Verfahren zum Steuern der simultanen allgemeinen Aussendung verschlüsselter digitaler Informationssignale und Empfänger für solche Signale

摘要

A method of controlling the simultaneous broadcast of enciphered digital information signals, for example in a radio or television broadcast environment, to a plurality of subscribers provides several levels of enciphering keys. The broadcast digital information signal is in a broadcast common service enciphering key and communication between the transmitter and subscribers may take place in a box key or in a group enciphering key common to a group of subscribers having a common interest in the reception of broadcast signals of a particular type. Each receiver will decipher the broadcast digital information in a specific service key which is common to that broadcast. The service key may be changed at one or more subscribers by communicating the change in the service key to the subscribers by means of the group enciphering key. Further, the group enciphering key may be changed at one or more subscribers or new groups may be formed among subscribers by communicating to the subscribers in one or more group enciphering keys.