System and method for using a streaming protocol

An apparatus, comprising:

• a storage device;
• and
• at least one processor coupled to the storage device, wherein the storage device stores a program for controlling the at least one processor, and wherein the at least one processor, being operative with the program, is configured to:
• provide a stream of content to a distribution point;
• receive a sequence of initialization vectors for the stream of content, the initialization vectors representing settings associated with corresponding portions of content, the settings enabling a decryption engine to decrypt the corresponding portions of content using a key;
• receive, from an application server, an indication that a request from a client device to access the stream of content is supported;
• receive, from the client device and across a communications network, the request to access the stream of content;
• enable, based on receiving the indication, the client device to access the stream of content in a connection between the client device and the distribution point;
• access, from within the request, a time mark with a temporal description of a portion of the stream of content requested by the user;
• relate the time mark to the sequence of initialization vectors;
• and
• generate an instruction to transmit at least one of the initialization vectors to the client device in a first metadata message.

A tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to perform a method, comprising:

• providing a stream of content to a distribution point;
• receiving a sequence of initialization vectors for the stream of content, the initialization vectors representing settings associated with corresponding portions of content, the settings enabling a decryption engine to decrypt the corresponding portions of content using a key;
• receiving, from an application server, an indication that a request from a client device to access the stream of content is supported;
• receiving, from the client device and across a communications network, the request to access the stream of content;
• enabling, based on receiving the indication, the client device to access the stream of content in a connection between the client device and the distribution point;
• accessing, from within the request, a time mark with a temporal description of a portion of the stream of content requested by the user;
• relating the time mark to the sequence of initialization vectors;
• and
• generating an instruction to transmit at least one of the initialization vectors to the client device in a first metadata message.