Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the identification of security processors in a system for delivering protected multimedia content, in which: upon request from an identification device, a network head-end transmits (136) a command to suspend a first identified pre-determined security processor which, in response, switches (136) from an active state to an idle state; the sharing server detects (120) that the first security processor is in the idle state and then transmits (120) access control messages to a second security processor instead of the first security processor; in response to the identification of at least the second security processor, upon request from the identification device, the network head-end transmits (134) a command to re-establish the first security processor, and, subsequently, in response, the first security processor switches (134) from the idle state to the active state.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the identification of security processors in a system for delivering protected multimedia content, in which: upon request from an identification device, a network head-end transmits (136) a command to suspend a first identified pre-determined security processor which, in response, switches (136) from an active state to an idle state; the sharing server detects (120) that the first security processor is in the idle state and then transmits (120) access control messages to a second security processor instead of the first security processor; in response to the identification of at least the second security processor, upon request from the identification device, the network head-end transmits (134) a command to re-establish the first security processor, and, subsequently, in response, the first security processor switches (134) from the idle state to the active state.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of transmitting at least one additional piece of data D in a list of access control words CWi to a scrambled content transmitted by a content server of an operator to a user equipment (2) including a reception terminal (4) associated with a security processor (6), each control word CWi of said list being designed to descramble said contents during a determined cryptoperiod, this method includes the following steps: a) prior replacement of at least one of the control words of said list with a magnitude X resulting from the treatment of said additional piece of data D by a function G having a dual function H, and, at the reception of said list by the 15 reception terminal (4), b) retrieve said additional piece of data D by treating said magnitude X with dual function H.

Abstract: This method of receiving a multimedia signal scrambled by means of a control word uses a first cryptographic entity that can be connected to any one of P second cryptographic entities to form part of a device for receiving the scrambled multimedia signal. Only second cryptographic entities of a group of N second cryptographic entities selected from a wider set of P second cryptographic entities use a session key obtained by diversifying a root key identical to the root key used to obtain the session key of the first cryptographic entity.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for matching a number N of reception equipment with a number M of external security modules, each reception equipment being provided with a unique identifier, and each external security module having a unique identifier and containing information about access rights of a user to digital data distributed by an operator. The method comprises the following steps: memorizing a list of identifiers of reception equipment in each external security module, memorizing a list of identifiers of external security modules in each reception equipment, and when an external security module is connected to data reception equipment, a check plan is carried out to determine whether or not the identifier for the security module is present in the list of memorized identifiers in the connected reception equipment, and the same check plan is carried out for the identifier in the list of identifiers memorized in the security module.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for broadcasting digital data to a targeted set of reception terminals in which said data are previously scrambled by a series of control words transmitted in a conditional access control message. This method comprises the following steps: on transmission, particularise said access control message using a reversible function F for which the inverse function F?1 is executable only in terminals in the targeted set, and on reception, redetermine the original access control message in each terminal in the targeted set using said inverse function.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of detecting an abnormal use of a security processor invoked by at least one receiving terminal in order to control access to a scrambled digital content supplied by at least one operator to said receiving terminal. This method comprises the following steps: analysing security processor use during a preset observation period TObs, determining on the basis of said analysis the mean value MECM of the number of invocations per time unit of said security processor during said observation period TObs, comparing said mean value MECM with a preset threshold Smax, and if the value MECM is greater than the threshold Smax, applying to said terminal a sanction whereof the level of severity increases progressively.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of transmitting at least one additional piece of data D in a list of access control words CWi to a scrambled content transmitted by a content server of an operator to a user equipment (2) including a reception terminal (4) associated with a security processor (6), each control word CWi of said list being designed to descramble said contents during a determined cryptoperiod, this method includes the following steps: a) prior replacement of at least one of the control words of said list with a magnitude X resulting from the treatment of said additional piece of data D by a function G having a dual function H, and, at the reception of said list by the reception terminal (4), b) retrieve said additional piece of data D by treating said magnitude X with dual function H.

Abstract: This method of receiving a multimedia signal scrambled by means of a control word uses a first cryptographic entity that can be connected to any one of P second cryptographic entities to form part of a device for receiving the scrambled multimedia signal. Only second cryptographic entities of a group of N second cryptographic entities selected from a wider set of P second cryptographic entities use a session key obtained by diversifying a root key identical to the root key used to obtain the session key of the first cryptographic entity.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for transmitting a message to a reception equipment by an operator, the message containing a description of an action to be executed in the said equipment at a time chosen by the operator. This method comprises the following steps: a—generate the said message as a function of the action to be executed, b—completely or partially encrypt the said message using a secret parameter, c—transmit the encrypted message to the said equipment, d—store the encrypted message in the reception equipment, and, e—at the time chosen by the operator, transmit a description for obtaining the said secret parameter to the reception equipment, and on reception, f—decrypt the encrypted message memorised in the reception equipment using the said secret parameter, g—process the said message so that the said action can be executed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for matching a number N of reception equipment (2) with a number M of external security modules (6, 8), each reception equipment (2) being provided with a unique identifier, and each external security module (6, 8) having a unique identifier and containing information about access rights of a user to digital data distributed by an operator.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for broadcasting digital data to a targeted set of reception terminals in which said data are previously scrambled by a series of control words transmitted in a conditional access control message. This method comprises the following steps: on transmission, particularise said access control message using a reversible function F for which the inverse function F?1 is executable only in terminals in the targeted set, and on reception, redetermine the original access control message in each terminal in the targeted set using said inverse function.

Abstract: The invention related to a method for matching reception equipment (2) with a plurality of security modules (6, 8) each having a unique identifier. The method according to the invention comprises the following steps: connecting a security module (6, 8) to the reception equipment (2), memorising the unique identifier of the connected security module (6, 8) in the reception equipment (2), on the fly.