Comcast Cable Holdings, LLC

Comcast Cable Communications, LLC

Charles L Compton

Weidong Mao

Richard Woundy

John G Leddy

Neville A Black

James W Fahrny

Richard M Woundy

A controller receives an encrypted media stream ('EMS') and an identifier indicative of a selected content key from a headend. The EMS is encrypted with an encryption key and can be decrypted with a corresponding decryption key which is determinable from the selected content key. The controller receives indexes and content keys from the headend prior to receiving the EMS. Each index respectively corresponds to an identifier with one index corresponding to the identifier indicative of the selected content key. The content keys correspond to the indexes with one content key corresponding to the index corresponding to the identifier indicative of the selected content key. The controller selects the index corresponding to the identifier indicative of the selected content key upon receiving the EMS, determines the selected content key from the selected index, determines the decryption key from the selected content key, and decrypts the EMS with the decryption key.

Reduced hierarchy key management system and method

Tokens and policy descriptors are used for dynamic on demand session management in a distributed and scalable architecture for on demand sessions and resource management. The architecture includes an on demand client, a purchase server, and a session manager. A purchase token is generated at the purchase server and assigned to the on demand client. The purchase token represents at least one requested asset. In response to an on demand session set-up request corresponding to the purchase token from the on demand client to the session manager, the purchase token is expanded to generate at least one dynamic policy management descriptor for the on demand session. This provides token-based purchase authorization and policy management for on demand services.

Method of using tokens and policy descriptors for dynamic on demand session management

A method of traffic regulation in a packet communication network involves a token bucket associated with a subscriber. Packets arriving at the regulator are handled in accordance with the token bucket configuration. The method involves measuring a demand placed on the network by the subscriber. The token bucket configuration is dynamically adjusted based on the demand. Another method of traffic regulation handles packets arriving at the regulator in accordance with first and second token bucket configurations. The first token bucket regulates packet rate while the second token bucket regulates data rate. Another method of traffic regulation involves handling packets in accordance with a token bucket configuration, where the amount of tokens to be removed is based on the amount of the flow and is further based on a classification of the flow. Packet-level devices for traffic regulation are also contemplated.

Method for packet network traffic regulation

A content storage method and system for use in a content distribution network are provided. A personal file locker is established on the network for a user. A content-storage-request database is established. The database tracks requests by the user for placing video programs into the user's file locker for personal use by the user. Upon the broadcasting of a video program for which there exists a request by the user to place the video program into the user's file locker, the requested video program is stored in the user's file locker. The stored video program is then made available to the user for viewing. Alternative approaches to content storage methods and systems are also described, including the use of a buffer enhancement to enable the performance of operations on 'live' television.

Content storage method and system

Method of using tokens and policy descriptions for dynamic on demand session management

Methods for packet network traffic regulation

A system for multi-stream security processing and distributing digital media streams includes a headend, a network, and at least one receiver. The headend is generally configured to generate encrypted digital media streams. The network may be coupled to the headend and configured to receive the encrypted digital media streams. The at least one receiver may be coupled to the network and configured to receive the encrypted digital media streams and present a decrypted version of the encrypted digital media streams. At least one of the headend and the at least one receiver include a security processor that may be configured to provide at least one of simultaneous multiple encryption and simultaneous multiple decryption processing of the digital media streams.

System and method for security processing media streams

A method of traffic regulation in a packet communication network involves a token bucket associated with a subscriber. Packets arriving at the regulator are handled in accordance with the token bucket configuration. The method further involves measuring a demand placed on the packet communication network by the subscriber. The token bucket configuration for the subscriber is dynamically adjusted based on the demand. Another method of traffic regulation handles packets that arrive at the regulator in accordance with first and second token bucket configurations. The first token bucket regulates packet rate while the second token bucket regulates data rate. Another method of traffic regulation involves handling packets in accordance with a token bucket configuration, where the amount of tokens to be removed is based on the amount of the flow and is further based on a classification of the flow. Packet-level devices for traffic regulation are also contemplated.

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Bryn Mawr, PA, United States of America

Charles L Compton