Efficient broadcast entitlement management message delivery mechanism using a scheduled delivery window

At least one processor configured for a distributor to control access to distributed content, comprising:

• a first module for receiving subscriber information for a plurality of subscribers authorized to receive one or more portions of distributed content;
• a second module for classifying the plurality of subscribers as a member of one of a plurality of groups according to a grouping function and further based on the respective subscriber information;
• a third module for determining a group-specific entitlement management message window within an entitlement management message for each of the plurality of groups, wherein each group-specific entitlement management message window corresponds to specified time of a broadcast to the respective one of the plurality of groups;
• a fourth module for providing the plurality of subscribers with a respective group-specific entitlement management message window, wherein an occurrence of each group-specific entitlement management message window is operable to cause a communication device of the respective subscriber to tune to a broadcast channel to receive the entitlement management message;
• and
• a fifth module for broadcasting the entitlement management message comprising the respective group-specific entitlement management message windows.

A computer program product, comprising:

• a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising:
• a first set of codes for causing a computer to receive subscriber information for a plurality of subscribers authorized to receive one or more portions of distributed content;
• a second set of codes for causing the computer to classify the plurality of subscribers as a member of one of a plurality of groups according to a grouping function and further based on the respective subscriber information;
• a third set of codes for causing the computer to determine a group-specific entitlement management message window within an entitlement management message for each of the plurality of groups, wherein each group-specific entitlement management message window corresponds to specified time of a broadcast corresponding to the respective one of the plurality of groups;
• a fourth set of codes for causing the computer to provide the plurality of subscribers with a respective group-specific entitlement management message window, wherein an occurrence of each group-specific entitlement management message window is operable to cause a communication device of the respective subscriber to tune to a broadcast channel to receive the entitlement management message;
• and
• a fifth set of codes for causing the computer to broadcast the entitlement management message with the respective group-specific entitlement management message windows.

An apparatus, comprising:

• hardware means for receiving subscriber information for a plurality of subscribers authorized to receive one or more portions of distributed content;
• means for classifying the plurality of subscribers as a member of one of a plurality of groups according to a grouping function and further based on the respective subscriber information;
• means for determining a group-specific entitlement management message window within an entitlement management message for each of the plurality of groups, wherein each group-specific entitlement management message window corresponds to specified time of a broadcast corresponding to the respective one of the plurality of groups;
• means for providing the plurality of subscribers with a respective group-specific entitlement management message window, wherein an occurrence of each group-specific entitlement management message window is operable to cause a communication device of the respective subscriber to tune to a broadcast channel to receive the entitlement management message;
• and
• means for broadcasting the entitlement management message comprising the respective group-specific entitlement management message windows.

An apparatus, comprising:

• a grouping hardware component operable to receive subscriber information for a plurality of subscribers authorized to receive one or more portions of distributed content, and further operable to classify the plurality of subscribers as a member of one of a plurality of groups according to a grouping function and further based on the respective subscriber information;
• a determiner component operable to determine a group-specific entitlement management message window within an entitlement management message for each of the plurality of groups, wherein each group-specific entitlement management message window corresponds to specified time of a broadcast corresponding to the respective one of the plurality of groups;
• and
• a distribution component operable to provide the plurality of subscribers with a respective group-specific entitlement management message window, wherein an occurrence of each group-specific entitlement management message window is operable to cause a communication device of the respective subscriber to tune to a broadcast channel to receive the entitlement management message, and wherein the distribution component is further operable to broadcast the entitlement management message with the respective group-specific entitlement management message windows.