Abstract: Systems and methods in accordance with embodiments of the invention enhance the security of content distribution using individualized playlists. In many embodiments, a playlist is individually composed for a client device so that the selection of content included in the playlist encodes information. One embodiment includes generating a watermark sequence, where each watermark sequence is a unique identifier, selecting between alternative chunks of encoded content based upon the watermark sequence, where each of the alternative chunks of encoded content includes the same perceptual content and differs in the way it is watermarked, and listing the selected chunks in a playlist, where content assembled using the playlist includes a unique watermark sequence.

Abstract: Systems and methods for synchronized key derivation across multiple conditional access servers are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method for synchronized key derivation to provide playback devices with derived keys for decrypting content includes receiving a request for a first derived key that includes a first asset identifier than identifies a piece of content and a first playback position within the content, determining a first content key starting position and first derived key starting position within the content using the first playback position, where the key starting positions precede the first playback position, determining whether a first content key associated with the first asset identifier and first content key starting position is stored, retrieving the first content key using the first asset identifier and first content key starting position, generating a first derived key using the first content key and first derived key starting position, and sending the derived key.

Abstract: Systems and methods for secure content distribution to playback devices connected to a local network via a residential gateway using secure links are disclosed. One embodiment of the invention includes a content server, a rights management server, a residential gateway configured to communicate with the content server and the rights management server via a network, and a playback device configured to communicate with the residential gateway via a local network.

Abstract: Systems and methods for protecting data being sent between a client and a server include the capability of defining programmable processing steps that are applied by the server when protecting the data and the same steps are applied by the client when unprotecting the data. The programmable processing steps can be defined uniquely for each client, and the programmable processing steps are selected from a number of functions using sequencing data that defines the processing steps. The programmable processing steps allow for each client to process encrypted data in a different manner and the programmable processing steps are defined by what is called a digital rights management (DRM) Sequencing Key, and as such the system and method introduces a key-able DRM whereby each DRM message can be processed in a unique (or pseudo unique) manner.

Abstract: Reformatting a media stream to include auxiliary data, the method including: receiving the auxiliary data to be inserted into the media stream; determining the amount of data in the auxiliary data; identifying media data in the media stream to be reduced in size; reformatting the media stream to reduce the amount of data in the media data such that the amount of data removed from the media data is at least equal to the amount of data in the auxiliary data while providing minimal impact to the quality of the media data; and adding the auxiliary data to the media stream which maintains a consistent size.

Abstract: Systems and methods for secure content distribution to playback devices connected to a local network via a residential gateway using secure links are disclosed. One embodiment of the invention includes a content server, a rights management server, a residential gateway configured to communicate with the content server and the rights management server via a network, and a playback device configured to communicate with the residential gateway via a local network.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for aggregating information obtained from messages between playback devices and content protection systems, including but not limited to conditional access systems, downloadable conditional access systems, and digital rights management systems, that include a unique identifier and applying user modifiable rules to the aggregated information to identify abnormal behavior associated with the unique identifier including but not limited to one or more clone playback devices utilizing the unique identifier or a rogue playback device utilizing a unique identifier. One embodiment includes a plurality of playback devices connected to a headend via a network, where the headend includes at least one content protection system, and a clone monitor configured to register playback devices based upon a unique identification supplied by each playback device, when communicating with the at least one content protection system.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed that authenticate devices or users, and enable playback of secured streaming content through a media player. In one embodiment, the invention is a system for receiving secure content over an unmanaged network, including a security application configured operate on a user device with access to a network, where the security application is configured to receive a request for playlist data from the media player, send a playlist request to a content server, receive playlist data from the content server, send playlist data to a media player, receive a security access request from the media player, send a security access request to a security server, receive security access data from the security server; and send security access data to a media player.

Abstract: System and method for identification of ownership to media objects through analysis of semantic information in the media objects are disclosed Semantic information is a term that can be used to describe aspects of the content of a media object that are apparent to a human viewing or listening to the content One embodiment of the invention includes extracting semantic information from a specified media object, matching said semantic information of the specified media object against known semantic information of known media objects, and taking action based on the result of the companson.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for imperceptibly embedding information by identifying locations that can be imperceptibly modified, where the imperceptible modification by replacing original content using replacement content derived from elsewhere in the compressed bitstream to remove at least a portion of the original content, generating at least one piece of replacement data for each identified location, where overwriting a portion of the compressed bitstream with replacement data prevents a decoder from decoding original content due to decoding replacement content derived from elsewhere in the compressed bitstream, selecting pieces of replacement data using an embedding device, where overwriting portions of the compressed bitstream using pieces of replacement data encodes payload information in accordance with a predetermined coding scheme, and embedding the payload information in the compressed bitstream by using the embedding device to overwrite at least a portion of the compressed bitstream with the

Abstract: Reformatting a media stream to include auxiliary data, the method including: receiving the auxiliary data to be inserted into the media stream; determining the amount of data in the auxiliary data; identifying media data in the media stream to be reduced in size; reformatting the media stream to reduce the amount of data in the media data such that the amount of data removed from the media data is at least equal to the amount of data in the auxiliary data while providing minimal impact to the quality of the media data; and adding the auxiliary data to the media stream which maintains a consistent size.

