CONDITIONAL ACCESS FOR FUNCTIONAL UNITS

摘要

The invention relates to controlling functional units within a conditional access system. In one embodiment, a method for controlling access to a functional unit within a set top box is described. In one step, first information comprising a plurality of functional unit identifiers and one or more tier requirements respectively related to each functional unit identifier is received. Second information compressing tier rights is also received. The functional unit identifiers are correlated to their respective tier requirements. The functional unit is interacted with. It is determined if the respective tier requirements are satisfied by the tier rights. Further interaction with the functional unit is authorized.