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US 11,310,212 B2Granted
Segmented encryption for content delivery
AssigneeComcast Cable Communications, LLC
InventorsRobert Gaydos, Weidong Mao, James Barkley
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Techniques for encrypting content in a content distribution network are disclosed. The content distribution network may comprise a number of national and local sites, and a number of hubs at each local sites. A content segment encrypting device may be operative at a local site to encrypt and cache segments of content. The segment encrypting device may provide the segments to streaming devices that encode content for delivery downstream to network or user devices.
Claims17
A method comprising:
- receiving, from a streaming server associated with a content distribution network, a request for a content segment associated with a time period in a content stream;
- determining an encryption format that is compatible with an endpoint device that is an intended recipient for the content segment, wherein the determining the encryption format that is compatible with the endpoint device comprises determining that the endpoint device possesses an encryption key that allows it to decrypt content when encrypted in the encryption format;
- generating, for the content segment:
- one or more encrypted portions of content that are encrypted in the encryption format, and
- an unencrypted portion of content indicating timing information for the one or more encrypted portions of content;
- storing, in a cache associated with the content distribution network, the unencrypted portion of content and the one or more encrypted portions of content;
- and
- sending, to the streaming server, the unencrypted portion of content and the one or more encrypted portions of content to cause decryption and playback, by the endpoint device, of the requested content segment.
5 more elements
A device comprising:
- one or more processors;
- and
- memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the device to:
- receive, from a streaming server associated with a content distribution network, a request for a content segment associated with a time period in a content stream;
- determine an encryption format that is compatible with an endpoint device that is an intended recipient for the content segment, wherein the determining the encryption format that is compatible with the endpoint device comprises determining that the endpoint device possesses an encryption key that allows it to decrypt content when encrypted in the encryption format;
- generate, for the content segment:
- one or more encrypted portions of content that are encrypted in the encryption format, and
- an unencrypted portion of content indicating timing information for the one or more encrypted portions of content;
- store, in a cache associated with the content distribution network, the unencrypted portion of content and the one or more encrypted portions of content;
- and
- send, to the streaming server, the unencrypted portion of content and the one or more encrypted portions of content to cause decryption and playback, by the endpoint device, of the requested content segment.
8 more elements
A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing computer-readable instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause:
- receiving, from a streaming server associated with a content distribution network, a request for a content segment associated with a time period in a content stream;
- determining an encryption format that is compatible with an endpoint device that is an intended recipient for the content segment, wherein the determining the encryption format that is compatible with the endpoint device comprises determining that the endpoint device possesses an encryption key that allows it to decrypt content when encrypted in the encryption format;
- generating, for the content segment:
- one or more encrypted portions of content that are encrypted in the encryption format, and
- an unencrypted portion of content indicating timing information for the one or more encrypted portions of content;
- storing, in a cache associated with the content distribution network, the unencrypted portion of content and the one or more encrypted portions of content;
- and
- sending, to the streaming server, the unencrypted portion of content and the one or more encrypted portions of content to cause decryption and playback, by the endpoint device, of the requested content segment.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.