Abstract: A system and a method for secure distribution of digital media content through a packet-based network such as the Internet. The security of the present invention does not require one-to-one key exchange, but rather enables keys, and/or information required in order to build the key, to be broadcast through the packet-based network. The digital media content is then also preferably broadcast, but cannot be accessed without the proper key. However, preferably only authorized end-user devices are able to access the digital media content, by receiving and/or being able to access the proper key. Thus, the present invention is useful for other types of networks in which digital media content is more easily broadcast rather than unicast, in addition to packet-based networks.

Abstract: A communication session management method for providing a transmission service having a plurality of service-levels, each service-level being associated with a separate quality-of-service (QOS), the method including preparing data for transmission at one of the plurality of service-levels by uniquely associating a service-level encryption key with the one of the plurality of service-levels, encrypting the data with the service-level encryption key to form encrypted data uniquely associated with the one of the plurality of service-levels, and transmitting the encrypted data uniquely associated with the one of the plurality of service-levels to users entitled to the one of the plurality of service-levels.

Abstract: A system and a method for secure distribution of digital media content through a packet-based network such as the Internet. The security of the present invention does not require one-to-one key exchange, but rather enables keys, and/or information required in order to build the key, to be broadcast through the packet-based network. The digital media content is then also preferably broadcast, but cannot be accessed without the proper key. However, preferably only authorized end-user devices are able to access the digital media content, by receiving and/or being able to access the proper key. Thus, the present invention is useful for other types of networks in which digital media content is more easily broadcast rather than unicast, in addition to packet-based networks.