Authentication of data transmitted in a digital transmission system

1. A method of verifying data protected by a digital certificate and transmitted in a digital transmission system, the method comprising:

receiving, using a processor, said data protected by the digital certificate, a first issue date corresponding to a date on which said data was issued, and at least two encrypted values determined for at least one portion of said data,

wherein the data is an update of previously transmitted data, and

wherein each of the at least two encrypted values is determined using a key corresponding to an encryption algorithm;

verifying, using the processor, that the first issue date is later than a second issue date corresponding to a date on which said previously transmitted data was issued;

processing, using the processor, each of the at least two encrypted values using a stored public key corresponding to the encryption algorithm to obtain at least two resulting values;

comparing, using the processor, each of the at least two resulting values with the at least one portion of said data to verify the at least one portion of said data; and

rejecting the data when the at least two resulting values are different,

wherein the digital certificate comprises the public key corresponding to the encryption algorithm.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

rejecting said data if the first issue date is not later than the second issue date.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein said data comprises a Root Certificate Management Message (RCMM).

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the data is used to replace the previously transmitted data.

5. A receiver/decoder comprising:

memory;

a storage device configured to store a plurality of keys; and

a processor coupled to the memory and configured to execute a method for:

receiving data protected by a digital certificate, a first issue date corresponding to a date on which said data was issued, and at least two encrypted values determined for at least one portion of said data, wherein the data is an update of previously transmitted data, and wherein each of the at least two encrypted values is determined using a key corresponding to an encryption algorithm;

verifying that the first issue date is later than a second issue date corresponding to a date on which said previously transmitted data was issued;

processing each of the at least two encrypted values using a stored public key corresponding to the encryption algorithm to obtain at least two resulting values;

comparing each of the at least two resulting values with the at least one portion of said data to verify the at least one portion of said data; and

rejecting the data when the at least two resulting values are different,

wherein the digital certificate comprises the stored public key corresponding to the encryption algorithm.

6. The receiver/decoder of claim 5 , wherein the processor is further configured to execute:

rejecting said data if the first issue date is not later than the second issue date.

7. The receiver/decoder of claim 5 , wherein the data comprises a Root Certificate Management Message (RCMM).

8. A method of authenticating data protected by a digital certificate and transmitted in a digital transmission system wherein the method comprises, prior to transmission:

determining, using a processor, a first issue date on which the data was issued and at least two encrypted values for at least one portion of the data,

wherein the data is an update of previously transmitted data, and

wherein each of the at least two encrypted values is determined using a private key corresponding to an encryption algorithm;

verifying, using the processor, that the first issue date is later than a second issue date corresponding to a date on which said previously transmitted data was issued; and

outputting to a receiver, using the processor, the at least two encrypted values and the first issue date with said data,

wherein the digital certificate comprises a public key corresponding to the encryption algorithm,

wherein each encrypted value is processed by the receiver using the public key to create a resulting value of a plurality of resulting values, and

wherein the plurality of resulting values enable authentication of the data by comparison between each resulting value and the data.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the data comprises a Root Certificate Management Message (RCMM).

10. An apparatus for authenticating data, protected by a digital certificate, to be transmitted in a digital transmission system, the apparatus comprising:

a multiplexer operatively connected to a scrambler; and

a device for storing a plurality of keys,

wherein the multiplexer and scrambler comprise:

means for determining a first issue date on which the data was issued and at least two encrypted values for at least one portion of the data, wherein the data is an update of previously transmitted data, and

wherein each of the at least two encrypted values is determined using a private key stored on the device corresponding to an encryption algorithm of the digital certificate;

means for verifying that the first issue date is later than a second issue date corresponding to a date on which said previously transmitted data was issued; and

means for outputting to a receiver said at least two encrypted values and the first issue date with said data,

wherein the digital certificate comprises a public key corresponding to the encryption algorithm,

wherein each encrypted value is processed by the receiver using the public key to create a resulting value of a plurality of resulting values, and

wherein the plurality of resulting values enable authentication of the data by comparison between each resulting value and the data.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the data comprises a Root Certificate Management Message (RCMM).

12. A receiver/decoder, comprising:

a first memory space for storing a plurality of public keys;

a receiver for receiving data protected by a digital certificate, a first issue date corresponding to a date on which said data was issued, and at least two encrypted values determined for at least one portion of said data, wherein the data is an update of previously transmitted data, and wherein each of the at least two encrypted values is determined using a private key of a plurality of private keys corresponding to an encryption algorithm of the digital certificate; and

a processor for:

verifying that the first issue date is later than a second issue date corresponding to a date on which said previously transmitted data was issued;

processing each of the at least two encrypted values using a public key of the plurality of public keys corresponding to the encryption algorithm to obtain at least two resulting values;

comparing each of the at least two resulting values with the at least one portion of said data to verify the at least one portion of said data; and

rejecting the data when the at least two resulting values are different;

wherein the digital certificate comprises the public key corresponding to the encryption algorithm.