Approaches to security and access control for digital cable television

摘要

This paper addresses the several design trade-offs which should be considered by a system operator in selecting a security and access control sub-system for protecting digital television signals on cable television systems. Factors are discussed which have a strong impact on the strength, adaptability, and cost of such systems. The principles discussed in this paper apply whether the primary source of security and access control in the subscriber home is found in a set-top decoder, a decoder interface unit, a home server, or as an insertion in an MPEG-capable computer or television receiver.