Abstract: A method for producing an output from an input encoding the output, the method including choosing functions G, F, and H, providing an input x, choosing a random number r, computing x?=G(x, r), sending x? to a computation unit, computing, in the computation unit, y?=F(x?), receiving y? from the computation unit, and computing the output w=H(y?, r), wherein G, F, and H are chosen such that w is not dependent on the choice or r. Related apparatus and methods are also described.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for transferring electronic content. The method and apparatus include providing electronic content to a first user, providing the first user with a key packet, the key packet including a decryption key and content rights information, transferring the electronic content and the key packet from the first user to a second user and rendering rights of the first user to the electronic content unusable upon transfer of the electronic content and the key packet from the first user to the second 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 system and a method for secure transmission of protected content to a subscriber, without requiring a smart card or other renewable security element to be in physical proximity of the recipient module of the subscriber, such as a set-top box for example. Therefore, the renewable security element may optionally be protected and controlled by the transmitter of the protected content, such as by the broadcaster for example.

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: 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 method and apparatus for transferring electronic content. The method and apparatus include providing electronic content to a first user, providing the first user with a key packet, the key packet including a decryption key and content rights information, transferring the electronic content and the key packet from the first user to a second user and rendering rights of the first user to the electronic content unusable upon transfer of the electronic content and the key packet from the first user to the second user.

Abstract: A method for protecting content including providing a host, a player, a communications link between host and player for communicating content therebetween, a recordable medium adapted to be played by and recorded to by the player, and an encrypted item of content, and producing a secure content license corresponding to the content, the license including a key for accessing the content, a permission list for determining whether the host or the player is allowed to access the content under pre-defined circumstances, the circumstances including a type of use of the encrypted content, an identification of the recordable medium, the recordable medium identification generated in accordance with a predefined recordable medium identification generation algorithm, and describing at least one physical characteristic of the recordable medium, and an identification of the content, the item identification describing at least one data characteristic of the content.

Abstract: An advertising control method is described. The method includes receiving an advertisement identification message (AIM) at a first mobile device, sending the AIM from the first mobile device to a content display unit (CDU) and storing the AIM in the CDU, selecting at least one content item from among a plurality of content items based, at least in part, on at least one stored AIM, the stoned AIM being stored in the CDU, and displaying the selected content item on the CDU. Related apparatus and methods are also described.

Abstract: A method for producing an output from an input encoding the output, the method including choosing functions G, F, and H, providing an input x, choosing a random number r, computing x′=G(x, r), sending x′ to a computation unit, computing, in the computation unit, y′=F(x′), receiving y′ from the computation unit, and computing the output w=H(y′, r), wherein G, F, and H are chosen such that w is not dependent on the choice or r. Related apparatus and methods are also described.

Abstract: A system and a method for secure transmission of protected content to a subscriber, without requiring a smart card or other renewable security element to be in physical proximity of the recipient module of the subscriber, such as a set-top box for example. Therefore, the renewable security element may optionally be protected and controlled by the transmitter of the protected content, such as by the broadcaster for example.

Abstract: In a pay-per-item system, a method and apparatus of anonymously ordering an item, including ordering the item through an anonymizing intermediary.

Abstract: A system and a method for providing variable security mechanisms for securing digital content, in which a single security mechanism is not used for all content. Instead, at least one characteristic or feature of the security mechanism is varied between units, instances or categories of content Therefore, even if unauthorized access is gained to a single unit of content, the overall integrity and security of the system for content distribution is not compromised. Preferably, security is provided through a general mechanism, which is then varied in order to provide variable, dissimilar security schemes for different types of content. By “type of content”, it is meant any of a single unit of content, a single instance of content or a single category of content. For example, for a category of content, the content may be characterized according to the identity of the content itself, such as the title of a movie for example, and/or according to the owner of a particular copy of the content.

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 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: A method and apparatus for transferring electronic content. The method and apparatus include providing electronic content to a first user, providing the first user with a key packet, the key packet including a decryption key and content rights information, transferring the electronic content and the key packet from the first user to a second user and rendering rights of the first user to the electronic content unusable upon transfer of the electronic content and the key packet from the first user to the second user.

Abstract: A method for transforming content from a standard form coded in accordance with a standard coding scheme to content in a non-standard form coded in accordance with a non-standard coding scheme. The method includes providing content coded in a standard form in accordance with a standard coding scheme, the standard coding scheme including at least one syntax element; and altering the content coded in the standard form in accordance with a non-standard syntax modification scheme, thereby producing content encoded in a non-standard form in accordance with a non-standard coding scheme. Related apparatus and methods are also provided.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for managing, implementing and using interactive applications and content that are digitally recorded and viewed in real-time and/or a time-shifted mode are provided. The interactive applications may be associated with television programs or may be unrelated thereto, and may be transmitted together with television programs or separately therefrom. Interactive applications that are employed in a time-shifted mode can be matched to current conditions and interactive content may be updated to include current data. Users may view and manipulate highlights of television programs and receive alerts of occurrence of real-time events during viewing of recorded material. Additional manipulations of interactive applications and content are also enabled. Related apparatus and methods are also described.

Abstract: A method for controlling access to content, including preventing access to content that corresponds to a blacked out event, until at least one of a time criterion and payment criterion is met. Related methods and apparatus are also disclosed.

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.