Abstract: An embodiment takes the form of an accessory for attachment to a communication device, the accessory comprising a microphone disposed on the accessory to detect sound, a cryptographic module disposed on the accessory in communication with the microphone to generate encrypted audio data based on the detected sound, a communication interface disposed on the accessory in communication with the cryptographic module configured to convey the encrypted audio data to the communication device, and an audio-sensor inhibitor arranged to be positioned adjacent to a communication-device audio sensor.

Abstract: A method for pairing a multimedia receiver connected to an IP network with at least one mobile equipment connected to a mobile network using a communication protocol different from the IP network. A unique identifier of the mobile equipment is introduced into an application on the multimedia receiver. The latter transmits, to the mobile equipment, a message comprising a pairing request and a command for acquiring a unique public address of the multimedia receiver, said mobile equipment being identified by an address associated to the unique identifier. The mobile equipment receives the message and transmits a response message to the multimedia receiver identified by the unique public address, said response message comprising unique identifier. The multimedia receiver verifies the unique identifier in the response message by comparing it with the unique identifier introduced into the application. If the verification is successful, the mobile equipment pairs with the multimedia receiver.

Abstract: The present invention may be deployed in a system for broadcast of conditional access content where it is desirable to detect and take action against receiver equipment which has been used in a control word sharing activity. By requiring that receiver equipment used in the system send a message to a broadcaster of conditional access content at a precise time, the invention provides a method for the server to detect receiver equipment involved in control word sharing activity and to inhibit that receiver's ability to further access the content.

Abstract: A physical device, the possession of which may provide access to digital media content in a fashion similar to the possession of a DVD providing access to the media content stored thereupon on a suitable DVD player. The possession of the physical device grants access to digital content stored on a remote server using a suitable device such as e.g., a set-top box or media player having Internet connectivity. The physical device provides for convenient and possibly anonymous access to content stored on a remote server and has certain advantages over known techniques for storing rights to access the content.

Abstract: An embodiment takes the form of an accessory for attachment to a communication device, the accessory comprising a microphone disposed on the accessory to detect sound, a cryptographic module disposed on the accessory in communication with the microphone to generate encrypted audio data based on the detected sound, a communication interface disposed on the accessory in communication with the cryptographic module configured to convey the encrypted audio data to the communication device, and an audio-sensor inhibitor arranged to be positioned adjacent to a communication-device audio sensor.

Abstract: An embodiment takes the form of a method carried out by a personal mobile device. The personal mobile device receives a session-request message requesting establishment an encrypted-audio session with a call-initiating device, responsively presents one or more call-response inquiries via a user interface, and subsequently receives an accessory-unready indication via the user interface. The one or more call-response inquiries include an accessory-status inquiry, and the accessory-unready indication is associated with the presented accessory-status inquiry. In response to receiving the accessory-unready indication, the personal mobile device sends, to the call-initiating device, a request-acknowledgment message that is associated with the session-request message. Subsequent to sending the request-acknowledgment message but before establishing the encrypted-audio session, the personal mobile device makes an accessory-ready determination.

Abstract: A system for a local network, the system being configured to extend a near field communication (NFC) between an NFC device and an NFC mobile device beyond the range defined by the NFC standards.

Abstract: A method for authenticating a user to a provider, among a plurality of providers. The method uses an authentication device comprising, for each of provider, a record comprising a pairing key and first data, both as shared data. Provider authentication data comprises a first cryptogram obtained by encrypting said first data with said pairing key. Authenticating provider authentication data is performed at the authentication device by the steps of decrypting said first cryptogram by means of the pairing key stored in one of said records, then comparing the result of this decryption with first data resulting from pairing data stored in said record, if the comparison does not indicate a match, then processing again the previous decryption and comparison steps by using the pairing key of another record until each of said records stored in the authentication device has been processed.

Abstract: A method and cryptographic system for descrambling content packets, included within a digital transport stream, having conditional access messages and header data. The method and system require a deciphering algorithm, processed by a descrambler of a multimedia unit, using an initialization vector as a first input and a control word as a second input. The multimedia unit is connectable to a security module for processing the conditional access messages and extracting control words therefrom. The initialization vector, or intermediate data to determine the initialization vector, is the result of a cryptographic function based on at least one variable extracted from the digital transport stream and processed by the security module.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a method for building a watermarked content for sending to at least one user unit having a user unit identifier, the watermarked content comprising a first series of packets, at least some from the first series of packets being available in at least two different qualities, wherein said method comprises the steps of: generating a watermark based on at least the user unit identifier, the watermark being formed by a first series of values from a predetermined set of values; mapping each of the at least two different qualities to one from the predetermined set of values; building the watermarked content by sequentially selecting from the first series of packets, a packet having a quality corresponding to each value from the first series of values forming the watermark, It further concerns a method for transmitting such a watermarked content.

