Methods and systems for a secure media computing environment
Systems and methods for providing secure access to cable data are described. A split hardware and/or software architecture are provided to enable general computer access to safe APIs while protecting privileged APIs and operator content.
1 . A method for generating video output based on data received from a cable input comprising the steps of:
receiving said cable input in an access module;
demodulating and providing conditional access to at least some of said cable input in said access module;
transferring said at least some of said cable input from said access module to a media processing module;
receiving computer-generated graphics in said media processing module; and
mixing said at least some of said cable input and said computer-generated graphics in said media processing module to generate said video output.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said step of providing conditional access further comprises the step of:
providing conditional access using OCAP conditional access techniques.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said step of transferring further comprises the step of:
transferring said at least some of said cable input to said media processing module via an interconnect which ensures digital rights management (DRM) protocols.
4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein said interconnect is an IEEE 1394 bus employing DTCP.
5 . A computer video system comprising:
an access module for receiving a cable input, demodulating said cable input and extracting data streams associated with a customer access from said demodulated cable input;
an interconnect for transferring said extracted data streams to a media processor module;
wherein said media processor module also receives computer-generated graphics and mixes said extracted data streams with said computer-generated graphics to generate a video output stream.
6 . The computer video system of claim 5 , wherein said interconnect is an IEEE 1394 bus employing DTCP protocols.
7 . A cable data processing system comprising:
a first module, inaccessible by a general processor associated with a computer, including privileged application program interfaces (APIs) for operating on an incoming cable data stream; and
a second module, accessible by said general processor associated with said computer, including safe APIs for operating on said incoming cable data stream.
8 . The cable data processing system of claim 7 , wherein said privileged APIs are a first subset of OCAP-specified APIs and said safe APIs are a second subset of OCAP-specified APIs.
9 . The cable data processing system of claim 8 , wherein at least one API is replicated in both said first subset and said second subset of OCAP-specified APIs.
10 . A cable data input card for a computer comprising:
an RF input capable of receiving a coaxial cable that conveys cable data to said cable data input card;
a PCMCIA slot having a PCMCIA card inserted therein, said PCMCIA card including a conditional access function for selectively allowing access to data streams within said cable data; and
an output which outputs those of said data streams authorized by said conditional access function to a secure interconnect.