Abstract: A method of authorising conditional access to an encrypted digital data product, includes storing at least one set of entitlements in a secure device, each entitlement including a product identifier and expiry information, receiving entitlement control messages from a decoder system including a device for decrypting encrypted digital data products using control words, each entitlement control message including a product identifier, and in a first mode, returning at least one control word in response to an entitlement control message including a product identifier if the product identifier corresponds to a product identifier in a stored entitlement including expiry information indicating the entitlement to be valid, and, in a second mode, progressively adjusting a counter to a pre-determined value and returning at least one control word in response also to entitlement control messages including a product identifier if the product identifier corresponds to a product identifier in a stored entitlement including

Abstract: A method of external data storage in a system including a primary processing device, having a processor and a primary data storage unit, adapted to run application programs for processing active records in the processor and configured to store data belonging to active records in the primary data storage unit; and a secondary data storage system, accessible to the primary processing device, includes loading data belonging to an active record into the primary data storage unit and externalising the record by transferring at least a piece of data belonging to the record to the secondary data storage system for storage. The step of externalising a record includes the making of a call by an application program using data belonging to the record to an interface, arranged to transfer the piece of data to the secondary data storage system.

Abstract: A method of controlling communication between a head-end system and a number of client systems through a network, wherein, for each receiver, only a nearest one of the multicast router systems in the network is configured to forward a copy of a message addressed to the multicast groups of which the receiver is a member directly to the receiver, includes: maintaining subscriber group information linking each registered one of the number of client systems to an associated one of a plurality of subscriber groups, and allocating registered client systems to at least one multicast group, such that all client systems associated with a particular subscriber group are in a common multicast group. Information uniquely identifying the nearest multicast router system nearest to a receiver for a first client system is obtained, and the first client system is assigned to a subscriber group including at least one further client system having the same nearest multicast router system.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the invention provide a method for activating one or more secondary decoder devices in a home network. A head-end system activates a primary decoder device and initializes the secondary decoder devices. The primary decoder device activates the initialized secondary decoder device. The secondary decoder device is deactivated upon expiration of a timer value until reactivated by the primary decoder device.

Abstract: A method of external data storage in a system including a primary processing device, having a processor and a primary data storage unit, adapted to run application programs for processing active records in the processor and configured to store data belonging to active records in the primary data storage unit; and a secondary data storage system, accessible to the primary processing device, includes loading data belonging to an active record into the primary data storage unit and externalising the record by transferring at least a piece of data belonging to the record to the secondary data storage system for storage. The step of externalising a record includes the making of a call by an application program using data belonging to the record to an interface, arranged to transfer the piece of data to the secondary data storage system.

Abstract: A method of external data storage in a system including a primary processing device, having a processor and a primary data storage unit, adapted to run application programs for processing active records in the processor and configured to store data belonging to active records in the primary data storage unit; and a secondary data storage system, accessible to the primary processing device, includes loading data belonging to an active record into the primary data storage unit and externalizing the record by transferring at least a piece of data belonging to the record to the secondary data storage system for storage. The step of externalizing a record includes the making of a call by an application program using data belonging to the record to an interface, arranged to transfer the piece of data to the secondary data storage system.

Abstract: A method of authorising conditional access to an encrypted digital data product, includes storing at least one set of entitlements in a secure device, each entitlement including a product identifier and expiry information, receiving entitlement control messages from a decoder system including a device for decrypting encrypted digital data products using control words, each entitlement control message including a product identifier, and in a first mode, returning at least one control word in response to an entitlement control message including a product identifier if the product identifier corresponds to a product identifier in a stored entitlement including expiry information indicating the entitlement to be valid, and, in a second mode, progressively adjusting a counter to a pre-determined value and returning at least one control word in response also to entitlement control messages including a product identifier if the product identifier corresponds to a product identifier in a stored entitlement including