Abstract: Managing access to digital content within a particular domain, including: receiving the digital content at a first client device; decrypting the received digital content at the first client device using a first key; transcoding the digital content to another format; re-encrypting the transcoded content using a second key, wherein the second key is obtained by one of: (1) directly from a server; or (2) indirectly by deriving it locally based on information received from the server; and transmitting the re-encrypted content to a second client device, wherein the second client device obtains the second key and decrypts the re-encrypted content at the second client device.

Abstract: An enhanced cable card device is described that operates in host devices without requiring an out-of-band data channel. One embodiment includes a broadcast receiver for receiving a broadcast signal, a processor for coordinating processing in the cable card, a memory for storing data normally received by the cable card over an out-of-band signal, an in band data receiver for receiving an in band data signal, and a control program running on the processor to signal reception of an out-of-band signal to a host device electrically connected to the cable card. In addition, the control program processes data from the memory and provides processed output data to the host device simulating data normally received over an out-of-band data channel, and the cable card allows the host device to operate normally without an out-of-band receiver.

Abstract: Systems and methods for rapid content switching between pieces of content presented in a plurality of stations using streaming content distribution in accordance with embodiments of the invention are disclosed.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for imperceptibly embedding information by identifying locations that can be imperceptibly modified, where the imperceptible modification by replacing original content using replacement content derived from elsewhere in the compressed bitstream to remove at least a portion of the original content, generating at least one piece of replacement data for each identified location, where overwriting a portion of the compressed bitstream with replacement data prevents a decoder from decoding original content due to decoding replacement content derived from elsewhere in the compressed bitstream, selecting pieces of replacement data using an embedding device, where overwriting portions of the compressed bitstream using pieces of replacement data encodes payload information in accordance with a predetermined coding scheme, and embedding the payload information in the compressed bitstream by using the embedding device to overwrite at least a portion of the compressed bitstream with the

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for over-encrypting symmetrically pre-encrypted content for off-line delivery to playback devices using portable media drives in accordance with embodiments of the invention. One embodiment of the method of the invention includes symmetrically pre-encrypting the content, receiving a request to issue content for playback on at least one playback device associated with a user account, where each playback device includes a processor containing a private key assigned to the playback device by a conditional access system, generating a content key and over-encrypting at least a portion of the symmetrically pre-encrypted content in response to the request, obtaining a public key for each playback device, encrypting a copy of the content key using the public key of each playback device associated with the user account, and delivering the over-encrypted content and the at least one encrypted copy of the content key to a playback device associated with the user account.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for imperceptibly embedding information by identifying locations that can be imperceptibly modified by replacing original content using replacement content derived from elsewhere in the compressed bitstream to remove at least a portion of the original content, generating at least one piece of replacement data for each identified location, where overwriting a portion of the compressed bitstream with replacement data prevents a decoder from decoding original content due to decoding replacement content derived from elsewhere in the compressed bitstream, selecting pieces of replacement data using an embedding device, where overwriting portions of the compressed bitstream using pieces of replacement data encodes payload information in accordance with a predetermined coding scheme, and embedding the payload information in the compressed bitstream by using the embedding device to overwrite at least a portion of the compressed bitstream with the selected replacement data.

Abstract: Systems and methods for secure content distribution to playback devices connected to a local network via a residential gateway using secure links are disclosed. One embodiment of the invention includes a content server, a rights management server, a residential gateway configured to communicate with the content server and the rights management server via a network, and a playback device configured to communicate with the residential gateway via a local network.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed that authenticate devices or users, and enable playback of secured streaming content through a media player. In one embodiment, the invention is a system for receiving secure content over an unmanaged network, including a security application configured operate on a user device with access to a network, where the security application is configured to receive a request for playlist data from the media player, send a playlist request to a content server, receive playlist data from the content server, send playlist data to a media player, receive a security access request from the media player, send a security access request to a security server, receive security access data from the security server; and send security access data to a media player.

Abstract: A multi-source bridge content distribution system links multiple content owners with access network operators or content distribution providers leasing space on access networks so that multi-media content can be provided from multiple content owners to consumers through a multi-source bridge or data center. Content files and associated content owner preference settings are provided from a plurality of content sources or providers to the multi-source data center. Files stored at the data center or locally at an access network are provided to subscribers through the local access network Content files are provided if the content owner preference settings are a sufficient match with service provider access network preference settings set up by the service provider using the access network to provide content to subscribers.