Inventors:
Robert Wilhelm Schumann - Oakton VA, US
Richard Whittemore - Herndon VA, US
David Mosche Goldschlag - Silver Spring MD, US
David William Kravitz - Fairfax VA, US
Siu-Leong Iu - San Jose CA, US
Guillaume Mercier - McLean VA, US
Michael Bergeron - Poway CA, US
Jack Ehrhardt - Richmond VA, US
Richard Vitkus - Richmond VA, US
Assignee:
Digital Video Express, L.P. - Richmond VA
International Classification:
H04L 9/32
US Classification:
713189, 713193, 713176, 726 26, 726 27, 726 30
Abstract:
A content distribution system and method which prevents unauthorized access to secured content such as movies and music. The apparatus includes a source, a receiver, an authorized security device such as a conditional access module (CAM) for decrypting authorized content, an output device for outputting content and a backend for managing accounts and system operations. One aspect of this invention provides a mechanism for providing secured content on a medium such as a DVD optical disc. These devices may verify that there is authorization to play the secured content, add watermarks to the secured content, convert the secured content to a displayable form and provide a means for preventing output of the secured content.