Digital content distribution system and method

A method of preventing unauthorized access to content data in a system comprising a source, a conditional access module, a receiver and an output device, the method comprising:

• (a) acquiring content data from the Internet at said source;
• (b) transporting said content data to said conditional access module;
• (c) determining whether access to said content data is authorized;
• (d) selectively processing the content data;
• (e) transporting processed content data from the conditional access module to said receiver;
• (f) decoding the processed content data;
• (g) selectively providing said decoded processed content data to said output device;
• and
• (h) outputting the decoded processed content data when authorized by said conditional access module.

A method of preventing unauthorized access to content data in a system comprising a source, a conditional access module, a receiver and an output device, the method comprising:

• a) acquiring content data from the Internet at said source;
• b) transforming said content data into packet data;
• c) transporting said packet data from said source to said conditional access module;
• d) determining whether access to said packet data is authorized;
• e) selectively processing said packet data;
• f) transporting said processed packet data to said receiver;
• g) decoding said processed packet data;
• and
• h) outputting the decoded content;
• and
• wherein communications between the source, the receiver and the conditional access module utilize at least one packet data protocol.