Hardware multimedia endpoint and personal computer

Abstract

A hardware multimedia endpoint is located on an adapter card of a personal computer system and comprises an interface for interfacing to the computer system and a processor for receiving cryptographic information from the computer, for processing the cryptographic information and for outputting cryptographic information to the computer. This exchange of cryptographic information is performed such that an authentication procedure with a third party, which is different from the computer, is established for the purpose of decrypting encrypted media content.

1 . An adapter card having a hardware multimedia endpoint, the multimedia endpoint comprising:
 an interface for interfacing to a computer; and   a processor for receiving cryptographic information from the computer, for processing the cryptographic information, and for outputting cryptographic information to the computer, wherein the processor is operative to process cryptographic information such that an authentication procedure with a third party, which is different from the computer is established,   wherein the adapter card is a graphics card, a printer card, or a sound card.   
     
     
         2 . The adapter card having the hardware multimedia endpoint in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising an output for a signal to be delivered to a user via a display device, a sound device, or any other device producing a signal receivable by a user. 
     
     
         3 . The adapter card having the hardware multimedia endpoint in accordance with  claim 1 , in which the interface is operative to receive an encrypted video signal or an encrypted audio signal, and
 in which the processor is further operative to decrypt the encrypted video signal or audio signal using a cryptographic algorithm.   
     
     
         4 . The adapter card having the hardware multimedia endpoint in accordance with  claim 1 , in which the processor is operative to perform an authentication protocol with the key provider via a computer), wherein the authentication protocol is such that the computer cannot decrypt information packets exchanged between the processor and the key provider. 
     
     
         5 . The adapter card having the hardware multimedia endpoint in accordance with  claim 1 , in which the interface includes a first interface part for outputting and for receiving authentication packets for performing an authentication with a decryption key provider,
 in which the interface further comprises a second interface part for receiving encrypted content data and encrypted title keys,   in which the crypto-processor includes an authentication module for processing received authentication packets and for generating transmitted authentication packets, the authentication module further being operative for generating a decryption key;   wherein the crypto-processor further comprises a decryption module for decrypting the encrypted title keys using the decryption key provided by the authentication module and for decrypting the encrypted content data using the decrypted title keys.   
     
     
         6 . The adapter card having the hardware multimedia endpoint in accordance with  claim 1 , in which the interface further comprises a navigation data interface part for receiving secure channel authentication data from the computer and for transmitting secure channel authentication data to the computer and for providing encrypted navigation files to the computer to be decrypted in the computer,
 wherein the crypto-processor further comprises a navigation encrypter module for encrypting navigation data retrieved from encrypted content data, wherein the navigation encrypter module is operative to perform an encryption method, which is different from the encryption method used for decrypting the encrypted content data, wherein the difference between the cryptographic method is in a cryptographic key or a cryptographic algorithm.   
     
     
         7 . The adapter card having the hardware multimedia endpoint in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising a content demultiplexer for receiving decrypted content from the crypto-processor and for demultiplexing the encrypted content data into audio data to be provided to an audio decoder, video data to be provided to a video decoder, or enhanced content data to be provided to an enhanced content processor. 
     
     
         8 . The adapter card having the hardware multimedia endpoint in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising an audio decoder, a video decoder and an enhanced content processor for receiving and decoding decrypted content data. 
     
     
         9 . The adapter card having the hardware multimedia endpoint in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising a video renderer to be controlled via a playback computer software running on a computer, wherein the video renderer is operative to receive video streams from a video decoder and additional information including still picture streams from an enhanced content processor to generate processed video. 
     
     
         10 . The adapter card having the hardware multimedia endpoint in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising an encrypter for encrypting plain text video data into an encrypted output data stream to be provided to a display device. 
     
     
         11 . The adapter card having the hardware multimedia endpoint in accordance with  claim 10 , further comprising a multiplexer for generating a multiplex data stream including processed video data and decoded audio data, wherein the multiplexer is connected to the encrypter. 
     
     
         12 . The adapter card having the hardware multimedia endpoint in accordance with  claim 1 , in which the crypto-processor is operative to receive an authentication packet from the computer, in which the crypto-processor is operative to receive a request from the computer to transmit an authentication packet, in which the crypto-processor is operative to transmit an authentication packet to the computer in response to the request, and in which the crypto-processor is operative to generate, in an authentication procedure, a decryption key using authentication packets received from the computer and using information from authentication packets transmitted to the computer. 
     
     
         13 . A method of operating an adapter card having a hardware multimedia endpoint, the method comprising:
 interfacing the adapter card to a computer, wherein the adapter card is a graphics card, a printer card, or a sound card;   receiving cryptographic information from the computer by the adapter card;   processing the cryptographic information by the adapter card;   outputting cryptographic information to the computer by the adapter card; and   processing, by the adapter card, cryptographic information such that an authentication procedure with a third party, which is different from the computer is established.   
     
     
         14 . A digital storage medium having stored thereon a computer program for performing, when running on a computer, a method of operating an adapter card having a a hardware multimedia endpoint, the method comprising:
 interfacing the adapter card to a computer, wherein the adapter card is a graphics card, a printer card, or a sound card;   receiving cryptographic information from the computer by the adapter card;   processing the cryptographic information by the adapter card;   outputting cryptographic information to the computer by the adapter card; and   processing, by the adapter card, cryptographic information such that an authentication procedure with a third party, which is different from the computer is established.   
     
     
         15 . An adapter apparatus having a hardware multimedia endpoint, the multimedia endpoint comprising:
 an interface for interfacing to a computer; and   a processor for receiving cryptographic information from the computer, for processing the cryptographic information, and for outputting cryptographic information to the computer, wherein the processor is operative to process cryptographic information such that an authentication procedure with a third party, which, is different from the computer is established,   wherein the adapter apparatus comprises a graphics chip, a printer chip, or a sound chip.   
     
     
         16 . A method of operating an adapter apparatus having a hardware multimedia endpoint, the method comprising:
 interfacing the adapter apparatus to a computer, wherein the adapter apparatus comprises a graphics chip, a printer chip, or a sound chip;   receiving cryptographic information from the computer by the adapter apparatus;   processing the cryptographic information by the adapter apparatus;   outputting cryptographic information to the computer by the adapter apparatus; and   processing, by the adapter apparatus, cryptographic information such that an authentication procedure with a third party, which is different from the computer is established.   
     
     
         17 . A digital storage medium having stored thereon a computer program for performing, when running on a computer, a method of operating an adapter apparatus having a hardware multimedia endpoint, the method comprising:
 interfacing the adapter apparatus to a computer, wherein the adapter apparatus comprises a graphics chip, a printer chip, or a sound chip;   receiving cryptographic information from the computer by the adapter apparatus;   processing the cryptographic information by the adapter apparatus;   outputting cryptographic information to the computer by the adapter apparatus; and   processing, by the adapter apparatus, cryptographic information such that an authentication procedure with a third party, which is different from the computer is established.