Abstract: A method for synchronising a first audio stream, reproduced in the form of a sound signal by a reproduction device near a terminal, with an alternative audio stream received by the terminal. The terminal also receives a control stream representing the first audio stream reproduced on the reproduction device, the control stream and the alternative audio stream being synchronised according to a single time reference. the method includes: capturing a portion of the sound signal; transmitting to the reproduction device a command to suspend the reading of the first stream; obtaining a first data item representing at least one portion of the captured sound signal; detecting the first data item in the control stream and, when the first data item is detected in the control stream, transmitting to the reproduction device a command to resume reading the first stream; and reproducing the alternative audio stream received by the terminal.

Abstract: A method for synchronising a first audio stream, reproduced in the form of a sound signal by a reproduction device near a terminal, with an alternative audio stream received by the terminal. The terminal also receives a control stream representing the first audio stream reproduced on the reproduction device, the control stream and the alternative audio stream being synchronised according to a single time reference. the method includes: capturing a portion of the sound signal; transmitting to the reproduction device a command to suspend the reading of the first stream; obtaining a first data item representing at least one portion of the captured sound signal; detecting the first data item in the control stream and, when the first data item is detected in the control stream, transmitting to the reproduction device a command to resume reading the first stream; and reproducing the alternative audio stream received by the terminal.

Abstract: A method is provided for accessing a multimedia content containing at least one data segment. This data segment is accessible via a document describing the content. The method includes a first step of obtaining the document describing the content, from which document at least a first universal address of a segment is generated; a second step of obtaining at least one parameter associated with the universal address of the document describing the content; a step of reading at least one address generator rule in the document describing the content; and as a function of the address generator rule, of the first universal address of the segment, and of the parameter that has been obtained, a last step of generating the second universal address for the segment. Also provided is a method of generating a document that is suitable for use in the context of the access method.

Abstract: A method is provided for accessing a multimedia content containing at least one data segment. This data segment is accessible via a document describing the content. The method includes a first step of obtaining the document describing the content, from which document at least a first universal address of a segment is generated; a second step of obtaining at least one parameter associated with the universal address of the document describing the content; a step of reading at least one address generator rule in the document describing the content; and as a function of the address generator rule, of the first universal address of the segment, and of the parameter that has been obtained, a last step of generating the second universal address for the segment. Also provided is a method of generating a document that is suitable for use in the context of the access method.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for controlling use of content protected with a digital rights management license which contains conditions for the use. When a request to use the content is received by a client agent controlling the use of the content, the conditions of use are checked. Within this check, a determination is made that the use of the content is conditional upon an obligation to perform a parental control operation on the content. A request for authorization to use the content is then transmitted from the controlling client agent to a parental control management module. After a parental control operation has been performed on the content by the parental control management module, the agent receives a result of the parental control operation. If the result is negative, a denial of use of the content is notified in response to the request to use the content.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for controlling use of content protected with a digital rights management license which contains conditions for the use. When a request to use the content is received by a client agent controlling the use of the content, the conditions of use are checked. Within this check, a determination is made that the use of the content is conditional upon an obligation to perform a parental control operation on the content. A request for authorization to use the content is then transmitted from the controlling client agent to a parental control management module. After a parental control operation has been performed on the content by the parental control management module, the agent receives a result of the parental control operation. If the result is negative, a denial of use of the content is notified in response to the request to use the content.

Abstract: The invention relates to a protocol for disabling/erasing access rights to scrambled data. According to the invention, the access rights entered in an access control module comprise the following variables: right identification variable (R ID), action date variable (AD V) and right status variable (S V). The status variable can have one of three encoded values, namely enabled, disabled or erased right. The inventive protocol consists in: transmitting (A) at least one access right management message comprising the right identification variable (R IDx), the action date variable (AD Vx) and the status assignment variable (S Vx), the latter corresponding to a enabled, disabled or erased right; assigning (B) the action date (AD Vx) of the message to the action date (AD V) of the right entered; and allocating (C) the status assignment variable (S Vx) of the message, corresponding to an enabled, disabled or erased access right, to the status variable (S V) of the entered access right.

