Abstract: A method and apparatus relating to a receiver/decoder in a digital television environment, including logical devices (including logical demultiplexer devices) for representing physical and other devices in the receiver/decoder. The method includes the instantiation of devices by the receiver/decoder as required to support functionality thereof. The method further includes the use of multiple demultiplexers/remultiplexers, for example in the recording of more than one service simultaneously; and a control word device for the management of control word operations; the use of two or more tuners. Various elements of a digital television system (such as a receiver/decoder and a set top box) are also disclosed.

Abstract: A system for providing content to a user, comprising a transmitter 502 for transmitting to a user's receiver/decoder 2000 guide data relating to a plurality of items of content, and each of said items of content to which said guide data relates. prior to commencement of a period of availability of said items of content to the user; and a receiver/decoder 2100 comprising means 2016 for receiving said guide data and said items of content, means 3120 for generating a display of said guide data to enable a user to select at least one of said items of content for storage, means 2100 for storing the selected at least one item of content upon receipt thereof, and means 3120 for enabling the user to access the stored at least one item of content upon request following commencement of said period.

Abstract: A method for securing a portable security module for use with a decoding element, the portable security module and the decoding element allowing to descramble scrambled audiovisual information. The method comprises analyzing at the portable security module a sequence of command messages, the command messages of the sequence being received at the portable security module at distinct times.

Abstract: A method for pairing a first element and a second element, wherein the first element and the second element form a first decoding system among a plurality of receiving decoding systems in a broadcasting network. Each receiving decoding system is adapted to descramble scrambled audiovisual information received over the broadcasting network. A first key unique in the broadcasting network is selected. A second key is determined according to the first key, such that a combination of the first key and the second key enables to decrypt broadcasted encrypted control data that is received to be decrypted by each receiving decoding system, the encrypted control data being identical for each receiving decoding system. The first key and the second key are assigned respectively to the first element and the second element.

Abstract: A processing method for data exchanged between a portable object and an interface device, the portable object being of a chip card or chip key type, wherein the method involves receiving an initial signal from the interface device, wherein the initial signal is received after transmission of a response upon turning on the portable object, sampling said initial signal according to at least one of a first speed and a second speed associated with a first protocol and a second protocol in the portable object, comparing, in the portable object, at least one sample of a resulting sampling signal to at least one key protocol condition corresponding to one of the first protocol and the second protocol, and processing data exchanged according to one of the first protocol and the second protocol based on the result of the comparison in the portable object.

Abstract: A method of encryption of data in a digital television system communicated between a first decoder and a portable security module, wherein a precalculated key pair is stored in a memory of the first decoder, wherein the key pair includes a session key and an encrypted version of the session key prepared using a transport key, the encrypted version of the session key being subsequently communicated to the portable security module which decrypts the encrypted version using an equivalent transport key stored in its memory such that data communicated from at least the portable security module to the first decoder may thereafter be encrypted and decrypted by the session key.

Abstract: A method of distributing a message from a message administration service to a subscriber receiver decoder of a digital multimedia network comprises transferring a determined message for a determined receiver decoder from the message administration service to a point to point communication system distinct from the multimedia network. A destination point address of a receiver in the point to point communication system is determined, corresponding to the determined receiver decoder. The determined message is buffered in the point to point communication system, and retrieved at the determined receiver decoder from the receiver.

Abstract: A smartcard for use with a receiver of encrypted broadcast signals comprises a microprocessor for enabling or controlling decryption of said signals. A memory is coupled to the microprocessor. The microprocessor is adapted to enable or control the individual decryption of a plurality of such signals from respective broadcast suppliers of such signals by means of respective dynamically created zones in the memory, the dynamically created zones each being arranged to store decryption data associated with a respective one of said broadcast suppliers.

Abstract: A decoder for a digital audiovisual transmission system, the decoder comprising a processor means for decompressing and displaying compressed still picture data and a memory (66, 67) characterised in that the memory (66, 67) comprises a storage memory (66) allocated to receive from the processor decompressed digital image data representing a plurality of still picture images (63, 64, 65) and at least one display memory (67) adapted to hold contemporaneously data representing multiple still picture images (68, 69, 70, 71) readable by the processor means prior to display, data representing the plurality of images being copied from the storage memory (66) to the display memory (67) for subsequent display.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of providing secure communication of information between at least a first and second digital audiovisual device (30, 52) and characterized in that the first device (30) communicates to the second device (52) a certificate Ct(KpubT) comprising a transport public key KpubT encrypted by a management private key KpriMan, the second device (52) decrypting the certificate using an equivalent management public key KpubMan and thereafter using the transport public key KpubT to encrypt information sent to the first device, the first device using an equivalent private key KpriT to decrypt the information. The present invention is particularly applicable to a method of providing secure communication between a first and second decoder.