Using secure web sockets to extend reach of conditional access systems

An apparatus for securely and bi-directionally transmitting information comprising conditional access private data between a client and a headend, the apparatus comprising:

• a processor;
• a memory, communicatively coupled to the processor, the memory comprising processor instructions comprising instructions for:
• establishing a hypertext transfer protocol secure (HTTPs) connection;
• upgrading the HTTPs connection to a persistent bi-directional connection;
• accepting a first message from the client via the persistent bi-directional connection, wherein the first message comprises an identifier of the client;
• parsing the first message for the identifier of the client;
• associating the identifier of the client with the persistent bi-directional connection;
• and
• transmitting a second message notifying the headend of the persistent bi-directional connection, the second message comprising the identifier of the client.

An apparatus for securely and bi-directionally transmitting information comprising conditional access private data between a client and a headend, the apparatus comprising:

• means for establishing a hypertext transfer protocol secure (https) connection;
• means for upgrading the https connection to a persistent bi-directional connection;
• means for accepting a first message from the client via the persistent bi-directional connection, wherein the first message comprises an identifier of the client;
• means four parsing the first message for the identifier of the client;
• associating the identifier of the client with the persistent bi-directional connection;
• and
• means for transmitting a second message notifying the headend of the persistent bi-directional connection, the second message comprising the identifier of the client.