Abstract: The invention concerns a protocol for adapting the degree of interactivity among computer equipment items (A, B), which consists in writing, in an initiating participant equipment item (A), a list (L_IDA) of identifiers of reciprocal responding participant equipment items (B), a list of behaviour identifiers (L_CA), at least one association between an equipment identifier and a behaviour identifier. When the participant equipment (A) and the reciprocal participant equipment (B) are in each other's presence, it further consists in carrying out a procedure (1) of authentication between them and in searching for (2) the identifier of the reciprocal participant equipment (B) in the list of identifiers (L_IDA), reading (4) the associated behaviour identifier and applying (5), at the participant equipment (A), the behaviour relative to the reciprocal participant equipment (B), said behaviour being determined on the basis of the result of the authentication procedure.

Abstract: The invention relates to a protocol for disabling/erasing access rights to scrambled data. According to the invention, the access rights entered in an access control module comprise the following variables: right identification variable (R ID), action date variable (AD V) and right status variable (S V). The status variable can have one of three encoded values, namely enabled, disabled or erased right. The inventive protocol consists in: transmitting (A) at least one access right management message comprising the right identification variable (R IDx), the action date variable (AD Vx) and the status assignment variable (S Vx), the latter corresponding to a enabled, disabled or erased right; assigning (B) the action date (AD Vx) of the message to the action date (AD V) of the right entered; and allocating (C) the status assignment variable (S Vx) of the message, corresponding to an enabled, disabled or erased access right, to the status variable (S V) of the entered access right.

Abstract: The invention relates to a protocol for controlling access to scrambled data in specific time ranges, using access control messages ECM. The protocol consists: in assigning (A) each access control message ECM a number (Tj) satisfying a monotonic non-decreasing function, the messages representing a timebase formed by a plurality of individual time intervals for sending successive quanta of information; in detecting (B) in each descrambling terminal the numbers of the access control messages, and then, in response to a user request (UR) from the user; in selecting (C) an access control message number that corresponds to the sending time of the request to constitute a time origin (Tjo) of the timebase; and in authorizing (D), (E) access to the scrambled information as a function of a specific access criterion with reference to the origin (Tjo) and over a time range corresponding to a plurality of individual time intervals defining a plurality of successive quanta of scrambled information.

Abstract: The invention relates to a remote control protocol for a local action to generate a command message (OM), which permits a broadcaster to control a local action in at least one receiving station comprising: a step for transmission of an authorisation message (HM) from the broadcaster to the receiving station(s) and a verification step (4) in said receiving station(s), for transmitted authenticity parameters and addresses, with regard to parameters memorised in each of said receiving stations. The invention is characterised in that the authorisation message (HM) comprises a generation action (CM), at the level of the receiving station(s), a command message (OM), calculated locally and said protocol also comprises, conditional on the verification step (4), an interpretation step (10) of said action (CM) transmitted with said authorisation message (HM) and a local generation step (20) for a command message (OM) in response to said interpretation step (10).

Abstract: The invention relates to a protocol for controlling the mode of access to data on the basis of rights, access criteria and electronic token carriers. Each access right and electronic token carrier are established (A) in the form of a group of variables comprising independent variables containing at least one variable for the duration of validity and one variable for identifying the access right or the electronic token carrier, and each access criterion is established (B) in accordance with another group of variables comprising independent variables containing at least one variable for the access date, one variable for identifying the type of access criteria and identifying the access right. A proposition for the mode of access is established (C) in order to define access restrictions and this proposition is subjected (D) to an evaluation of the access restrictions in comparison with the access rights. The mode of access is accepted for the true value of the evaluation and is not continued otherwise.

Abstract: The invention concerns a protocol for remote management, from a broadcasting center (E), of access control to scrambled data, through a descrambling terminal (T) and an access control card or module provided with a security processor (PS). It consists in transmitting (A) from the broadcasting center (E) to at least a receiver set (PR) or the security processor (PS) a control message including input template fields, control applicative data, digital signature, and in subjecting (B) the exchange of action instructions and the replies to said action instructions, between the terminal (T) and the security processor (PS), to a local security protocol inhibiting any local viewing at the security processor (PS)/terminal (T). The invention is applicable to management of broadcasting or distribution of scrambled or encrypted data.