advertisement can be delayed and only if the delay tag allows delaying display of the at least one advertisement, storing the at least one advertisement at the user unit, retrieving the at least one advertisement and displaying the at least one advertisement. A billing system for reporting a commercial broadcast to a multiplicity of users is also disclosed.

Abstract: A secure access method for use with a communication network which communicates information between an information resource controller and a remote unit comprising a smart card, the method including: identifying, at the remote unit, a command to upload data; employing, in response to said command, a hash function at the remote unit to encode contents of at least a portion of a memory at the remote unit and thereby to produce a hashed result; transmitting the hashed result to the information resource controller; comparing, at the information resource controller, the hashed result with a trusted hashed result maintained at the information resource controller thereby to provide a comparison result; if the comparing produces an unfavorable result, performing at least one of: revoking the remote unit by the information resource controller; and cancelling authorizations to the remote unit; and determining that the at least a portion of the memory at the remote unit has integrity based, at least in part, on the compa

Abstract: A method for displaying device shifted content is described, the method including receiving at a first device, from a first source of content, a plurality of a first type of content items, receiving at a second device, from a second source of content, a plurality of a second type of content items, receiving at the second device, from a third source of content, at least one third type of content item, sending at least one third type of content item and at least one second type of content item from the second device to the first device, and displaying at the first device at least one first type of content item, at least one second type of content item, and at least one third type of content item. Related methods and systems are also described.

Abstract: A method of accessing program meta-data is disclosed. The method includes receiving a plurality of program meta-data virtual containers, at least one of the virtual containers comprising normalized program meta-data of programs having instances in a plurality of time windows, receiving an input indicating a selected time window, the input at least one of comprises and refers to a time-window identifier identifying the selected time window, and using the time-window identifier to filter the plurality of virtual containers, so as to obtain a subset of the program meta-data which corresponds to the selected time window. Related apparatus and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method and system for adding overtime to a video recording are described. The method and system include providing a personal video recorder (PVR) operative to record a video stream, providing a multimedia content item on the video stream, providing metadata accessible to the PVR, the metadata being associated with the multimedia content item and including at least a first metadata item and a second metadata item, recording the multimedia content item at the PVR for a first amount of time, the first amount of time being indicated by the first metadata item, continuing to record the multimedia content item after the end of the first amount of time, for a second amount of time based, at least in part, on at least one parameter in the second metadata item. Related methods and apparatus are also described.

Abstract: A key distribution system for controlling access to content by rendering devices, comprising an epoch module to provide epochs, each epoch including service key periods, a service key module to provide a batch of service keys, a group module to provide group keys for each epoch such that each rendering device is assigned a group key grouping together the devices having the same group key, thereby defining groups, in different epochs the devices are grouped differently, an encryption module to encrypt, for each epoch, each service key in the batch of service keys, individually with each group key yielding a plurality of group-key-encrypted service keys from each service key, and a delivery module to distribute to the devices, for each one of the epochs, the group-key-encrypted service keys for the batch of service keys and the group keys of the one epoch. Related apparatus and methods are also described.

Abstract: A method for accessing a desired point in time-synchronized data within a stream, the stream being associated with time information, the method including providing a desired presentation time associated with a desired point within a time-synchronized data stream, determining a stream access point, decoding the stream beginning at the stream access point, and assigning a time associated with the stream access point as a utilization time. Related apparatus and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: This invention discloses a secure recording medium having at least one of audio, video and software content, comprising a plurality of media recording disks (DVD's) with a disk security chip embedded in each the DVD, each the disk chip comprising a security key, wherein at least two of the DVD's have different disk security keys. A method for protecting access to content recorded on a media recording disk (DVD) is also disclosed.

Abstract: A system for a viewer to navigate television programming using a control, the television programming being view-able on a display device having a screen, the system comprising a program guide module to manage program guide information for a plurality of program items for a plurality of channels, the program items including a plurality of current and future scheduled programs, the program guide information including a plurality of links to a plurality of program item representations associated with the program items, a navigation control module to receive program selection instructions from the viewer, via the control, in order for the viewer to surf among the program item representations of the current and future programs, and a program item display module to display a currently selected program item representation which occupies a majority of the screen of the display device. Related apparatus and methods are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus comprising a secure time element comprising a timing device that outputs to a plurality of delay devices, wherein the delay devices have characteristic delay times which are alterable as a result of a tampering attempt to tamper therewith, and wherein a characteristic delay time of one of the delay devices changes differently from another one of the delay devices as a result of the tampering attempt.

Abstract: A method for examining an electronic representation of an item for a watermark, the method including examining at least a first electronic representation of an item for a watermark in accordance with a first watermark definition, receiving a signal indicating that a second watermark definition is to be used for examining electronic representations, and examining at least a second electronic representation of an item for a watermark in accordance with the second watermark definition. Related apparatus and methods are also provided.

Abstract: A data modeling method for modeling data for an electronic program guide (EPG) at a broadcast headend is described.