Certificate validity checking

1. A method for decrypting encrypted data by a network device in a network, the data allowing decryption of an encrypted content, the network device storing a certificate containing a key associated to the network device in the network, the method comprising, in the network device:

receiving the encrypted data and a validity index associated to the content;

evaluating, without reference to a clock, a time validity of the certificate using a time index contained within the certificate, and the validity index associated to the encrypted content, the time index having a value corresponding to a time of issue of the certificate; and

decrypting the encrypted data only when the certificate is evaluated to be valid.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the validity index is received together with the associated content.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the validity index is received in an encrypted form; the method further comprising decrypting at the network the encrypted validity index.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the validity index is integrity protected.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising evaluating the certificate as invalid if the validity index is greater than the time index.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising deriving a validity interval from the time index; evaluating the certificate as invalid if the validity index is outside the derived validity interval.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising updating a comparison index using the received validity index, the comparison index being stored within a determined network device of the network; comparing the updated comparison index to the time index to evaluate the validity of the associated certificate.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the evaluating is performed when a new network device is installed within the network.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising receiving at a content receiver of the network the encrypted content and the associated validity index; transmitting the received encrypted content and the associated validity index to at least one terminal device of the network.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising

receiving at the content receiver an Entitlement Control Message associated to the encrypted content, the Entitlement Control Message comprising an encoded Control Word, the Control Word allowing to decrypt the encrypted content;

decoding the received Control Word at the content receiver;

re-encoding the decoded Control Word with a symmetric key;

transmitting the re-encoded control word to the at least one terminal device.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising

periodically renewing the symmetric key at the content receiver;

scrambling the new symmetric key with a public key;

transmitting the scrambled symmetric key to at the least one terminal device;

descrambling at the terminal device the scrambled symmetric key using a private key corresponding to the public key;

scrambling the descrambled symmetric key with a symmetric network key;

transmitting the scrambled symmetric key to the content receiver;

storing the scrambled symmetric key the content receiver;

transmitting the scrambled symmetric key with the re-encoded Control Word, from the content receiver to at least one terminal device;

decoding the re-encoded Control Word with the symmetric key at the terminal device if the certificate associated to the terminal device is evaluated as valid; and

decrypting the encrypted content with the decoded Control Word.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein: the encrypted content is an encrypted pay television program.

13. A system for decrypting encrypted data allowing decryption of an encrypted content, the system comprising:

a network device storing a certificate containing a key associated to the network device, the network device being configured to:

receive the encrypted data and a validity index associated to the content;

evaluate, without reference to a clock, a time validity of the certificate using a time index of the certificate and the validity index associated to the encrypted content, the time index having a value corresponding to a time of issue of the certificate; and

decrypt the encrypted data only when the certificate is evaluated to be valid.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein: the validity index is integrity protected.

15. The system of claim 13 , wherein the validity index is received in an encrypted form; the system further comprising decrypting means to decrypt the encrypted validity index.

16. The system of claim 13 , further comprising: at least one terminal device of the network, each terminal device being associated to one certificate.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein each terminal device comprises:

a content presentation device;

a portable security module attached to the content presentation device, the certificate associated to the terminal device being stored within the portable security module.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein:

the content receiver also receives an encoded Control Word;

the content receiver comprises a decoder to receive the encrypted content;

a receiver portable security module attached to the decoder to process the received encoded Control Word.

19. The system of claim 17 , wherein

the content provider is a broadcaster of pay television programs; each content presentation device is a television set.