Abstract: A system for a local network, the system being configured to extend a near field communication (NFC) between an NFC device and an NFC mobile device beyond the range defined by the NFC standards.

Abstract: Method for granting a plurality of electronic communication devices access to a local area network (LAN) via an access point using a single cryptographic key to secure communications exchanged through the LAN. The method comprising an activation phase performed once at initialization of the LAN and an operating phase wherein the electronic communication devices accesses the LAN. The activation phase comprising: providing the cryptographic key in a digital form by the access point; transferring the cryptographic key to a master device, switching the access point into a secure mode in which any further communication with the access point is secured with the cryptographic key. The operating phase comprising: transferring the cryptographic key from the master device to the electronic communication devices. The cryptographic key is converted from its digital form into a graphic form and then transferred in the graphic form to the electronic communication devices during the operating phase.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the present invention, a method is disclosed for conditional access to a digital data stream encrypted with at least one first control word and broadcasted via an emitter of a broadcasting network to at least one mobile equipment, the latter also being connected via a mobile communication network to a management center, the stream containing control messages encrypted with a transmission key and including a second control word obtained by the encryption of the first control word with a local key, the method includes the following steps: reception by the mobile equipment of at least one cryptogram via the mobile network, determination of at least one local key from the received cryptogram, reception of a control message via the broadcasting network, decryption of the message and obtaining the second control word, decryption of the second control word with the local key and obtaining the first control word, and decryption of the data of the stream with the first control word.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for collecting household power usage within a media gateway. An energy usage indicator is received from various electrical loads within a household using a home area network. The media gateway is communicatively coupled to the various electrical loads by means of the home area network. The energy usage indicator is incorporated into a media stream developed by the media gateway. This media stream is then disseminated to media devices within a household for display to user. Further, the energy usage indicator is conveyed to a central service which collects additional energy usage indicators and generates an energy usage guideline. The energy usage guideline is returned to the media gateway and also incorporated into the media stream to enable a user to make informed decisions about energy apportionment amongst various electrical loads in a household.

Abstract: A method to manage the power setting of a receiver/decoder for pay-TV comprising a timer and means to receive management messages, the power setting comprising at least three states, the active state during which the reception and the decoder is active, the active/standby state during which the receiver is active for the reception of management messages and the standby state during which the receiver/decoder is in idle mode.

Abstract: The present invention proposes a system comprising a television decoding unit and a plurality of access modules, said access modules comprising wireless communication means with the television decoding unit, a memory comprising an identification of said module, said television decoding unit comprising means for detecting the presence and to receive the identification of an access module, means to apply a filter on events displayed on the television unit, said filter being defined with pre-defined filter category attached to the identification, and means to record the events consumption while the access module is detected by the television unit.

Abstract: A method and cryptographic system for descrambling content packets, included within a digital transport stream, having conditional access messages and header data. The method and system require a deciphering algorithm, processed by a descrambler of a multimedia unit, using an initialization vector as a first input and a control word as a second input. The multimedia unit is connectable to a security module for processing the conditional access messages and extracting control words therefrom. The initialization vector, or intermediate data to determine the initialization vector, is the result of a cryptographic function based on at least one variable extracted from the digital transport stream and processed by the security module.

Abstract: A method of managing the processing of a digital broadcast transport stream by a multimedia unit identified by a personal identifier. The multimedia unit being connectable to a security module associated to the multimedia unit and/or a server through an IP-connection with a return path. The transport stream comprising scrambled content packets and conditional access messages that are necessary for descrambling the content packets. The method comprises: sending the conditional access messages from the multimedia unit to either the server or the security module; verifying the authentication of the multimedia unit and/or the validity of access rights allocated to the multimedia unit; if the authentication fails, preventing any further processing of the conditional access message; securely obtaining, at the multimedia unit, the control data corresponding to the conditional access messages; and descrambling the audio/video/data content packets using the control data at the multimedia unit.

Abstract: A method for granting access to a network to an electronic communication device via a router using a secure key to encrypt the communication between the router and the electronic communication device, comprising the steps of establishing a first link between a key carrier and the electronic communication device for transferring said secure key to an application software installed in the communication device, and using said secure key to encrypt and decrypt the data transferred between the router and the electronic communication device via a wireless second link.

Abstract: A receiver is disclosed, comprising means for receiving a program stream, and means for replacing portions of the program stream with a locally stored program. Other aspects of the invention are also presented.